Announcements
1 October 2025
2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers
21 October 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 1st International Online Conference on Dentistry (IOCDT 2026), 7–9 October 2026
16 October 2025
World Food Day—“Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, 16 October 2025
World Food Day commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945. This global observance unites researchers, policymakers, and communities to reflect on the vital role of food in human health, sustainability, and global development.
The 2025 theme calls for collective action to build a fairer, more sustainable, and resilient food system for all. From advancing sustainable agriculture and ensuring equitable food distribution to promoting nutritious diets and reducing food waste, the focus is on transforming the way we produce, consume, and share food—so that no one is left behind.
MDPI journals provide essential platforms for scientific dialogue and innovation in food research. Through a collection of articles, Special Issues, and reprints, we invite you to explore the latest findings shaping the future of food systems. Covering themes such as food safety and quality assurance, functional foods and probiotics, nutrition and public health, innovation and technology in food production, and the intersection of food security, climate, and social equity, these contributions foster global collaboration toward a healthier, more sustainable future.
Together, through research, innovation, and shared responsibility, we can build a world where food security and sustainability go hand in hand for better foods and a better future—nourishing both people and the planet.
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Biology & Life Sciences |
Engineering |
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Environmental & Earth Sciences |
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Public Health & Healthcare |
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Social Science, Art and Humanities |
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“Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Clostridium perfringens Isolated from Pork and Chicken Meat in Vietnam”
by Hoang Minh Duc, Tran Thi Khanh Hoa, Cam Thi Thu Ha, Le Van Hung, Nguyen Van Thang, Hoang Minh Son and Gary A. Flory
Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050400
“Chromatographic Methods for the Determination of Glyphosate in Cereals Together with a Discussion of Its Occurrence, Accumulation, Fate, Degradation, and Regulatory Status”
by Maurizio Masci, Roberto Caproni and Teresina Nevigato
Methods Protoc. 2024, 7(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/mps7030038
“Clostridium perfringens—Opportunistic Foodborne Pathogen, Its Diversity and Epidemiological Significance”
by Tomasz Grenda, Aleksandra Jarosz, Magdalena Sapała, Anna Grenda, Ewelina Patyra and Krzysztof Kwiatek
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060768
“A Preliminary Investigation of Special Types of Honey Marketed in Morocco”
by Rania Mehdi, Saadia Zrira, Rossella Vadalà, Vincenzo Nava, Concetta Condurso, Nicola Cicero and Rosaria Costa
J. Exp. Theor. Anal. 2023, 1(1), 1-20; https://doi.org/10.3390/jeta1010001
Special Issues:
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“Food Hygiene and Human Health” |
“Promotion of Food Safety and Functional Improvement Using Microorganisms” |
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“Analysis of the Impact of the Addition of Alphitobius diaperinus Larval Powder on the Physicochemical, Textural, and Sensorial Properties of Shortbread Cookies”
by Sylwia Mierzejewska, Zdzisław Domiszewski, Joanna Piepiórka-Stepuk, Anna Bielicka, Arkadiusz Szpicer and Iwona Wojtasik-Kalinowska
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4269; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084269
“Antimicrobial Activity of Diffusible Substances Produced by Lactococcus lactis Against Bacillus cereus in a Non-Contact Co-Culture Model”
by Yuting Han, Adenike A. Akinsemolu, Christian K. Anumudu, Taghi Miri and Helen Onyeaka
Hygiene 2024, 4(4), 469-482; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4040035
“Effect of Fermentation on the Nutritional Quality of the Selected Vegetables and Legumes and Their Health Effects”
by Eliza Knez, Kornelia Kadac-Czapska and Małgorzata Grembecka
Life 2023, 13(3), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030655
“Genetic and Phenotypic Characterization of Bacillus velezensis Strain BV379 for Human Probiotic Applications”
by Laura M. Brutscher, Sebhat Gebrechristos, Sean M. Garvey and Jessica L. Spears
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030436
“Fatty Acid Composition of Pseudocereals and Seeds Used as Functional Food Ingredients”
by Małgorzata Czerwonka and Agnieszka Białek
Life 2023, 13(1), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010217
Special Issues:
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“Advances in Food Metabolomics for Functional Food Development and Analysis” |
“Functional Foods and Metabolic Health” |
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“Industrial Production of Functional Foods for Human Health and Sustainability”
by Xinrui Yuan, Moyu Zhong, Xinxin Huang, Zahid Hussain, Maozhi Ren and Xiulan Xie
Foods 2024, 13(22), 3546; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13223546
“Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Food Hygiene among Mothers from Rural Communities in Malawi”
by Vitowe Batch, Martina Kress, Ezekiel Luhanga, Maurice Monjerezi, Daniel Pfaff, Horace Phiri, Aggrey Pemba Gama, Kelvin Chomanika, Anja Schmidt, Bianca Duelken et al.
