Dr Steve Koonin, Energy & Environmental Science Editorial Board member, has just been appointed as Under Secretary for Science in the Department of Energy for the United States of America. 

The United States Senate have confirmed President Obama's nomination of Dr Koonin for the position of Under Secretary for Science in the Department of Energy. Dr Koonin was nominated in March and we congratulate him on being awarded this position. 

Effective upon assumption of his duties as Under Secretary for Science, Dr Koonin will be stepping down from his post as Energy & Environmental Science Editorial Board. We are very grateful for Steve's valuable input and support as an Editorial Board member and we wish him every success his new role. 

On leaving the Editorial Board, Steve said, 'it has been a pleasure helping to get the journal off the ground. My new role will be a different platform from which to address many of the issues covered by Energy & Environmental Science. I look forward to hearing of the journal's successes during the coming years.'