How to create a truly impactful collection: Insights from an editor-in-chief

Author: Siobhan Bates

A collection is a curated, evolving body of knowledge focused on a timely research theme or interdisciplinary topic. Collections boost research visibility and impact, while fostering collaboration and supporting emerging or interdisciplinary topics. But what does it take to launch an impactful collection? To find out, we spoke with Ravinder Dahiya, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University and Editor in Chief of npj Flexible Electronics. Professor Dahiya has launched numerous article collections. Based on his extensive experience, he shares his insights into what makes a collection impactful.

Professor Dahiya leads the Bendable Electronics and Sustainable Technologies group, with research spanning flexible printed electronics, touch sensing, robotics, and wearable systems. His multidisciplinary background mirrors the expertise Springer Nature seeks in appointing guest editors: researchers with deep subject knowledge, strong community standing, and a clear editorial vision.

Editorial leadership researchers can trust

In the video, Professor Dahiya emphasises that impactful collections built around well-chosen, timely topics are shaped by experts who can bring together authoritative voices from across a field. This approach ensures that collections do more than aggregate papers. They tell a coherent story that advances understanding and supports future research.

For researchers and authors, this means confidence that collections are curated by leaders who understand both the science and the standards required to publish it responsibly

Publishing timely research that matters

Relevance and timing are critical to research impact. Professor Dahiya highlights a recent collection, Sustainable Flexible Electronics, as an example. The collection brought together work on semiconductor manufacturing and climate-focused technologies, two areas of growing urgency and global attention.

By exploring how flexible and printed electronics could help reduce carbon footprints while enabling continued innovation, the collection resonated widely across the research community.

Rigorous peer review as the foundation of quality

For authors and editors, the credibility of a journal or collection rests heavily on the strength of its peer review process. As Professor Dahiya makes clear, rigorous peer review is central to high quality publishing.

Guest editors are expected to select reviewers carefully. These should be researchers active in the field who can provide thoughtful, constructive, and expert feedback. Choosing the right reviewers for a collection not only safeguards standards but also helps authors strengthen their work.

“The quality of the papers we publish is highly dependent on the quality of reviews we get from the community,” Professor Dahiya notes. At Springer Nature, peer review is treated as a collaborative effort that benefits authors, readers, and the field as a whole.

Active editorial engagement at every stage

Beyond review quality, trust is built through editorial engagement and responsiveness. For authors, timely communication and clear guidance can define their publishing experience. For editors and guest editors, active involvement is essential to maintaining standards and momentum.

In the video, Professor Dahiya advises guest editors to stay engaged throughout the entire publication process, from initial submission and reviewer selection to evaluating feedback and guiding revisions. Adding editorial insight alongside reviewer comments helps ensure authors receive the best possible feedback and that final papers meet the expectations of the journal and its readership.

This level of care and oversight is a hallmark of Springer Nature collections.

A shared commitment to research integrity

What unites researchers, authors, guest editors, and editors is a shared commitment to advancing knowledge with integrity. Springer Nature’s role is to support that mission by providing a publishing environment built on trust, transparency, and rigour.

For researchers and authors, this means publishing in respected, widely read collections. For guest editors and editors, it means working with a publisher that values their expertise and supports them in delivering high quality outcomes. For readers, it means access to research they can rely on.

Watch the full conversation

Watch the full video to hear Ravinder Dahiya share from his experience on what makes a collection impactful.

If you are interested in becoming a guest editor or publishing your research in a Springer Nature collection, visit Springer Natures’ collections hub  to find out more.

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