We are delighted to announce the launch of Cambridge Materials, a suite of four new journals dedicated to advancing materials science in the service of global sustainability. Each journal focuses on a critical challenge area—Circularity, Energy, Health, and Water—and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, they will provide a unique platform where science, engineering, and policy intersect to drive real-world impact.

Framing the Vision: Executive Editors-in-Chief

Professor Jason Robinson, University of Cambridge, UK (Executive Editor-in-Chief)

Why will the Journals be important, and what role will they play in science and society?

Jason Robinson: The Cambridge Materials journals will showcase how materials science drives progress toward global sustainability. They will connect scientific discovery with societal priorities, linking technology, policy, and implementation to address challenges in energy, health, and the environment. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, the journals will ensure that materials research informs real-world decisions and supports long-term resilience.

What are your hopes for the type of content the Journals will attract?

JR: I hope the journals will attract research that combines scientific rigour with an understanding of impact with  studies that show not only what is possible, but how materials can be developed and implemented responsibly. Research that integrates insights from multiple fields and engages with policy will be especially important.

What are you most looking forward to in your role?

JR: I am looking forward supporting a growing community that brings together science, engineering, and policy to accelerate progress on global challenge areas. Helping and encouraging scientists to frame their discoveries in ways that connect to societal priorities and influence decision-making and vice-versa will be refreshing and impactful. 

What difference could these Journals make to existing literature?

JR: These journals will fill a gap by bringing science and policy together. Rather than treating discoveries in isolation, they will connect advances in materials to sustainability, governance, and practical application. This is important so scientists are more aware of policy and vice-versa. 

Professor David Haddleton, University of Warwick, UK (Executive Editor-in-Chief)

Why will the Journals be important, and what role do you feel they will play both in the scientific community but also beyond that in terms of addressing societal challenges?

 David Haddleton: The journals will focus on the development, deployment, and societal impact of sustainable materials in energy and health applications, particularly those that support the UN SDGs. The journals will be unique in scope, encompassing studies that examine sustainable technologies in tandem with their economic, environmental, and ethical implications.

What are your hopes for the type of content the Journals will attract? (i.e. what types of research do you hope to attract and why? Quality? Themes etc)

 DH: The journals will serve as an authoritative platform for groundbreaking research in sustainable materials science, while also facilitating policy dialogue, fostering social awareness, and promoting responsible innovation to meet global sustainability targets and be the focus of general media outlets. As critical sustainable development challenges are multifaceted, the journals will emphasize research that spans material science, engineering, social sciences, and policy. This interdisciplinary platform will encourage new partnerships that are vital for achieving SDGs related to energy (SDG 7), health (SDG 3), industry innovation (SDG 9), responsible consumption (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).

Can you explain what you are most looking forward to as part of your roles? 

 DH: I am looking forward to engaging with a diverse set of people who share common goals to improve our lives and the lives of our children and future generations. The CU journals will give us a platform that will help us make a true impact.

And finally: what difference do you feel these Journals could make to the literature already available?

DH: While many journals focus on specific aspects of material science, energy, or health, few integrate the social, policy, and economic perspectives essential for achieving true impact and setting the policy agenda. Existing journals often lack the multidisciplinary scope necessary to tackle complex sustainable development issues, limiting researchers’ ability to fully assess the global impact of sustainable materials. The journal suite will bridge these gaps, creating a holistic view of how sustainable materials can support a range of development goals and improve our lives in a sustainable way.

Cambridge Materials: Circularity

Editor-in-Chief Professor Veena Sahajwalla, UNSW Sydney, Australia

Veena Sahajwalla explains that Cambridge Materials: Circularity will serve as a vital platform for advancing research at the intersection of materials science, sustainability, and circular economy principles. It will foster scientific innovation while translating research into real-world strategies for reducing waste, conserving resources, and mitigating climate impacts. She hopes the Journal will attract high-quality, interdisciplinary research that combines materials science with systems thinking, design, policy, and lifecycle analysis. Looking ahead, she is most excited about shaping and bringing to life the Journal’s vision—building a vibrant, inclusive community of researchers passionate about making materials more sustainable. She believes the Journal will fill a crucial gap by integrating materials science with circular economy thinking, moving beyond technical performance to consider long-term environmental, economic, and societal impacts.

Cambridge Materials: Energy

Editor-in-Chief Professor Tierui Zhang, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Tierui Zhang highlights that Cambridge Materials: Energy will provide a focused platform for research that advances the materials and technologies needed for a sustainable energy future. Energy production, storage, and conversion lie at the heart of climate mitigation, carbon neutrality, and global development. He hopes the Journal will attract rigorous, high-quality research across the spectrum of energy materials, including catalysts, electrochemical materials, photovoltaics, batteries, hydrogen systems, carbon capture, and low-carbon manufacturing. Zhang looks forward to helping shape a journal environment that is fair, transparent, and supportive, while engaging with authors and reviewers to highlight impactful work. He believes the Journal will strengthen and expand existing literature by integrating fundamental advances, device-level performance, scale-up considerations, and sustainability outcomes.

Cambridge Materials: Health

Editor-in-Chief Professor Vincent Rotello, UMass, Amherst, USA

Vincent Rotello sees the integrated structure of the Cambridge Materials family as a way to build bridges between scientific silos. For Cambridge Materials: Health, his goal is to take a broad view of science, focusing on impact and avoiding disciplinary “local minima.” The Journal will publish papers that answer unanswered questions and help address unmet needs in therapeutics, imaging, and diagnosis. Professor Rotello is excited about building community through discussions of policy, sustainability, and societal impact, and believes the journals can make a significant difference by offering integration across challenges coupled with matters of interest to the materials community.

Cambridge Materials: Water

Editor-in-Chief Dr. Seth B. Darling, Argonne National Laboratory, USA

Seth Darling emphasizes that Cambridge Materials: Water arrives at a moment when solving global challenges depends on connecting innovation in materials to real-world impact. He hopes to see research that combines scientific creativity with societal relevance, pushing boundaries in water purification, sensing, and recovery, while considering life-cycle impacts and scalability. Darling is most excited about building a connected community of researchers, engineers, and policy thinkers who might not otherwise intersect. He believes the Journal will fill a gap by creating a trusted home for research that bridges fundamental science with societal outcomes.

Together, the Cambridge Materials journals will provide a holistic platform for advancing sustainable solutions across the most pressing global challenges. By bridging fundamental science with policy, practice, and societal impact, they will empower researchers, innovators, and decision-makers to collaborate in shaping a more resilient and sustainable future. We look forward to building this community and invite you to join the journey toward impact-driven materials science.

Find out more at: www.cambridge.org/materials