Publication in ACS Central Science (2025)

08 12 2025

An editorial article dedicated to international collaboration from the perspective of early-career researchers has just been published in ACS Central Science. The initiator and lead author of the article is Dr. Krystyna Maslowska-Jarzyna from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Warsaw. The publication was prepared in collaboration with participants of the CAS Future Leaders 2023 program – one of the most prestigious developmental initiatives for young scientists.

Solving the world’s greatest challenges, from climate change to public health, requires not only brilliant ideas but also the ability to collaborate across borders, disciplines, and institutions. Global and interdisciplinary cooperation is essential for conducting scientific research with maximum societal impact. Such relationships help us learn from others and benefit from their strengths.

Scientific collaboration goes beyond carrying out independent parts of a project; it enables us to develop new skills, broaden our horizons, and gain unique scientific insights. Ultimately, it provides a stronger sense of personal purpose and belonging. Moreover, effective science communication and outreach are indispensable for promoting our research, ensuring its broadest impact, and translating fundamental discoveries into meaningful real-world outcomes.

The authors of the article, representing a wide spectrum of chemical sciences, describe their experiences in building international networks of collaboration. Early-career researchers from different research institutions around the world discuss the importance of scientific diversity, idea exchange, and openness to new perspectives as key elements driving scientific progress.

Dr. Maslowska-Jarzyna emphasizes: “We wanted to highlight that international collaboration is one of the most important tools for the development of early-career scientists.”

CAS Future Leaders

The CAS Future Leaders program, organized by the American Chemical Society, is considered one of the most prestigious development initiatives for early-career scientists worldwide. Each year, more than 1000 candidates from various countries apply, yet only around 30 participants are selected. In 2023, Dr. Krystyna Maslowska-Jarzyna joined the group of awardees, becoming the only representative of a Polish institution in the past 12 years.

Participants engage in intensive workshops, trainings, and meetings with editors of leading scientific journals and ACS experts. The program supports the development of scientific, leadership, and communication skills, and its alumni form a global collaborative network that often becomes the foundation for long-term research projects. The article in ACS Central Science is one such outcome of these shared efforts.

Applications for CAS Future Leaders 2026 are now open, with submissions accepted until January 25, 2026. More information is available here: https://www.cas.org/about/futureleaders.

Publication

K. Maslowska-Jarzyna, D. Gomez-Maldonado, B. D. James, T. Christoff-Tempesta, K. Ehrmann, E. Comeo, S. Sarkar, E. C. Welch, J. Zhang. Global Voices, Shared Futures: Early-Career Scientists on the Power of Collaboration, ACS Cent. Sci. 2025, 11, 2018–2021.

Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscentsci.5c01854.