Prof. Dr. Raman Singh is the Event Chair of the 3rd International Online Conference on Corrosion and Materials Degradation (CMD 2026), which will be hosted online from 30 June to 2 July 2026 by MDPI, Corrosion and Materials Degradation (CMD, ISSN: 2624-5558). Early Bird Registration has been extended! We encourage you to register and submit your abstract to secure your participation at the Early Bird rate.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Raman Singh:

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
I am a senior professor at Monash University, Australia, where I have supervised 65 PhD students on corrosion and corrosion-assisted cracking and their mitigation. I have had four stints as a Guest Professor at ETH Zurich, Switzerland (2020, 2023, 2024, 2026). I was also a Guest Professor at US Naval Research Lab, Indian Institute of Science, University of Connecticut, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. I worked earlier as a scientist at Indian Atomic Energy and as a post-doc fellow at University of New South Wales, Australia.
My primary research interests are in the relationship of nano-/microstructure and environment-assisted degradation and fracture of metallic and composite materials, and nanotechnology for advanced mitigation of such degradations. Advanced coatings for corrosion mitigation, stress corrosion cracking, and corrosion and corrosion-mitigation of magnesium alloys (including for the use of magnesium alloys for aerospace, energy, defence, and bioimplant applications).

2. Your research is leading the charge of using nanotechnology and advanced materials for corrosion mitigation. In the current scientific framework, how do you see these “next-generation” materials disrupting our traditional, long-standing approaches to protecting critical alloys in industries like aerospace and defence?
My group has worked extensively on graphene coatings as a disruptive approach to corrosion mitigation. Graphene nanomaterial is among the most researched materials since Graphene research was awarded Nobel Prize about 15 years ago. My group is the leading group working on graphene coatings for corrosion mitigation.

3. What do you think of the development status and trends of open access publishing?
Open access is very effective approach to allow access to such researchers who can’t afford access to literature in the traditional journal subscription system. Also, I have reasons to believe an open access publisher, MDPI in particular, does a great job of promotion of the published articles. However, such publishers need to improve the quality of the published articles.

4. Given your editorial leadership as Editor-in-Chief, what is your impression of the Corrosion and Materials Degradation journal and its role in the current scientific landscape?
I think, though Corrosion and Materials Degradation made a modest beginning, I, as the founding Editor-in-Chief, was not too concerned to push the number. However, Corrosion and Materials Degradation made good progress, thanks to the great support from the journal office and the editorial board members, that led to the first Impact Factor of the journal, 2.4, which is good.

5. What advice would you give to young scholars and PhD students who are just starting their careers in corrosion and materials degradation?
Young researchers, PhD students in particular, often focus on great results that may lead to great publications and/or industrial applications. While this is not wrong, they must also realize that good-quality research is not all about great publication and/or industrial application. The best-quality research training has more to do with identifying a scientifically formidable research problem and investigating its solution through a fundamentally sound work plan. The great publication and/or industrial application are the desirable products, not the mandatory requirements.

6. Could you kindly share with us your thoughts and outlook on the CMD 2026?
This conference is slowly growing in quality and quantity. The speakers include world leaders in corrosion. I am privileged to have chaired each of the three editions. The CMD 2026 conference organizers/secretariat have done a fabulous job. I also thank my co-chairs. I look forward to CMD2026.