We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Mathematics (ISSN 2227-7390).

Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana received his B.Sc. in mathematics from the University of Granada (UoG, Spain) in June 1989. He was awarded a young researcher scholarship to work in the Department of Statistics and Operational Research at the UoG for the academic year 1989–1990. In July 1990, he took the Spanish public examination to become part of the government civil service as a secondary school teacher. He worked full time as a Mathematics secondary school teacher from September 1990 until July 2003. In 1996, he enrolled as a part-time student in the Doctoral Training Program of the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (UoG) and, on 24th March 2000, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Mathematics (Distinction Cum Laude), which the UoG recognized, on 27th November 2002, with the Outstanding Award for a Ph.D. in Mathematics for the academic year 1999/2000.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana joined De Montfort University (DMU, UK) in August 2003 as a Senior Lecturer. In August 2006, he became a Principal Lecturer, and in October 2007 he was awarded the title of Reader in Computational Intelligence. On 29th May 2012, he has conferred the title of Professor of Computational Intelligence and Decision Making at DMU. During the period 2015–2018, Prof. Dr. Chiclana was an Honorary Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Leicester (UoL, UK), and since 2018, he has been a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (UoG).

Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana has been recognized by Clarivate Analytics as a Highly Cited Researcher in Computer Sciences (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana who shared his vision for the journal with us as well as his views on the research area:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Editor-in-Chief?

This was a role I still have not had had the full experience. Therefore, it appealed to me because it would mean that I would be able to complete the research journey from the starting point of the inception of research ideas, their scientific development and presentation in the form of a research manuscript, to its final submission and publication for my research peers to share/use in their own research through the different stage roles managing research: research student, research author, research reviewer, research journal Editorial Board Member/associate editor/section Editor-in-Chief/Editor-in-Chief.

2. What is your vision for the journal?

My vision of the journal Mathematics is to maintain high standards of publication to attract the dissemination of quality research findings on the field of mathematics and close related fields of research that continuously influence and impact mathematicians and scientists in developing new products and services that ultimately enhance society, environment, and quality of life.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?

Mathematics pervades all aspects of life, with many research fields depending heavily on it. Thus, the future of this field of research has no end in sight and the days will come when current science fiction ideas will be realized in one way or other thanks to advances based on mathematics.

4. What do you think of the development of Open Access in the publishing field?

The rapid development of the Internet has made possible the development of Open Access in the publishing field as we know it now. Open Access format of publishing research is here to stay, with many countries currently requesting their funded research to be disseminated in this form. Obviously, new future ways of communication could impact how Open Access develops. I only hope that the future development of Open Access provides equal opportunities to all researchers to disseminate their research findings and to help them achieve their full potential as researchers.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Francisco Chiclana in taking up his role as Editor-in-Chief and look forward to his leadership which will help Mathematics to achieve many milestones.