Hygiene 2024, 4(3), 361-373; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4030028
“Mindful Eating Approaches to Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies”
by Paola Iaccarino Idelson, Lanfranco D’Elia and Pasquale Strazzullo
Dietetics 2024, 3(3), 271-288; https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics3030022
“Common Nutritional Shortcomings in Vegetarians and Vegans”
by Joshua Gibbs and Francesco P. Cappuccio
Dietetics 2024, 3(2), 114-128; https://doi.org/10.3390/dietetics3020010
Special Issues:
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“The Nutritional Implications and Future Prospects of Gluten-Free Diets Beyond Celiac Disease”
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“Agroecology and Conscious Food Systems for Flourishing of People, Places, and Planet” |
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“Storage Profiling: Evaluating the Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Metabolomic Changes of Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)”
by Johannes Brockelt, Robin Dammann, Jennifer Griese, Agnes Weiss, Markus Fischer and Marina Creydt
Metabolites 2025, 15(5), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15050330
“Measuring the Effects of an Anti-Food-Waste Digital Application from the Operators’ Perspective in Urban Contexts”
by Alexandra Lagorio and Giulio Mangano
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(2), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8020057
“The Application of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in the Food Industry”
by Haohan Ding, Jiawei Tian, Wei Yu, David I. Wilson, Brent R. Young, Xiaohui Cui, Xing Xin, Zhenyu Wang and Wei Li
Foods 2023, 12(24), 4511; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12244511
Special Issues:
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“Agri-Food Wastes as Natural Source of Bioactive Antioxidants: Fourth Edition” |
“Innovative Soil Amendments for Food Security: Biochar, Nanoparticles and Waste Valorization” |
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“Regenerative Organic Agriculture and Human Health: The Interconnection Between Soil, Food Quality, and Nutrition”
by Giulia Feliziani, Laura Bordoni and Rosita Gabbianelli
Antioxidants 2025, 14(5), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14050530
“Climate Change Impacts on Household Food Security in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zones: A Qualitative Analysis”
by Sisira Kumara Naradda Gamage, Solanga Arachchige U. Niranjala, Jayasooriya Mudiyanselage Harshana M. Upulwehera, Allayarov Piratdin, Kumara Bandage Thilini Udesha K. Bandara, Hatharakorale Gedara Kolitha N. Bandara, Hetti Arachchige Buddhika W. Hettiarachchi, Adikari Mudiyanselage P. Adikari, Sumanapalage D. Amasha Sumanapala, Manamendra K. Nilakshi Pabasara et al.
Challenges 2025, 16(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe16020020
“Multiresource Pastoralism, Dynamic Foodways, and Ancient Statecraft in Mongolia”
by William Honeychurch, Chunag Amartuvshin, Joshua Wright, Christina Carolus and Michelle Hrivnyak
Land 2023, 12(9), 1715; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091715
“Multidimensional Role of Agrovoltaics in Era of EU Green Deal: Current Status and Analysis of Water–Energy–Food–Land Dependencies”
by Aikaterini Roxani, Athanasios Zisos, Georgia-Konstantina Sakki and Andreas Efstratiadis
Land 2023, 12(5), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051069
Special Issues:
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“The Past and the Present of Food Sustainability and Resilience of Local Food Production: 2nd Edition” |
“Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Nutrition Security: 2nd Edition” |
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VI International Congress la ValSe-Food |
15 October 2025
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in September 2025
Nine new journals covering a range of subjects launched their inaugural issues in September 2025. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.
We extend our sincere thanks to all Editorial Board Members for their commitment and expertise. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.
Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.
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Founding Editor-in-Chief |
Journal Topics (Selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz, San José State University, USA |
family formation and dynamics; family relationships; family diversity and structure; family processes; family challenges; global perspectives of family | |
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Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee, National University of Singapore, Singapore |
AIoT sensing technologies; distributed AI and federated learning; AI-enhanced edge analytics; sensor fusion in edge computing; low-power AI sensing; security and privacy in edge-AI systems; AI-driven optimization of IoT networks | |
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Prof. Dr. Steven Paul Nistico, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy |
aesthetics; reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery; dermatology; oral and maxillofacial surgery; surgical procedures; non-surgical procedures | |
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Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli, University of Pisa, Italy |
plasma physics and technology; atomic and molecular physics; nuclear physics; quantum physics and technology; dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics; semiconductor physics and devices; engineering physics; material physics; biophysics| |
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Prof. Dr. Sergej M. Ostojic, University of Agder, Norway; |
biochemical research methods; biochemistry and molecular biology; cell biology; clinical and medicinal chemistry; clinical neurology; endocrinology and metabolism; medicine, general and internal; nutrition and dietetics; toxicology | |
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Prof. Dr. Michele Nappi, University of Salerno, Italy |
foundations and advancements in multimedia technologies; computational social media analytics; human–AI interaction in social contexts; multimedia understanding and generation for social insight; ethics, fairness, and privacy in multimedia systems | |
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Prof. Dr. Philippe Gorce, Toulon University, France |
ergonomic design and evaluation of workspaces, tools, and equipment; biomechanical analysis and ergonomic interventions for musculoskeletal health; cognitive workload assessment and management; human-computer interaction (HCI) and user experience (UX) research; ergonomic wearables; AI-driven ergonomic assessment tools; neuroergonomics | |
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Prof. Dr. Ronald Charles Sims, Utah State University, USA |
bioresources; bioproducts; bioenergy and biofuels; environmental protection; public health protection; biological waste treatment; biomass transformation; circular bioeconomy; bio-based materials and chemicals; bioresidues | |
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Prof. Dr. M. Jamal Deen, McMaster University, Canada |
device design and engineering; circuit design and system integration; applications and emerging technologies; materials and fabrication innovations; testing, reliability, and standards | |
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).
