Announcements
29 October 2025
MDPI Webinar | World Cities Day, 31 October 2025
To commemorate World Cities Day 2025, MDPI is pleased to host a special webinar dedicated to exploring the theme “People-Centered Smart Cities”. This year’s observance highlights how digital technologies, data-driven decision making, and AI are reshaping the way cities are designed, managed, and experienced—placing people at the heart of urban innovation.
Through insightful discussions with global experts, researchers, and practitioners, our webinar will showcase best practices and strategies that demonstrate how smart city initiatives can foster inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. It will also explore how technology can enhance quality of life, improve urban services, and address key challenges such as housing, accessibility, and equitable growth.
Join us as we celebrate World Cities Day 2025, exchange ideas, and envision a future where technology and human needs work hand in hand to build smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable cities for all.
Session 1a and 1b:
Keywords: urbanization; sustainability; innovation; data-driven; smart cities; transformation
Date: 31 October 2025
Time:
- Session 1a: 8:00 a.m. CET | 5:00 p.m. AEST | 3:00 p.m. CST Asia
- Session 1b: 10:00 a.m. CET | 7:00 p.m. AEST | 5:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 811 9009 1243
Website: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4617603373062/WN__7o_kvdrRm-oggJlW5DT7A
Register now for free!
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CET | Time in CST Asia |
| MDPI Introduction | 8:00–8:10 a.m. | 3:00–3:10 p.m. |
| Prof. Esteve Almirall Disrupting Cities |
8:10–8:30 a.m. | 3:10–3:30 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Igor Calzada People-Centered Smart Cities from Action Research: New Research Avenues in the Age of Urban AI |
8:30–8:50 a.m. | 3:30–3:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Antonio Jara Leveraging Local Digital Twins, Real-Time IoT and Citiverse for Sustainable Growth |
8:50–9:10 a.m. | 3:50–4:10 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 9:10–9:25 a.m. | 4:10–4:25 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 9:25–9:30 a.m. | 4:25–4:30 p.m. |
| 30 min Break | 9:30–10:00 a.m. | 4:30–5:00 p.m. |
| MDPI Introduction | 10:00–10:10 a.m. | 5:00–5:10 p.m. |
| Prof. Filipe Moura Designing Streets for People: Data-Driven Tools for Human-Centred Urban Transformation |
10:10–10:30 a.m. | 5:10–5:30 p.m. |
| Dr. Vasiliki Assimakopoulos FAIRCITY: The Innovative Smart City Air Quality Monitoring Network Employing The Info Kiosks |
10:30–10:50 a.m. | 5:30–5:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Sara Shirowzhan Geospatial thinking for Sustainable Development Goal 11 |
10:50–11:10 a.m. |
5:50–6:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Vinoj. Velu Urbanization and Climate Change over Rapidly Growing Indian Cities: Implications for Climate Resilience |
11:10–11:30 a.m. | 6:10–6:30 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 11:30–11:45 a.m. | 6:30–6:45 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 11:45–11:50 a.m. | 6:45–6:50 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.
Webinar Keynote Speakers:
- Prof. Esteve Almirall, Center for Innovation in Cities, Esade Business School, Spain;
- Prof. Dr. Igor Calzada, Interdisciplinary AI Economics, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of the Basque/Ikerbasque, Spain;
- Dr. Antonio Jara, IoT, AI and Environmental Digital Twins, Libelium, Spain;
- Prof. Filipe Moura, Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Institution Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal;
- Dr. Vasiliki Assimakopoulos, Urban Air Quality, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Greece;
- Dr. Sara Shirowzhan, School of Built Environment, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia;
- Dr. Vinoj Velu, School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India.
Session 2a and 2b:
Keywords: urbanization; sustainability; innovation; data-driven; smart cities; transformation
Date: 31 October 2025
Time:
- Session 2a: 2:00 p.m. CET | 8:00 a.m. EDT | 9:00 p.m. CST Asia
- Session 2b: 4:00 p.m. CET | 11:00 a.m. EDT | 11:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 893 4362 4672
Website: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9817606686771/WN_rzy6pKRmS-GwhaOp1QunzA
Register now for free!
