Early-Career Scientists Call for Global Collaboration to Tackle Global Challenges
ChE Assistant Professor Bryan James co-authored the editorial, “Global Voices, Shared Futures: Early-Career Scientists on the Power of Collaboration,” which was published in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Central Science. The international team published the editorial to highlight barriers to scientific exchange and propose solutions.
In an era of increasing political and administrative barriers to international academic exchange, a team of nine early-career scientists from five countries is calling for renewed commitment to global scientific collaboration. Their editorial, “Global Voices, Shared Futures: Early-Career Scientists on the Power of Collaboration,” published in the prestigious journal ACS Central Science, argues that solving challenges from climate change to public health requires breaking down the silos that increasingly divide the scientific community.
“Collaboration not only yields better science but also fosters better scientists,” the authors write, drawing on their collective experiences as members of the 2023 CAS Future Leaders program.
Bryan D. James, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, co-authored the editorial with fellow CAS Future Leaders representing institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The team includes Krystyna Masłowska-Jarzyna (University of Warsaw), Diego Gomez-Maldonado (Texas Tech, formerly a postdoctoral researcher at Northeastern), Ty Christoff-Tempesta (UC Irvine), Katharina Ehrmann (TU Wien), Eleonora Comeo (Aboca), Susmita Sarkar (NC State), E. Celeste Welch (Stanford), and Jianyu Zhang (Zhejiang University).
A Timely Message in a Divided World
The editorial arrives at a critical moment when several countries and institutions have restricted international academic exchanges in the name of national security. The authors directly challenge this trend, emphasizing that global cooperation has never been more vital.
The team addresses three essential questions:
- Why are global scientific connections necessary?
- How can society benefit from these connections?
- How can we influence the future of collaborations to deliver real-world solutions?
Their answers emphasize both practical benefits—interdisciplinary innovation, accelerated discovery, and stronger problem-solving—and human dimensions, including mentorship, cross-cultural understanding, and the formation of lasting professional networks.
From Grassroots Initiative to Published Vision
The editorial itself represents the collaborative spirit it champions. The international team came together voluntarily, without institutional support or formal funding, to create this grassroots call to action—demonstrating that meaningful collaboration begins with connection, not titles.
“Now more than ever, it is essential to recognize the need for breaking out of narrow academic silos and promoting enhanced collaboration and communication within the broader scientific landscape,” the authors conclude.