Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.5
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Announcements
applsci-logo

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Announcements

23 June 2025
International Women in Engineering Day—“Together We Engineer”, 23 June 2025


International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), observed annually on 23 June, is a global initiative that celebrates the outstanding achievements of women in engineering while inspiring more young women to pursue engineering careers. Established in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in the UK, this observance has become a vital platform for advancing diversity and inclusion in the engineering profession.

Aligned with the 2025 theme, “Together We Engineer” and Goal 5 of the SDG Publishers Compact: Gender Equality, MDPI emphasizes the power of collective action to break down gender barriers and foster a more inclusive engineering culture. In this era of both challenges and opportunities, women engineers are driving technological innovation in unprecedented ways—from sustainable development solutions to AI ethics frameworks, their contributions are fundamentally reshaping our industry.

Join us in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day and supporting initiatives that empower women in STEM. Together, we can build a future where engineering innovation thrives through diversity, and where every aspiring engineer has equal opportunities to shape our world.

Engineering

● Actuators;
● Applied Sciences;
● Automation;
● Biomimetics;
● Buildings;
● Eng;
● Lubricants;
● Machines;
● Micromachines;
● Processes;
● Sensors.

Chemistry & Materials Science

● Applied Nano;
● C;
● Coatings;
● JFB;
● JMMP;
● Materials;
● Metals;
● Nanomaterials.

Computer Science & Mathematics

● Software.

Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities

● Challenges;
● Education Sciences.

Session 1: Breaking Barriers as Rising Stars Session 2: Legacy Building Through Inclusive Leadership
Date: 23 June 2025, 11:00 a.m. (CEST)
Webinar ID: 834 2423 4697
Free to register for this webinar here!		 Date: 23 June 2025, 4:00 p.m. (CEST)
Webinar ID: 835 3354 6710
Free to register for this webinar here!

We are pleased to announce that the first Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering.

Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025.

Prize:

  • CHF 1000;
  • An electronic certificate;
  • A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

For more details about the award, please visit here. Please feel free to send the nomination letter to ywe-award@mdpi.com.

We are honored to interview several outstanding female scholars in engineering field to share their research journey and your insight into being a female engineer.

Name: Dr. Teresa Donateo
Affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Italy

“Female engineers often bring a unique set of strengths to academic research, shaped by their life experiences and the challenges they routinely navigate. One particularly valuable strength is the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, a skill frequently sharpened through balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments, such as motherhood.”

Please read the full interview here.

Name: Dr. Jelena Svorcan
Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia

“Females are generally very responsible, well organized, do not do everything at the last minute, and can very successfully deal with particular, tedious tasks. They perform well under pressure and are great as team leaders and teachers since they engage more with the younger colleagues, but can also be strict when necessary.”

Please read the full interview here.

Name: Dr. Yong Wei Tiong
Affiliations: 1 Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
2 Singapore Integrative Biosystems and Engineering Research (SIBER), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

“Female engineers often bring a collaborative, systems-oriented mindset that’s well-suited for complex interdisciplinary problems. They tend to approach problem-solving holistically and with strong communication skills, qualities essential for cross-functional research.”

Please read the full interview here.

“Artificial Intelligence for Non-Destructive Imaging in Composite Materials”
by Mine Seckin, Pinar Demircioglu, Ahmet Cagdas Seckin, Ismail Bogrekci and Serra Aksoy
Eng 2025, 6(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng6030046

“Disassembly Plan Representation by Hypergraph”
by Abboy Verkuilen, Mirjam Zijderveld, Niels de Buck and Jenny Coenen
Automation 2025, 6(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6010010

“Probing Solid-Binding Peptide Self-Assembly Kinetics Using a Frequency Response Cooperativity Model”
by Taylor Bader, Kyle Boone, Chris Johnson, Cindy L. Berrie and Candan Tamerler
Biomimetics 2025, 10(2), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10020107

“Fast Multi-Distance Time-Domain NIRS and DCS System for Clinical Applications”
by Marco Nabacino, Caterina Amendola, Davide Contini, Rebecca Re, Lorenzo Spinelli and Alessandro Torricelli
Sensors 2024, 24(22), 7375; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24227375

“Understanding the Effect of Carbon Nanotube Core Designs on Controlling Bandgaps and Wave Directionality in Cement”
by Nanziri Esther Kayondo and Shreya Vemuganti
Eng 2024, 5(3), 1811–1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5030096

“On the Importance of Solar Radiation and Shading for the Alkali–Aggregate Reaction Prediction of Concrete Arch Dams”
by Noemi Schclar Leitão
Eng 2024, 5(3), 1673–1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5030088

“Label- and Reagent-Free Optical Sensor for Absorption-Based Detection of Urea Concentration in Water Solutions”
by Carlo Anelli, Vanessa Pellicorio, Valentina Bello and Sabina Merlo
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092754

“Electromechanical Actuator-Based Solution for a Scissor Lift”
by Łukasz Stawiński, Viacheslav Zakharov, Andrzej Kosucki and Tatiana Minav
Actuators 2023, 12(10), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12100394

“A Synthesis-Based Stateful Approach for Guiding Design Thinking in Embedded System Development”
by Hung-Fu Chang and Supannika Koolmanojwong Mobasser
Software 2023, 2(3), 332–349; https://doi.org/10.3390/software2030016

Special Issues:

“New Technologies for Sensors” “Recent Advances in Compliant Mechanisms”
“Advanced Sensors and Signal Processing for Psychophysiological Monitoring” “Digital Twins for Sustainable Industrial Processes”
“Micro-/Nanofluidic and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for Biomedical Applications, 3rd Edition” “Emerging Trends in Materials Engineering for Clean Energy Applications”

“Effect of Heat Treatment on Polymorphism and Particle Size Distribution of Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticle Synthesized via Mechanochemical Process”
by Md Nuruzzaman, Yanju Liu, Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman, Saifullah Omar Nasif and Ravi Naidu
Appl. Nano 2025, 6(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/applnano6020008

“Skin Sensitization Potential of Sensitizers in the Presence of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles In Vitro”
by Claudia Meindl, Kristin Öhlinger, Verena Zrim, Jennifer Ober, Ramona Jeitler, Eva Roblegg and Eleonore Fröhlich
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(22), 1811; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14221811

“Two-Dimensional MoS2 Nanosheets Derived from Cathodic Exfoliation for Lithium Storage Applications”
by Alberto Martínez-Jódar, Silvia Villar-Rodil, José M. Munuera, Alberto Castro-Muñiz, Jonathan N. Coleman, Encarnación Raymundo-Piñero and Juan I. Paredes
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(11), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14110932

“Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric and Fluorescent Dual-Mode Lateral Flow Immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 Detection”
by Ying Gan, Hefan Zhang, Jing Liu, Fuqin He, Fengheng Li, Ao Li, Man Xing, Dongming Zhou, Shan-Yu Fung and Hong Yang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15030058