14 October 2025
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, 13 October 2025
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed annually on 13 October, highlights the urgent need to reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience in the face of natural and human-made hazards. This day underscores the importance of shifting from a focus on response to prevention and reminds us that reducing disaster risk is key to safeguarding lives, communities, and sustainable development.
We invite you to explore our selected articles, Special Issues, and journals, which examine topics such as disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, risk governance, and community resilience. We hope that the established journals at MDPI will provide a communication platform for innovative ideas addressing both current and emerging challenges in disaster risk reduction.
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Engineering |
Environment & Earth Sciences |
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Social Science, Art and Humanities |
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Business & Economics |
“A Bibliographic Analysis of Multi-Risk Assessment Methodologies for Natural Disaster Prevention”
by Gilles Grandjean
GeoHazards 2025, 6(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards6030041
“Coupling HEC-RAS and AI for River Morphodynamics Assessment Under Changing Flow Regimes: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for the Ottawa River”
by Mohammad Uzair Anwar Qureshi, Afshin Amiri, Isa Ebtehaj, Silvio Jose Guimere, Juraj Cunderlik and Hossein Bonakdari
Hydrology 2025, 12(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12020025
“A Composite Tool for Forecasting El Niño: The Case of the 2023–2024 Event”
by Costas Varotsos, Nicholas V. Sarlis, Yuri Mazei, Damir Saldaev and Maria Efstathiou
Forecasting 2024, 6(1), 187-203; https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast6010011
“Flood Detection with SAR: A Review of Techniques and Datasets”
by Donato Amitrano, Gerardo Di Martino, Alessio Di Simone and Pasquale Imperatore
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(4), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16040656
“Assessing Landslide Susceptibility along India’s National Highway 58: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Remote Sensing, GIS, and Logistic Regression Analysis”
by Mukta Sharma, Ritambhara K. Upadhyay, Gaurav Tripathi, Naval Kishore, Achala Shakya, Gowhar Meraj, Shruti Kanga, Suraj Kumar Singh, Pankaj Kumar, Brian Alan Johnson and Som Nath Thakur
Conservation 2023, 3(3), 444-459; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation3030030
“Assessing 40 Years of Flood Risk Evolution at the Micro-Scale Using an Innovative Modeling Approach: The Effects of Urbanization and Land Planning”
by Tommaso Lazzarin, Andrea Defina and Daniele Pietro Viero
Geosciences 2023, 13(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13040112
“Evaluation of Rainfall Erosivity in the Western Balkans by Mapping and Clustering ERA5 Reanalysis Data”
by Tanja Micic Ponjiger, Tin Lukic, Robert L. Wilby, Slobodan B. Markovic, Aleksandar Valjarevic, Slavoljub Dragicevic, Milivoj B. Gavrilov, Igor Ponjiger, Uros Durlevic, Misko M. Milanovic et al.
