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Announcements
23 May 2024
Transfer Service in MDPI
We are pleased to announce MDPI’s Transfer Service.
This service provides a convenient method of transferring your manuscript file, along with any reviewer comments, to another journal within our publishing portfolio.
We are committed to helping authors find the right home for their research, and we will provide authors with guidance and technical support through all stages of the transfer process. Authors will be able to choose to transfer in the following two situations:
1. Select alternative journals on submission.
2. Authors are encouraged to transfer manuscripts to other MDPI journals.
More details about the Transfer Service can be found at the following link:
21 May 2024
MDPI Webinar | International Day for Biological Diversity Webinar, 22 May 2024

In order to commemorate the International Day for Biological Diversity, MDPI is launching a special webinar to encourage researchers to come together, take action, and highlight how the exchange of findings facilitates efforts to raise awareness in all walks of life.
Climate change, man-made changes to nature, and crimes that disrupt biodiversity, such as deforestation, land-use change, intensified agriculture, and livestock production or the growing illegal wildlife trade, can accelerate the speed of the planet’s destruction. This webinar aims to encourage connection and collaboration among researchers and the international open access community to help fight against negative human-induced effects on the Earth.
We are very much looking forward to seeing you at the MDPI International Day for Biological Diversity Webinar. Please find below an up-to-date outline of the presenters.
Date: 22 May 2024 at 10.00 a.m. CEST | 4:00 a.m. EDT | 4:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 880 4396 0569
Sciforum webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/MIDfBDW2
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
Time in CST Asia |
MDPI Introduction |
10:00–10:10 a.m. |
4:00–4:10 p.m. |
Dr. Georgios C. Koubouris |
10:10–10:40 a.m. |
4:10–4:40 p.m. |
Dr. Adolfo Cordero-Rivera |
10:40–11:10 a.m. |
4:40–5:10 p.m. |
Dr. Maria A. Tsiafouli |
11:10–11:40 a.m. |
5:10–5:40 p.m. |
Q&A Session |
11:40–11:55 a.m. |
5:40–5:55 p.m. |
Closing of Webinar |
11:55 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
5:55–6:00 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available.
Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Georgios C. Koubouris, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Greece;
- Dr. Adolfo Cordero-Rivera, Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, Spain;
- Dr. Maria A. Tsiafouli, Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Relevant Special Issues:
Agriculture
“Modern Reproductive Biotechnology Assists Farm Animal Conservation and Genetic Rescue”
Guest Editors: Dr. Monika Trzcińska and Prof. Dr. Marcin Samiec
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024
“Exploring Cereal Biodiversity for Climate Change Mitigation in Agricultural Production”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Jerzy Henryk Czembor
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2024
Insects
“Assessing Insect Pollinator Populations Using Molecular Methods—Approaches and Metrics on Species Diversity, Abundance and Genetic Diversity”
Guest Editors: Dr. Wiebke Sickel and Dr. Frank M. J. Sommerlandt
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024
“Genetic Diversity of Insects”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Pairot Pramual and Dr. Luis M. Hernandez-Triana
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025
“Diversity and Function of Collembola”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Liang Chang and Prof. Dr. Meixiang Gao
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024
“Invertebrate Conservation: Challenges and Ways Forward”
Guest Editor: Dr. Richard V. Glatz
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024
“Aquatic Insects: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution”
Guest Editor: Dr. Marija Ivković
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024
Animals
“Wildlife Trade and Crime”
Guest Editor: Dr. Harry Wels
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024
“Assessing the Environmental Adaptation of Wildlife and Production Animals: Applications of Physiological Indices and Welfare Assessment Tools (Volume II)”
Guest Editor: Dr. Edward Narayan
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024
“Importance of Sanctuaries and Rehabilitation Centres for Wildlife”
Guest Editors: Dr. Marco Campera and Dr. Michela Balestri
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2024
“Recent Advances and Innovation in Wildlife Population Estimation”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bakaloudis
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2024
“Wildlife Genetic Diversity”
Guest Editors: Dr. Heliodor Wierzbicki, Dr. Magdalena Moska and Prof. Dr. Anna Rząsa
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024
Biology
“Effects of Heavy Metals and Microplastics on Wetland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function”
Guest Editors: Dr. Hualong Hong and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Belal Hossain
