2016 - All Press Releases

Announcing npj Clean Water, a new open access journal dedicated to innovations in supplying clean water globally

London, 24 February 2016

npj Clean Water, a new open access research journal dedicated to solving the global challenge of ensuring clean water supplies will be published by Nature Publishing Group in partnership with King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The journal is open for submissions from today.

npj Clean Water will provide a vital forum for researchers from multiple disciplines to share the most significant research advances in the area. The journal welcomes high quality papers in all areas of desalination technology and water purification, as well as related research from other fields such as chemistry, biology, materials science, nanotechnology and physics.

Dr Magdalena Skipper, Executive Editor of Nature Partner Journals at Nature Publishing Group said: “The supply of, and access to, clean water are serious issues facing communities worldwide. As climate change and population growth place increasing pressure on water resources, the need to find solutions to this problem becomes ever more urgent.”

She adds: “This is a global challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach. Through a new open access journal in npj Clean Water, we hope to facilitate the high quality, inter-disciplinary conversation that is necessary for us to successfully address this issue on all fronts. KFUPM shares our ambition, and is an ideal partner for this newest addition to the Nature Partner Journal family.”

Research in desalination and other technologies related to the production of clean water are a strategic priority for KFUPM, who are currently working on a joint eight-year research and educational program with faculty in MIT, which has resulted in their Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy.

In addition to primary research, npj Clean Water will publish analysis of the broader issues surrounding the supply of clean water, such as education, funding, policy, intellectual property, and impacts on society.

Dr. Eric M.V. Hoek has been appointed the Editor in Chief of npj Clean Water. Dr. Hoek is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Water Planet, Inc. while on leave from his position as a UCLA environmental engineering professor. Hoek is the author of over 100 scientific publications and founder of multiple water technology companies.

Dr. Hoek commented, “I am excited and proud to be working with Nature Publishing Group and KFUPM to lead the editorial team of this new journal. Sustainably assuring clean water for everyone is one of the grand challenges of the 21st century. I’ve dedicated my life to this mission. The open-access format is the most democratic method of disseminating leading-edge research and it is the future of scientific publishing.”

npj Clean Water will be the second* Nature Partner Journal to be launched in collaboration with an institution in the Middle East and joins a portfolio of 16 other Nature Partner Journal titles.

The journal is expected to launch its first content at the end of 2016. More information about the Nature Partner Journals programme can be found here.


ENDS

Notes to Editors

*npj Genomic Medicine was announced on 11 February 2015.

Contact: Amy Bourke-Waite
Senior Communications Manager
Nature Publishing Group
T: +44 (0)20 7843 4603 | M: +44 (0) 7703717212
a.bourke-waite@nature.com

Contact: Anas M. Salhab
Assistant Director, Science & Technology Unit
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
T: +966 (0) 13 860 7668 | M: +966 (0) 597496701
adstu@kfupm.edu.sa 


About Nature Publishing Group (NPG)

Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a publisher of high impact scientific information in print and online. NPG publishes journals, online databases and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences.

Focusing on the needs of scientists, Nature (founded in 1869) is the leading weekly, international scientific journal. NPG publishes a range of Nature research journals and Nature Reviews journals, and a range of prestigious academic and partner journals including society-owned publications. Online, nature.com provides over 8 million visitors per month with access to NPG publications and services, including news and comment from Nature, and the leading scientific jobs board Naturejobs.

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is a leading global research, educational and professional publishers, home to an array of respected and trusted brands providing quality content through a range of innovative products and services. Springer Nature is the world’s largest academic book publisher, publisher of the world’s most influential journals and a pioneer in the field of open research. The company numbers almost 13,000 staff in over 50 countries and has a turnover of approximately EUR 1.5 billion. Springer Nature was formed in 2015 through the merger of Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Education and Springer Science+Business Media. Visit: www.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature.

About King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) is one of the leading educational organizations. It aims at being a preeminent institution known for its globally competitive graduates, cutting edge research, and leadership in energy discoveries.

KFUPM was established in 1963 as the College of Petroleum & Minerals. Today, KFUPM offers 83 programs to more than 9,000 students studying in its 8 Academic Colleges.

The rapid growth of KFUPM is related to the rapid economic and technical development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also reflects the rising expectations of the people of Saudi Arabia, the expanding opportunities for the country’s young population, and the increasing importance of the Kingdom as a major source of the world’s energy.

To meet these expectations, KFUPM is committed to make a difference in all it does. This includes developing the main characteristics of its graduates making them ahead of their peers, focusing on research that addresses global trends with high scholarly impact, and engaging stakeholders across the society in endeavors aimed at contributing to the prosperity and intellectuality of the community at large.

For more information about KFUPM, visit www.kfupm.edu.sa.