Meet Beate Escher, the New Editor-in-Chief of ACS ES&T Toxicology

Professor Beate Escher, from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig, Germany, is the inaugural Editor-in-Chief of ACS ES&T Toxicology, a new journal published by ACS Publications. We asked Prof. Escher about her vision for the journal, her passion for research, and her thoughts on how young researchers might approach their careers.

In Conversation with Prof. Beate Escher

What did it mean for you to become the first Editor-in-Chief of ACS ES&T Toxicology?

The opportunity to help shape a new journal at the interface of ecotoxicology and human toxicology is truly exciting. I published my first two papers on mechanistic ecotoxicology in 1996 in ES&T. The rigor of the flagship journal ES&T, and its decades-long recognition of the importance of toxicological processes in environmental chemistry has led in part to toxicological research remaining a central theme of my work ever since. Publishing environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology research continues to constitute one of ES&T’s major strengths—a tradition I am eager to continue, deepen, and specialize further as we move forward with ACS ES&T Toxicology.

What is your vision for the journal over the coming years?

My vision for ACS ES&T Toxicology is to use data science and systems thinking to integrate human and ecological toxicology and chemistry to protect planetary and human health amid accelerating environmental change. My team and I want to position ACS ES&T Toxicology at the intersection of environmental and human health, engaging in chemistry-oriented dialogue with environmental sciences, chemical risk assessment, ecology, public health, and epidemiology.

Why should researchers in environmental toxicology consider submitting their best manuscripts to the journal?

Toxicity pathways in humans and animals are highly interconnected, and the two fields of environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology share many conceptual and methodological foundations. These links and synergies are often obscured when work is published in more narrow or single-discipline journals. Currently few journals welcome submissions across both ecotoxicology and toxicology but the opportunities and benefits of a ‘One Health’ framework and approach is powerful. Positioning ACS ES&T Toxicology at the intersection of environmental and human health is core to the journal’s aims and provides leaders in the field with an opportunity for broader discovery and dissemination of their research findings across a broad and global toxicology and ecotoxicology community. In addition, authors can expect their submissions to receive the same respectful, attentive handling, the same rigorous peer-review standards, and the same quality expectations as in ES&T and Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

What will you look for in the manuscripts you receive?

The journal seeks original research contributions that investigate the effects of anthropogenic impacts such as chemical contamination, urbanization, food production, water and waste management, and climate change on environmental and human health, ecosystems, and ecosystem services. It brings together human toxicology, ecotoxicology, and risk assessment, identifying how stressors affect biological systems across scales, from molecular and cellular responses to organisms, populations, and communities.

As a new journal ACS ES&T Toxicology does not yet have a track record to clearly signpost the expected levels of quality the journal will publish. However, as an extension journal of ES&T it’s clear the journal is seeking the same high-quality scholarship and impactful research received by the original flagship journal. What ACS ES&T Toxicology uniquely offers is a home for more focused and specialized toxicology research across two distinct toxicological research communities covering human health and ecology. We will establish a clear scientific identity and deliver ethically robust editorial standards that is the hallmark of ACS Publications that builds trust within both eco- and human toxicology communities.

What excites you about your current research?

My work focuses on understanding how chemical mixtures affect environmental systems, wildlife, and human health from a One Health perspective. I combine in vitro bioassays with computational approaches to support hazard assessments and to characterize the effects of complex chemical cocktails present in the environment and humans. My research has shown that toxicological effects can emerge across interconnected exposure pathways, including water, soil, food, and air, with consequences for both wildlife and people. By identifying these risks, my work contributes to the development of science-based solutions to prevent and reduce chemical pollution and human and wildlife exposure.

What advice would you give to young researchers entering the field of toxicology and related disciplines today?

My advice is to follow your passion rather than only the topics that are currently fashionable or likely to attract immediate attention. Trends can be useful, but some may prove short-lived or less consequential in the long run. To make a meaningful contribution to toxicology, or any related field, you need to go deep: develop real expertise, invest time in understanding mechanisms and context, and remain persistent even when progress is slow. Lasting impact usually comes from sustained curiosity, careful work, and the courage to ask questions that matter beyond the next trend.

What about your life outside of research – how do you wind down and relax?

I am an avid reader, hiker, and cyclist. I especially love long-distance cycling; together with my partner, I have taken to circling and crisscrossing Europe by bike—a project that will keep us busy for years to come. As a dual citizen of Australia and Germany, I feel deeply privileged that both of my homes are blessed with breathtaking natural landscapes: places that are wonderful to explore, and well worth protecting.

Submit Your Research to ACS ES&T Toxicology

ACS ES&T Toxicology is now open for submissions. You can showcase your research by submitting your next paper to the journal.