Interview with Prof. Dr. Anastassios M. Stamatelos—Winner of the Energies Editor of Distinction Award

We are pleased to share with you a recent interview conducted with Prof. Dr. Anastassios M. Stamatelos, the winner of the Energies 2024 Editor of Distinction Award.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Anastassios M. Stamatelos:

1. Could you give a brief introduction of yourself to the readers?
My name is Anastassios Stamatelos, and I am a Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Thessaly in Greece. For the first two decades of my academic career, my research was primarily centered on applied thermodynamics and internal combustion engines, with particular emphasis on modeling and performance evaluation of engine systems and exhaust after-treatment technologies.
Over time, I broadened my research interests to encompass a wider range of energy-related topics, including energy systems simulation, control and performance optimization, real-world performance assessment, and forecasting of photovoltaic systems, and various solar energy applications. Our research group has also been active in the areas of building energy simulation, HVAC system modeling, and heat transfer applications involving infrared thermography.
Throughout my career, my work has consistently focused on applied research, integrating experimental investigation with advanced simulation techniques.

2. How was your experience being an editor for Energies?
Having previously published and reviewed for Energies, I was familiar with the journal’s editorial standards and scientific scope. Following repeated invitations, and being positively influenced by the feedback of my longtime friend and colleague, Prof. Rakopoulos from NTUA—who has served on the Editorial Board for many years—I accepted the invitation to join the Editorial Board. Given that my research focus aligns closely with the journal’s, it was a natural progression. It has been a rewarding experience to contribute to the academic community in this role, although I must note that the workload can be quite demanding at times.

3. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?
The main problem today with most journals is how to attract good reviewers who are able and willing to produce acceptable-quality reviews in a feasible period of time. Improving the journal’s reviewer database could help alleviate some of the editorial workload. This would reduce the total publishing cycle time, ultimately streamlining the review process and improving the overall efficiency of editorial operations.
Strengthening the Pre-Peer Review screening process, approximately 25% of all submissions could be rejected in the pre-peer review stage. This would save valuable time for our qualified reviewers and help enhance the overall quality of our published papers.

4. What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?
When I decided to join the Editorial Board of Energies, I recognized that there was a clear need for a journal that could address the diverse and multidisciplinary nature of modern energy research and provide a platform for work that might not fit within the scope of more traditional journals in the field. In this context, I aimed at improving the journal’s publication procedures in the following directions: (i) Allow a fair and valid assessment of manuscripts summarizing important energy engineering achievements and innovative case studies that are difficult to publish in traditional journals in the field. (ii) Enhance the fast response and reduce the publishing cycle duration, with the selection of high-quality reviewers and removing under-qualified ones from the journal’s database. (iii) Strengthen the Pre-Peer Review screening process. This would save valuable time on our good reviewers and further increase the overall quality of our published papers. What I find most rewarding after serving for two and a half years in this post is a feeling of some progress in the above directions, and a steady improvement in the journal’s quality and status.

5. How do you manage your time and balance your responsibilities as a researcher and an editor?
This is something that is constantly changing because our job requirements as professors are changing. In the past, my workload was approximately equally distributed between teaching, research, and administration. The introduction of new technologies, along with the changing needs and learning styles of the current generation of students (Generation Z), presents unique challenges. Adapting our teaching methods to meet these needs requires considerable effort and time. This comes at a time when faculty staff are retiring, and replacements are not being made at the same rate, which in turn increases the teaching load.
At the same time, our aging experimental infrastructure demands more attention and maintenance. These factors combine to put significant strain on the time available for research, reviewing, and editorial responsibilities—traditionally taking up around 5–10% of our time.
Given these challenges, making the best use of the time available requires us to be highly efficient in managing our editorial duties.

6. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research?
Our work as teachers, researchers, and editors has already begun to feel the influence of artificial intelligence. However, its full impact is still unclear. The main challenge lies in integrating AI in a way that enhances our overall productivity without compromising the quality of our publications. The core issue remains ensuring the quality and validity of AI-generated outputs.
Integrating AI into the publishing pipeline could significantly improve efficiency. For example, AI could assist in the administration of our reviewer database: If our evaluations of each reviewer are processed through AI tools, we could systematically identify and remove unsuitable reviewers. This process could be guided by an automated technical report and evaluation generated by a specially designed AI tool.

7. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
In my area of focus, I think a research topic of particular interest is the general area of thermal management. This established field receives renewed interest due to the recent advancements in AI cloud computing and the electrification of vehicles. Many innovations in these areas are constrained by heat rejection and thermal management challenges, and the journal has already placed significant emphasis on this topic. Additionally, the evolving energy mix and the growing role of hydrogen will require the development of an infrastructure for its production, storage, transportation, and integration with electrical grids.
Lastly, multi-disciplinary research in energy systems holds great promise. This area requires collaboration across various engineering fields and other disciplines.