“Examining the Impact of Intermediate Cooling on Mechanical Properties of 22MnB5 in a Tailored Tempering Process”
by Alborz Reihani, Sebastian Heibel, Thomas Schweiker and Marion Merklein
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8010005

“Investigating the Effect of Interface Temperature on Molecular Interdiffusion during Laser Transmission Welding of 3D-Printed Composite Parts”
by Anh-Duc Le, André Chateau Akué Asséko, Benoît Cosson and Patricia Krawczak
Materials 2023, 16(18), 6121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186121

“Synthesis, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Biocompatibility of Multi-Component Collagen-Based Hydrogels Developed by E-Beam Irradiation”
by Maria Demeter, Andreea Mariana Negrescu, Ion Calina, Anca Scarisoreanu, Mădălina Albu Kaya, Marin Micutz, Marius Dumitru and Anisoara Cimpean
J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14(9), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14090454

“A Modelling-Based Framework for Carbon Emissions Calculation in Additive Manufacturing: A Stereolithography Case Study”
by Vasiliki C. Panagiotopoulou, Aikaterini Paraskevopoulou and Panagiotis Stavropoulos
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2574; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092574

“Natural Polyphenols and the Corrosion Protection of Steel: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives for Green and Promising Strategies”
by Rossella Sesia, Silvia Spriano, Marco Sangermano and Sara Ferraris
Metals 2023, 13(6), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13061070

Special Issues:

“Recent Developments in Friction Stir Welding Technology and Applications” “Women’s Special Issue Series: Functional Biomaterials (2nd Edition)”
“Healthy and Affordable Zero-Emission Buildings: A Challenge for the Near Future” “Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Biomimetic Surfaces and Interfaces 2025”
“Advanced Materials and Processing Technologies” “The 15th Anniversary of Nanomaterials—Women in Nanomaterials”

20 June 2025
Young Women in Engineering Award—Open for Nominations


We are pleased to announce that the Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering. All the nominations will be assessed by an Award Evaluation Committee, and winners will be announced online on 8 March 2026.

Prizes:

  • CHF 1000;
  • An electronic certificate;
  • A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

Number of winners: 2.

Eligibility and requirements:

  • This role is designated for female candidates;
  • Must have received their Ph.D. no more than 10 years prior to 31 December 2025;
  • Must have produced groundbreaking research and made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering;
  • Must be nominated by senior scientists.

List of documents for nomination:

  • Detailed curriculum vitae, including an updated publication list and a list of the researcher’s own research grants;
  • Scanned copy of doctorate certificate;
  • Signed nomination letters from two established senior scientists.

Schedule:

Open for nominations: 23 June 2025;
Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025;
Winner announcement: 8 March 2026.

Nominations and contact:

All nomination materials and award-related communications must be submitted via our official email: ywe-award@mdpi.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Young Women in Engineering Award Team

17 June 2025
Applied Sciences Exceptional Reviewers List 2025


We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2025, which was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have delivered consistently exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting the exchange of knowledge, Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3417) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rated the peer-review process as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have devoted their time and expertise to assist in Applied Sciences’ peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering insightful feedback, and helping to ensure the academic rigor of all published articles are much appreciated.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in May 2024. Each quarter, we will select a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Q2

Name: Dr. Nay Lin Oo
Affiliation: Ara Institute of Canterbury, New Zealand

Name: Prof. Dr. Gabriel Marín Díaz 
Affiliations: 1 Complutense University of Madrid, Spain;
2 Universidad Europea, Spain

Name: Dr. Paweł Rydzewski
Affiliation: Maria Curie Sklodowska University (UMCS), Poland

Name: Dr. Bireswar Dutta
Affiliation: Shih Chien University Taipei Campus, Taiwan

Name: Dr. Tatiana Moschovou
Affiliation: National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Name: Dr. Gennaro Di Meo
Affiliation: University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Name: Dr. Hiroyuki Ishimori
Affiliation: National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan

Name: Dr. Adina Oana Armencia
Affiliation: “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania

Name: Dr. Tahir Cetin Akinci
Affiliation: University of California, USA

Name: Dr. Elisavet Bouloumpasi
Affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Greece

Name: Dr. Jan Dizo
Affiliation: University of Žilina, Slovakia

Name: Prof. Dr. Yuke Wang
Affiliation: Zhengzhou University, China

Name: Dr. Hongliang Luo
Affiliation: Harbin Engineering University, China

Name: Dr. Alireza Tabrizikahou
Affiliation: Poznań University of Technology, Poland

Name: Dr. Mohammad Roshan
Affiliation: University of Minho, Portugal

Name: Dr. Alberto Ubaldini
Affiliation: Bologna Research Center, Italy

Name: Dr. Dariusz Obracaj
Affiliation: AGH University of Krakow, Poland

Name: Dr. Yuchen Wang
Affiliation: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Japan

Name: Dr. Mohamed C. Ghanem
Affiliations: 1 University of Liverpool, UK;
2 London Metropolitan University, UK

Name: Dr. Stefano Nejrotti
Affiliations: 1 University of Torino, Italy;
2 Tecnologia e Sostenibilità per lo Sviluppo dei Materiali Ceramici (ISSMC-CNR), Italy

Name: Dr. Zhan Gao
Affiliation: Beijing Jiaotong University, China

Name: Dr. Shafaq Sahar
Affiliation: Hunan University, China

Name: Dr. Jakub Górski
Affiliation: AGH University of Krakow, Poland

Name: Dr Jagoda Jablonska
Affiliation: Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Name: Dr. Stefano Cascone
Affiliation: Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Italy

Name: Prof. Dr. Václav Uruba
Affiliations: 1 University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic;
2 Institute of Thermomechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Name: Dr. Jacek Abramczyk
Affiliation: Rzeszow University of Technology, Poland

Name: Dr. Lihang Feng
Affiliation: Nanjing Tech University, China

Name: Dr. Alessandro Cantelli-Forti
Affiliation: National Laboratory, Italy

Name: Dr. Michael Kent
Affiliation: Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore

Name: Dr. Lingyue Ma
Affiliation: Shanghai University, China

Name: Dr. Francesco Bono
Affiliation: Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Name: Dr. Kang Xu
Affiliation: Beijing Jiaotong University, China

Name: Dr. Aneta Cegiełka
Affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Poland

Name: Dr. Delika Weragoda
Affiliation: University of Kent, UK

Name: Dr. Eleonora Balliana
Affiliation: Ca’ Foscari University Venice, Italy

Name: Dr. Jun Ye
Affiliations: 1 Hainan Normal University, China;
2 Hainan University, China

Name: Dr. Jinyang Li
Affiliation: Jiangsu University, China

Name: Dr. Robert Karpiński
Affiliations: 1 Lublin University of Technology, Poland; 
2 The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland

Name: Dr. Salvatore Ponte
Affiliation: Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli: Aversa (CE), Italy

Name: Dr. Sara Frazzini
Affiliation: University of Milan, Italy

Name: Dr. Michał Łobacz
Affiliation: Medical University of Lublin, Poland

Name: Dr. Bahadar S. Srichawla
Affiliation: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA

