PLOS and The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina (UNC) are collaborating to publish a special collection of articles in PLOS Water and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation based on the 2026 UNC Water and Health Conference, scheduled for October 26–30. The collection will include original research, reviews, and narrative papers presented at the conference, covering the breadth of WaSH research and highlighting challenges, insights, and solutions for advancing water security.
The initiative builds on previous collaborations, which have resulted in more than 50 published papers across journals such as PLOS Water, PLOS Global Public Health, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation. Articles from the 2026 conference will be added to the dedicated collection webpage, which will be updated periodically and promoted through the UNC Water Institute’s newsletters and conference communications.
Researchers presenting at the conference, as well as those working on thematically relevant topics, are invited to submit manuscripts for consideration. Submissions may include narrative‑focused pieces such as essays, opinions, or narrative reviews. Draft proposals for these formats must be submitted in advance to the collection coordinators, Gui Wright, Executive Editor at PLOS Water, and Ryan Cronk, Research Director at The Water Institute, UNC Chapel Hill. Opinion articles will be accepted by invitation only.
The collection aims to recognize high‑quality science in the WaSH sector and provide equitable access through PLOS’s open access publishing models, institutional partnerships, and initiatives such as Research4Life. Published articles will be available immediately upon peer review acceptance and featured on the PLOS special collection webpage.
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