New Editor-in-Chief for Catalysis Science & Technology

In 2021, Catalysis Science & Technology celebrated its 10 year anniversary, cementing its position as an established international journal in the field of catalysis. 2023 ushers in new developments for Catalysis Science & Technology, and as such we would like to share this important journal news with our valued authors, readers and the wider catalysis community.

We are sorry to say that at the end of 2022, Javier Pérez-Ramírez retired as Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Board. Javier is a leader in the field of catalysis engineering for sustainable technologies, and he has played a pivotal role in shaping the journal for over a decade, both as an Associate Editor and Editor-in-Chief. Please join us in thanking Javier for his overwhelming enthusiasm, inspirational leadership and invaluable contributions over this time. We are however very pleased that Javier will continue to remain actively involved with Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing as this year he takes on the Chair of the Board role for our companion journal Green Chemistry. Javier will be uniquely well-placed to ensure that the links between these two journals in the wider area of sustainability will be strongly maintained.

We are delighted to announce that Javier's successor is Bert Weckhuysen. Based at Utrecht University, Bert is a pioneer in the area of advanced in situ and operando characterization techniques for catalysis. Such techniques enable rational design of catalyst materials at different scales and for a wide variety of important applications and technologies in sustainability, energy and beyond. We are excited to work with Bert as he leads the Editorial Board and journal to continued success – his expertise, strong leadership, commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion as well as his abundant passion will be instrumental to the journal's continued growth and success.

Javier shares the following reflection, “The last 11 years on the Editorial Board of Catalysis Science & Technology, including 7 years as Associate Editor and 4 years as Editor-in-Chief, have been memorable. I have overseen the journal's growth into a well-established, respected, diverse, and inclusive journal for practitioners to publish and follow exciting developments in the field of catalysis. I am delighted that Bert Weckhuysen is taking over the role. Under the leadership of Bert and the editorial team, I am convinced that the journal will reach new heights”.

Bert shared his vision for the journal under his leadership, “The rapid development of sustainability in chemistry, energy, and materials science asks for a flagship broad-scope interdisciplinary scientific journal in the field of catalysis that not only fosters fundamental science in the more traditional catalysis fields, but also brings in new, often somewhat more remotely developed methods, materials, and insights that not only inspire, but also continuously rejuvenate the field of catalysis. The introduction of such new developments, often achieved by interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary collaborations, will keep catalysis a vibrant field for new scientific discoveries as well as technological breakthroughs, leading to practical in-house as well as large industrial applications”.

Bert added, “Catalysis Science & Technology distinguishes itself as a unique journal in its ambition to showcase both fundamental scientific insights (the “Catalysis Science” part of the journal title) and more applications-focussed, industrial and sustainability-related aspects of catalysis (the “Technology” part of the journal title). It is at these crossing points that interesting new angles to a particular challenge can emerge, and the way a journal and its content is structured is key in providing inspiration to its readership. It also makes the subdivision between general or fundamental catalysis and applied catalysis somewhat artificial, as in reality there is a continuum in which the more practical problems from industry inspire fundamental science and vice versa”.

Please join us in acknowledging Javier for his many years of support and dedication to the journal, as well as in welcoming Bert as the new leader of the Catalysis Science & Technology Editorial Board.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our authors, referees, readers, and Editorial and Advisory Board members for their continued support of, and contributions to Catalysis Science & Technology, and we wish you a wonderful 2023.

Javier Pérez-Ramírez, Bert Weckhuysen and Maria Southall

Javier Pérez-Ramírez

Bert Weckhuysen

Maria Southall

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