Within its 8th year of publication, the journal “Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/technology” (RESB) has developed into a cutting-edge peer-reviewed journal, publishing timely review articles in all areas of environmental science and (bio)technology. The journal has now been indexed in Aqualine, Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), Current Awareness in Biological Sciences (CABS), Global Health, Pollution Abstracts and SCOPUS, thereby granting a wider recognition to the journal in its field. The completely revised editorial board, fine tuned aims & scope and the updated Instructions to Authors are presented on the journal’s website.

“Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/technology” publishes mini and full-length reviews on exciting new developments at the environment-technology interface. RESB provides its readers with the latest developments, which over the last 5 years comprise several new research fields, including bio-fuels and bio-energy, bio-nanotechnology and environmental hydro-informatics. Many promises in molecular microbial and bioinformatics were realised, yielding fantastic insights and new views on the microbial ecology and ecosystem dynamics of natural and man-made ecosystems. Also in environmental education, great progress was made with the introduction of new learning concepts, supported by powerful information technologies, yielding excellent didactic materials and curricula.

The journal aims to publish the highest quality review articles in the field. The journal also continues to synthesize developments and bundle information by dedicating special issues to thematic topics. Authors of full-length reviews are encouraged to provide their own assessment and vision for the future advances in the field of research delineating real issues of a subject area within the field that is, not only the potential of the field, but also its shortcomings and specific ways in which these could be overcome. Mini-reviews on the latest breaking discoveries on which a substantial literature has not yet been reported are also published. Mini-reviews (4–8 pages) provide a forum for sharply focused topics of recent experimental investigations in environmental science and technology, primarily to make these results accessible to researchers from academia, industry and government as well as science policy- and decision-makers. Therefore, mini-reviews provide a critical, but balanced, assessment of the field and are not restricted to a single author’s published experimental results.

A substantial effort has been made to expand the journal with new features that serve the readers in capturing emerging issues of key importance. The Horizon paper, SWITCH monitor and Stockholm Water Perspective sections provide research and policy-oriented commentaries from world renowned leaders in environmental science and (bio)technology research. Reports on newly initiated research projects are provided in a distinct Project Update, Technology Career and Science Career section, focusing on initiatives from large research consortia and young researchers, respectively. The Web Alert section hints readers on key websites, whereas the Symposium Watch section updates them on the most recent developments in the field presented at international workshops, seminars and symposia.

As the Editor-in-Chief, I wish RESB to become a forum for in-depth discussion of those areas, which are crucial for the expansion of the environmental science and technology field. Thus, RESB will be essential reading to researchers who wish to keep abreast of the latest developments in our field.

Prof. Dr.ir. Piet Lens

Editor-in-Chief, RESB