| Speaker/ Presentation | Time in CET | Time in CST Asia |
| MDPI Introduction | 2:00–2:05 p.m. | 9:00–9:05 p.m. |
| Dr. Chenghao Wang Resolving Complexity in Urban Climate Modeling: Challenges and Opportunities |
2:05–2:25 p.m. | 9:05–9:25 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Xavier Fernando Vehicular Communication for Smart Transportation |
2:25–2:45 p.m. | 9:25–9:45 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Patrick Hung Meditating With Machines: When Spiritual Symbols Meet Augmented Reality |
2:45–3:05 p.m. | 9:45 p.m.- 10:05 p.m. |
| Prof. Soe Myint Examining racial and socioeconomic disparities in connection to environmental inequalities in the US Southwest |
3:05–3:25 p.m. | 10:05–10:25 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 3:25–3:50 p.m. | 10:25–10:50 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 3:50–3:55 p.m. | 10:50–10:55 p.m. |
| 25 min Break | 3:55–4:00 p.m. | 10:55–11:00 p.m. |
| MDPI Introduction | 4:00–4:05 p.m. | 11:00–11:05 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam Harvesting the Value of Water: Empowering Local Action for Sustainable and Resilient Communities |
4:05–4:25 p.m. | 11:05–11:25 p.m. |
| Dr. Alexandros A Lavdas The Geometry of Nature: Beyond Style |
4:25–4:45 p.m. | 11:25–11:45 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Noor Zaman The Secure Smart City: Balancing Innovation, Privacy, and Human Dignity in the Digital Age |
4:45–5:05 p.m. | 11:45 p.m.–12:05 a.m. |
| Q&A Session | 5:05–5:25 p.m. | 12:05–12:25 a.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 5:25–5:30 p.m. | 12:25–12:30 a.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.
Webinar Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Chenghao Wang, School of Meteorology and Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, United States;
- Prof. Dr. Xavier Fernando, Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada;
- Prof. Dr. Patrick Hung, Faculty of Business and IT, Ontario Tech University, Canada;
- Prof. Dr. Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam, School of Engineering, Taylor's University, Malaysia;
- Dr. Alexandros Lavdas, Tenured Senior Researcher, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy;
- Prof. Dr. Noor Zaman Jhanjhi, School of Computer Science, Taylor's University, Malaysia.
16 October 2025
Meet Us at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2025, 15–19 December 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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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2 October 2025
World Space Week—“Living in Space”, 4–10 October 2025
World Space Week, celebrated annually from 4 to 10 October, commemorates the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967. This global celebration of space science and technology brings together scientists, engineers, and researchers worldwide to showcase achievements in space exploration and inspire future generations.
This year’s theme takes us on an interstellar adventure to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of human life beyond Earth. From ambitious extraterrestrial missions and the discovery of potentially habitable planets to advances in life-support systems and extraterrestrial settlements, the focus is on exploring how humanity might one day thrive beyond our home planet.
MDPI journals serve as key platforms for scientific dialogue and collaboration. Through a compendium of articles, Special Issues, and webinars, we invite you to engage with the latest research shaping the future of space exploration. Covering themes such as living beyond Earth, building the infrastructure of space, navigating the challenges of space environments, and searching for life in the universe, these contributions broaden our understanding of space and its possibilities.
Together, through research, innovation, and collaboration, we can build a future where space exploration not only extends scientific frontiers, but also inspires generations to dream, discover, and define humanity’s place in the cosmos.
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Session 1 |
Session 2 |
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Date: 7 October 2025, 3:00 p.m. (CEST) |
Date: 9 October 2025, 10:00 a.m. (CEST) |
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Webinar ID: 890 4126 3591 |
Webinar ID: 821 5014 1123 |
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Webinar Page: |
Webinar Page: |
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Free to register for this webinar here! |
Free to register for this webinar here! |
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Invited Speakers: |
Invited Speakers: |
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“On the Structural Design and Additive Construction Process of Martian Habitat Units Using In-Situ Resources on Mars”
by Ehsan Dehghani Janabadi, Kasra Amini and Sana Rastegar
Aerospace 2025, 12(9), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12090761
“Advancements in Mars Habitation Technologies and Terrestrial Simulation Projects: A Comprehensive Review”
by Yubin Zhong, Tao Wu, Yan Han, Feiyang Wang, Dan Zhao, Zhen Fang, Linxin Pan and Chen Tang
Aerospace 2025, 12(6), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12060510
“Life on Venus?”