Atmosphere 2023, 14(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14010104
Special Issues:
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“Hydro-Meteorological Hazards: Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies” |
“Slope Stability Analyses and Landslide Risk Assessment Under Hydrodynamic Action” |
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“Advances in Earth Observation to Improve Flood Disaster Monitoring and Management (Second Edition)” |
“Seismological Research and Seismic Hazard & Risk Assessments” |
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“A Systematic Analysis of Influencing Factors on Wind Resilience in a Coastal Historical District of China”
by Bo Huang, Zhenmin Ou, Gang Zhao, Junwu Wang, Lanjun Liu, Sijun Lv, Bin Huang and Xueqi Liu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 8116; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15148116
“Building Damage Visualization Through Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Window Detection”
by Ittetsu Kuniyoshi, Itsuki Nagaike, Sachie Sato and Yue Bao
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25102979
“Leveraging 3D Printing for Resilient Disaster Management in Smart Cities”
by Antreas Kantaros, Florian Ion Tiberiu Petrescu, Konstantinos Brachos, Theodore Ganetsos and Nicole Petrescu
Smart Cities 2024, 7(6), 3705-3726; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7060143
“Urban Resilience Index for Critical Infrastructure: A Scenario-Based Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction in Road Networks”
by Seyed M. H. S. Rezvani, Maria Joao Falcao Silva and Nuno Marques de Almeida
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4143; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104143
“Enhancing Urban Resilience: Strategic Management and Action Plans for Cyclonic Events through Socially Constructed Risk Processes”
by Raul Perez-Arevalo, Juan Jimenez-Caldera, Jose Luis Serrano-Montes, Jesus Rodrigo-Comino, Kevin Theran-Nieto and Andres Caballero-Calvo
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8020043
“Widespread Coral Bleaching and Mass Mortality of Reef-Building Corals in Southern Mexican Pacific Reefs Due to 2023 El Niño Warming”
by Andres Lopez-Perez, Rebeca Granja-Fernandez, Eduardo Ramirez-Chavez, Omar Valencia-Mendez, Fabian A. Rodriguez-Zaragoza, Tania Gonzalez-Mendoza and Armando Martinez-Castro
Oceans 2024, 5(2), 196-209; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans5020012
“Geomorphic Response of the Georgia Bight Coastal Zone to Accelerating Sea Level Rise, Southeastern USA”
by Randall W. Parkinson and Shimon Wdowinski
Coasts 2024, 4(1), 1-20; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4010001
“Impact of Vegetation Differences on Shallow Landslides: A Case Study in Aso, Japan”
by Hiroki Asada and Tomoko Minagawa
Water 2023, 15(18), 3193; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183193
“Review of Methods for Seismic Strengthening of Masonry Piers and Walls”
by Ivan Hafner, Tomislav Kisicek and Matija Gams
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1524; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061524
Special Issues:
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“Structural Health Monitoring and Smart Disaster Prevention” |
“Seismic Design and Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete, Masonry and Steel Structures with Innovative Materials and Devices” |
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“Sustainable Flood Risk Management: Challenges and Resilience” |
“Smart Disaster Prevention, Risk Reduction and Post-Disaster Rescue in Civil Engineering” |
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“Public Support for Disaster Risk Reduction: Evidence from The Bahamas Before and After Hurricane Dorian”
by Barry S. Levitt and Richard S. Olson
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(4), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14040248
“Impacts of Local Government Perceptions of Disaster Risks on Land Resilience Planning Implementation”
by Soyoung Kim, Simon A. Andrew, Edgar Ramirez de la Cruz, Woo-Je Kim and Richard Clark Feiock
Land 2024, 13(7), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071085
“Monchique’s Innovation Laboratory—A Space for Dialogue and Knowledge Sharing to Foster Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction”
by Joana Dias, Guilherme Saad, Ana Soares, Maria Partidario, Isabel Loupa Ramos, Rute Martins and Margarida B. Monteiro
Fire 2024, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7010001
“Two Decades of Integrated Flood Management: Status, Barriers, and Strategies”
by Neil S. Grigg
Climate 2024, 12(5), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12050067
Special Issues:
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“Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation” |
“Mitigating Flood Impact in Urbanized Spaces Through Sustainable Strategies” |
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10 October 2025
Meet Us at the 1st Online Conference on Technologies, 11–13 November 2026
10 October 2025
Interview with Dr. Ana Esteves—Winner of the Applied Sciences Best PhD Thesis Award
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Ana Esteves won the Applied Sciences 2024 Best PhD Thesis Award. The winner will receive CHF 800 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3417) in 2025.
1. What motivated you to pursue a PhD in your field?
I have always been passionate about biology and the environment. When my supervisor first encouraged me to pursue a PhD, he suggested focusing on microalgae, which perfectly combined these two interests. I find microalgae fascinating. They not only capture CO₂ and treat wastewater but also have applications across diverse industries, from food to energy. This inspired me to undertake a PhD and contribute to the development of sustainable solutions.
2. Could you please give us a brief overview of your research topic? What motivated you to pursue this research topic?
In my thesis, I studied microalgae. I cultivated microalgae and tested different operational conditions to see how they affect their growth and biomass composition. By operational conditions, I mean factors like light intensity, light spectra, salinity in the medium, and similar parameters. The idea is that, depending on the conditions used, you can obtain biomass with different properties. This is important because microalgae can be used in various applications. For example, I can make the microalgae accumulate more lipid content or more protein content, which is beneficial for the food industry. I chose this topic because microalgae are so versatile. I can work on different aspects, such as treating wastewater and then using the biomass to produce biofertilizers. There are a lot of different topics I can explore within this area.
