Interview with EiC of Applied Chem Professor Jason Love at the Manchester Summit 2026: Current Research and Future Directions

We recently had the opportunity to interview Prof. Dr. Jason B. Love CChem FRSC, Editor-in-Chief of Applied Chem, at the 2026 MDPI UK Summit in Manchester.

Prof. Dr. Jason B. Love CChem FRSC is Professor of Molecular Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh and Head of the School of Chemistry.

He has over 20 years’ experience of delivering learning and teaching at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He was the Edinburgh co-director of the EPSRC CDT for Critical Resource Catalysis (CRITICAT) and External Examiner for the chemistry degree programmes at the University of Glasgow. He was a visiting professor at the Technical University Munich, Germany (2015), and at Osaka University, Japan (2019-20). He is now the Chair of the Heads of Chemistry UK and a Member of the Board of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh.

His primary research interests focus on the recovery and recycling of valuable and critical metals, making use of an in-depth chemical understanding to deliver new technologies and processes, a research effort that is supported by UKRI and industry funding.

Prof. Dr. Love was an expert contributor to a joint DESNZ/DEFRA research analysis of the potential benefits arising from resource efficiency (2023) and to the Royal Society of Chemistry ESED report on Decarbonisation: materials and circularity challenges for clean technologies. He was also invited to participate in a joint UK Science and Innovation Network – US DoE Critical Materials Innovation Hub R&D Workshop (2024) to enhance diplomatic and economic links for a secure and sustainable supply of critical minerals.

Recently, he led a programme to provide sustainable methods for the recycling of metals from e-waste for artisanal jewellers in India (with University of Dundee, NID, and IIT BHU). He is also a pillar lead on the UKRI Accelerating the Green Economy Centre REACT (University of Glasgow, HWU, University of Edinburgh) for Responsible Electronics and Circular Technologies.

Prof. Dr. Love has published 169 peer-reviewed articles and patents, and has delivered more than 90 international, national, and public invited lectures, including ‘Mining the Scrapheap’ at New Scientist Live (2018). He has contributed to commentary articles for the New Scientist, RSC Chemistry World, and RSC Voice, and to radio programmes on gold recycling (2020 BBC) and urban mining (2016 BBC, The Naked Scientists, BBC Scotland Brainwaves). He was the winner of the 2020 Ekeberg Prize for his work on tantalum recycling.

We interviewed Prof. Dr. Jason Love about his current research and future directions:

Can you tell me a little bit about your current research interests?

Yes, currently I am really interested in the sustainability and circularity of metal resources. So, things like gold and copper, how they are sourced, how they are recycled. We interrogate the chemistry that underpins a lot of those processes and try to develop new processes, try to be more sustainable, try to be greener, and try to apply that chemistry to processes that can then be used in industry and in other ways as well.

What was it that initially that made you want to take on the Editor-in-Chief role?

I think it was because of the particular journal; it’s fit into my background, and also into my research ethos as well, which was trying to take chemistry and move it towards something that would be economically or societally advantageous. So, it was the application of what I would consider to be fundamental chemistry into something that’s more applied.

What has been your biggest success in the role?

If I think about 2025, it has been a good year. The journal has been indexed now in Scopus and Web of Science. That has been a really big achievement. We have seen a significant increase in submissions and in publications as well, so I think that reflects well on how the journal is performing. We’ve also had a quite a few Special Issues. There was a women’s Special Issue which I thought was important in this particular area.

What plans do you have for Applied Chem in 2026?

The Special Issues are ongoing. I think what we need to do is try to maintain the quality of the submissions and the quality of the publications – that’s really important. I think quality is exceptionally important in promoting a new journal in particular. We need to look at what are potentially hot or emerging topics in this area, which could be those that are aligned to AI, or to green energy, for example.

Do you have any advice for young researchers trying to establish their careers within your field of research, within applied chemistry?

I think young researchers need to work hard, and I think they need to do something that is different to what they’ve done before. Choose topics that they think they can succeed in and choose topics that have importance, not only in fundamental chemistry, but also have societal and economic significance as well.

Aim high; I think that’s important so that the quality is there, but then also don’t forget about all the low hanging fruits as well, because you can aim high and not publish very much at all. Whereas, if you can pick out the low hanging fruit, you can get some good publications and that really helps your career.

Have the sessions from today’s summit impacted how you view open access at all?

Yes, I think they have. They reinforce why we need open access. Primarily because you’re not hiding important knowledge from people. I think it’s important that UK citizens, who provide tax funds to pay for research, should be able to see the consequences and outputs from the researchers they support.

Do you think it’s important that MDPI hosts events such as today’s summit?

Yes, I do. I think it promotes collegiality; it provides a lot of knowledge that I didn’t have before. And I think there is a good sharing of experience at this event through talking to people and networking. I think it’s really interesting hearing other people’s points of view, what works, what doesn’t work. I think that’s a great way forward. That’s why these kinds of events are really important and it has reinforced my desire to keep working with MDPI as well.

A big thank you to Prof. Dr. Jason Love for his time. MDPI looks forward to future collaborations with him.