by Sanjay S. Limaye
Life 2025, 15(5), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050717
“Risk of Permanent Corneal Injury in Microgravity: Spaceflight-Associated Hazards, Challenges to Vision Restoration, and Role of Biotechnology in Long-Term Planetary Missions”
by Jainam Shah, Joshua Ong, Ryung Lee, Alex Suh, Ethan Waisberg, C. Robert Gibson, John Berdahl and Thomas H. Mader
Life 2025, 15(4), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15040602
“Design of an Orbital Infrastructure to Guarantee Continuous Communication to the Lunar South Pole Region”
by Nicolò Trabacchin and Giacomo Colombatti
Aerospace 2025, 12(4), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12040289
“Analysis of Habitability and Stellar Habitable Zones from Observed Exoplanets”
by Jonathan H. Jiang, Philip E. Rosen, Christina X. Liu, Qianzhuang Wen and Yanbei Chen
Galaxies 2024, 12(6), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies12060086
“The Statistical Analysis of Exoplanet and Host Stars Based on Multi-Satellite Data Observations”
by Yanke Tang, Xiaolu Li, Kai Xiao, Ning Gai, Shijie Li, Futong Dong, Yifan Wang and Yang Gao
Universe 2024, 10(4), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10040182
“Anthropogenic Impacts in the Lower Stratosphere: Scale Invariant Analysis”
by Adrian F. Tuck
Atmosphere 2024, 15(4), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040465
“The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) and New Directions for the Future”
by Paolo Soffitta
Instruments 2024, 8(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/instruments8020025
“Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars”
by Giacomo Fais, Mattia Casula, Agnieszka Sidorowicz, Alessia Manca, Valentina Margarita, Pier Luigi Fiori, Antonella Pantaleo, Pierluigi Caboni, Giacomo Cao and Alessandro Concas
Life 2024, 14(2), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14020251
“Alpha Centauri: Disc Dynamics, Planet Stability, Detectability”
by Nicolás Cuello and Mario Sucerquia
Universe 2024, 10(2), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10020064
“Topside Ionospheric Structures Determined via Automatically Detected DEMETER Ion Perturbations during a Geomagnetically Quiet Period”
by Mei Li, Hongzhu Yan and Yongxian Zhang
Geosciences 2024, 14(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14020033
“Radar Observations of Liquid Water in the South Polar Region of Mars: Indications from Astrobiology Perspectives”
by Junyi Zhou, Chunyu Ding, Siting Xiong, Yan Su, Jiawei Li, Mengna Chen and Shun Dai
Universe 2024, 10(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe10010043
“FY-3E Satellite Plasma Analyzer”
by Zheng Tian, Aibing Zhang, Xiangzhi Zheng, Linggao Kong, Bin Su, Bin Liu, Jianjing Ding, Wenjing Wang, Chao Liu, Yulong Lv, Jun Gao and Ling Ma
Atmosphere 2024, 15(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15010014
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“Instruments for Astroparticle Physics” |
“Detection and Tracking of Near-Earth Asteroids” |
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“Research and Space-Based Exploration on Space Plasma” |
“Advanced Spacecraft/Satellite Technologies (2nd Edition)” |
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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
1 October 2025
2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers
30 September 2025
Nobel Prize — The Science Behind the Prize
Nobel Prizes are the world’s most prestigious recognition of scientific breakthroughs, honoring discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge and reshape entire fields. They bring into the public eye researchers whose work might otherwise remain known only within specialized circles.
For many, winning a Nobel Prize is a surreal experience. Laureates often describe a mix of joy, humility, reflection, and gratitude for the teams and collaborators whose contributions made the achievement possible. Behind every Nobel-winning idea lies years of careful, incremental work—a process that often goes unseen.
When Prof. Steven Weinberg won the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 1979, his wife Louise, a legal scholar, reminded him to keep doing the ordinary hard work of science, joking: “Now you have to write some unimportant papers.” True to form, Weinberg continued to push the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe, showing that curiosity and dedication extend far beyond the moment of recognition (Hofmann 2025: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/17/6/840).
Discover the science behind the world’s most transformative ideas
Over the years, dozens of Nobel laureates have published their work with MDPI, entrusting our open access journals to disseminate their findings to a global audience. As of 2024, more than 40 laureates have contributed over 115 articles across 35 journals, ranging from pioneering research on microRNAs and mRNA therapeutics, to fundamental insights in theoretical physics, and advances in structural biology.
We regularly spotlight how Nobel Prize–winning research intersects with the contributions of our authors. This not only celebrates the achievements of the laureates, but also underscores the role of open access in ensuring that transformative science reaches the widest possible audience.
On this page, we invite you to explore selected works by Nobel laureates within the MDPI portfolio, and to join us in celebrating the global impact of their ideas.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physiology or Medicine Roundtable
6 October 2025, 03:30 pm (CEST)
You are welcome to watch the recording here!