3. How did you manage your time and prioritize your tasks during your PhD program, and what strategies did you use to stay focused and motivated?
The first few years of my PhD were a bit chaotic because there was so much to do. My team was small, which meant I had a lot of responsibilities in the laboratory and in managing various tasks. I couldn’t focus solely on my thesis, as there was always extra work to handle. However, despite the challenges, it was absolutely worth it in the end. Managing my time was not always easy. I tried to set weekly goals, and I found it very important to divide big tasks into smaller ones. It made the work much more manageable because I would often feel stressed when faced with a large task. Breaking it down made it simpler to approach. For writing, I used the Pomodoro technique, which helped me stay focused, avoid procrastination, and maintain motivation. I also reminded myself of the big picture, celebrated small wins along the way, and exercised regularly, which is very good for the brain.
4. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your PhD journey, and how did you overcome them?
As I worked with microalgae and other microorganisms, one of the biggest challenges was when experiments didn’t go as planned. Sometimes they failed, or results were delayed due to a lack of reagents or other issues. At first, this was frustrating, but over time, I learned to see these setbacks as part of the process. I adjusted my work accordingly and focused on learning from the experience instead of giving up. Another challenge was maintaining a good balance between work and personal life. I overcame this by allowing myself time to rest without feeling guilty. It was difficult, but I found it was possible and necessary for long-term productivity and well-being.
5. What would you have done differently?
Looking back, one thing I would have done differently during my PhD is to collaborate more with other research groups. Collaborations can bring new perspectives, spark fresh ideas, and help build connections for the future. They also create opportunities to make friends and expand one’s professional network. For example, I spent six months at El Maria in Spain, which was an excellent experience. The people there were very welcoming, and I made lasting friendships. The research I conducted during that period was extremely valuable. Additionally, the reactors and equipment they had there were quite different from what we use in Portugal, which gave me the chance to gain unique technical experience and broaden my skills.
6. What advice would you give to students starting or coming to the end of their theses?
For those just starting their PhD, my advice is not to be afraid of problems or failed experiments. They are completely normal and an essential part of the learning process. For those who are finishing, I would suggest taking care of yourself while writing your thesis. The final stage is quite intense and different from the earlier phases. There’s usually less laboratory work, so it can feel more monotonous, but it is demanding because you spend a lot of time rewriting and refining your work.
7. When and how did you access Applied Sciences? What prompted you to apply for this award, and would you like to share your experience with the journal Applied Sciences?
I first became familiar with Applied Sciences through its publications in areas related to my research. I decided to apply for the award because I thought it was a great opportunity to highlight my work and share my findings with a wider audience. My experience with the journal has always been positive, from the submission process to the communication with the editorial team. I have also contributed to a Special Issue with the journal, and I’ve found everyone I interacted with to be very professional and helpful.
I want to continue working in the field of microalgae, focusing perhaps on process modeling and the circular economy, as my background is in environmental engineering. In the future, I would like to be involved in projects that connect academia and industry, because I believe this is the best way to transform research into real-world solutions. My long-term goal is to keep contributing to sustainable technologies and, potentially, to teaching. I am still exploring how I will develop that part of my career.
9 October 2025
Meet Us at the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, 2–7 August 2026, Jeju, South Korea
9 October 2025
Interview with Dr. Luigi Gianpio Di Maggio—Winner of the Applied Sciences Best Paper Award
We are please to announce that the publsihed paper “Explainable AI for Machine Fault Diagnosis: Understanding Features’ Contribution in Machine Learning Models for Industrial Condition Monitoring” by Eugenio Brusa, Luca Cibrario, Cristiana Delprete and Luigi Gianpio Di Maggio has been chosen as one of the 10 articles of exceptional quality that were published in the journal during 2023 and won the Applied Sciences 2023 Best Paper Award. The winners will receive CHF 500 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Applied Sciences in 2025.
The following is a short interview with the winners:
1. Congratulations on winning the 2023 Best Paper Award! Could you please briefly introduce the subject of your awarded paper?
I am a fixed-term Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Torino. My research focuses on predictive maintenance and fault diagnosis for rotating machinery using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence models, now with a growing interest in large language models to interface with unstructured data. The paper is about the interpretability of black box models based on machine learning for rolling element bearing diagnosis. In the paper, we adopted a game-theory perspective in order to treat the diagnostic features as players of a cooperative game and quantify each feature’s contribution to the final prediction that we have for diagnosis by means of Shapley values. This could help to explain the models’ predictions and, in the case of having more sensors, to understand which sensor is more important for the models to make a decision about the diagnosis.
2. What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Applied Sciences? What appealed to you about submitting to this journal?
Mostly, the interdisciplinarity of the journal fits well with the cross-domain nature of my work. I also value the reasonable review timelines, which are important in a fast-moving research field like mine.
