News Chief editor of Nature Water visits MIT and meets with J-WAFS director

Fabio Pulizzi, PhD, toured MIT labs and met with Professor John Lienhard to discuss the importance of water to society and to present the journal’s scope and vision.

Jiaqi Zhang Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab July 2, 2024

On June 27, 2024, Fabio Pulizzi, PhD, the chief editor of Nature Water, visited MIT. Specifically, he toured the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center and the Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Laboratory. He was guided by PhD student and J-WAFS fellow Jonathan Bessette and research scientist Akshay Deshmukh, PhD, who is working with J-WAFS director Professor John H. Lienhard V on a new J-WAFS seed grant project. Bessette and Deshmukh led Pulizzi on tours of their respective experimental facilities. 

During his visit, Pulizzi explored many ongoing research projects that align with J-WAFS’ mission to address major water-related challenges. At the GEAR Center, Bessette introduced him to innovative technologies aimed at improving desalination and purification processes. After that, at the Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Laboratory, Deshmukh demonstrated cutting-edge research on heat transfer mechanisms and their application in sustainable water management.
 

Following the lab tours, Pulizzi met with Lienhard, the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Mechanical Engineering. They discussed J-WAFS-funded projects, the close relationship between water and society, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing water scarcity, quality and sustainability.

Later, as a featured seminar speaker, Pulizzi presented the scope and vision of Nature Water to the MIT community. He noted that Nature Water is a journal that falls under the broader, international journal Nature, which is known for publishing major scientific advances relevant to real-world applications. As one of the branches, Nature Water focuses on basic science, water treatment, pollution, economics, and social science in an attempt to address local and global water issues.

Pulizzi went on to provide a detailed description of the journal's editorial process, explaining how submissions are evaluated and decisions are made. He described the steps from submission to publication, including selecting reviewers and balancing various factors such as career stage and affiliation.

In addition, Pulizzi discussed the importance of open science and data sharing, noting the high percentage of papers that include publicly accessible data. He described the different types of publications aimed at engaging the community, such as opinion pieces, reviews, and perspectives, and the efforts to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. 
Finally, the presentation concluded with a Q&A session in which Pulizzi answered questions from MIT researchers and students.

Pulizzi’s talk was informative and engaging, giving the MIT community an insider’s look at what Nature Water looks for in a submitted manuscript. His visit also highlights the importance of water research, and the important role MIT can play in solving global water challenges.