Dr. Seth B. Darling Argonne National Laboratory, USA is the recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of Cambridge Materials: Water. To celebrate the launch of the Cambridge Materials journals, they participated in a Q&A to discuss the aims of the journals and their hopes for their role as EiC.

Q. Why will the journals be important, and what role will they play in science and society?

Seth Darling: Cambridge Materials: Water arrives at a moment when solving global challenges depends on connecting innovation in materials to real-world impact. By uniting diverse fields, from chemistry and engineering to social science and policy, we will help accelerate solutions to urgent issues like water security and resource recovery.

Q. What are your hopes for the type of content the journals will attract?

SD: For Cambridge Materials: Water, I hope to see work that combines scientific creativity with societal relevance; research that pushes boundaries in water purification, sensing, and recovery, while considering life-cycle impacts and scalability. We aim to be the home for studies that drive both scientific discovery and sustainable implementation.

Q. What are you most looking forward to in your role?

SD: I’m most excited about building a connected community, bringing together researchers, engineers, and policy thinkers who might not otherwise intersect. Seeing those collaborations lead to practical, scalable solutions for water challenges will be incredibly rewarding.

Q. What difference could these journals make to existing literature?

SD: Many journals focus on specific materials or technologies, but few integrate the broader context of sustainability and impact. Cambridge Materials: Water will fill that gap, creating a trusted home for research that bridges fundamental science with societal outcomes

Cambridge Materials: Water focuses on cutting-edge studies on materials for water purification, filtration, desalination, and waste treatment. This journal will emphasize innovations that address environmental impact, resource efficiency, and socio-economic feasibility.
The journal aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Cambridge Materials: Water is part of Cambridge Materials, a suite of four journals, each focused on a particular global challenge – circularity, energy, health, water – and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The Cambridge Materials journals publish high-quality research that integrates innovations in materials science and engineering with environmental, life cycle, economic, social, and policy considerations, thereby bridging knowledge gaps and supporting impactful solutions.