Prof. Paulo Santos Appointed New Editor-in-Chief of Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Paulo Santos as the Editor-in-Chief of Sustainable Materials and Circular Economy (SMCE). A distinguished scholar and leader in sustainable construction and circular economy, Prof. Santos brings decades of impactful research, academic expertise, and a steadfast commitment to advancing sustainable materials innovation to this pivotal role.
Distinguished Academic & Professional Background
Prof. Santos holds a PhD, Master’s, and Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Coimbra (Portugal), where he currently serves as Associate Professor. With extensive academic experience spanning over 25 years, he has taught sustainable construction and energy efficiency courses globally (including Erasmus Mundus programs) and leads research at the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE). He is the Principal Investigator of the award-winning "Tyre4BuildIns" project, recognized for innovative recycled tire rubber materials in energy-efficient building insulation, and is a member of key professional committees like TC14/ECCS and COST Action CA21103.
Research & Editorial Leadership
Prof. Santos has (co)authored ~230 publications (87 peer-reviewed journals, 4 books, 5 book chapters) with over 3,710 citations and an h-index of 29. He holds 3 patents, supervised 57 completed postgraduate theses, and participated in 16 funded European/national research projects. With deep editorial expertise, he serves on 25 international journal editorial boards, has 885+ verified Web of Science editor records, and has reviewed 132+ journal articles.
Core Research Philosophy & Mission
Guided by the principle that “sustainability in the built environment begins with circularity in materials and systems,” Prof. Santos’s research philosophy centers on bridging academic inquiry with real-world application. His scientific goal is to unravel the potential of circular economy principles, optimize energy-efficient building solutions, and promote the development and adoption of sustainable materials—particularly in lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction and recycled material applications. He aims to illuminate how circular material strategies can address global challenges, from reducing construction waste and carbon footprint to enhancing the long-term resilience and efficiency of the built environment.
Vision for SMCE
As Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Santos aims to elevate SMCE into a leading global platform for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sustainable materials, circular economy, and the built environment. His key priorities include:
- Expanding the journal’s scope to highlight cutting-edge research on recycled materials, circular material strategies, energy-efficient building systems, and LSF construction innovations.
- Fostering cross-sector collaboration among researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry professionals to accelerate the adoption of sustainable materials in practice.
- Upholding rigorous peer review standards, promoting impactful and accessible research, and amplifying work that drives tangible progress toward a circular and sustainable built environment.
We warmly welcome Prof. Paulo Santos to this leadership role and look forward to SMCE's continued growth, influence, and contribution to global sustainability under his guidance. For inquiries, collaborations, or submission-related questions, please refer to SMCE’s official website or contact the journal’s editorial office.
