About this Research Topic

Background

The urgency for sustainable solutions to escalating global environmental challenges is at an all-time high. In response, the application of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology have emerged as a promising avenue, offering innovative approaches to address and potentially reverse these pressing issues.

Our objective is to showcase the novel strategies in which researchers utilize Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology as effective tools for sustainable development to unearth studies outlining bioengineered systems or processes for renewable energy production, biofuel production, or advances that contribute to energy efficiency. This includes, but is not limited to:

Ecosystem Conservation: human activities like environmental destruction and monocultures endanger plant and animal species. Technologies can aid in protecting endangered species and reversing anthropogenic extinctions. We’re looking to host novel investigations into the use of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for biodiversity conservation, responsible ecosystem management, and preservation of our environment's integrity.

Climate Crisis: fossil fuel combustion has led to accelerated global warming. Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology approaches can develop carbon fixation technologies to remove greenhouse gasses, improve energy sources, and mitigate emissions of pollutants like methane and nitrous oxide. We’re looking to present studies involving engineered strategies using these biological systems to combat global warming effects, enhance carbon capturing methods, or regulate the increase of global temperatures.

Bioremediation: toxic pollutants from petroleum products and industrialization harm ecosystems and public health. Systems Biology and Synthetic approaches can utilize microorganisms or plants to detoxify contaminants in various environments, including air, water, soil, and industrial effluents. We’re looking to highlight research around engineered organisms designed for cleaning up various forms of environmental pollution, or systems that contribute to efficient waste management.

Environment: land, water, and air quality impact Earth's inhabitants. Biotechnology can help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, and combat the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. We’re looking to feature approaches that develop solutions to help clean the air, provide fresh drinking water, or prevent the accumulation of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant microorganisms in the environment.

Exemplary (iGEM) Projects:
2023 iGEM HUST-China (China) was given the Best Climate Crisis Project award for its solar microbial fuel cells system that involved a collaboration between engineered Cyanobacteria and Shewanella to concurrently capture CO2 and produce electricity, with the ultimate goal of reducing CO2 emissions and diminishing the need for fossil fuel combustion.

2023 iGEM Heidelberg (Germany) was given the Best Bioremediation Project award for its novel bioremediation method for upcycling mixed plastic using a co-culture of genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens, paving the way toward sustainable production, development, and environmental stewardship.

2023 iGEM Estonia-TUIT (Estonia) was given the Best Conservation Project award for fighting Bee viral infections by boosting the bee's inherent RNA interference immune response, protecting them from the virus' harmful effects.

Learn more about iGEM Projects .

Scope:
This Research Topic encourages submissions from the iGEM community and researchers around the globe who work in areas intersecting Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology and Sustainability. Investigators who pioneer strategies utilizing these biological techniques to address environmental challenges and those who work on enhancing the field's potential to enable sustainable development are particularly encouraged to submit their research. Through this topic, it is our aim to foster meaningful global conversations on how Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology can influence our efforts towards sustainable actions. We invite researchers to share their findings in the form of original research, reviews, perspectives, technology and code, or novel methods and/or their novel applications.

Please note manuscripts that are purely synthetic without a systems approach (i.e. at multiple levels/scales/time points or using multiple methods such as multi-omics) will be considered in our newly launched Frontiers in Synthetic Biology. Please see our 2023 iGEM collection for an idea of systems level papers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Sustainability, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology, Sustainable Action, Conservation, Climate Crisis, Bioremediation, Environment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my RT?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.