Amina Benchohra, Advisory Board Member

University of Western Brittany, France

I admit that it was a complete discovery for me but I particularly enjoy stepping out of my daily world to engage with people from different (scientific) backgrounds. Also, one of the most important interest to me as a member of the Advisory Board is the possibility to echo the perspectives and expectations of the younger scientific audience, and to help the journal initiatives benefit them as much as possible. In that sense, it constantly prompts me to identify the challenges early-career researchers could face and to remain aware of them.

2) What do you think of Nanoscale Horizons as a place to publish impactful nanoscience and nanotechnology research?

With regard to its high-ethical commitments, I consider Nanoscale Horizons as a reliable publication platform. In my opinion, the journal resonance stems from (i) the large disciplinary range covered, and (ii) its specific focus on breakthrough conceptual research rather than incremental innovations. Above all Nanoscale Horizons is receptive to feedbacks from its entire community (through surveys for instance) to tailor its engagement plan relevantly with the needs of its audience.

3) Where do you see the nanoscience field in the next 10 years?

It is very interesting as this question will surely raise multiple points of view. Nanosciences have undoubtedly been source of tremendous progress, catalysing technology revolutions with far -reaching societal impacts (e.g., in medicine, electronics). I think that this versatile field can be an interesting auxiliary of change and may again contribute to the next societal transitions by tackling some of today’s major environmental and socio-economic challenges.

4) In your opinion, how could members of the community be more involved with the journal?

We could consider to create a group on a discussion platform to promote exchanges between members. In that sense, members involved on past and ongoing initiatives may inspire others to get started. More precisely, this sharing of experience could help members in appreciating the time and efforts required for the different actions, which may be overestimated at first.

In the same spirit, quarterly ‘round-tables’ sessions (videoconferences) could be interesting for the members to share their point of views and stimulate new ideas.

Fangfang Cao, Advisory Board Member

National University of Singapore

A: Nanoscale Horizons is a leading platform for high-impact nanoscience and nanotechnology research. I appreciate its strong focus on originality, interdisciplinary collaboration, and fundamental advances with broad implications. The journal showcases cutting-edge work in areas like nanocatalysis, biomedical applications, and smart materials, ensuring wide visibility for pioneering studies. With its rigorous yet efficient peer-review process and excellent editorial support, it is an ideal venue for impactful publications. Expanding outreach through social media, academic forums, and platforms like WeChat could further enhance its influence, attracting a broader readership and fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations.

2) In your opinion, how could members of the community be more involved with the journal?

The academic community can engage with Nanoscale Horizons in several meaningful ways. First, submitting high-quality, original research helps push the field forward. Second, serving as a reviewer ensures the journal maintains its rigorous scientific standards. Researchers can also promote the journal by presenting it at academic conferences and sharing it on social media, thereby increasing its visibility. Additionally, suggesting and organizing themed collections on emerging research topics can keep Nanoscale Horizons at the forefront of nanoscience. Furthermore, it would be valuable for the journal to participate in or host nanoscience-related conferences, providing a platform for in-depth discussions and showcasing the latest breakthroughs, which would strengthen its influence within the global scientific community.

Jaime Andrés Pérez Taborda, Advisory Board Member

National University of Colombia

My research focuses on citizen science and how nanotechnology can and should address real-world challenges to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable populations. My team and I are working on three strategic lines: Water, Energy, and Plasmonics.

Water: We have developed low-cost, portable devices co-designed and co-built by rural communities in Colombia. These allow communities—predominantly indigenous and rural populations in the Amazon, La Guajira, Boyacá, and Cesar, as well as urban areas like Bogotá—to assess water quality and ensure safe consumption. More importantly, this initiative integrates STEAM education into schools, training citizen scientists to make data-driven decisions and empowering them through science.

Energy: We are developing energy harvesting technologies, such as thermoelectric devices (using materials like Ag₂Se, Cu₂Se, and SiGe) and piezoelectric nanogenerators based on ZnO/PDMS and ZnO/PVDF nanocomposites. We aim to enable IoT devices to power themselves, reducing reliance on batteries—an essential aspect in remote and ecologically sensitive regions like the Amazon Rainforest.
Plasmonics: We are developing colourimetric sensors based on gold nanoparticles, designed as time-temperature indicators (TTIs) utilizing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). These battery-free sensors have applications ranging from detecting cold-chain disruptions in food storage to monitoring heavy metal contamination (e.g., mercury) in water sources.

2) What advice would you give emerging scholars, and how could community members be more involved with the journal?

I believe that doing science in the Global South presents significant challenges and immense opportunities. Despite tackling problems of global importance, Latin American researchers often face limited access to major scientific research facilities and constrained funding. Furthermore, scientific research in many countries remains primarily confined to academia, and private industry has yet to grasp the full potential of R&D-driven innovation.

During my master’s at the Synchrotron Alba particle accelerator in Barcelona and my PhD at the CSIC’sCSIC’stute of Micro and Nanotechnology in Madrid, I witnessed firsthand what I consider the true miracle of our times—the creative force of honest, altruistic scientific work aimed at improving life for all. It may sound idealistic, but we must revive that passion and enthusiasm—believing that science and technology can change the world. And here we are, scientists from all over the world, working to make that happen.

Science is undoubtedly facing significant challenges today. However, our students are the driving force behind scientific progress. We can bridge gaps and push cutting-edge research by fostering international collaborations—with Europe, China, the United States, and other regions.

At Nanostructures and Applied Physics Research Group (NanoUpar), we use nanotechnology to tackle critical challenges such as water security, sustainable energy, and food safety. These challenges demand local solutions while considering their global impact. Of course, we do not have the sophisticated facilities available in the Global North. Still, we have passionate students eager to stand on the shoulders of giants and continue this journey.

I am a professor at the National University of Colombia, La Paz campus, a recently established institution in the Caribbean region, near the Sierra Nevada and the Venezuelan border. This area has long been shaped by coal mining and has historically been neglected by the central government. However, alongside my colleagues and students, I firmly believe in the power of productive diversification, quality education, interdisciplinary research, and strategic alliances—between industry, academia, civil society, and government. We envision transforming this region into a technology hub for the northern Colombian Caribbean.

My invitation is simple: let’s collaborate: Science must be interdisciplinary, innovative, and deeply connected to societal needs. Only by working together can nanotechnology make a tangible difference in the lives of the most vulnerable populations.

Jiandong Yao, Advisory Board Member

Sun Yat-sen University

The appeal of serving as a member for Nanoscale Horizons lies in the valuable opportunity to engage in promoting cutting-edge research in the field of nanoscience. It’s always exciting to collaborate and exchange ideas with scientists worldwide, jointly deepening scientific understanding and fostering innovations in the nanoscience field.

2) What do you think of Nanoscale Horizons as a place to publish impactful nanoscience and nanotechnology research?

Nanoscale Horizons serves as a pivotal platform for publishing world-class research in the realm of nanoscience and nanotechnology. It is renowned for rigorous and timely review process as well as broad readership, establishing it as an ideal forum for researchers to showcase their groundbreaking innovations within the sphere of nanotechnology research.

Jianfang Wang, Advisory Board Member

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The nanoscience field will penetrate into more research fields and find many more practical applications. It will gradually become a mature discipline.

2) In your opinion, how could members of the community be more involved with the journal?

The Nanoscale Horizons journal can offer more engaging activities to the community members, such as inviting to review manuscripts, inviting to contribute manuscripts (previews, perspectives, research articles, reviews), organizing small workshops/symposia, etc.