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025
“Aquatic Alien Invasions and Their Impact on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (Volume II)”
Guest Editors: Dr. Paraskevi K. Karachle, Dr. Elena Tricarico, Dr. Giorgio Mancinelli and Dr. Baran Yoğurtçuoğlu
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024
“Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Shucun Sun and Prof. Dr. Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024
Fishes
“Aquatic Biodiversity Challenges in the Third Millennium”
Guest Editor: Dr. Doru Bănăduc
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024
Forests
“Fungal Diversity in Forests”
Guest Editors: Dr. Bernardo Ernesto Lechner, Dr. Izabela Kałucka and Dr. Izabela Kałucka
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024
“Transforming Forest Governance and Rural Livelihoods to Address Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Jinlong Liu, Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala and Dr. Peter Edwards
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2024
“Biodiversity in Forests: Management, Monitoring for Conservation”
Guest Editors: Dr. Víctor Rincón, Dr. Javier Velázquez Saornil and Dr. Derya Gulcin
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2024
“Vitality of Forest Ecosystems through Genetic, Epigenetic, Physiology and Biodiversity Exploitation”
Guest Editors: Dr. Evangelia V. Avramidou, Dr. Evangelia Korakaki and Dr. Evangelia Korakaki
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 9 December 2024
17 May 2024
Meet Us at the XXI International Society for Animal Clinical Pathology (ISACP) Congress, 14–18 May, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

Name: XXI International Society for Animal Clinical Pathology (ISACP) Congress
Date: 14–18 May 2024
Place: Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Website: https://isacp2024.org/
It is our great pleasure to invite you all to the XXI International Society for Animal Clinical Pathology Congress (ISACP2024) that will take place in Heraklion, on the hospitable island of Crete, from 14 to 18 May 2024 at the Galaxy Hotel Iraklio.
The ISACP congress in Crete will bring together scientists from different backgrounds who are engaged in the laboratory analysis of a variety of biological samples to support the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, as well as the assessment of their overall health status.
In addition to the keynote presentations, oral presentations and poster sessions will keep us updated throughout the congress. We will have the opportunity to share ideas with colleagues from all over the world, to build and enhance international animal clinical pathology research, educational collaborations and networking.
Topics of Interest:
- Hemoparasites;
- Biomarkers in alternative biological samples;
- Biomarkers of animal welfare;
- Acute phase proteins;
- Diagnostic utility of lipoproteins.
Awarding Ceremony of Academic and Professional Excellence:
The organizers will honor investigators for their excellence with the following awards:
- Young Investigator Prizes;
- The J. Jerry Kaneko Prize;
- The Eitan Bogin Prize.
Join us on social media:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552100466251
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/isacp2024
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7109862334004641792/
For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact isacp2024@artion.com.gr. We look forward to welcoming you all to the ISACP2024 in Heraklion, Crete!
17 May 2024
Tu Youyou Award—Open for Nominations
In acknowledgment of the groundbreaking achievements of Professor Tu Youyou, the Nobel laureate credited with the discovery of artemisinin, MDPI is proud to announce the Tu Youyou Award. This award, inaugurated in 2016, seeks to honor scholars who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
Prize:
- CHF 100,000 in total (If there is more than one winner, the prize will be divided equally amongst the winners);
- An award medal for each winner.
Who should be nominated?
- Scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
Who can submit a nomination?
- Academic research institutes
- Universities
- Academic societies
Any personal nominations are not accepted.
How do I submit a nomination?
Candidates’ institutional affiliations need to submit their nominations for final candidates to the Tu Youyou Award Team directly by email after internal screening, and each institution can only nominate a maximum of two candidates for each edition of the Tu Youyou Award. Please note that the nominations cannot be modified once they are submitted and confirmed by the Tu Youyou Award Team.
Required nomination materials:
Nomination Form (Download)
Schedule:
Nomination deadline: 31 December 2024;
Winner announcement: 30 April 2025.
Contact:
Tu Youyou Award Team (tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com)
More information can be found on the Tu Youyou Award official website. For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact the Tu Youyou Award Team.
16 May 2024
MDPI Romania Author Training Academic Events in April
MDPI Romania sponsored four events over the month of April, contributing author training sessions to each event.
