Robert Brown, professor of engineering at Iowa State, received a unique opportunity to help guest edit the science journal Energy Technology, which is focused on the energy field.

Brown worked with George Huber, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to organize experts from all around the world to submit papers for the journal.

Twenty research papers were included in the special issue, which was focused specifically on pyrolysis technologies — a method of converting biomass into fertilizer, fuel and chemicals.

The issue was published this month, but Brown said the process to edit the journal was extensive. After being contacted in March 2016, he said the first step was reaching out to researchers all over the world to identify who would contribute to the pyrolysis special edition.

“A big challenge was making sure every paper is written well enough for readers to be interested and understand,” Brown said.

It can be difficult to communicate such complex ideas in a way that is easily digestible, and that was a prime responsibility of Brown and Huber.

For the journal, Iowa State staff contributed two research papers, one authored by Brown and one authored by another Iowa State professor and researcher, Brent Shanks.

Brown’s research paper focused on the use and effects of micropyrolyzers, devices that pyrolyze minuscule samples in order to better understand the process.

Brown hoped to explore the accuracy of these assumptions that micropyrolysis leads to, and he said it was determined that the assumptions are often accurate.

Guest editing a scientific journal does come with its obstacles. Selecting researchers wasn’t an easy task for him.

“It was tough to actually choose who would contribute to the edition,” Brown said.

But the opportunity will allow Brown to highlight a subject he believes is growing and to put great minds together in one place to show the strides that have been made. Because the contributors came from all over the world, this journal is a far easier way to bring together the thoughts in one place.

“It’s like bringing a bunch of experts into one room to have a conversation and exchange ideas,” said Brown.

Overall, Brown believed that the special edition was a successful experience and showed progression in the pyrolysis technologies field.

“The fact that we received so many high quality contributions means that the field is healthy,” Brown said. “… It will be able to support commercial growth.”