Call for Applications: Associate Editors
Published 06 August, 2026
The Solutions is seeking enthusiastic and qualified scholars to join our editorial board as Associate Editors. We welcome applicants with experience in the peer-review process and a strong research record in fields related to hydraulic engineering, climate change, environmental resources, ecological resilience, and socio-economic sustainability.
About the Journal
The Solutions (ISSN: 3117-8243), launched in 2026, is jointly sponsored by North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power and the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society. The journal focuses on core issues including hydraulic engineering, climate change, environmental resources, ecological resilience, and socio-economic sustainability, publishing cutting-edge, solutions-oriented research that accelerates the translation of theory and technology into practical applications. The journal operates under an open-access (OA) model and is distributed globally through the Elsevier ScienceDirect platform, with an established international academic exchange and peer-review system.
The journal's scope:
- Water, Environment & Resource Systems;
- Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience;
- Ecological Restoration & Biodiversity;
- Sustainable Cities & Built Environment;
- Socio-Economic Sustainability & Integrated Governance;
- AI, Digital Twin System for Water Resources Management and Engineering Applications;
- Solutions-Oriented Transdisciplinary Science.
Editors-in-Chief
The Solutions is co-edited by Professor Junguo Liu, President of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, and Professor Robert Costanza of University College London.
Professor Junguo Liu
Professor Liu is currently President of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, a leading scientist of the National High-Level Talent Special Support Program, a member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, a Foreign Member of the Academia Europaea, a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
He has published over 300 papers in high-impact journals including Nature, Science, PNAS, and Chinese Science Bulletin, and has authored 8 books. He has been repeatedly named to the lists of Highly Cited Researchers, World's Top Scientists, and China's Highly Cited Scholars. He is the recipient of the International Hydrology Prize - the Volker Medal, the highest academic honor in the field of hydrology; the AGU Paul A. Witherspoon Lecture Award (the first Chinese scholar to receive this honor); the Society for Ecological Restoration's Technology Transfer Award; and the EGU Outstanding Young Scientist Award. He has also received the China Youth Science and Technology Award and eight provincial, ministerial, and national awards.
Professor Costanza
Professor Costanza is affiliated with University College London. He is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, and a co-founder and past President of the International Society for Ecological Economics.
His research focuses on ecosystem services valuation, landscape ecology, ecological economics, and socio-economic system modeling. He was the first scholar to propose the concept of valuing natural resource services globally and has made outstanding contributions to interdisciplinary research. He previously served as the founding Editor-in-Chief of Ecological Economics. His research has been published in top journals including Nature, Science, and PNAS, with over 740 academic works and more than 172,000 citations on Google Scholar. He has received the Kellogg National Award, the Society for Conservation Biology's Distinguished Achievement Award, the Pew Award in Conservation and the Environment, the Ecological Economics Outstanding Contribution Award, and the 2024 Blue Planet Prize.
Responsibilities of Associate Editors
The appointment is for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of renewal. Key responsibilities include:
1. Overseeing the initial assessment of submissions, selecting and inviting appropriate reviewers, monitoring the peer-review process, and providing informed editorial recommendations to the Editors-in-Chief;
2. Participating in journal development by contributing to topical issue planning and assisting in the organization of high-quality special issues;
3. Inviting excellent scholars to submit their work, thereby expanding the journal's pool of high-quality submissions;
4. Representing the journal at international academic conferences to enhance the journal's brand influence;
5. Identifying emerging trends and tracking frontier developments in their field and providing professional advice on the journal’s long-term strategic direction.
Qualifications
We seek candidates who meet the following criteria:
1. A strong research record and established academic influence in fields within the journal's scope;
2. A doctoral degree, senior professional title, and a sustained record of high-level scholarly output;
3. Familiarity with international academic publishing standards and experience serving on the editorial board of a reputable academic journal;
4. Excellent command of English, with the ability to conduct academic review and provide editorial recommendations fluently in English;
5. Commitment to the journal's vision of solutions-oriented science and a strong willingness to contribute to the journal's high-quality development.
Benefits of Joining the Editorial Board
Serving on the Editorial Board provides an excellent opportunity to:
- Receive an official certificate of appointment, recognizing your professional contribution;
- Engage and collaborate with leading scholars on the editorial board, expanding your global academic network;
- Gain in-depth experience in manuscript review and quality assurance for an international journal, while staying ahead of emerging research trends;
- Benefit from the journal's efficient manuscript processing system and dedicated editorial support to ensure a smooth workflow.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are kindly requested to submit the following materials by 24 September 2026 to thesolutions@ncwu.edu.cn:
- A statement of interest outlining your research focus, previous editorial/reviewing experience, and motivation for applying;
- An up-to-date CV with a full list of publications, accompanied by a summary (maximum one page) of your most significant scientific contributions.
Applications are invited from candidates worldwide. Together, we aim to advance solutions-oriented science and contribute academic insights to address global sustainability challenges.