The NutriSciLabs 2024 conference was held at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy on 12 April 2024. Organized by the Association of Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy Studies, the conference aimed to enhance students’ academic writing and research skills, and bolster their confidence in participating in the academic world. Ioana Paunescu, journal relations specialist for MDPI Romania, led the training session. Paunescu first outlined MDPI’s history and core values, then explained academic writing techniques, ethics, and similarity percentages. The presentation covered the entire editorial process, highlighting the amount of attention paid to details throughout manuscript processing. Paunescu also discussed common errors that authors make while writing, and how to avoid such errors.

On 13 April 2024, the NextGEN 2.0 Student Conference took place at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. NextGen Healthcare organized this event with the university’s European Students’ Society to discuss European and international current affairs. MDPI Romania contributed an author training session called Steps of the Publication Process. Irina Codruta Zaharia, journal relations specialist, began the session with a general introduction of MDPI before diving into different article types, different layout formats, possible journals to submit to, the MDPI submission checklist, and the MDPI editorial process. By explaining the fundamentals of writing and publishing academic papers, Zaharia imparted valuable industry knowledge to the curious minds present. Participants were eager to engage with Zaharia in the subsequent Q&A session.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the International Conference “Students for Students” has long been a gathering place for undergraduate and postgraduate students of all nationalities to present their work and exchange ideas with each other. This year’s conference was held on 18 April 2024, with MDPI Romania contributing an author training session called The World of Open Access. Key speakers included Dr. Norbert Kiss from MDPI Romania and Prof. Dragos Horvath from Strasbourg University. Dr. Kiss discussed the history of open access, differences between open access publishing and traditional publishing, and implications for open access in the future. Attendees expressed keen interest in the subject, approaching Dr. Kiss with questions about academic publishing as well as his career trajectory.

Most recently, on 26 April 2024, MDPI Romania sponsored the National Symposium of Students from Geology and Geophysics Faculties. The AAPG Students Chapter at the Babes-Bolyai University organized this event as an opportunity for geology students from all Romanian universities to present their work and confer with other researchers. Dr. Kiss gave his lecture The World of Open Access at this event as well.

MDPI is thankful to all the participants, speakers, and organizers who attended these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.
7 May 2024
Meet Us at the Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH 2024), 10–14 July 2024, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Conference: Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH 2024)
Organization: American Elasmobranch Society; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; Herpetologists’ League; Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles; Burk & Associates, Inc.
Date: 10–14 July 2024
Place: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Booth: #12
The Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (JMIH) is an educational and research forum. More than one thousand field biologists and environmental scientists from all over the world attend. The meeting includes many symposia, poster sessions, special programs, and workshops, as well as topical sessions planned around the hundreds of submitted papers. Each day also includes events for socializing.
The 2024 Annual Meeting will run from July 10 to 14 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a vibrant city with an active downtown area.
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
If you are attending this conference, please chat with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://burkclients.com/JMIH/meetings/2024/site/index.html.
2 May 2024
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #11 - 2023 Annual Report, MDPI Awards, STM

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
2023 Annual Report
This is an exciting time of year at MDPI, as we have just released our annual report 2023, recapping the past year and sharing the progress and changes that took place during it.
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
Reflecting on 2023, I can't help but think of the changes that have occurred not only at MDPI but also within our industry as a whole. In light of this, I’m reminded that change is the only constant, and that for a publishing enterprise that has experienced rapid growth, adapting to change becomes not only a necessity but also a catalyst for sustained success.
Looking back on the significant ground we covered in 2023, I am pleased to report that the year was marked by a rise in paper submissions, along with a range of initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top services to our scientists.
2023 Top-line MDPI Numbers
An important priority for 2023 was to strengthen our editorial policies. Despite a notable increase in the number of papers submitted from 603,000 to 655,000 (+8.6%), there was a decrease in the number of papers published from 303,000 to 285,000 (-5.9%), consistent with the overall trend in the scholarly publishing market. MDPI’s market share in gold open access articles published reached 17% in 2023 (according to Dimensions data).