Name: Prof. Dr. Konrad Wojciechowski
Affiliation: Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Poland

Name: Dr. Magdalena Zaborowska
Affiliation: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

Name: Dr. Hanzhou Wu
Affiliations: 1 Shanghai University, China;
2 Guizhou Normal University, China

Name: Dr. Marta Kałuża
Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology, Poland

Name: Prof. Dr. Danuta Król
Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology, Poland

Name: Prof. Dr. Haitao Zhao
Affiliation: Hohai University, China

Name: Dr. Richárd Wéber
Affiliation: Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary

See what our reviewers have to say about Applied Sciences’ review process:

“My review experience is fully rewarding: it allows me to follow current research in my field while doing my best to support authors by sharing my expertise.”—Prof. Dr. Gabriel Marín Díaz

“The review process is very smooth. The instructions are mentioned clearly. The communication with the official is very prominent. A great experience overall! Highly recommend.”—Dr. Bireswar Dutta

“My review experience centers on geotechnical engineering, including studies on ground subsidence and slope failures via experiments and simulations, as well as theoretical models employing advanced mathematics.”—Dr. Hiroyuki Ishimori

“Regarding my experience as a reviewer, I consider peer review to be an essential commitment for promoting quality and innovation in science, giving me the satisfaction of supporting the scientific community and ensuring the quality of publications.”—Dr. Adina Oana Armencia

“I focus on whether studies are written with scientific rigor, apply current methods, and contribute meaningfully to the literature with both theoretical and applied insights.”—Dr. Tahir Cetin Akinci

“Reviewing for the journal has been a rewarding experience, contributing to the advancement of high-quality scientific research.”—Dr. Elisavet Bouloumpasi

“As a Reviwer in Journal of Applied Sciences, I enjoy reading and providing constructive feedback to the new and innorvate ideas that reflect the novelty of the journal.”—Dr. Nay Lin Oo

“It is a privilege to assist your journal. My reviews are modest in tone and oriented to practical improvements—especially around methods and reproducibility in FRC, SMA, and computational mechanics.”—Dr. Alireza Tabrizikahou

“I'm very happy to have contributed to the review process. It was helpful because it allowed me to learn new topics and stay up-to-date. Everything was well-managed by the editor, and I hope to be a reviewer again in the future.”—Dr. Alberto Ubaldini

“With over 300 article reviews completed for various journals, I bring substantial experience to the table. MDPI is dedicated to delivering an exceptional review process and providing excellent support to its reviewers. The remote review submission system is not only transparent but also highly user-friendly. I am confident in the continued success of Applied Sciences.”—Dr. Dariusz Obracaj

“Peer review is an important aspect of the academic community. I will continue to provide objective and rigorous reviewing to ensure the quality of manuscripts for Applied Sciences.”—Dr. Yuchen Wang

Q1

Name: Dr. Patryk Ziolkowski
Affiliation: Gdansk University of Technology, Poland		 Name: Prof. Dr. Paweł Pijarski
Affiliation: Lublin University of Technology, Poland
Name: Dr. Adrian Peidro
Affiliation: Miguel Hernandez University, Spain		 Name: Dr. Andreea Kui
Affiliation: “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania
Name: Dr. Roberto Lo Giudice
Affiliation: University of Messina, Italy		 Name: Dr. Radovan Holubek
Affiliation: Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia
Name: Dr. Gessica Umili
Affiliation: Torino University, Italy		 Name: Dr. Zhao Ding
Affiliation: Chongqing University, China
Name: Dr. Stefano Quer
Affiliation: Politecnico di Torino, Italy		 Name: Prof. Dr. Papageorgas Panagiotis
Affiliation: University of West Attica, Greece
Name: Dr. Zheng Cao
Affiliation: Xi'an Jiaotong University, China		 Name: Dr. Laura Zlibinaite
Affiliation: Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution, Lithuania
Name: Prof. Dr. Daniela Perduková
Affiliation: Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia		 Name: Prof. Dr. Maciej Sydor
Affiliations: 1.Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland ; 2. Poznań University of Technology, Poland
Name: Prof. Dr. Magdalena Gantner
Affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), Poland		 Name: Dr. Dawid Szatten
Affiliation: Kazimierz Wielki University, Poland
Name: Dr. Weike Wang
Affiliation: Shandong University of Science and Technology, China		 Name: Dr. Konstantinos Papadimitriou
Affiliation: University of East London, Greece
Name: Dr. Ramanjaneyulu Rayala
Affiliation: University of Illinois Chicago, USA		 Name: Prof. Dr. Lianguo Wang
Affiliation: China University of Mining and Technology, China
Name: Dr. Juan Luis Cabanillas García
Affiliation: Universidad de Extremadura, Spain		 Name: Dr. Do-Youn Lee
Affiliation: Kookmin University, Republic of Korea
Name: Prof. Dr. Anna Rudawska
Affiliation: Lublin University of Technology, Poland		 Name: Prof. Dr. Roman Trach
Affiliation: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
Name: Prof. Dr. O. Roger Anderson
Affiliation: Columbia University, USA		 Name: Prof. Dr. Carlos Roldán-Blay
Affiliation: Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain
Name: Prof. Dr. Martin Decký
Affiliation: University of Žilina, Slovakia		 Name: Dr. Daniele Sofia
Affiliation: University of Calabria, Italy
Name: Dr. Rocco Citroni
Affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome, Italy		 Name: Dr. Sanda Rosca
Affiliation: Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania
Name: Prof. Dr. Xueming Du
Affiliation: Zhengzhou University, China		 Name: Dr. Zhen Liu
Affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, USA
Name: Dr. Łukasz Knypiński
Affiliation: Poznan University of Technology, Poland		 Name: Dr. Ruizhe Yang
Affiliation: University of Chicago, USA
Name: Prof. Dr. Anna Lekova
Affiliation: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria		 Name: Prof. Dr. Robert Ulewicz
Affiliation: Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland
Name: Dr. José Carlos Piñar-Fuentes
Affiliation: University of Jaen, Spain		 Name: Dr. Jorge Calvillo-Arbizu
Affiliation: University of Seville, Spain
Name: Dr. Elias Sakellis
Affiliation: National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) Demokritos, Greece		 Name: Prof. Dr. Leszek Sobkowiak
Affiliation: Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland
Name: Dr. Babak Jamhiri
Affiliation: Loughborough University, UK		 Name: Prof. Dr. Belmiro P. M. Duarte
Affiliation: Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, Portugal
Name: Dr. Gabriela Ionescu
Affiliation: National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Romania		 Name: Prof. Dr. Jang-Eui Hong
Affiliation: Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea
Name: Dr. Ramona Riedel
Affiliation: BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Germany		 Name: Dr. Assunta Pozzuoli
Affiliation: University of Padova, Italy
Name: Prof. Dr. Theodoros Theodosiou
Affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece		 Name: Dr. Maria Francesca Ferrario
Affiliation: Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Italy
Name: Dr. Malgorzata Kac
Affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland		 Name: Dr. Wei-jung Shiang
Affiliation: Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan

