Approaching Four Years of Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia journal, released in March 2021, will celebrate its fourth anniversary next year. This Editorial will detail the recent significant developments of the journal and highlight plans for the future.

The fundamental pillars of Encyclopedia are the promotion and dissemination of scientific knowledge. As an engine of human progress, the fundamental trait that distinguishes and inspires the journal is academic rigor. By providing open access and peer-reviewed contributions, Encyclopedia promotes collaboration both outside and within the scientific community, encompassing a wide range of disciplines. The journal aims to promote conceptual dialog and intellectual exchange to foster a fertile foundation for the growth of knowledge and innovation. Interdisciplinarity and transversality are two fundamental purposes of the journal, which disseminate high-quality content by proposing collections on innovative themes, capturing emerging trends, and providing a broad-spectrum vision of the covered scientific topics. Addressing a wide audience of readers, including professionals, academics, and researchers, the journal increasingly strengthens its role as a valuable resource for the promotion of knowledge at a global level.

In the past three years, we have had a consistent stream of submissions—with over 200 per annum. The total number of journal citations is exponentially increasing, from 507 in 2022 to 1207 in 2023, reaching 3418 in 2024. An online journal spanning multiple disciplines requires a clear structure to direct readers towards content of relevance and interest. Our strategy of organizing content by using Topical Collections allows for subdivisions within Encyclopedia that are curated by experts within their respective fields. From our first collection on Encyclopedia entries about COVID-19 to our more recent collection on Digital Society and Industry 5.0, we have built a diverse knowledge base on over 20 topics. More than half of these Topical Collections are run by Editorial Board Members (EBMs), while Guest Editors are vetted and approved by other EBMs.

In August 2024, we started publishing a new article type—Field Guide—which aims to provide a visual and descriptive introduction to the flora, fauna, and geology of a specific region such as a nature reserve or national park. We have received one submission thus far and have two planned for the end of the year. We welcome more submissions of this unique publication type and are willing to waive publication costs for exemplary works in this area.

1. Plans for the Future

Our journal’s entries are presently discoverable on major indexing databases like DOAJ, EBSCO, and ProQuest. With a strong library of publications heading into our fourth year, we plan to apply for indexing in other leading databases like Scopus and Web of Science.

Encyclopedia outlines several projects and initiatives aimed at improving its scientific relevance in the academic field and its significance at a global level. First of all, new Topical Collections will be introduced to deepen and disseminate emerging topics of great global impact. We want to embrace emerging challenges regarding cutting-edge topics, such as nanoscience and nanotechnology; artificial intelligence and machine learning; climate change; sustainability; quantum computing; and advanced materials, to name just a few.

The development of more Topical Collections to further broaden the coverage of Encyclopedia across all disciplines of science creates increased demand for more specialist Editorial Board Members who will help to validate the content of submissions. Though our present board comprises over 100 members, maintaining the engagement and commitment of members is a challenge that we aim to meet. We urge existing Editorial Board Members to attend our regular board meetings to keep tabs on the journal’s development. We also encourage interested researchers to apply for positions on the board to represent their niche in the scientific community.

Among the future perspectives, there is certainly the integration of interactive tools on our digital platform to facilitate the exchange of ideas and opinions. The use of the discussion forum and an open dialog with authors will, therefore, be promoted. Future plans include increasing the integration of multimedia content, such as video abstracts and podcasts, to promote the journal’s content and make scientific knowledge more accessible and engaging.

Other objectives concern the expansion of relations with academia, research institutions, and industrial partners to create a strong link between university and industry. Increasingly advanced tools will be used to ensure the highest quality and integrity in peer review processes and to guarantee top-tier scientific production. Contributions from underrepresented areas will be promoted to highlight researchers from developing regions. Finally, the use of artificial intelligence tools will be promoted to improve the discovery and use of relevant scientific content and to ensure rapid access to relevant information on emerging topics.

To coincide with our fourth anniversary, the journal will award two contributors the “Encyclopedia 2024 Outstanding Contributor Award” which comprises a CHF 300 award, a free waiver to publish in the journal, and an electronic certificate. The deadline for applications is 15 January; more details can be found on our Journal Awards page: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/encyclopedia/awards/2678 (accessed on 9 January 2025).

2. Conclusions

The fusion of an online journal format with an encyclopedic compendium puts Encyclopedia in a unique position to contribute to knowledge on the internet. We have garnered a growing reader base and will take this momentum into 2025 and beyond.

The journal is committed to making knowledge accessible to all, fostering collaboration and innovation. With the firm goal of maintaining its position as a leading reference for open access publishing, Encyclopedia aims to provide a driving force for academic and social progress. We invite readers, authors, and reviewers to collaborate with us to build a future without barriers, in which knowledge acts as a catalyst for constructive change.