3. Why did you choose this research field?
I chose this field to develop methods that are deployable in real industrial settings, ideally without relying on extensive damage data that are rarely available.
4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the community in the coming years?
I believe that generative AI, together with discriminative AI approaches for AI models, will open new research directions across many engineering domains, including maintenance and diagnostics.
5. Have you encountered difficulties in conducting your research? How did you overcome them?
Yes, obtaining reliable experimental data can be challenging, and data quality is sometimes questionable. Collaborative analysis can bring multiple perspectives to the same data that we obtain.
Collaboration with colleagues can be crucial to detecting issues that we might find in the data that we obtained. That was the case that I faced.
6. What advice would you give to young researchers seeking to make a meaningful impact?
Even though I am still an early career researcher, I would say to be persistent, continuously validate your ideas, and collaborate with others to find solutions. I hope that this will have an impact on my research.
7. What do you think about open access publishing, especially in the context of Applied Sciences?
Open access accelerates dissemination, benefiting both the scientific community and readers. The main drawback is APCs, which can be a burden on research budgets. However, institutional support and MDPI waivers can make a big difference.
8. Do you have suggestions for how Applied Sciences could further support researchers?
I would suggest targeted free waivers or substantial discounts for early career researchers to encourage participation and help grow the journal.
Yes, the foundations of my work were laid during my PhD. Then, I would like to thank my supervisor, my co-authors, professors Brusa and Delprete, as well as Luca, who contributed to the analysis of the paper. I also thank MDPI for this recognition.
2 October 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #27 - OASPA 2025, COUNTER 5.1, UK Summit in London, MDPI at the Italian Senate
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
MDPI at OASPA 2025: Embracing the Complexity of Open Access
From 22 to 24 September, I joined the OASPA 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium, where the theme, “Embracing the Complexity – How do we get to 100% Open Access?” tackled the hard questions about the future of scholarly communication.
With MDPI a longstanding member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) and Platinum sponsor of the conference, I was invited to present and participate in important discussions on how we can continue to move the needle in Open Access (OA) publishing.
From 50% to 100% Open Access
Last year’s OASPA conference celebrated a major milestone – reaching 50% of global research outputs published as OA. But, as noted during the conference, this was the “easy” part. The challenge ahead is much tougher: how do we take OA from 50% to 100%? For many academics and institutions, OA is still relatively new, and thus it is essential for us to continue educating people as to what OA is, how it works, and why it matters.
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) presenting at OASPA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium.
MDPI’s perspective
At MDPI, we are fully committed to this. As a 100% OA publisher, our growth is inseparable from the success of OA itself. In many ways, MDPI is a byproduct of the global adoption of OA, and we play an important role in helping to advance it further.
I had the opportunity to share MDPI’s perspective in the panel discussion entitled: "Hello from the other side: views from fully Open Access journals using APCs," alongside industry colleagues from PLOS, eLife, AOSIS, and Frontiers.
Instead of giving a standard presentation, I highlighted aspects of MDPI that the audience might not be aware of. I also presented on the opportunities and challenges facing publishers that are already fully OA, the importance of diverse models in achieving 100% OA, and why OA is the baseline while Open Science is the future.
Recognizing Gold OA
As part of the panel, I had undertaken to make some bold and provocative statements. I therefore emphasized a point that is sometimes overlooked: we didn’t reach 50% OA without Gold OA – it accounts for more than half of all OA publications today. And we certainly won’t reach 100% OA without it.
“By educating the community and working together, we can continue to take Open Science to the next level”
“When people speak about Gold OA and MDPI, they should ‘put some respek on our name.”
MDPI is a leader in Gold OA and has been a driver of this progress at scale.
While Gold OA and MDPI are sometimes slighted, both deserve recognition for their contributions to advancing Open Science globally.
I closed my presentation with a reminder that the good we do is sometimes overlooked, and that when people speak about Gold OA and MDPI, they should "put some respek on our name."
I’m pleased to have seen attendees sharing positive experiences with MDPI, reminding us that we bring real value to the OA movement and deserve a stronger reputation. We also engaged in constructive conversations about various topics, including cost transparency.
A few themes that I took away from the conference:
- Quality and integrity matter as much as access. OA publishers must not lose sight of research integrity, inclusivity, and sustainability while pursuing 100% OA.
- Global collaboration is essential. Policies, funding models, and infrastructure differ around the world, and we will need cross-border collaboration to make OA a truly global reality.
- Open Science is the bigger story. OA is just the first step – the future lies in open data, open peer review, research reproducibility, etc.
“MDPI’s scale allows us to better support authors, reinvest in communities, and push Open Science forward”
How we communicate MDPI’s role
For us at MDPI, this is also a reminder of how we communicate externally. When we tell our story, we shouldn’t forget to start with the bigger picture – Open Science and Open Access. Then we connect it to MDPI, our journals, services, and initiatives, exemplifying the fact that we are part of a mission larger than ourselves.
