Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) convened a symposium on the high-quality development of English-language academic journals and the inaugural meeting of the Editorial Board ofPolyChemon July 25 at the Sailun Conference Hall on the university’s Laoshan Campus. More than 70 experts from China and abroad, scholars in academic publishing, and representatives of international publishing organizations attended the event in person or online.
Luo Xiliang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC QUST Committee and Vice President of the University, delivered the opening remarks. Wu Mingbo, also a Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC QUST Committee and Vice President, presided over the meeting.
The Scene from Symposium on High-Quality Development of QUST English Journals at and the Inaugural Meeting of
the Editorial Board ofPolyChem.
In his opening remarks, Vice President Luo Xiliang extended a warm welcome and expressed gratitude to the editorial board members and experts attending from afar. He highlighted QUST’s three distinctive strengths: its rubber-focused disciplinary profile, its deep integration of industry–academia–research, and its application-oriented talent cultivation model. Luo noted that in recent years, QUST has placed high priority on the development of its academic journals, regarding them as an important platform for advancing disciplinary development and scientific research. To support the University’s strategic goals under its upcomingFifteenth Five-Year Development Plan, preparations for launchingPolyChem, a high-level English-language academic journal, officially began at the end of 2025. As the first English journal sponsored by QUST,PolyChemis expected to become an influential international platform for scholarly communication. Luo expressed the hope that members of the editorial board would contribute their expertise and guidance to support both the journal’s development and the advancement of the University’s disciplines in chemical engineering and materials science.
Luo Xiliang presents letters of appointment to the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Associate Editor, and Associate
Editors ofPolyChem.
The Editorial Board ofPolyChemconsists of 60 distinguished experts from leading universities and research institutions around the world.
During the meeting, Editor-in-ChiefZhang Kai, Professor at the University of Göttingen (Germany); Executive Associate EditorWeiGang, Professor at QUST; and Associate EditorChenTao, Researcher at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined the journal’s vision for international development and its medium- and long-term editorial strategy.
Associate EditorYinMeizhenof Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Associate EditorHani Nasser Abdelhamidof Assiut University (Egypt), together with other editorial board members from China and overseas, extended their congratulations through video messages or written letters, reflecting the journal’s broad international academic network and growing global influence.
During the appointment ceremony, university leaders presented certificates of appointment to the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, representatives of the domestic and international editors, and representatives of the young editors.
The keynote session featured presentations by eight leading scholars and publishing professionals from universities, research institutes, and academic publishing organizations. Covering topics such as functional polymeric materials, policies for developing world-class scholarly journals, best practices in university journal publishing, and the internationalization of SCI-indexed journals, the speakers shared their insights into advancing academic publishing and fostering global scholarly communication.
Speakers includedPolyChemEditor-in-Chief Zhang Kai; Wang Chuansheng, director of the National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Tire Equipment and Key Materials at QUST; Zhang Xin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Society of China University Journals; Chen Bin, President of Shandong University Press; Yang Limin, President of Academic Journal of Ocean University of China; Yu Yameng of Beijing KeAi Senlan Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.; He Chaoliang of the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Xiaojing Long of Qingdao University.
On the afternoon of July 25, the inaugural Editorial Board ofPolyChemconvened a dedicated working session to discuss the journal’s future development. Board members exchanged views on a range of topics, including proposals for special issues, manuscript solicitation, and measures to enhance the journal’s visibility and academic impact both in China and internationally. The discussions resulted in a phased action plan for the journal’s next stage of development.
Concluding the meeting, Wende Tian, Director of the QUST Journal Editorial Office, outlined three priorities for the journal’s future development: maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing, expanding global academic partnerships, and supporting the University’s disciplinary development.
The attending Editorial Board members all spoke highly of the progress made during the journal’s preparatory phase. Drawing on international trends in scholarly publishing and China’s strategic priorities in scientific and technological innovation, they also offered constructive recommendations on refined journal management, the development of signature special issues, international academic engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Photo of the inaugural Editorial Board members ofPolyChem
Backed by QUST’s internationally recognized strengths in polymer science, chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, and related doctoral programs,PolyChemis committed to launching as a high-quality, high-impact journal while adhering to best practices in digital publishing, editorial standardization, and research integrity. The journal is dedicated to advancing frontier research in polymer chemistry, fostering innovation across the discipline, and addressing national priorities in science and technology. Its long-term vision is to establish an authoritative international platform for scholarly exchange in polymer chemistry, with the goal of becoming a world-class journal and a leading SCI-indexed publication in polymer and composite materials research.
Cover ofPolyChem
PolyChemfocuses on publishing original research in polymer chemistry, with particular emphasis on polymer molecular design, sustainable chemistry, and functional applications. The journal welcomes submissions in, but is not limited to, the following areas: functional polymer design andsynthesis; sustainable and green polymer chemistry; theoretical and computational polymer chemistry; biopolymers and biomimetic materials chemistry; and polymer materials and composite systems.
The journal’s online submission and peer-review system is expected to become operational by the end of August, while the firstissueis scheduled for publication by the end of December.
For submission inquiries, please contact the Editorial Office at+86-532-84022636or emailpolychem@qust.edu.cn.
Journal website:https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/polychem/
