MDPI Open Science Insights: Academic Publishing Workshop at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 20 February 2025
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, MDPI is hosting a publishing workshop designed to educate attendees on MDPI’s paper publication process and the ecosystem surrounding open access publishing. This session will cover a comprehensive introduction to relevant journals and the editorial process, providing valuable insights into publication ethics and instilling essential skills for replying to reviewers effectively. Additionally, participants will be instructed on methods to improve their scientific writing, with experts in the field leading the session to ensure a thorough understanding of how to escalate their publishing potential.
Date: 20 February 2025
Time: 14:00–17:00
Venue: ZS 701, Z block, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China
Registration link: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/mysurvey2/index.php/889871?lang=en
Schedule:
| Speaker | Program | Time |
| Prof. Tarek Zayed | Opening Speech | 14:00-14:10 |
| Mr. Aleksandar Markovic | Open Access and MDPI, Journals Introduction; MDPI Editorial Process and Peer Review Process | 14:10-14:55 |
| Q&A Session | 14:55-15:05 | |
| Ms. Letty Zhang | Rejection Reasons for Pre-Check; Publication Ethics for Authors | 15:05-15:50 |
| Q&A Session | 15:50-16:00 | |
| Dr. Amy Cham | How to Write Scientific Papers; How to Respond to Peer Reviewers | 16:00-16:45 |
| Q&A Session | 16:45-16:55 | |
| Closing of Program | 16:55-17:00 |
Chair:
Prof. Tarek Zayed
Professor and Director of Research Postgraduate Program
Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University China
Speakers:
Mr. Aleksandar Markovic graduated from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and spent one semester studying at the Poznań University of Life Sciences in Poland. After completing his degree, he worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Belgrade before transitioning to the field of international trade between Serbia and Asia. In 2020, he joined MDPI, where he progressed through various roles and now serves as a Journal Relations Specialist, overseeing multiple journals across various disciplines. His primary responsibilities include maintaining communication with scholars worldwide and gathering their feedback to enhance collaboration between them and MDPI.
Ms. Letty Zhang graduated from the University of Leeds (UK) and joined MDPI in 2019. She has served as an Assistant Editor, Section Managing Editor, and Co-Managing Editor at the journal Sustainability. Currently, she is the Journal Ethics Specialist at Sustainability, mainly being responsible for reviewing journal ethics issues to ensure the healthy development of journals.
Dr. Amy Cham earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Monash University Malaysia, where she researched the role of a novel neuronal protein in the context of social stress—a critical link to depression. After completing her Ph.D., she spent three years in product management at a nutraceutical company. Dr. Cham joined MDPI in October 2022 as an Assistant Editor for IJMS, leveraging her academic expertise and industry experience to contribute to high-quality academic publishing. She was promoted to Group Leader in November 2023 and subsequently appointed as Regional Journal Relations Specialist in August 2024, during which she conducted extensive scholar visits across the APAC region, including Singapore, Australia, and Taiwan.