Diversifying our editorial boards in China – an EBM’s perspective

Author: Aman Ganpatsingh

China’s rapid rise as a global leader in research makes it essential for editors to engage and collaborate with world-leading institutions and high-impact researchers from the region. Since early 2024, we have recruited more than 3,000 new EBMs from China to bring more diverse expertise and perspectives to our journals. In this blog, we hear from Dr Qiaolei Jiang, Associate Professor & Associate Chair of the School Board at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University and an EBM for Scientific Reports. Dr Jiang shares her experience of becoming an EBM, and explains why representation from China is so important for research publishing.

Spotlight on Dr Qiaolei Jiang

Dr Jiang’s research spans communication and media studies, with a focus on emerging technologies such as social media, mobile communication, and AI. As an interdisciplinary researcher whose work bridges multiple fields, Dr Jiang acknowledges the role that academic journals play in advancing knowledge through diverse conversations. “Journals can work as a hub or platform for the whole academic community, which includes editorial board members, reviewers, authors, and other scholars,” she explains. “Journals are very important in nurturing the scholarly community and helping it grow and become more interactive.”

Keenly aware of the impact of digital divides from her own research, Dr Jiang views journal diversity as key to closing knowledge gaps. “Maybe it's related to my research background,” she notes, “but diversity can really help to deal with the so-called knowledge gap for academic communities.” Whether it concerns regional representation, gender balance, or varying career stages, Dr Jiang emphasises the importance of diverse voices. “A lot of very important issues cannot fully be researched by scholars from a single discipline,” she adds. “We need collaboration, and I think academic journals can be one of the platforms for scholars to meet each other and share their findings so they can provide insights from different angles and perspectives.”

How diverse editorial boards support research outcomes

A diverse editorial board is essential for creating a platform that accommodates diverse perspectives, provides essential contextual knowledge and enables new, innovative ways of thinking. “Because scholars are trained within their own specific disciplines and within institutions from specific areas, people may think within their own box,” explains Dr Jiang. “With more diverse editorial board members, we can think outside-of-the-box, know more possibilities, or alternative ways to improve the decision-making or review process.”

Local expertise is also critical for ensuring unbiased evaluation of research. “You really have to understand the context of the research and even culture before you are able to make a fair decision whether research is good or bad,” explains Springer Nature’s Journals Growth Director in Greater China, Chongfang Wang. To do this requires more reviewers and editorial board members who represent the research the journal is receiving.

Considerations for EBM recruitment in China 

Cultural factors can sometimes hinder participation in editorial roles. According to Dr Jiang, more junior researchers may lack confidence in their experience: “For some young scholars, they are not quite sure whether they are confident, and if they are ready to provide feedback.” Meanwhile, more senior scholars may also hold back from seeking EBM positions. “They may also be waiting for the journal to invite them or to be recommended,” adds Dr Jiang. “I think it's related to the Chinese culture, being more modest.”

Publishers can address these barriers by taking a proactive approach and investing in editorial engagement. “Nowadays we have more international interactions so there will be more chances for Chinese researchers to meet with editors … so they can see the opportunity to take roles,” says Dr Jiang.” Collaboration with associations or research institutions is another effective route for editors to engage with more Chinese researchers. (Look out for a follow up blog where we will explore this in more detail).

Supporting and training new EBMs

Beyond recruitment, continuous support and training are essential for EBMs. Springer Nature offers access to a range of online training and communities, as well as face-to-face interactions to build expertise and best practices. “After I accepted the invitation, I received the Code of Conduct with a lot of details about [EBM] responsibilities,” says Dr Jiang. “I regularly receive e-mails about workshops and last year we had a face-to-face meeting. It was fantastic to meet everyone, we talked about a lot of issues. The hybrid and offline resources and interaction are quite helpful for getting me more involved.”

For Dr Jiang, the time invested in being an EBM is well spent, something she encourages others to consider. “Choosing to take an editorial role means a lot of responsibility at the beginning,” she says. “In the short term, it means more work and more responsibility, especially for junior scholars. But for me, I think in the long run, it's really helpful because you have a chance to learn how publishing works. If you become part of the community, you will learn a lot … and you will feel like it's worth it.”

Learn more about China’s development as a leader in global research by reading the Springer Nature Global Research Pulse: China report