 See what our reviewers have to say about Applied Sciences’ review process:

“Peer review is a valuable opportunity to contribute to scientific rigor while staying engaged with emerging research in my field.”—Dr. Andreea Kui 
“It is a pleasure to contribute to the peer-review process, supporting the advancement of scientific research. The review platform is very user-friendly, and the star rating system works well, providing a clear idea of the article’s qualities. I believe that integrating a plagiarism detection tool would be beneficial to further support reviewers in verifying the originality of submitted manuscripts.”—Dr. Roberto Lo Giudice 
“Serving as a reviewer for a critical journal is a significant responsibility underpinning our field's integrity and advancement. It requires a diligent and objective assessment of a manuscript's originality, methodological rigor, clarity, and contribution to existing knowledge. Beyond critical evaluation, a key responsibility is to provide constructive, insightful, and actionable feedback that helps authors improve their work, regardless of the ultimate publication decision, thereby fostering scholarly excellence and upholding the journal's high standards.”—Dr. Stefano Quer 
“The MDPI platform has helped me a lot in performing the review. I have the capability of interacting with One important point is how to have easy access to plagiarism detection of articles under review automatically through an online tool for the article under review.”—Prof. Dr. Papageorgas Panagiotis 
“When reviewing manuscripts, I always willing to provide recommendations to editors and authors based on my knowledge and insights, thereby improving the quality of the papers and contributing to the journal's development. I take the review of every submission responsibly because each paper not only tells a scientific story that have been done, but also may influence the future that yet to come.”—Dr. Zheng Cao 
“Reviewing varied studies has enhanced my critical thinking, time management, and clear communication, enabling me to provide constructive, detailed feedback while respecting diverse research contexts. It also inspired my own study designs and deepened my understanding of the literature. I recommend peer reviewing to fellow researchers because it sharpens analytical and communication skills, expands expertise, and fosters scientific rigor and collaboration.”—Dr. Laura Zlibinaite 
“Reviewing for Applied Sciences has been a rewarding way to stay engaged with cutting-edge research, support scientific quality, and give back to the academic community.”—Dr. Ramanjaneyulu Rayala 
“Reviewing for Applied Sciences has deepened my perspective on applied innovation, particularly in how AI and technology can enhance learning and research methodologies.”—Dr. Juan Luis Cabanillas García
“I am committed to providing thorough and constructive reviews to promote rigorous, innovative, and sustainable research in engineering and energy systems.”—Prof. Dr. Carlos Roldán-Blay 
“Processing peer-reviewed articles gives me significant scope to expand my scientific knowledge on a global level. It is an honor for me to process manuscript reviews, in the areas of engineering structures.”—Prof. Dr. Martin Decký 
“I believe that providing thorough, constructive feedback helps authors refine their work, ensuring research quality and advancing scientific knowledge. Engaging in the peer review process allows me to stay updated with the latest developments in fields like energy harvesting, plasmonics, and AI, while also supporting the scientific community.”—Dr. Rocco Citroni 
“Peer review is a rewarding way to contribute to the scientific community and help maintain the quality and integrity of published research.”—Dr. Zhen Liu 
“Each review is a new challenge for me, as well as an opportunity to learn about the latest research directions in my area of interest. Through a review, we can learn about new approaches and expand our knowledge, which we can later apply in our own research.”—Dr. Łukasz Knypiński 
“The MDPI review process is transparent and efficient, with an intuitive interface that covers all aspects of peer review according to best practices. The whole system supports comfortable work for reviewers.”—Prof. Dr. Robert Ulewicz 
“As an editor for several journals and a reviewer for many, I strive to provide constructive feedback that helps authors improve the quality of their work, thus contributing to ensuring rigorous and high-quality scientific publications.”—Dr. Assunta Pozzuoli

You can read more testimonials at the following link:  https://www.mdpi.com/testimonials?type=all&journal_id=90&page_count=50.

15 June 2025
Applied Sciences Receives an Increased CiteScore of 5.5


We are pleased to share that Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3417) received an increased CiteScore of 5.5 in June 2025, which is an impressive achievement, with the following ranks:

  • Q1 (72nd out of 344) in the “Engineering, General Engineering” category;
  • Q1 (37th out of 174, improvement) in the “Physics and Astronomy, Instrumentation” category;
  • Q1 (22nd out of 97, improvement) in the “Chemical Engineering, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes” category;
  • Q2 (293rd out of 947) in the “Computer Science, Computer Science Applications” category;
  • Q2 (164th out of 460) in the “Materials Science, General Materials Science” category;
  • Q2 (33rd out of 70, improvement) in the “Chemical Engineering, Process Chemistry and Technology” category.

You can find more statistics on our website, which can be accessed at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/stats, as well as https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/21100829268.

The current CiteScore measures the average number of citations of a journal over a four-year window (2021–2024). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies as well as research evaluation and enable the benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. Together we will continue to track the progress of Applied Sciences and its growing impact in applied natural sciences.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the journal.

Applied Sciences Editorial Office

5 June 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 12th International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications (ECSA-12), 12–14 November 2025


We are pleased to announce the 12th International Electronic Conference on Sensors and Applications (ECSA-12), which will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Stefano Mariani, Prof. Dr. Stefan Bosse, Prof. Dr. Francisco Falcone and Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Laheurte. This event will be held virtually from 12 to 14 November 2025, with participation completely free of charge.

This event aims to bring together leading experts in sensor research from around the world, providing a dynamic platform with which to share cutting-edge knowledge and present recent advancements. Building on the success of the past ten editions (2014–2023), this year’s edition will focus on eight thematic areas where sensors are changing science.

Topics of Interest:

  • S1. Chemo- and Biosensors
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Stefano Mariani;
  • S2. Physical Sensors
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Laheurte, Université Gustave Eiffel, France;
  • S3. Sensor Networks, the IoT, Smart Cities, and Health Monitoring
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Francisco Falcone, Public University of Navarre, Spain; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico;
  • S4. Sensors and Artificial Intelligence
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Stefan Bosse, University of Koblenz, Germany;
  • S5. Smart Agriculture Sensors
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Stefano Mariani, Politecnico di Milano, Italy;
  • S6. Electronic Sensors, Devices, and Systems
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Stefan Bosse, University of Koblenz, Germany;
  • S7. Wearable Sensors and Healthcare Applications
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Laheurte, Université Gustave Eiffel, France;
  • S8. Robotics, Sensors, and Industry 4.0
    Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Francisco Falcone, Public University of Navarre, Spain; Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Latest Schedule:
New abstract submission deadline: 25 June 2025;
New abstract acceptance notification: 9 July 2025;
Full file submission deadline: 12 August 2025;
Registration deadline: 7 November 2025.

Instructions for Authors and Publication Opportunities:
To participate in the conference, please first submit your abstract before 25 June 2025 via the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1362. Once your abstract is accepted, you will be requested to submit proceedings papers or posters before 12 August 2025. Authors are also encouraged to submit video presentations (maximum of 3–5 min) after the acceptance of their abstracts and proceedings papers or posters as supplementary materials.

