On November 13, a “Cell Press Editor-Author Meetup” was convened through a collaboration between the Library and the College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering at Harbin Engineering University (HEU). The forum was purposefully designed to facilitate direct exchanges between HEU’s researchers and editors of leading international journals, focusing on strategies for improving scientific writing and expanding academic influence. Presiding over the proceedings was Professor YANG Piaopiao, Dean of the College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering. The audience included the Library Director SHEN Nan and delegates from Elsevier and other affiliated institutions.
Dr. YAN Li, Scientific Editor for Matter — Cell Press’s flagship journal in materials science — and the open-access journal Cell Reports Physical Science, delivered the keynote presentation. Sharing an editor’s viewpoint, she outlined the aims, scope, and editorial focus of both journals. Dr. Li walked the audience through the typical manuscript journey after submission, highlighting essential elements of effective paper preparation — from crafting a compelling title and figures to responding constructively to reviewer comments. She also shed light on what makes a manuscript stand out and succeed in high-impact journals.
The interactive segment saw lively participation, with attendees posing questions on submission procedures, peer-review standards, and best practices for communicating with editors. Discussions also touched upon emerging trends in scientific research and strategies for clear, impactful academic writing.
This meetup is part of the library's ongoing effort to champion disciplinary excellence and strengthen HEU’s academic culture. By facilitating access to top-tier global academic resources, the library continues to organize high-level editorial engagement events. Previous sessions have featured editors from leading publishers including ACS, Nature, and De Gruyter — all designed to help our research community refine their publishing skills and amplify their scholarly impact.