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physics Roundtable
7 October 2025, 02:30 pm (CEST)
You are welcome to watch the recording here!
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
19 September 2025
Atmosphere | Hot Papers in the Field of Urban Climate
16 September 2025
MDPI Webinar | International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 16 September 2025
We are pleased to invite you to join us as at MDPI’s upcoming International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer webinar, which will be held on 16 September 2025. This event aims to raise awareness about the importance of the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol in protecting life on Earth.
The theme of the webinar, “From science to global action”, aims to highlight the vital role of science in raising global awareness of emerging issues. Forty years ago, the Vienna Convention was adopted as a result of growing concerns raised by the scientific community about the potentially catastrophic impact of the proliferation of chlorofluorocarbons on the ozone layer. With the Montreal Protocol adopted two years later, international leaders agreed on global action to phase out ozone-damaging chlorofluorocarbons.
Date: 16 September 2025 at 4:00 p.m. CEST | 10:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 845 1164 6086
Webinar webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/IDPOL-2
Register now for free!
Program:
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Speaker |
Presentation Title |
Time in CEST |
Time in EDT |
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Introduction |
4:00–4:10 p.m. |
10:00–10:10 a.m. |
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Dr. Eugene Rozanov |
40 Years with the “Ozone Hole”: What's in the Future? |
4:10–4:30 p.m. |
10:10–10:30 a.m. |
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Dr. Kostas Eleftheratos |
The Importance of Monitoring the Ozone Layer and its Recovery |
4:30–4:50 p.m. |
10:30–10:50 a.m. |
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Dr. Pasquale Avino |
TBD |
4:50–5:10 p.m. |
10:50–11:10 a.m. |
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Q&A Session |
5:10–5:25 p.m. |
11:10–11:25 a.m. |
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Closing of Webinar |
5:25–5:30 p.m. |
11:25–11:30 a.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Webinar Speakers:
- Dr. Eugene Rozanov, PMOD/WRC, Davos, Switzerland;
- Dr. Kostas Eleftheratos, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.
- Dr.Pasquale Avino, Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences (DiAAA), University of Molise
Relevant Special Issues:
“Ozone Evolution in the Past and Future (2nd Edition)”
Guest Editor: Eugene Rozanov
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025
Submit to Atmosphere
“Outdoor and Indoor Air Ions, Radon, and Ozone”
Guest Editors: Predrag M. Kolarž and Igor T. Čeliković
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025
Submit to Atmosphere
“Satellite Observations for Particulate Matter and Gaseous Pollutants Research”
Guest Editors: Zhengqiang Li, Jintai Lin, Cheng Chen and Yan Yu
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025
Submit to Remote Sensing
“Advances in Air Pollution Detection and Air Quality Research”
Guest Editors: Mihaela Tinca Udriștioiu, Silvia Puiu and Liliana Velea
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026
Submit to Applied Sciences
“Aerosol Measurement, Properties and Its Impacts”
Guest Editors: Tymon Zielinski and Luca Ferrero
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026
Submit to Applied Sciences
Relevant Feature Papers:
“Signs of Slowing Recovery of Antarctic Ozone Hole in Recent Late Winter–Early Spring Seasons (2020–2023)”
by Janusz Krzyścin and Agnieszka Czerwińska
Atmosphere 2024, 15(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15010080
“Calibration and Validation of NOAA-21 Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) Nadir Mapper Sensor Data Record Data”
by Banghua Yan, Trevor Beck, Junye Chen, Steven Buckner, Xin Jin, Ding Liang, Sirish Uprety, Jingfeng Huang, Lawrence E. Flynn, Likun Wang, Quanhua Liu and Warren D. Porter
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4488; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234488
“Accuracy Evaluation of Differential Absorption Lidar for Ozone Detection and Intercomparisons with Other Instruments”
by Guangqiang Fan, Bowen Zhang, Tianshu Zhang, Yibin Fu, Chenglei Pei, Shengrong Lou, Xiaobing Li, Zhenyi Chen and Wenqing Liu
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(13), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16132369
“Long-Term Changes of Positive Anomalies of Erythema-Effective UV Irradiance Associated with Low Ozone Events in Germany 1983–2019”
by Gudrun Laschewski and Andreas Matzarakis
Environments 2023, 10(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10020031
“Random Forest Spatial-Temporal and State Space Models to Assess the Impact of Bushfire-Induced Aerosol Events on Ozone Depletion in Australia”
by Irene Hudson, Phillip Pedro-Suvorov and Servet Kocak
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9825; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219825