All accepted submissions will be published on Sciforum. Proceedings papers (minimum of 4 pages) are eligible for free publication with DOI in MDPI’s Engineering Proceedings (indexed within Scopus, ISSN: 2673-4591).

In addition, a Special Issue will be launched in the open access journal Sensors (ISSN: 1424-8220, impact factor: 3.4, and CiteScore: 8.2), and participants are encouraged to submit a full manuscript for peer review and potential publication with a 20% discount on the article processing charge (APC).

For detailed submission guidelines, please refer to the Instructions for Authors.
To register for free, please visit https://sciforum.net/event/ECSA-12?section=#registration.

Conference Awards:
Two winners will be selected for the Best Contribution Awards and one winner will be selected for the Student Award. Each winner will receive a certificate and a prize of CHF 500.

We look forward to receiving your abstracts and invite you to register for this conference.

For any inquiries regarding the event, please contact ecsa@mdpi.com.

Conference Chairs:
Prof. Dr. Stefano Mariani
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bosse
Prof. Dr. Francisco Falcone
Prof. Dr. Jean-Marc Laheurte

ECSA-12 Organizing Team

5 June 2025
World Food Safety Day—“Food Safety: Science in Action”, 7 June 2025


World Food Safety Day 2025  is a global initiative that highlights the importance of safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for all. It raises awareness of the risks posed by unsafe food and the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food safety across every stage of the supply chain—from production to consumption. On this World Food Safety Day, let us come together to promote better food practices, strengthen food safety systems, and help build a healthier, more resilient global food supply for present and future generations.

We hope that you will join us in recognizing the importance of safe and nutritious food this World Food Safety Day on 7 June. The 2025 theme, “Food Safety: Science in Action,” highlights the need for robust food safety systems to prevent, detect, and respond to foodborne risks. Safe food is essential not only for good health but also for sustainable development, economic growth, and global food security. At MDPI, we are proud to support this mission through our open access journals, which provide a platform for sharing research, innovation, and best practices to ensure food safety from farm to fork.

“Food Insecurity across Age Groups in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic”
by Zhongqi Fan, Amy M. Yang, Marcus Lehr, Ana B. Ronan, Ryan B. Simpson, Kimberly H. Nguyen, Elena N. Naumova and Naglaa H. El-Abbadi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081078

“The Role of Fungi in Food Production and Processing”
by John Pouris, Foteini Kolyva, Spyridoula Bratakou, Chrysovalantou Argyro Vogiatzi, Dimitrios Chaniotis and Apostolos Beloukas
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 5046; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14125046

“Specific Personal Hygiene Procedures and Practices in Food Handlers—A Cross-Sectional Study in Butcher and Fishmonger Shops in Almada”
by Inês Oliveira, Miguel Almeida, João J. Ferreira Gomes and Ana Rita Henriques
Hygiene 2024, 4(2), 207-220; https://doi.org/10.3390/hygiene4020017

“Next-Generation Probiotics as Novel Therapeutics for Improving Human Health: Current Trends and Future Perspectives”
by Mohamed E. Abouelela and Yosra A. Helmy
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030430

“Global Food Security and Sustainability Issues: The Road to 2030 from Nutrition and Sustainable Healthy Diets to Food Systems Change”
by Theodoros Varzakas and Slim Smaoui
Foods 2024, 13(2), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13020306

“Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) Method for Determination of Total Fluorine and Total Organic Fluorine in Packaging Substrates”
by Ma Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio, Greg W. Curtzwiler, Mark R. Early, Katie M. Updegraff and Keith L. Vorst
Methods Protoc. 2023, 6(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/mps6010010

“Research on Food Chemical Safety”
Guest Editors: Dr. Efrén Pérez Santín and Dr. José Ignacio López Sánchez
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025		 “Advanced in Safety Detection and Quality Control of Food”
Guest Editors: Dr. Natalia Casado Navas, Prof. Dr. Isabel Sierra Alonso and Prof. Dr. Sonia Morante Zarcero
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025
“Consumer Behavior Research in Food: A Focus on Health, Safety, and Sustainability, 2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Pei Liu and Dr. Yee Ming Lee
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025		 “Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics in Animal Nutrition and Health, and Food Safety”
Guest Editor: Dr. María Esther Ortega-Cerrilla
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026

3 June 2025
World Environment Day—“Beat Plastic Pollution”, 5 June 2025


World Environment Day is an urgent call to action as nature suffers from the devastating impacts of human activity. Annual plastic production exceeds 400 million tons, half of which is single-use plastic, with under 10% recycled. 11 million tons of plastic (equal to 2,200 Eiffel Towers) pollute waterways yearly. Microplastics contaminate our food, water, and air, with humans ingesting over 50,000 particles annually. This pollution harms health and ecosystems globally. A solution does exist, however. Governments, businesses, and individuals must adhere to the 5Rs—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink. Join #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day to create a sustainable future.

On this significant day, we are proud to present a curated collection of articles and initiatives dedicated to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions for protecting the environment and beating plastic pollution. We invite readers to explore these resources and join us in our shared mission of a sustainable vision of the future. Together, we can pave the way for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Environmental & Earth Sciences

Biology & Life Sciences

Chemistry & Materials Science

Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities

Engineering

“Enhanced Separation of Palladium from Nuclear Wastewater by the Sulfur-Rich Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework”
by Junli Wang, Chen Luo, Wentao Wang, Hui Wang, Yao Liu, Jianwei Li and Taihong Yan
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(10), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15100714

“Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review”
by Cristiano Fragassa, Sara Mattiello, Martina Fronduti, Jo’ Del Gobbo, Radmila Gagic and Carlo Santulli
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(12), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8120532

“Testing the Effectiveness of an Ecomedia Literacy Environmental Education Lesson”
by Ludovica Lo Iacono, Ludovica Lo Iacono and Emilio Paolo Visintin
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120645

“Airborne Microplastics: Challenges, Prospects, and Experimental Approaches”
by Alexey R. Rednikin, Yulia A. Frank, Artem O. Rozhin, Danil S. Vorobiev and Rawil F. Fakhrullin
Atmosphere 2024, 15(11), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111380

“Emerging Technologies for Remote Sensing of Floating and Submerged Plastic Litter”
by Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy, Victor Martínez-Vicente, Heidi M. Dierssen, Valentina Raimondi, Erio Gandini, Robert Foster and Ved Chirayath
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101770

“The Other Side of Fire in a Changing Environment: Evidence from a Mediterranean Country”
by Dimitrios Kalfas, Stavros Kalogiannidis, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis and Nikolaos Margaritis
Fire 2024, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7020036

“A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Technologies, Sustainability, and Open Issues”
by Alessandra Zanoletti, Eleonora Carena, Chiara Ferrara and Elza Bontempi
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010038

“A Comparative Analysis of Different Hydrogen Production Methods and Their Environmental Impact”
by Somtochukwu Godfrey Nnabuife, Caleb Kwasi Darko, Precious Chineze Obiako, Boyu Kuang, Xiaoxiao Sun and Karl Jenkins
Clean Technol. 2023, 5(4), 1344-1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5040067

