The areas of environmental science and environmental (bio)technology are broad, multidisciplinary, fast growing and extremely active. During the last few decades, an overwhelming amount of data has become available and a panoply of discoveries has been made. It is almost impossible to keep up to date on current developments in these areas. Moreover, there is a definite need to extract the quintessence out of this information, to synthesise the research progress and to identify the achieved advances in science and technology. This is the rationale behind the journal Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology.
The journal has two distinct peer-reviewed sections: a section containing mini-reviews (up to 8 printed pages), expressing scientific opinions on topics and trends as well as a Reviews section (up to 30 printed pages) containing comprehensive critical evaluations of research efforts and technical realizations in particular areas. In addition to (mini-)review papers, the journal reports on newly initiated research projects in a distinct Project Update and Science Career section, focusing on initiatives from large research consortia and young researchers, respectively. The horizon paper, SWITCH monitor and Stockholm Water Perspectives sections provide research and policy-oriented commentaries from world renowned leaders in environmental science and (bio)technology research. The Web Alert section hints readers on key websites, whereas the Symposium Watch section updates them on the most recent developments in the field presented on international workshops, seminars and symposia. The journal also features special issues focusing on topics of international concern.
The fields covered in the journal comprise effects, treatment and management of pollution of water (fresh, surface and seawater, ground water, domestic and industrial wastewater), air, solid waste, soil and sediments. The pollutants discussed may include chemical compounds (organics, nutrients, sulphurous compounds, metals and metalloids), biological agents (pathogens, toxins, …) or abiotic conditions. Contributions can cover the following topics: analytical techniques, life cycle and exergy analysis, environmental modeling techniques, environmental hydroinformantics, biodiversity conservation, clean production processes, solid waste management, bioenergy and biorefinery concepts, molecular genomics and eco-genomics, environmental nanotechnology, bioremediation, fundamental or applied aspects of physical, chemical or biological degradation/removal methods, toxicity and eco-toxicity, kinetics, cell immobilization and (bio)reactor design, Information and communication for public participation, environmental education, social acceptance of environmental (bio)technology.
The main purpose of the journal is twofold: to enable the reader to keep up to date on developments and to present a view of where the developments in environmental science and biotechnology will lead to.
Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology is the only journal in the field to facilitate its readers this way. As such, it will help to define the scope of research activities and identify novel areas of process implementation as well as priority areas for science policy- and decision-makers. Primarily, this journal will be of interest to scientists working in departments of Environmental Science, Engineering, Microbiology, Aquatic Chemistry, Chemical Technology, as well as those working in the professional and governmental sector.