A New Phase in the Consolidation of the UERGS Electronic Scientific Journal

Abstract

Since its inception in 2015, the Revista Eletrônica Científica da UERGS (UERGS Electronic Scientific Journal)
has established itself as an interdisciplinary forum for scientific dissemination, anchored in the principles of
open access, editorial ethics, and a commitment to social transformation. Throughout its trajectory, the jour
nal has achieved significant milestones, such as its indexing in the DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
in 2021 and its recognition on the CAPES “Plataforma Sucupira.” These achievements have enhanced its
visibility and credibility within the national academic landscape. It is currently indexed in 13 national and
international databases, including DOAJ, Latindex, Diadorim, and Sumários.org, among others. This reflects
the editorial team’s continuous effort to ensure quality, transparency, and scientific relevance. Through an
update to the Open Journal System (OJS), it was possible to translate and make the website available with
interfaces also in English and Spanish. Another improvement was the change in publication frequency, from quarterly to continuous publication.
On August 1, 2025, the journal entered a new phase under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Irene Teresinha
Santos Garcia, who has assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief. A Full Professor in the Department of Physical
Chemistry at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), she earned an undergraduate degree in
Industrial Chemistry, a Master’s degree in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science, all from UFRGS. She
completed postdoctoral research in Germany at the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg. Her research focuses on the
physical chemistry of interfaces, surface characterization, and colloidal systems. Professor Garcia participated
in the establishment of the Graduate Program in Chemistry at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas and is an
active faculty member in the Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Materials Science at UFRGS.
Professor Garcia served the journal from 2020 to 2023, first as Executive Editor and subsequently as
Associate Editor. In these roles, she dedicated significant effort to the journal’s indexing processes, particularly
for inclusion in the DOAJ and the Capes “Portal de Periódicos” (Journal Portal). She played an instrumental
role in organizing the Special Issue on Exact Sciences and Engineering, published in December 2022 (Vol. 8, No. 3). This issue compiled articles from diverse fields such as Computer Science, Process Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mathematics, and Physics, all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the contemporary demands of society and industry. Between 2023 and 2025, she served as
the Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry at UFRGS.
Since assuming the role of Editor-in-Chief, Professor Garcia has intensified efforts to diversify the jour
nal’s editorial board, promoting greater representation regarding areas of expertise, gender, and the regional
backgrounds of its members. This initiative reinforces the commitment and social mission of the Universidade
Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul (UERGS) to the democratization of knowledge, fostering a scientific journal that is pluralistic, inclusive, and responsive to the contemporary challenges of academic production.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Biane de Castro, the outgoing Editor-in-Chief, for her ded
ication and leadership of the journal in recent years. We celebrate her continued contributions in this new
and promising phase. With renewed enthusiasm, we invite authors, reviewers, and readers to join us in this
vital journey of strengthening open, pluralistic, and transformative science. The Revista Eletrônica Científica da
UERGS reaffirms its purpose as a distinguished forum for excellence, inclusion, and innovation.