As we step into a new year filled with possibility, the editorial team of Synthetic Ecological Engineering (SEE) extends our deepest appreciation and warmest wishes to the global community of scientists, engineers, ecologists, designers, and scholars who have helped shape this pioneering journal in its formative year.

We sincerely thank our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Igor Polikarpov, whose visionary leadership has positioned SEE at the frontier of ecological innovation; our distinguished Editorial Board, comprising experts in synthetic biology, restoration ecology, bioengineering, and sustainable design; and our dedicated network of peer reviewers from institutions across six continents. Your rigorous insights and interdisciplinary perspectives ensure that SEE remains a trusted venue for bold, systems-oriented research that bridges nature and technology.

To our authors: thank you for entrusting us with your groundbreaking work. From novel biodiesel synthesis using soybean soapstock and experimental studies on polyester/cotton yarn sustainability, to ethnobotanical documentation of dry tropical flora in Tamil Nadu and critical reviews on citizen science in Zambia—your contributions embody SEE’s mission: engineering resilient ecosystems through biomimicry, circular resource flows, and socially embedded ecological design. You are not just publishing papers—you are co-creating the future of planetary stewardship.

We also express our gratitude to readers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers who engage with our open-access content. In an era defined by climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity, your interest affirms the urgent need for integrative approaches that go beyond conservation—to actively design regenerative futures.

Looking ahead to 2026, Synthetic Ecological Engineering reaffirms its core commitments:

• To uphold the highest standards of peer review, research integrity, and ethical scholarship;
• To publish original, transdisciplinary research that advances artificial ecosystems, genetically informed restoration, computational ecology, and ecotechnological innovation;
• To champion diverse knowledge systems, including local ecological knowledge and Global South perspectives;
• To remain a fully open-access journal, ensuring that transformative ideas reach researchers, communities, and decision-makers worldwide without barriers.

The challenges of the Anthropocene demand more than incremental solutions—they call for reimagining our relationship with living systems. Therefore, we warmly invite researchers, designers, and innovators from all disciplines to submit your manuscripts to Synthetic Ecological Engineering. Whether your work explores engineered microbial consortia for soil remediation, AI-driven habitat reconstruction, circular bioeconomy models, or participatory approaches to ecosystem rehabilitation—we welcome studies that fuse creativity, rigor, and ecological responsibility.

Wishing you a resilient, inventive, and harmonious 2026—one in which science, design, and nature move forward together.

With sincere gratitude and optimism,
The Editorial Office
Synthetic Ecological Engineering (SEE)