Topics at the heartof our community

Keeping connected to our global network academic editors, peer reviewers, authors and readers is incredibly important.

Spotlight On… focuses on topics at the heart of our community, providing updates on what we are doing at Springer Nature to support our partners and information about new editorial and publishing activity.

  • 2025

    Spotlight On… Fostering Connections: Creating Engaged Editorial Boards

    The backbone of any successful journal is its Editorial Board. In our first Spotlight On… event of 2025, we discuss how you can build connections and enhance collaboration across your editorial team.

    Spotlight On… Our Approach to Integrity Investigations

    How can Springer Nature support Editors when concerns are raised about a paper or papers in your journal? Join Tim Kersjes, from the Springer Nature Research Integrity Group, alongside Jo Cox and Alice Henchley from our Legal and Communications teams, to hear more about how Springer Nature conducts investigations and the resources available to our Editors.

    Spotlight On… Building Excellence: Structuring Editorial Boards for Impact

    Ritu Dhand shares insights on how to structure your editorial team to attract more high-quality submissions, and how editors can contribute to journal performance, be effective journal advocates, and maintain high standards in research integrity.

  • 2024

    Spotlight On… The Impact of the Changing Research Landscape on Our Journals

    In an evermore-crowded journals landscape, gaining recognition continues to be a challenge for all our editors in attracting high-quality submissions from potential authors. Ritu Dhand explores key changes in the research publishing landscape over the last decade, and new editorial strategies for how journals can successfully compete to attract high-quality research papers.

    Spotlight On… Springer Nature’s Research Communities: Connecting the Stories Behind the Research

    Our 42 Research Communities encompass the natural, applied and humanitarian disciplines, and boast a membership of over 42,000 researchers and science-interested readers. Learn how these platforms will provide our Editors and Authors alike with greater opportunities to connect and collaborate.

    Spotlight On… Demystifying Transfers

    Transfers represent an important aspect for content retention strategy in all journals. This presentation outlines the main benefits - and opportunities for growth - provided by transfers for Springer Nature Editors and their journals. Armed with data and examples, we show that in the majority of cases, a rejection does not mean a manuscript isn't worthy of publication. One journal's rejection can truly be another’s opportunity.

    Spotlight On… Research Integrity: Current Challenges and How to Protect Your Journal

    How can you be confident that the research articles you are reading and citing are reliable? What can be done to protect the integrity of the publication record? Tim Kersjes – Head of Research Integrity, Resolutions – presents case studies of best practices, and explores the latest trends, tools, and challenges pertaining to issues of research integrity.

    Spotlight On… Publishing for Sustainable Development: Impact Beyond Academia

    Nicola Jones - Director of the Springer Nature SDG Programme - reveals how SDG-related articles can create impact beyond academic citations, presenting data from Springer Nature’s wider journal programme. In addition, Lorena Verduci – Associate Editor, BMC Public Health – showcases and shares insights from a pilot project to publish auto-generated societal impact summaries.

    Spotlight On… Engaging with Research from China


    Ritu Dhand explores how Editors can engage more with the excellent, high-impact research from China. She is joined by Enda Bergin (Editorial Director, Nature Communications) and Prof. Bhekie Mamba (Editor-In-Chief, npj Clean Water), who share their experiences and insights in fostering connections with China’s research communities, and how this can benefit your journal.

    Spotlight On… The Future of Peer Review

    To mark Peer Review Week 2024, join Markus Kaindl (Director of Content Innovation, a Springer Nature expert on AI supported solutions) and Stavroula Kousta (Chief Editor of Nature Human Behaviour) in conversation as they share their expertise and experiences on the vital role of peer review and how AI might shape its future.

    Spotlight On… Ensuring Equity in Open Access

    In the transition towards open access (OA), commitment to equity and accessibility is key to ensuring global participation and representation are included in OA strategies. Join Caroline Nevison, Director of Open Access Agreements, in conversation with Sarah Phibbs, Director of Research4Life Publisher Partnerships, to discuss the progress towards providing OA opportunities more broadly in research.

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    Spotlight On… Inclusive Science: Redefining Impact for Research

    Ritu Dhand, Springer Nature’s Chief Scientific Officer, explains how inclusive science is about understanding that research can advance discovery in ways both incremental and fundamental, and challenge the misconception that the former is less impactful or of lesser quality.

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    Spotlight On… Celebrating Editorial Impact (2024): Session 1

    Our third annual special showcase of achievements by Springer Nature Editors who have gone above and beyond over the past year, and had a meaningful impact on both their journals and the wider editorial community.

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    Spotlight On… Celebrating Editorial Impact (2024): Session 2

    Our third annual special showcase of achievements by Springer Nature Editors who have gone above and beyond over the past year, and had a meaningful impact on both their journals and the wider editorial community.

  • 2023

    Spotlight On... Building a Strong Editorial Board

    For our first Spotlight On… event of 2023, we invited Editors-in-Chief to join us for discussions on one of the greatest assets of any journal: its Editorial Board. How can you build a Board that advocates for their communities, helps authors improve their papers, and set up your journal for success?