MDPI colleagues Clàudia Aunós (Society Partnerships), Marta Colomer (External Affairs), Stefan Tochev (CEO), and Nikola Paunovic (Scilit), at OASPA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium.
The journey to 100% OA will not be simple. But by educating the community and working together, we can continue to take Open Science to the next level.
Impactful Research
MDPI becomes COUNTER 5.1 compliant across 480+ Journals
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has officially become COUNTER 5.1 compliant and has joined the COUNTER Registry.
For those who might not be familiar with it, COUNTER provides international standards for tracking and reporting how research is being used. By becoming COUNTER 5.1 compliant, MDPI can now deliver credible, comparable, and transparent usage reports across our entire journal portfolio.
“MDPI is showing that they want to be measured against the same yardstick as other publishers”
Why is this important?
Because usage statistics aren’t just numbers: they’re powerful tools that help our authors, institutions, and consortia understand the real impact of their research. With COUNTER compliant reports, our institutional partners can now make more informed decisions about publishing agreements, funding allocations, and the long-term value of Open Access.
In practical terms, MDPI will now provide Platform, Title, and Item Reports, with standardized usage views available at the institute and consortium level. These reports cover usage from January 2024 onwards and will be updated monthly. Institutions will be able to access them via SuSy, or automatically through the COUNTER API.
I’d like to highlight and thank Becky Castellon, our Institutional Partnerships Manager, who has played a key role in driving this project forward. Becky captured it perfectly when she said: "Through these usage reports, our global research community can access trustworthy data about how their work is being used and accessed
This information is often vital for reviewing publishing partnership agreements and for making informed decisions about future funding allocations."
We also received encouraging feedback from Tasha Mellins-Cohen, Executive Director at COUNTER Metrics:
"We’re delighted to see born-OA publishers engaging with COUNTER. Our normalised usage metrics are relied on as the basis for credible return-on-investment calculations by libraries worldwide. By adopting the COUNTER standard, MDPI is showing that they want to be measured against the same yardstick as other publishers."
For MDPI, this milestone is another step in our commitment to transparency, trust, and impact. By adopting COUNTER’s standards, we’re not just aligning with best practice; we’re ensuring that Open Access publishing is measured on the same terms as traditional publishing, proving its value in concrete and globally recognized ways.
This is an important milestone for MDPI, but more importantly for the researchers, librarians, and institutions we serve. Transparency builds trust, and COUNTER compliance helps us show the global reach and influence of Open Access publishing in the clearest way possible.
Inside Research
Lin Li (Publisher, MDPI), Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI, Prof. Chengkuo Lee (Editor-in-Chief, AI Sensors), and Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing) at restaurant in Basel, Switzerland.
Welcoming Prof. Lee (EiC of AI Sensors) to Basel
On 11 September, we welcomed Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee, Editor-in-Chief of our new journal AI Sensors, to our Basel office. Prof. Lee is a high profiled researcher (h-index 104, 37,000+ citations), a longtime collaborator with MDPI (25 published articles), and has already chaired several AI Sensors (AIS)-related conferences with us, including the recent event in Kuala Lumpur, where AI Sensors held its first editorial board meeting.
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) showing Special Issue reprint books as part of a tour of MDPI’s Basel office.
Every journal has a story
During his visit, we exchanged ideas on how to build the journal’s identity and impact. A key takeaway that I shared was that every journal has a story: its vision, its purpose, and the community it brings together.
That story is what connects with readers and authors, beyond metrics alone.
I encouraged everyone working on journals to reflect: What is the story of your journal? And how can you bring that story to the forefront in how you communicate about it?
How MDPI supports new journals
Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing, MDPI) presenting on the MDPI indexing process at the company’s headquarters in Basel.
We also shared with Prof. Lee how MDPI supports journals through our Institutional Open Access Program, indexing expertise, and the work of our Journal Relationship Specialists.
Launching a new journal is ambitious, but with our strong track record (93% Scopus and 87% Web of Science acceptance rates in 2024), Prof. Lee felt confident that AI Sensors will find its place in the scholarly landscape.
Having spent some hours together, it’s clear that Prof. Lee is not only an Editor-in-Chief but also an ambassador for MDPI. His leadership and collaboration reflect the mission MDPI by which MDPI lives: accelerating Open Access and advancing Open Science.
Special thanks to Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing), Ting Leng (JRS, Managing Editor, AI Sensors), Lin Li (Publisher, AI Sensors), Aimar Xiong (Publisher), and Christian Eberhard (Office Administrator, Basel), for organizing and hosting the meeting.
