Shaping a Resilient Future with Membranes in Times of Transition

Membrane science and technology represent a dynamic and rapidly evolving area within materials and process engineering, playing a pivotal role in addressing complex global challenges related to water, food security, energy, environment, and health. As societies confront pressing transitions — ranging from climate change and resource scarcity to urbanization and shifting socio-economic paradigms — the demand for resilient, adaptable, and sustainable solutions continues to grow. Recent advances in membrane research have revealed new possibilities for multifunctional materials, adaptive systems, and process integration across both established and emerging applications, yet significant knowledge gaps and barriers to implementation remain. In this new era marked by wide transformations, high-performance technological solutions are increasingly challenged due to their inability to accommodate rapid changes. Instead, approaches prioritizing a diversification of strategies, grounded in both technological and social innovations, seem to gain momentum. Hence, new research is welcome exploring long-term sustainability achieved by merging advanced membrane processes with other strategies mainly influenced by social factors.

Recent studies have underscored remarkable progress in advanced membrane fabrication, including nanostructured and composite membranes, bio-inspired materials, and robust thin films, along with enhanced membrane system performance in water purification, gas separation, and clean energy generation. The increasing integration of digital tools — such as computational modeling, sensor-enabled monitoring, and, notably, artificial intelligence — is accelerating the design, optimization, and deployment of membrane-based processes. AI-assisted approaches, including machine learning for membrane performance prediction, inverse design of membrane materials, and data-driven process control, are opening new frontiers for accelerating discovery and closing the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world implementation. However, these advances come with significant challenges. The heavy ecological footprint associated with the construction and operation of data centers and large-scale AI infrastructure warrants close attention. Concerns also persist around data availability and quality for training robust models, interpretability and generalizability of AI predictions across diverse operating conditions, and the risk of over-reliance on computational methods without sufficient experimental validation. Ensuring that AI-driven tools are accessible and applicable in resource-limited settings — particularly in Africa and other rapidly developing regions — remains a critical open question.

Debates continue around practical manufacturability, scalability, lifecycle impacts, fouling control, and the real-world adoption of innovative materials and hybrids in diverse regional and operational contexts.

This Research Topic is launched in conjunction with the 5th International Congress of the African Membrane Society (AMSIC-5), “Towards a Sustainable Future with Membrane Sciences,” to be held in Casablanca, Morocco, from November 2–6, 2026. The aim is to consolidate and advance knowledge on how membrane science can contribute to resilient systems amid times of transition. We invite innovative research, reviews, and perspectives exploring the challenges and opportunities for membrane technologies in supporting sustainability, adaptability, and robust performance under dynamic global conditions.

This Research Topic covers a wide spectrum of advances and challenges in membrane science, emphasizing resilience, sustainability, and adaptability in diverse transitional settings, with a special focus on contexts relevant to Africa and other rapidly developing regions. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the themes outlined above.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: membrane technology, resilience, sustainability, nanomaterials, water treatment, energy conversion, food security, artificial intelligence, disease prevention.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.