“Screening of Microplastics in Aquaculture Systems (Fish, Mussel, and Water Samples) by FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Micro-Raman Spectroscopies”
by Kleopatra Miserli, Christos Lykos, Angelos G. Kalampounias and Ioannis Konstantinou
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9705; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179705

“Microplastics, Additives, and Plasticizers in Freshwater Bivalves: Preliminary Research of Biomonitoring”
by Giulia Cesarini, Fabiana Corami, Beatrice Rosso and Massimiliano Scalici
Water 2023, 15(14), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142647

“Advancements and Applications of Nanomaterials for Removal of Organic Compounds in Aquatic Environment”

Guest Editors: Dr. Ramona Riedel and Prof. Dr. Giulio Malucelli

Submission deadline: 20 August 2025

“Novel Sources, Designs and After-Use Pathways for Plastics in a Circular Economy”

Guest Editor: Dr. María José Arévalo-Caballero

Submission deadline: 31 August 2025

“Airborne Micro and Nanoplastics: Detection, Dynamics, and Exposure Assessment”

Guest Editor: Dr. Yangyang Liu

Submission deadline: 30 September 2025

“Aquatic Microplastic Pollution: Occurrence and Removal”

Guest Editor: Dr. Lixin Zhu

Submission deadline: 25 October 2025

“Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining”

Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Chongchong Qi, Dr. Qiusong Chen and Dr. Danial Jahed Armaghani

Submission deadline: 31 October 2025

“Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition”

Topic Editors: Dr. Abdul Majeed, Prof. Dr. Yuantao Xie and Prof. Dr. Judit Oláh

Submission deadline: 31 October 2025
       

3 June 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #23 - MDPI Summits Spain & Italy, Ei Compendex, and Editorial Independence

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

Highlights from the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona (21-22 May)

In May we hosted the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona – our second summit in the city following the inaugural one in November 2023.


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) at the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona, 22 May 2025.

Creating a space for exchange of views

The goal of our summits is to bring together Chief Editors of MDPI journals from across disciplines and institutions. These intimate gatherings provide a platform to present the latest developments at MDPI and to initiate open conversations about our journals, the future of open access, and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing.

Most importantly, these are opportunities for in-person connection, providing a more meaningful space for the exchange of views and for building long-term relationships.

Exploring the future of scientific publishing in Spain

The summit took place on 21–22 May and featured a mix of MDPI presentations (including two guest presentations), roundtable discussions, and Q&A sessions. On the first day, we held a focused session with our Chief Editors to gather feedback and have open discussions on their journal development, the peer-review process, and local accreditation systems.


Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI, presents MDPI’s Editorial Process and Peer Review Quality Metrics at the MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona, 22 May 2025.

I had the pleasure of opening the Summit with a welcome address and an overview of MDPI’s recent milestones. The agenda then included the following sessions:

  • MDPI and Recent Developments in the Spanish Market – Dr. Marta Colomer (Public Affairs Specialist, MDPI)
  • MDPI Editorial Process and Peer Review Quality Metrics – Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI)
  • Open Access in Spain – Dr. Remedios Melero (Researcher, CSIC – guest speaker)
  • AI in Publishing and MDPI's Actions – Dr. Enric Sayas (Business Analyst, MDPI), Daniele Raimondi (Data Scientist, MDPI), and Dr. Alexandre López-Borrull (Researcher, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya – guest speaker)
  • Publication Ethics – Ana Stankovic (Research Integrity and Publication Ethics, MDPI)
  • Opening and Closing remarks were provided by Rocksy Zhang (Editorial Director, MDPI)

We are extremely grateful for the strong engagement shown by our Editors, who were clearly appreciative of the event and the discussions we had. They felt seen and heard, which is a vital prerequisite for building open channels of communication and cultivating productive long-term collaborations.


MDPI colleagues during MDPI Spain Summit in Barcelona (22 May 2025).

A big thank-you to the entire Barcelona team for organizing such a successful event!

Upcoming MDPI Summit events:

  • Italy Summit – Rome (26–27 May)
  • US Summit – Boston, MA (5–6 June)
  • France Summit – Paris (12–13 June)
  • US Summit – Houston, TX (26–27 June)
  • UK Summit – London (16–17 September)
  • Germany Summit – Berlin (18–19 September)
  • Romania Summit – Bucharest (23–24 October)
    ...with more in between, and more to follow.

Impactful Research

50 MDPI Journals Now Indexed in Ei Compendex

Indexing is a key indicator of a journal’s scientific impact. An indexed journal gives research greater visibility and credibility within the global academic community and is recognized for its quality and relevance. While many of our journals are included in major databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, MDPI also places strong emphasis on journal inclusion in subject-specific indexing platforms that align with each journal’s scope. This ensures that when you publish with MDPI, you publish with impact.

I’m pleased to share that as at May 2025, 51 of our journals are now indexed in Ei Compendex, a leading bibliographic database for engineering and applied sciences. This is a major milestone that reflects both the quality or our editorial processes and the relevance of the research we publish in these fields.

“When you publish with MDPI, you publish with impact”

Discoverability and reach

Inclusion in Ei Compendex means greater discoverability for our authors and broader reach of our journals in the fields of engineering and technology. It improves our ability to support global research and innovation, while building MDPI’s reputation in the applied sciences. This recognition is the result of the dedicated work of our editorial teams, reviewers, and authors, and of our overall commitment to excellence in publishing.

You can read our full announcement here.

Appreciative thanks to everyone involved in reaching this milestone.

Inside MDPI

 

One Year of MDPI’s Seoul Office

On 29 April, we marked one year since the opening of our Seoul office, MDPI’s first local hub in South Korea. South Korea is a key market for MDPI, currently ranking as our sixth-largest contributor to the company’s total publications, with over 89,000 MDPI articles authored by individuals affiliated with Korean institutions. Over the past 12 months, the Seoul team has made great strides in building our visibility, networks, and presence in the region.

A few highlights from the past year


Claude Seo (MDPI Korea Office Manager, Seoul)

Claude Seo, who has over 15 years of experience in the academic publishing industry, is the Office Manager of the Seoul office.

In its inaugural year, the Seoul office focused primarily on marketing and promotional activities to support the MDPI brand locally. During that time, the team concentrated on scholar visits to local institutions, attending academic conferences, and hosting editorial board meetings.

The team also secured 10 Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) renewals, signed three new IOAP agreements, and established one new Society affiliation.

The Seoul office also hosted its first library book fair and reached over 1,000 followers on its LinkedIn channel, which is an encouraging indication of local visibility and engagement.

“The Seoul team has made strides in building our visibility, networks, and presence in the region”

Growth plans

Later this year, we are working on opening a new Seoul office in a more central location, with room for our growing team. The new space will bring us closer to other publishing partners and provide easier access to and from the airport. The Seoul office will continue to expand its efforts in outreach and engagement as its builds its presence in South Korea.