2023 Open Access Numbers
For over two decades, MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020. This trajectory is deeply rooted in our history and reflects our unwavering commitment to, and vision for, an open future. This momentum continued in 2023, with 39% of the 4.16 million articles and reviews published as gold full-OA, 15% as gold hybrid-OA, 8% as bronze-OA, and 3% as green-OA, relative to 35% behind a paywall. In terms of gold OA (full or hybrid) articles and reviews published, MDPI leads the way in terms of total articles published in 2023.
MDPI is the trusted and preferred OA publisher for the scholarly community
However, in 2023, we saw a downward trend in publication numbers compared to 2022. This trend was also seen in total OA publications. While the number of submissions increased, the decline in MDPI publications can be attributed to several factors, such as improved scrutiny in our peer-review process, including the evaluation of content scope and higher rejection rates, and a post-pandemic decrease in research related to COVID-19 papers.
Download 2023 MDPI Annual Report.
Access 2023 Digital Report.
Impactful Research
Recognizing Scholars – MDPI Awards
MDPI is committed to empowering young researchers as they embark on their careers. In 2023, our journals hosted a total of 400 awards, receiving 8,839 applications and nominations. The evaluation committees selected 959 winners, with the total budget for these awards amounting to CHF 546,500.
For more information about MDPI awards, applications, and winners, please click here
The following awards recognize scholars and the impact of their research, including Young Investigator Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, and Travel Awards for junior researchers.
MDPI Awards – The following awards require an application or a nomination.
Young Investigator Award (CHF 1000–2000 for each winner)
This award acknowledges the achievements of young investigators in research areas relevant to the journal’s scope. Candidates must have received their PhD no more than 10 years prior to the award announcement date and must be nominated.
Best PhD Thesis Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
This award recognizes young scholars who have completed outstanding PhD theses in research areas relevant to the journal’s scope. It aims to encourage them to continue their excellent work and make further contributions to their field.
Travel Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
This award encourages junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences relevant to the journal’s scope, thereby increasing their impact.
Distinguished Scholars
Additionally, 220 awards were granted to the most distinguished authors and reviewers in our journals through Best Paper Awards and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. The following awards are selected by the editorial staff of the journal and do not require an application or a nomination. They exemplify the excellent contributions made by our authors, reviewers, and editors.
These awards exemplify the excellent contributions made by our authors, reviewers, and editors
Best Paper Award (CHF 200–500 for each winner)
This award is granted annually to highlight publications of high quality, scientific significance, and extensive influence.
Outstanding Reviewer Award (CHF 500 for partial winners)
This award is given annually to recognize reviewers who generously contribute their time to reviewing papers and demonstrate thoroughness, professionalism, and timeliness in their reviews.
MDPI also offers awards for specific topics in various research fields:
Carbon Neutrality Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
Sponsored by MDPI journal Sustainability, this award recognizes applicants who have made exceptional academic or societal contributions to carbon neutrality, either in general or in relation to a specific carbon-neutrality-related issue.
Intelligent Manufacturing Award (CHF 500–800 for each winner)
Administered by MDPI journal Machines, this award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding academic or societal contributions to the field of intelligent manufacturing.
Granted: World Sustainability Awards
Inside MDPI
MDPI Opens Office in Seoul, Korea and Appoints Claude Seo as Office Manager
As CEO of the world’s leading OA publisher, I am pleased to announce the official opening of our Korean branch office. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide, improving on our position as a truly global publisher. This expansion represents more than just an increase in our physical footprint; it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible across the globe.
MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide, improving on our position as a truly global publisher
Claude Seo (MDPI Korea Office Manager, Seoul)
Claude Seo, who has over 15 years of experience in the academic publishing industry, has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office. The launch of our Seoul office allows us to better support the Korean scientific community and to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region.
Reflecting on his role, Claude shared that he is:
“Delighted to have been entrusted with this position within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating ourselves into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”
Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
Additionally, I am pleased to share that Sungkyunkwan University has joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDP’s online submission system for institutions and provides APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyunghee University, Chung-Ang University, and the Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.
Learn more about MDPI’s collaboration in Korea in my previous CEO Letter, in which I recap our visit to Seoul, South Korea.
Coming Together for Science
4th MMCS: Harnessing the Power of New Drug Modalities
Our conference team successfully managed the 4th Molecules Medicinal Chemistry Symposium, held from 24–26 April in Barcelona, Spain. It was chaired by Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero from the Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Spain, and Prof. Dr. Simona Collina from the University of Pavia, Italy. In total, there were 84 accepted abstracts and 102 conference attendees from 22 different countries.
