Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Dr. Maria J. Mosquera (Universidad de Cádiz, Spain) as Section Editor-in-Chief (SEiC) of the “Architectural and Infrastructure Coatings” Section. Prof. Dr. Mosquera has been a member of the Coatings Editorial Board since 2024 and brings extensive editorial experience across multiple fields, including surfaces and interfaces and related disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Mosquera is a Full Professor at Physical–Chemistry Department (University of Cadiz). She is currently the director of the IMEYMAT (Research Institute in Electron Microscopy and Materials). IMEYMAT, with over 100 researchers and a last-generation equipment, developing excellence in physics, chemistry, engineering and material science. She has been leading the research group “Nanomaterials” for 20 years, focused on developing advanced materials by fine-tuning their nanostructure and surface properties. These materials, obtained by a sol–gel routes, present consolidant, hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, self-cleaning, depolluting and/or auto-fouling performances. They find practical applications in different fields, such as construction and heritage preservation.

In her role as SEiC, Prof. Dr. Mosquera will work with the Editorial Office and Academic Editors to support the publication of high-quality submissions and to further strengthen the “Architectural and Infrastructure Coatings” Section as an open forum for fundamental and translational research.

The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Maria J. Mosquera, who shared her vision for the journal with us, as well as her views of the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to take the role as its Section Editor-in-Chief?
Numerous journals related to nanotechnology pay attention to advanced coatings. Other journals are focused on building materials and their preservation, but there are no specific journals that cover all aspects together. This journal provides the perfect platform to bridge that gap. I was drawn to the opportunity to lead a Section that explores how nanoscale innovations can fundamentally redefine buildings preservation.

2. What is your vision for the Section?
My vision is to establish this Section as the global authority on advances coatings focused on architecture. My goal is to foster a dialogue between material scientists, nanotechnologists, civil engineers and architects to ensure that breakthroughs at the nanoscale are practically viable for large-scale construction.

3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
The future lies in buildings that can sense and react to their environment (i.e., facades that sequester pollutants, cleaning air of our cities) or materials that can self-heal structural cracks using nanotechnology. These innovative coatings will promote buildings preservation, instead of their demolition, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry.

4. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
In a field as rapidly evolving as nanotechnology, open access is essential. Architecture, too, is a public-facing discipline. By making research open, we ensure that architects, engineers, urban planners, and designers worldwide—regardless of their institutional funding—can access the latest safety data and material innovations. This transparency is crucial for the widespread adoption of new technologies in the public and private building sectors.