Warm thanks to the entire Seoul team for their hard work and dedication, and to all MDPI colleagues who have contributed to this exciting chapter in our global journey.

Coming Together for Science

Highlights from the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (26–27 May)

We closed the month of May by hosting the first MDPI Italy Summit in Rome. This was an important event for us, as Italy has consistently ranked among the top ten countries globally for open access publications over the past decade.

MDPI and Italy: Facts & Figures

  • With over 144,000 publications (as at 31 May 2025), Italy is MDPI’s third largest contributor after China and the USA.
  • In 2024, MDPI was the second-largest publishing house in Italy.
  • The 7,165 Editorial Board Members (EBMs) drawn from Italian institutions represent 8.9% of all MDPI academic editors.
  • Among these, 319 serve as Editors-in-Chief (EiCs) or Section Editors-in-Chief (SEiCs).
  • Eleven Italian EBMs were recognized as 2024 Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers.
  • In 2024, MDPI received 24,873 review reports and collaborated with 88,578 reviewers from Italy.
  • 23,131 Guest Editors from Italian institutions led 4,827 Special Issues across 248 MDPI journals.
  • MDPI partners with over 900 institutions globally, of which 17 are in Italy.

The MDPI Italy Summit in Rome


Dr. Prof. Giulio Cerullo, EiC of Applied Sciences, at the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

Held on 26–27 May, the MDPI Italy Summit brought together 25 Chief Editors from across our journal portfolio, including some of our largest journals such as Applied Sciences, to discuss MDPI’s latest developments and collaborations in the Italian market, our use of data intelligence and AI to support strategic decision-making, a look into our editorial process, peer-review quality metrics, and conversations around research integrity and community engagement.

The Summit featured MDPI presentations followed by Q&A and concluded with a roundtable discussion. On the evening of the 26th, we hosted a dinner with our Editors to connect personally, learn more about their research, and hear feedback on journal operations and the broader academic landscape in Italy.


Gathering of Editors-in-Chief and MDPI staff at the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

Event Agenda – 27 May

Moderated by Maddalena Favaretto (Conference Scientific Advisor, MDPI), the program featured:

  • MDPI Overview, Achievements, Latest News and Future Developments – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
  • Country Report: Italy – Dr. Laura Perez Martin (Conference Assistant, MDPI)
  • AI in Publishing and MDPI’s Actions – Dr. Andrea Perlato (Head of Data Analytics, MDPI)
  • MDPI Editorial Process and Research Integrity – Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI)
  • Panel Discussion – Stefan, Andrea, Giulia


Panel Discussion with Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI), Dr. Andrea Perlato (Head of Data Analytics, MDPI) during the MDPI Italy Summit in Rome (27 May 2025).

A big thank-you to our Conference team and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make these events run smoothly.

Closing Thoughts

Upholding Editorial Independence in Scholarly Publishing

A recent MDPI blog post written by Dr. Ioana Craciun (Scientific Communications Specialist, MDPI), “Editorial Independence and Publisher Support: Collaborating to Uphold Integrity,” highlights the important balance between editorial autonomy and publisher collaboration in academic publishing.

As the leading fully Open Access scholarly publisher, we are proud to champion editorial independence within our publishing process.

Drawing from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, the article emphasizes that while editors must have the freedom to make decisions based on scholarly merit, publishers play a critical role in providing the necessary infrastructure and tools to support the editorial process. This collaborative approach ensures the integrity of the peer review process, builds trust among authors and readers, and upholds the quality and relevance of published content.

MDPI highlights its commitment to this model by investing in research integrity specialists, AI tools for plagiarism detection, and administrative support, all aimed at empowering editors to make independent, informed decisions.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 May 2025
Applied Sciences | Invitation to Read the Updated Editor’s Choice Articles


The goal of the editor’s choice articles project is to promote high-quality articles published in Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3417). Please find below the list of articles carefully handpicked by the scientific editors of the journal, which we believe will be of interest to you. The full list of editor’s choice articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/editors_choice.

1. “Re-Thinking Data Strategy and Integration for Artificial Intelligence: Concepts, Opportunities, and Challenges”
by Abdulaziz Aldoseri, Khalifa N. Al-Khalifa and Abdel Magid Hamouda
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7082; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13127082
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4742 

2. “Exploring the Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on International Students in Higher Education: Generative AI, Chatbots, Analytics, and International Student Success”
by Ting Wang, Brady D. Lund, Agostino Marengo, Alessandro Pagano, Nishith Reddy Mannuru, Zoë A. Teel and Jenny Pange
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6716; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116716
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/11/6716

3. “Countering the Novelty Effect: A Tutorial for Immersive Virtual Reality Learning Environments”
by Ines Miguel-Alonso, Bruno Rodriguez-Garcia, David Checa and Andres Bustillo
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010593
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/1/593

4. “Machine Learning Methods in Weather and Climate Applications: A Survey”
by Liuyi Chen, Bocheng Han, Xuesong Wang, Jiazhen Zhao, Wenke Yang and Zhengyi Yang
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 12019; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132112019
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/12019

5. “Anomaly Detection Method for Multivariate Time Series Data of Oil and Gas Stations Based on Digital Twin and MTAD-GAN”
by Yuanfeng Lian, Yueyao Geng and Tian Tian
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031891
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1891 

6. “Reinforcement Learning in Game Industry—Review, Prospects and Challenges”
by Konstantinos Souchleris, George K. Sidiropoulos and George A. Papakostas
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042443
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2443

7. “Is It Worth It? Comparing Six Deep and Classical Methods for Unsupervised Anomaly Detection in Time Series”
by Ferdinand Rewicki, Joachim Denzler and Julia Niebling
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031778
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1778

8. “A Secure and Decentralized Authentication Mechanism Based on Web 3.0 and Ethereum Blockchain Technology”
by Adrian Petcu, Bogdan Pahontu, Madalin Frunzete and Dan Alexandru Stoichescu
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2231; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042231
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2231

9. “Augmented Reality: Survey”
by Carlos E. Mendoza-Ramírez, Juan C. Tudon-Martinez, Luis C. Félix-Herrán, Jorge de J. Lozoya-Santos and Adriana Vargas-Martínez
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10491; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810491
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/18/10491

10. “Ensemble-NQG-T5: Ensemble Neural Question Generation Model Based on Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer”
by Myeong-Ha Hwang, Jikang Shin, Hojin Seo, Jeong-Seon Im, Hee Cho and Chun-Kwon Lee
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13020903
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/903

11. “Comparative Analysis of Lithium-Ion and Lead–Acid as Electrical Energy Storage Systems in a Grid-Tied Microgrid Application”
by Cry S. Makola, Peet F. Le Roux and Jaco A. Jordaan
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 3137; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13053137
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/5/3137

12. “PV-Powered Charging Station with Energy Cost Optimization via V2G Services”
by Saleh Cheikh-Mohamad, Berk Celik, Manuela Sechilariu and Fabrice Locment
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5627; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095627
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/9/5627