    Spotlight On... Engaging Your Readers and Authors

    How factual is the assumption that publishing less always results in higher impact for journals? Discover how a high volume of content in specific sub-disciplines can lead to an increase in high quality submissions, and why quantity and quality are complementary strategies for journal development.

    Spotlight On… Attracting High Quality Submissions Using Collections and Other Strategies

    The impact of a collection can be higher than other papers in a journal. In this session, we’ll explore how collections can be leveraged towards greater impact for their journals more broadly, including attracting high quality submissions and increasing their journal’s visibility in the community.

    Spotlight On… Open Data & Springer Nature’s New Research Data Policy

    Research Data are a key component of our open science strategy. We want the data underlying our publications to be as open as possible to the research community. In order to build our data handling and services, we must ensure our policies are clearly understood, actionable and in line with community expectations. Springer Nature’s new research data policy strives to embed transparency while improving support for authors and editors.

    Spotlight On… How Your Journal Can Support and Amplify the Sustainable Development Goals

    Building on the success of last year's event , learn more about Springer Nature’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Programme and how journals are supporting and amplifying the SDGs. Featuring case studies from Springer Nature journals that have implemented SDG considerations into their editorial practices.

    Spotlight On… Research Integrity

    All stakeholders in the publishing process have a responsibility towards ensuring quality and integrity in scholarship. Chris Graf - Research Integrity Director - discusses Springer Nature’s world-leading research integrity team, as well as resources available to our editorial partners to guide your own comprehensive research integrity plans.

    Spotlight On… Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
    Why It Matters in Publishing

    At Springer Nature, we continue to build inclusive publishing practices by working with diverse networks of researchers – editors, authors & reviewers - to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Sowmya Swaminathan - Director, External DEI - sheds light on what can be done to uphold and amplify inclusive practices in journal publishing. the work of editors, and the resources developed at Springer Nature to support these efforts.

    Spotlight On… Observing Open Access Week

    In recognition of International Open Access Week 2023, we explore the transformative power and dynamic landscape of open access publishing. Our presenters showcase the depth and breadth of OA publishing at Springer Nature and how we are at the forefront of driving open research and championing open science.

    Spotlight On… High Impact Research from China

    China has been increasing investment into research and development for the past two decades, and Clarivate’s data now shows that China produces the highest number of citable documents globally (nearly twice as many as the USA). However, what has been less apparent is the quality of those papers. We explore the scientific culture and impact of research from China, and show that the impact is now at least comparable to the USA and Europe across several disciplines.

    Spotlight On… Celebrating Editorial Impact in 2023 (Session 1)

    Our second annual Celebrating Editorial Impact event recognizes achievements in Editorial Board development, journal growth, increasing diversity, the impact of new collections, and more from our Editors-In-Chief and their teams!

    Spotlight On… Celebrating Editorial Impact in 2023 (Session 2)

    Our second annual Celebrating Editorial Impact event recognizes achievements in Editorial Board development, journal growth, increasing diversity, the impact of new collections, and more from our Editors-In-Chief and their teams!

  • 2022

    Spotlight On... Dr. Ritu Dhand

    Dr Ritu Dhand, Springer Nature’s Chief Scientific Officer, talks about talks about her life as a researcher, how she got into scientific publishing, what scientific discoveries makes her go ‘wow’, and provides an update on some of the exciting things that are going on at Springer Nature at the moment.

    Spotlight On... Content that may be harmful to human population groups

    In the second episode of Spotlight On, Stavroula Kousta, Chief Editor of Nature Human Behaviour, discusses new editorial guidance on content that may be harmful to human population groups.

    Spotlight On... The Sustainable Development Goals

    For the latest episode of Spotlight On join Nicola Jones, Director of Springer Nature’s SDG publishing programme and hear about the impact research connected to the SDGs is having, and how Springer Nature is helping to translate research into policy, innovation and community action.

    Spotlight On... Enhancing Journal Impact & Reputation

    In the fourth episode of Spotlight On, Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer, discusses the tools and concepts which may help you to enhance your journal impact and reputation. We look at how the journal structure can influence the submissions a journal attracts, giving editors tools to grow the journals in key sub-disciplines. In addition, we discuss how author service and reproducibility can enhance reputation and drive editorial excellence.

    Spotlight On... Celebrating Editorial Impact (Session 1)

    Celebrate your fellow Editors and learn about the editorial initiatives that have made an impact on their journals. From Editorial Board development, to supporting growth and increasing diversity, to the impact of new collections, there’s a lot to celebrate in this special edition of the Spotlight On webinar series.

    Spotlight On... Celebrating Editorial Impact (Session 2)

    Celebrate your fellow Editors and learn about the editorial initiatives that have made an impact on their journals. From Editorial Board development, to supporting growth and increasing diversity, to the impact of new collections, there’s a lot to celebrate in this special edition of the Spotlight On webinar series.