From left to right: Prof. Dr. Rino Ragno (Scientific Committee), Dr. Maria Emilia Sousa (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Claudio Viegas Jr. (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Simona Collina (Chair), Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero (Chair), Alvina Wu (Managing Editor, MDPI), Prof. Dr. Roman Dembinski (Scientific Committee), Prof. Dr. Mariana Spetea (Scientific Committee).
The event comprised 12 Invited Speakers, 35 Selected Talks, 10 Flash Poster Presentations, and 39 Posters. The overarching topic of the conference was the impact of the emergence of new drug modalities on drug discovery, with thematic sessions covering topics such as photoactivatable drugs, candidates targeting RNA and epigenetic targets, covalent modifiers, and the development of new anti-cancer agents, among other medicinal chemistry projects.
We are pleased to have received feedback from attendees highlighting the professional approach of the conference chairs and participants, the high quality of the talks, and the overall outstanding organization on the part of the MDPI conference team.
Thank you to the conference sponsors, Fluorochem and IBUB, and to our partnering societies, The Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), and the Spanish Society of Medicinal Chemistry (SEQT).
Upcoming In-Person Event
28–31 May, 2024
Polymers 2024 – Polymers for a Safe and Sustainable Future
Location: Athens, Greece
Conference Chairs: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bikiaris, Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Triantafyllidis, Dr. Ioanna Deligkiozi
We look forward to welcoming experts Prof. Damià Barceló, Prof. Minna Hakkareinen, and Prof. Armando J. D. Silvestre to this event.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Organize Your Event with MDPI’s Sciforum
Sciforum is MDPI’s platform dedicated to the organization of scientific events. In line with our mission to promote science, Sciforum supports scholars, societies, research networks, and universities at all stages of organizing in-person events, virtual events and webinars. Our platforms are efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective. We handle all steps related to event management. Contact us for details.
Closing Thoughts
A Report from the Future – STM US Annual Conference 2024
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Ioana Craciun from MDPI’s Scientific Office Board.
MDPI has for a long time been a sponsor of the STM Annual Conferences, held yearly in the US and Frankfurt, and is a trusted partner and supporter of the STM organization. While I have attended the Frankfurt conference for the past three years, this was my first time visiting the Washington, DC session, and I am glad I did.
Although it was a brief trip, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to attend in the company of my colleagues Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Ioana Craciun from MDPI’s Scientific Office Board. They always help map some of the new industry trends against MDPI’s operational framework and guidelines. It’s a great group for kicking ideas back and forth on what we can apply at MDPI.
In my experience, STM never fails to deliver. It’s always a great conference for reconnecting with fellow publishers, industry friends, and vendors. As usual, STM this year curated a diverse range of speakers and panels, who proferred valuable knowledge and insights from outside our industry, delivering thought-provoking insights into our field. An example of this was the ‘Trust Panel’ session, which included Alan Schiffres (Managing Director, InfoLinx), who shared a number of the learnings about fraud and risk management from his 40 years in financial services, to help address some of the challenges we are currently facing in the area of publishing integrity.
Launch of STM Trends 2028 Panel
I particularly enjoyed the ‘Launch of STM Trends 2028 Panel’, which presented a report focused on the integration of humans and machines in scholarly publishing. The session highlighted themes such as AI, digitization, and the evolving research ecosystem. The report envisions a future where technology blurs the lines between human and machine involvement in research processes, with significant implications for trust, reputation, and equity. While this presents opportunities for connectivity and knowledge dissemination, it also poses challenges such as disinformation, fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions. We must rely on a wise combination of technology and human agency to navigate this complex landscape and will have to carefully examine its potential impacts on communication and scholarly publishing.
MDPI has joined the STM Integrity Hub. Click here to learn more.
While every presenter brought their own knowledge and personal touch, I was particularly pleased to encounter new speakers such as Heather Whitney (Research Assistant Professor, Radiology, University of Chicago) and Igor Grossmann (Professor of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada). Having studied Sociology at the University of Guelph, I have a soft spot for fellow social scientists from Canada, and I was very impressed by Igor’s presentation on ‘The Social Scientist: A View from the Future’ and his participation in the panel session ‘The Future Beyond the Article,’ which was one of my favourites from the conference, given the diversity of perspectives from the panel speakers.
