Welcome to Populations: A New Platform for Demographic and Population Science Research

With great excitement and pride, I introduce the inaugural issue of Populations, a new research journal dedicated to advancing our understanding of population dynamics and its interactions with socio-economic, political, and environmental processes. This journal represents the collective effort of a distinguished group of scholars, researchers, and practitioners who have convened to create a space for innovative and impactful research on population-related issues. Our aim is to turn Populations into a leading forum for interdisciplinary exploration in the field.

1. Our Vision and Mission

Populations was launched in recognition of the urgent imperative to address the complex challenges facing nature and society through a critical demographic lens. These challenges—shifting impacts of age structure on economic outputs, consequences of old age security and internal and international migration on natural systems and livelihoods, health equity, environmental sustainability, mass migration and burgeoning refugee populations accelerated by natural and human disasters, and social cohesion—require more than ever a critical understanding of demographic changes and their far-reaching implications. We envision a journal that not only publishes groundbreaking research, but also sparks collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and regions. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive open-access platform where scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders can find high-quality peer-reviewed research that spans a wide range of topics related to population science.

We believe that addressing global demographic challenges with the most innovative solutions requires collaboration that transcends and coalesces across traditional boundaries. As such, we are committed to publishing work that brings together diverse perspectives—whether from sociology, economics, public health, environmental and climate science, geography, political science, or other disciplines—that intersect with population studies. It is this commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration and inclusivity that we believe will make Populations a valuable resource for researchers, teachers, and practitioners alike.

2. Scope of the Journal: Broad, Multidisciplinary, and Impact-Driven

The scope of Populations is intentionally broad, encompassing studies that explore the fertility, mortality, and migration, their social and natural impacts, and the many drivers that influence these processes, including social, economic, cultural, political, environmental, and health determinants. We especially invite contributions that frame research problems as multi-scalar, involving human–environment interactions, and cross-disciplinary innovative approaches and solutions. We recognize that population dynamics—both its causes and consequences—does not occur in isolation, but rather is shaped by a myriad of interrelated forces. Our journal welcomes contributions that examine these forces from multiple angles.

We are particularly interested in work that bridges disciplinary boundaries, integrates diverse and innovative methodologies, including mixed methods, and offers new insights that can contribute to both scientific understanding and to policy solutions. For example, how do climate change and environmental factors influence migration patterns? How does internal migration impact deforestation and local food security? How does population aging impact old age safety nets? What role do economic opportunities—or the lack thereof—play in fertility decisions within communities? How can public health interventions be designed to address disparities in maternal and child health outcomes? These are the types of integrative questions that Populations aims to explore, focusing on their theoretical, methodological, and policy implications.

Our journal embraces a wide variety of article types, including original research articles, technical notes, communications, review papers, and perspectives. By providing a platform for both comprehensive reviews and cutting-edge research, we hope to cater to the diverse interests of our readership, which includes academics, policymakers, and professionals working in the fields of public health, economics, sociology, environmental science, geography, and beyond. In addition, we support the inclusion of supplementary materials such as datasets, multimedia files, and extended methodological details, allowing authors to present their research in as much depth as they see fit.

3. Commitment to Open Access and Global Reach

As we embark on this journey, we are committed to ensuring that the research we publish reaches a global audience. To this end, Populations is entirely open access, allowing readers around the world to freely engage with the latest advancements in the field. The decision to adopt an open-access model was motivated by our belief that knowledge should be accessible to all, regardless of geographic location, economic means, or institutional affiliation. By removing barriers to access, we hope to foster a more inclusive, vibrant, and equitable exchange of ideas, particularly benefiting researchers and practitioners in low- and middle-income countries who may have limited access to subscription-based journals.

We offer waived article processing charges (APCs) for select outstanding papers submitted to this inaugural issue, thanks to the generous support of our editorial board and partners. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to making our journal accessible to a diverse group of contributors, ensuring that the opportunity to publish in Populations is not limited by financial constraints. We understand that the landscape of academic publishing can be challenging, particularly for early-career researchers and those working in under-resourced settings, and we are dedicated to supporting our authors in every way possible. With this in mind, we will endeavor to continue to offer reduced and waived APCs for outstanding contributions, especially those produced by under-resourced scholars with a high chance of producing a seminal paper in the field or of catalyzing political and behavioral interventions necessary for sustained and equitable solutions to our world’s most compelling challenges.

4. The Founding Editorial Board: Expertise and Vision

The founding editorial board of Populations is composed of leading experts from institutions across the globe, each of whom brings expertise and a unique perspective to our mission. Our distinguished team includes scholars from diverse disciplines, such as demography, sociology, public health, geography, and economics, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of population science and our mission to be the leading interdisciplinary academic journal in the area of population dynamics. The board members have been instrumental in shaping the vision of the journal, and their collective experience and insights will help to ensure that Populations maintains the highest standards of innovation, quality, and rigor.

In this inaugural issue, we are honored to feature contributions from several of our board members. These articles set the tone for what we hope will be a journal that not only advances the field, but also creates a vibrant community of population scholars dedicated to uncovering innovative and durable solutions to population-related challenges. The participation of our founding editors in this first issue is a testament to their commitment to the success of Populations, and we are grateful for their leadership and support.

5. Addressing Contemporary Challenges in Population Science

The field of population science is at a critical juncture. Many of the challenges we face today require innovative and evidence-based solutions. Issues such as population aging, urbanization, migration, and the impact of climate change on human settlements are complex and multifaceted, demanding a holistic approach to research and policymaking. Yet, the scholarly journal landscape has only recently begun to reflect this reality. At Populations, we are committed to publishing research that not only advances our understanding of population dynamics, but also provides actionable insights that can inform scalable and equitable policy and practice.

One of the key themes that we aim to address through our journal is the relationship between population dynamics and health. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of understanding how demographic factors—such as age distribution, population density, and migration—can influence health outcomes and the spread of infectious diseases. By providing a platform for research that examines these relationships, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective public health interventions and strategies for managing future health crises.

Another important area of focus for Populations is the intersection of population dynamics and environmental change. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, it is crucial to understand how environmental factors are influencing migration patterns, fertility decisions, and overall population health. We encourage submissions that explore these intersections, particularly those that provide insights into how communities can adapt to changing environmental conditions and build resilience in the face of uncertainty.

6. A Call to the Population Science Community

In conclusion, I invite you to explore the articles in this inaugural issue and join us in shaping the future of population science. Whether you are a researcher, teacher, practitioner, or policymaker, we believe that Populations will provide you with valuable insights and foster important dialogues. We welcome your submissions, collaborations, and feedback as we work to build a resource that serves the diverse needs of the global population research community.

On behalf of the founding editorial board, I thank you for your interest in Populations, and I look forward to seeing how our collective efforts can contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shape our world. We are excited about the journey ahead and are confident that, with your support, Populations will become a leading platform for population science research—one that is inclusive, impactful, and responsive to the challenges of our time.

As we move forward, we remain committed to our core values of excellence, inclusivity, and accessibility. We invite you to be a part of this journey, whether by submitting your research, serving as a reviewer, or simply engaging with the work published in our pages. Together, we can advance the field of population science with an interdisciplinary and innovative focus and contribute to the development of knowledge that will ultimately benefit societies around the world.