13. “Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Spatial Aspects in the Selection of Wind Farm Locations: Integrating the GIS and PROMETHEE Methods”
by Boško Josimović 1, Danijela Srnić, Božidar Manić and Ivana Knežević
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5332; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095332
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/9/5332

14. “Short-Term Power Prediction of Wind Turbine Applying Machine Learning and Digital Filter”
by Shujun Liu, Yaocong Zhang, Xiaoze Du, Tong Xu and Jiangbo Wu
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1751; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031751
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1751

15. “Comprehensive Energy Analysis of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Integration with the Power Grid: A Systemic Approach Incorporating Integrated Resource Planning Methodology”
by Marcos Frederico Bortotti, Pascoal Rigolin, Miguel Edgar Morales Udaeta and José Aquiles Baesso Grimoni
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11119; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011119
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11119

16. “Multi-Objective Routing Optimization in Electric and Flying Vehicles: A Genetic Algorithm Perspective”
by Muhammad Alolaiwy, Tarik Hawsawi, Mohamed Zohdy, Amanpreet Kaur and Steven Louis
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10427; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810427
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/18/10427

17. “The Role of Renewable Energy Sources and Industry 4.0 Focus for Africa: A Review”
by Kingsley Ukoba, Thokozani Justin Kunene, Pieter Harmse, Valantine Takwa Lukong and Tien Chien Jen
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 1074; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13021074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/1074

18. “Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Aircraft Turbofan Engine Based on Random Forest Feature Selection and Multi-Layer Perceptron”
by Hairui Wang, Dongwen Li, Dongjun Li, Cuiqin Liu, Xiuqi Yang and Guifu Zhu
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7186; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13127186
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/12/7186 

19. “Icing Wind Tunnel Test Campaign on a Nacelle Lip-Skin to Assess the Effect of a Superhydrophobic Coating on Ice Accretion”
by Filomena Piscitelli, Salvatore Palazzo and Felice De Nicola
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 5183; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13085183
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/5183

20. “Design and Validation of a U-Net-Based Algorithm for Star Sensor Image Segmentation”
by Marco Mastrofini, Ivan Agostinelli and Fabio Curti
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031947
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1947

21. “Superhydrophobic Coating Solutions for Deicing Control in Aircraft”
by Michele Ferrari and Francesca Cirisano
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11684; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111684
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11684

22. “Production of Biogas and Biomethane as Renewable Energy Sources: A Review”
by Debora Mignogna, Paolo Ceci, Claudia Cafaro, Giulia Corazzi and Pasquale Avino
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(18), 10219; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810219
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/18/10219

23. “Assessment and Review of Heavy Metals Pollution in Sediments of the Mediterranean Sea”
by Pedro Agustín Robledo Ardila, Rebeca Álvarez-Alonso, Flor Árcega-Cabrera, Juan José Durán Valsero, Raquel Morales García, Elizabeth Lamas-Cosío, Ismael Oceguera-Vargas and Angel DelValls
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041435
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/4/1435 

24. “Assessing Vulnerability in Flood Prone Areas Using Analytic Hierarchy Process—Group Decision Making and Geographic Information System: A Case Study in Portugal”
by Sandra Mourato, Paulo Fernandez, Luísa Gomes Pereira and Madalena Moreira
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4915; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084915
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4915 

25. “Removal of Antibiotics by Biochars: A Critical Review”
by Umut Sen, Bruno Esteves, Terencio Aguiar and Helena Pereira
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11963; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111963
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11963

26. “Hemp Biomass as a Raw Material for Sustainable Development”
by Dominika Sieracka, Jakub Frankowski, Stanisław Wacławek and Wojciech Czekała
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179733
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/17/9733

27. “Improving Soil Stability with Alum Sludge: An AI-Enabled Approach for Accurate Prediction of California Bearing Ratio”
by Abolfazl Baghbani, Minh Duc Nguyen, Ali Alnedawi, Nick Milne, Thomas Baumgartl and Hossam Abuel-Naga
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4934; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084934
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/8/4934

We would like to thank all of the research groups that authored these exceptional papers for their contribution. We sincerely hope you find these articles of Applied Sciences as useful and insightful as we have found them.

Applied Sciences Editorial Office

23 May 2025
MDPI at EGU 2025: Celebrating Open Science and Academic Excellence


From 27 April to 2 May 2025, MDPI joined the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, welcoming over 20,984 attendees from 120+ countries at booth 02 in the Entrance Hall. This landmark event featured 18,934 presentations across 1,102 sessions, with 56% of abstracts contributed by Early Career Scientists (ECSs)—a testament to the vibrant future of geosciences.

Academic Engagement: Dialogue and Collaboration

Meet the Editors-in-Chief
We hosted two insightful sessions with editorial leaders from top journals:

  • April 28: Prof. Dr. Stephen Macko (Editor-in-Chief of Nitrogen) and Prof. Dr. Zhong Lu (Editor-in-Chief of GeoHazards);
  • April 29: Dr. Tommaso Caloiero (Section Editor-in-Chief of Hydrology) and Prof. Dr. Rui A. P. Perdigão (Section Editor-in-Chief of Climate).

These discussions fostered meaningful connections between attendees and editors, strengthening our commitment to supporting scholarly exchange.

   

Environmental and Earth Sciences Journals Editorial Board Meeting

Leaders from MDPI’s environmental and earth sciences journals convened for an in-person meeting to discuss journal updates, peer review enhancements, and editorial standards. The dialogue emphasized collaboration to maintain our rigorous publishing quality.

Award Ceremonies: Honoring Innovation

Remote Sensing Travel Award
On April 30, Dr. Nicola Nocentini (University of Padua and University of Florence) received the award from Associate Editor Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti. Following the ceremony, Dr. Nocentini shared insights into an exclusive booth interview.

   

Geosciences Best Paper Award

Prof. Dr. Olivier Lacombe (Section Editor-in-Chief of Geosciences) presented the award for the paper “Improving the Estimation of the Occurrence Time of an Impending Major Earthquake Using the Entropy Change of Seismicity in Natural Time Analysis”—a groundbreaking study on earthquake prediction.

Interactive Highlights: Fun and Engagement

Raffle Games
Attendees enjoyed lively prize draws, with customized gifts adding a playful touch to scientific networking.

   


Quick Q&A Sessions
Topic-based quizzes sparked friendly competition, turning academic curiosity into interactive fun—even hesitant scholars joined the excitement!

   


Looking Ahead: Advancing Open Science

Participating in the EGU General Assembly constituted a profoundly enriching experience. Through this engagement, we engaged in profound dialogues not only with authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Boards associated with MDPI, but also were afforded the invaluable opportunity to disseminate our institutional mission to emerging scholars.
As an entity steadfastly committed to fostering open scientific exchange across all academic disciplines, MDPI reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing global scholarship. We earnestly look forward to prospects of connecting with researchers from around the world, collaborating in unison to expand the frontiers of knowledge and advocate for the practices of open science.


Displaying Announcement 51-60 on page 6 of 54.
Back to TopTop