Memorial Park in Washington, DC
On a personal note, this was my first-time visiting Washington, DC, and I’m glad we took an afternoon to visit the Memorial Park, with its incredible monuments to figures ranging from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Abraham Lincoln. The magnitude of the monuments is deeply impressive. I particularly appreciated the Thomas Jefferson memorial and the following quote, which I think speaks to the importance of change and adaptation. It’s something we can apply not only in our industry but also in our personal lives.
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
– Excerpted from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 April 2024
MDPI Opens Office in Seoul, Korea and Appoints Claude Seo as Office Manager
MDPI, the leading Open Access (OA) publisher, announced on Monday that it opened its Korean branch office on 29th April 2024. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide. Claude Seo, with over 20 years of experience in the academic journal publishing industry, including Nature Publishing Group (NPG), has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office.
With the establishment of a Seoul office, MDPI aims to actively support Korea scientific communities to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region. As of the end of 2023, Korea ranked sixth worldwide in both submissions and publications of MDPI research papers. MDPI is the number one OA publisher in Korea.
Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
In addition, MDPI announced that Sungkyunkwan University joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDPI online submission system for the institutions and APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University and Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.
OA aims to break down barriers that have traditionally restricted access to science, ensuring that knowledge is available to all, regardless of financial situation or institutional affiliations. Authors, academia, and scientific communities are rapidly moving toward OA. MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020.
MDPI CEO Visits Seoul, Korea
In March, Stefan Tochev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MDPI, visited Korea and met with various stakeholders including government agencies, research and academic institutions, universities. During his visit, Stefan highlighted that MDPI continues to pave the way for a world where science is accessible to all, supporting a global community of inclusive innovation and collaborative solutions.
Stefan expressed excitement about the new venture, stating, "Today marks a significant milestone for MDPI as we celebrate the opening of our new office in Seoul, Korea. This expansion is more than just an increase in our physical footprint, it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible, participatory, and inclusive across the globe."
Claude Seo, reflecting on his new role, commented, "I am delighted to have been offered this position of trust within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”
For further inquiries, please contact our Seoul office directly.
About MDPI
A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.3 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 diligent, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 430 fully OA titles.
25 April 2024
Animals | 2023 Most Popular Cover Selection

Authors are increasingly interested in having their papers published as a cover story in Animals (ISSN: 2076-2615). There were 24 cover stories published in 2023. These cover stories reported important research results, or innovative methods, and presented impressive images. To reward the authors who have published important research results in Animals, we are announcing the Animals 2023 Most Popular Cover Selection.
Five cover stories will be chosen from the stories published in 2023, and each will receive CHF 200.
The criteria that will be considered for selection are as follows:
- Importance or innovation of the research;
- Quality of the cover image.
The voting will be open from 24 April 2024 to 25 May 2024.
To cast your vote, please visit the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VZ3HX2M. The winners will be announced on the journal website by the end of May 2024.
10 April 2024
Animals 2024 Exceptional Reviewers List

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2024. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, the journal Animals (ISSN: 2076-2615) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to recent surveys conducted in 2023, 91% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in the peer-review process of Animals. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.
The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2024. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.
Q1
- Dr. Sławomir Mitrus
Affiliation: Institute of Biology, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
Country: Poland
Interest: life history of animals; physiological ecology of animals; ecology and conservation of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis); ecology of ants
- Dr. Linda Van Bomme
Affiliation: 1 School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia; 2 Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Country: Australia
Interest: human wildlife conflict; wildlife management; predator ecology; conservation
- Dr. Richard D. Murray
Affiliation: Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom
Country: United Kingdom
Interest: animal science; veterinary medicine; lameness in cattle; pathophysiology of pregnancy; digital dermatitis and dairy cattle
- Dr. Betty McGuire
Affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Country: USA
Interests: mammalian social behavior; parental care, and ecology; applied animal behavior; human–animal interactions; animal shelters; animal welfare
- Dr. Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
Affiliation: Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City 04960, Mexico
Country: Mexico
Interest: anesthesiology; anaesthesiology; pain assessment; pain management; animal behavior