Coming Together for Science
Highlights from the MDPI UK Summit in London
I was pleased to be back in the UK in September, supporting our Manchester team in hosting their first MDPI Summit in London. This day-and-a-half private event brought together 25 Chief Editors and Associate Editors to exchange knowledge, learn about latest developments at MDPI, and engage in discussions on advancing Open Science. The program included MDPI and guest presentations, and Q&A sessions.
Why these summits matter
Our Summits provide a platform to:
- Share updates on the latest developments at MDPI, our editorial processes, research integrity practices, and indexing.
- Highlight collaborations with institutions and societies in the region.
- Offer external perspectives from guest speakers.
- Create space for Chief Editors to share their insights, ask questions, network, and help shape MDPI’s path forward.
These gatherings are more than updates: they improve our relationships with Chief Editors, who serve not only as leaders of their journals but also as ambassadors for MDPI within the research community. We often hear that this type of event is unique, something many other publishers do not provide. It shows that we care and are willing to go the extra mile to recognize and engage our key collaborators.
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MDPI and the UK: Key facts
- With over 80,000 publications, the UK is MDPI’s eighth-largest contributor.
- MDPI is the fourth-largest publisher in the UK, accounting for 11% of the country’s 89,526 Open Access publications in 2024.
- We collaborate with more than 4,000 active UK Editorial Board Members, 48% of whom have an H-index above 26. This includes 49 Editors-in-Chief and 74 Section Editors-in-Chief.
- MDPI maintains over 1,000 IOAP agreements worldwide, with 63 from the UK.
“We are willing to go the extra mile to recognize and engage our key collaborators”
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Agenda highlights:
- MDPI Overview, Open Access, and UK Collaboration – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
- MDPI Editorial Process – Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead, MDPI)
- Research Integrity and Publication Ethics – Daisy Fenton (Research Integrity Specialist, MDPI)
- Institutional Partnerships – Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager, MDPI)
- Promoting and Developing Your Journal – Prof. Fabio Tosti (Editor-in-Chief of NDT)
- Indexing to Impact – Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead, MDPI)
- Engaging our Academic Community – Jaime Anderson Anderson (UK Operations Manager, MDPI)
- Closing Remarks – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
MDPI colleagues Stefan Tochev (CEO), Jaime Anderson Anderson (UK Operations Manager), Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead), Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager), Daisy Fenton (Research Integrity Specialist) at the MDPI UK 2025 Summit in London.
Thank you!
A special thank-you to the Manchester team and all colleagues behind the scenes who made this Summit a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We look forward to building on this momentum with future Summits in Europe and beyond.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI) and Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) participating in a press conference at the Italiane Senate in Rome to promote the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Medicine (ICEM)
MDPI at the Italian Senate: Promoting Environmental Medicine and Open Science
On 16 September, Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead) and I had the honour of participating in a press conference at the Italian Senate in Rome, organized by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) to promote the upcoming 2nd International Conference on Environmental Medicine (ICEM) (20–21 November 2025).
This is an important event for MDPI, as we are the exclusive publishing partner for ICEM and have recently launched a new journal with SIMA, further building our presence both in Italy and within this important field of research.
Why this matters
- The promotion of ICEM has received extensive national media coverage (more than 15 mentions in major Italian outlets; see links below).
- The press conference brought together leading policymakers, academics, and Nobel Laureates to emphasize the impact of environmental exposures and epigenetics on human health.
- We were introduced to government ministries, university rectors, and influential stakeholders, which helps us bolster MDPI’s visibility and reputation in Italy.
Highlights
Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts joined the discussion, underlining the importance of environmental medicine in shaping future health outcomes. Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Tong Zhu (Peking University) will also speak at the November conference.
Institutional representatives included the Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, the Italian Undersecretary for Health, and senior officials from the World Health Organization.
In my closing remarks, I highlighted that:
“Over the past five years, about 65% of research published in Italy has been Open Access, compared to an average of 55% worldwide.”
Italian research ranked seventh among the top 20 countries in average citations during this period, reflecting its strong international influence. Not only is Italy producing a high volume of research; it is also producing research of outstanding quality.
MDPI’s role
This event was not only about promoting ICEM but also about showcasing MDPI’s commitment to Open Access and our ability to connect scientific publishing with leading academic, medical, and policy institutions.
As Giulia Stefenelli noted:
“This event was highly relevant for MDPI, as it not only showcased our strong commitment to OA but also emphasized our role in advancing important fields such as Environmental Medicine.”
Learn more
- Watch the full press conference (Radio Radicale)
- Giulia’s speech: 33:20 (in Italian)
- Stefan’s speech: 57:50 (in English)
- ICEM 2025 Conference Program
- Selected media coverage:
This moment at the Italian Senate shows how MDPI can connect publishing with science, policy, and society to help advance both Open Science and environmental health research on a global stage.
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In Rome with Sir Richard Roberts (photo left) and Prof. Giuseppe Novelli (EiC of MDPI journal COVID).
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
