Professor Patricia Forbes of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Chemistry has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the internationally renowned research journal ACS Earth and Space Chemistry.

A professor of Environmental Chemistry, Prof Forbes holds the Rand Water Research Chair and leads the Environmental Monitoring and Sensing Research Group in the Department of Chemistry in UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, where she has taught since 2009.

ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, published by the American Chemical Society (ACS Publications), is a monthly journal that advances the interdisciplinary application of chemistry to natural materials and processes in Earth’s interior, surface and atmosphere, and in space. Prof Forbes will officially assume the role of Editor-in-Chief on 1 July 2025, succeeding Professor Joel Blum of the University of Michigan in the United States, who has led the journal since its launch in 2016.

She says she will work to consolidate the journal’s impact and growth, building on the success of her predecessor.

“My appointment as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry is a great honour, and I am excited for the opportunity to work with the editorial team and ACS publishing staff to take this prestigious journal to even greater heights,” Prof Forbes said. “As ACS Earth and Space Chemistry approaches its tenth anniversary since inception, it is clear that it is well-established within the library of environmental chemistry journals, and I aim to boost its current upward trajectory further.”

‘Broad research expertise’

Prof Barend Erasmus, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, expressed the faculty’s
congratulations. “This is a remarkable achievement for Professor Forbes and a moment of immense pride for the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the University of Pretoria,” he said. “Her appointment as Editor-in-Chief of such a prestigious international journal as ACS Earth and Space Chemistry is a testament to her exceptional standing in the field of environmental chemistry. This recognition aligns perfectly with UP’s vision to be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, globally recognised for its quality and impact, and it underscores our mission to produce impactful research that addresses global challenges.”

Her predecessor, Prof Blum, also offered his support. “I am pleased to see that ACS Publications has selected Professor Forbes as the next Editor of ACS Earth and Space Chemistry,” he said. “She brings a broad research expertise to the journal leadership position and is an experienced scientific editor. I am confident that Professor Forbes will be a good steward of the journal and will keep it moving along its current positive trajectory.

‘Expansive accomplishments as editor and researcher’

Prof Forbes previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the South African Journal of Chemistry and is a member of the Editorial Boards for several journals.

She earned her MSc degree in Applied Science from the University of Cape Town and her PhD in Chemistry from UP. Her research focuses on analytical chemistry involving the development of novel sampling and analytical methods for environmental pollutants.

“We’re delighted to welcome Professor Forbes and look forward to working with her to continue to elevate ACS Earth and Space Chemistry,” said ACS Publications Senior Vice President and Chief Publishing Officer Dr Sarah Tegen. “With her strong background and expansive accomplishments as an editor and researcher, she is deeply qualified to guide the journal on the next chapter of its journey.”