Publish your SDG research in a Springer Nature journal or collection

Author: Tamara May & Nicholas Philipson

Your research relating to the Sustainable Development Goals contributes to academic knowledge that can impact the important work of policymakers, practitioners, and communities working to address urgent global challenges. In this post, we discuss how publishing your research as an article or as part of a collection at Springer Nature can give your work extended reach and impact. We also include a checklist to support you in getting started.   

Publishing your work as a journal article or in a journal collection makes it available to a broad audience of academics, practitioners, and policymakers. For research relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), delivering timely, focused, and credible insights can contribute to shaping SDG policy. 

The article format: Why it works so well for SDG research 

The concise structure of an article gives the content clarity that allows policymakers, nongovernmental organisations, and researchers to understand and apply your findings. Journal articles are published and indexed rapidly, making their knowledge and insights discoverable and available.  

Those who work practically on evolving issues like climate resilience, poverty alleviation, gender equality, or sustainable cities, can get support from this knowledge and stay responsive. The peer review process that articles undergo lend the research rigour and authority that are important to influence decisions and shape interventions.  

And when your work is published with a publisher that actively supports and champions the SDGs, its reach and relevance become even more meaningful. Springer Nature is committed to amplifying SDG articles’ visibility, strengthening its credibility, and ensuring it contributes to the broader global effort toward a more sustainable and equitable future. 

Why publish your SDG research in a Springer Nature journal or collection? 

Springer Nature is committed to supporting SDG-related research and amplifying it across disciplines and sectors. We offer one of the world’s broadest portfolios for SDG-related research, spanning thousands of journals and specialist collections. Through the Springer Nature SDG Programme, we support SDG-related research and amplify it across disciplines and sectors.  

With more than one million SDG relevant articles and chapters published since the SDGs were introduced in 2015, and over 17 million citations for its SDG content, Springer Nature journals and collections offer a home for high quality research designed to create real world impact. Your work gains visibility among global research communities as well as the policymakers and practitioners who rely on evidence to drive the Goals forward. 

[pull out quote] Springer Nature data show that publishing in collections leads to 31% more citations, 30% more downloads, and 63% higher Altmetrics scores than articles published outside of a collection. 

Making impact with your SDG research, in academia and policy 

A special report from 2025, titled ‘From publication to policy,’ examined the influence of published research on policies linked to the SDGs, as a signal of real-world impact on internationally agreed priorities. It showed that SDG research is not only growing in volume but also demonstrates higher academic impact.

SDG articles received higher average citations, Altmetric scores (indicating attention), and full-text downloads than non-SDG articles. But for the SDGs, impact beyond academia is central. The report shows that academic research is cited in SDG-related policy more often than in wider policy. Research is being used in policy and practice to support evidence, justify recommendations, or shape policy directions.  

“Our report shows that SDG research is being used well beyond academia, actively informing policy and real‑world decision‑making.” 
Nicola Jones, Director, Springer Nature SDG Programme 

For maximum reach for your SDG research, publish open access  

The report also explored the influence of different publishing models, and found that publishing open access significantly enhances the societal impact of SDG-aligned research. By removing barriers to readership, your work becomes instantly accessible to policymakers, educators, nongovernmental organisations, and communities.  

Springer Nature supports the broadest possible dissemination of research central to sustainable development. Much of the SDG-related research published in Springer Nature is openly available for anyone to read. In 2025, 62% of Springer Nature’s SDG-related articles were published open access.  

How publishing in a collection can amplify your SDG research  

A collection is a curated group of journal articles that focus on a specific theme or emerging topic, sometimes also known as a special issue. Springer Nature collections create a dynamic platform for authors working on similar research to share insights and discoveries. This affinity makes research more discoverable and relevant for related and interdisciplinary audiences. 

Many of these collections have an SDG-focus and engage with broad audiences that share an interest in the relevant SDGs. In 2025 alone, Springer Nature launched 2,180 SDG-related collections. 

Publishing in a collection is an effective way to increase the reach and relevance of your work, and to transform promising research into real-world impact. Curated by expert guest editors, SDG-focused collections bring together related research and make it easier for readers to discover and contextualise your article. The various Springer Nature collections that advance the SDGs highlight impactful research and attract readership. 

Just as importantly, publishing in a collection places your work within a carefully curated and trustworthy research environment, supported by expert editorial oversight and integrity safeguards that help uphold the quality, credibility, and relevance of the research it contains. That focus on quality is also reflected in author feedback: last year, 87% of authors were happy with their collections publishing experience. 

“Publishing in a collection has given this research much greater visibility, specifically because it showcases the real-world application in Malawi. This has acted as a powerful proof of concept. [...] Collections offer an excellent opportunity to ensure one’s research contributes directly to a specific, impactful conversation, reaching the very people who can act on it. It’s about getting the work in front of the right audience, not just the biggest one.” 
Megha Rao, Research Fellow for the Thanzi Labwino (Better Health) project 

Checklist: How to get started and publish your SDG article  

• Identify which SDG(s) your work addresses.  

1. Use Springer Nature’s SDG Programme page and its hubs dedicated to each of the SDGs to explore and identify topics.  

• Select journals or collections aligned with your discipline and SDG topic. 

1. Explore with the Journal Finder and consider SDG badges on journals that support the SDGs. 
2. On Springer Nature Link, use the SDG filter to refine your search and identify journals or calls for papers for relevant collections. 

• Review the aims, scope, editorial policies, and submission requirements of relevant journals. 

1. Check the collections and updates pages of journals of interest to explore calls for papers open to submissions.  
2. If you can’t find a call for papers relevant to your work, consider proposing an SDG-related collection to the journal’s editor-in-chief.  

• Consider publishing open access to expand the visibility, reach, and policy engagement of your work.  

1. Learn more about open access journals, and explore the glossary of terms to help you navigate the world of open access science. 
2. Find out about funding availability for publishing open access.  

• Highlight the SDG relevance of your article.  

1. Alongside the usual priorities when preparing your manuscript, such as clarity and methodological rigour, make the connection to the relevant SDG(s) explicit, and where appropriate include policy analyses and practical recommendations. 

• Extend visibility post publication.  

1. After publishing in a Springer Nature journal or collection, consider writing a ‘Behind the Paper’ post on Springer Nature’s Research Communities. This special glimpse behind the research is tagged with relevant SDGs on the Research Communities, further amplifying the reach of your work and the potential for building new connections.  

Springer Nature is committed to advancing progress on the SDGs by publishing high quality, impactful research and ensuring it reaches the audiences who can use it to drive change. Publish your SDG research in a Springer Nature journal or collection to support these efforts, and get our support to making your research count.  

Learn more about publishing in a Springer Nature journal or collection, including a step-by-step guide to walk you through the publication journey and information on open access publishing.  

Related content:

• Can open access help SDG research achieve greater impact?
• Can open access help SDG research achieve greater impact?
• Unlocking Research Impact: What Is a Springer Nature Collection? 
• How SDG research drives policy: A special report 
• What can institutions learn from a systems approach to sustainability transformation? 

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