Announcements

We are delighted to announce the 1st International Online Conference on Behavioral Sciences (IOCBS2026), chaired by Prof. Dr. Jerrell Cassady (Department of Educational Psychology, Ball State University, Muncie, 47306, United States), which will take place from 1 to 3 April 2026.

IOCBS2026 warmly invites researchers from academic institutions and professionals in the behavioral sciences industry to share their original research, innovative ideas, scientific insights, and practical experiences.

We welcome contributions that align with the following thematic areas:
S1. Psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral disorders;
S2. Cognition;
S3. Developmental psychology;
S4. Educational psychology;
S5. Social psychology;
S6. Health psychology;
S7. Child and adolescent psychiatry;
S8. Organizational behaviors;
S9. Experimental and clinical neurosciences.

Important deadlines:
Deadline for abstract submission: 4 January 2026;
Notification of acceptance: 29 January 2026;
Deadline for registration: 27 March 2026.

Guide for Authors:

To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1351.

To register for the event for free, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/IOCBS2026?section=#registration.

For more information, you may refer to: https://sciforum.net/event/iocbs2026.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact us at iocbs2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the 1st International Online Conference on Behavioral Sciences.

MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.

About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.

Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.

About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.

24 January marks the International Day of Education, a global observance highlighting the vital role of education in empowering young people and building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies. Closely aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, this year’s theme underscores the importance of engaging youth as active partners in reimagining how learning works. With young people comprising more than half of the global population, strengthening teaching and learning, supporting diverse learner needs, and embracing innovation are essential to equipping future generations with the skills and opportunities to shape the futures they aspire to.

Reflecting this mission, established MDPI journals in Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities serve as platforms for scholarly exchange and collaboration, advancing research on youth-centered learning, inclusive education, learner outcomes, emotional resilience, and the role of emerging technologies in modern education. Through these efforts, MDPI supports meaningful dialogue and research addressing both current and emerging challenges in education.

Invited speakers:

Register for this webinar for free here!

We are pleased to share insights from our speakers as they reflect on education. They were invited to provide a short reflection on their presentation topic or respond to the question: “What is the biggest challenge or opportunity in education today?”

“Educational Constructivism”
by Keith S. Taber
Encyclopedia 2024, 4(4), 1534-1552; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia4040100

“Student-Centered Active Learning Improves Performance in Solving Higher-Level Cognitive Questions in Health Sciences Education”
by Nieves Martín-Alguacil and Luis Avedillo
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(3), 346-362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3030026

“Innovative FOCUS: A Program to Foster Creativity and Innovation in the Context of Education for Sustainability”
by Kurt Haim and Wolfgang Aschauer
Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2257; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062257

“Using ChatGPT in Education: Human Reflection on ChatGPT’s Self-Reflection”
by Eugène Loos, Johanna Gröpler and Marie-Louise Sophie Goudeau
Societies 2023, 13(8), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13080196

Call for Papers:

“Inclusive Education, Intellectual Disabilities and the Demise of Full Inclusion”
by Garry Hornby and James M. Kauffman
J. Intell. 2024, 12(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence12020020

“A Critical Systematic Literature Review of Global Inclusive Education Using an Affective, Intersectional, Discursive, Emotive and Material Lens”
by David Isaac Hernández-Saca, Catherine Kramarczuk Voulgarides and Susan Larson Etscheidt
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13121212

“Enhancing Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities: Insights from Ontario’s Educational Framework”
by Adam Davies, Justin Brass, Victoria Martins Mendonca, Samantha O’Leary, Malissa Bryan and Ruth Neustifter
Sexes 2023, 4(4), 522-535; https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes4040034

“Systematic Review on New Challenges of University Education Today: Innovation in the Educational Response and Teaching Perspective on Students with Disabilities”
by María Dolores Pérez-Esteban, Jose Juan Carrión-Martínez and Luis Ortiz Jiménez
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(4), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12040245

Call for Papers:

“Mapping the Trajectory of Planetary Health Education—A Critical and Constructive Perspective from the Global South”
by Isaías Lescher Soto, Bernabé Vidal, Lorenzo Verger and Gustavo J. Nagy
Challenges 2025, 16(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe16040050

“Emotional Exhaustion Scale (ECE): Psychometric Properties in a Sample of Portuguese University Students”
by Sílvia Ala, Francisco Ramos Campos and Inês Carvalho Relva
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(4), 1044-1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14040068

“The Collective Influence of Intolerance of Uncertainty, Cognitive Test Anxiety, and Academic Self-Handicapping on Learner Outcomes: Evidence for a Process Model”
by Jerrell C. Cassady, Addison Helsper and Quinton Quagliano
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14020096

Call for Papers:

MDPI will be attending the 2026 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention held in Barcelona, from 28 to 30 May 2026. The conference is being organized by the Association for Psychological Science, which is a scientific home to thousands of leading psychological science researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students from around the world dedicated to advancing scientific psychology across disciplinary and geographic borders.

This year’s program features six Integrative Science Symposia (ISS), each exploring complex scientific questions through research from multiple domains. Recognizing the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on our science and society, AI topics will be found throughout the program. Additionally, you can expect to find cutting-edge explorations of mental health, brain development, individual and collective cognition, language, culture, polarization, and threats to democracy. 

The 2026 Annual Convention will also include an Industry Day—programming that explores psychological science in non-academic settings. This is an outstanding opportunity to see how psychological science is being applied in real-world settings as well as the kind of work that psychological scientists do in non-academic environments. 

In addition to these new offerings, the APS Annual Convention is the international psychological science conference that features cutting-edge and integrative science symposia, posters, submitted talks, and flash talks from all areas of the field. 

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Behavioral Sciences;
• Adolescents;
• Disabilities;
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH);
• Journal of Intelligence;
• Psychology International;
• Sexes;
• Youth;
• Challenges;
• European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (EJIHPE);
• Education Sciences;
• Languages;
• Trends in Public Health.

To commemorate the International Day of Education 2026, MDPI is honoured to host a special webinar dedicated to advancing the future of education in an ever-changing world. This global observance reminds us of the essential role that education plays in promoting peace, sustainable development, and empowering individuals to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected society.

As education continues to evolve, new approaches, tools, and perspectives are reshaping how we teach, learn, and engage. Through this webinar, we aim to contribute to the global dialogue by bringing together researchers, educators, and practitioners to explore innovative ideas, emerging trends, and transformative research shaping the education landscape.

Join us as we celebrate the International Day of Education 2026, a moment to reflect, exchange ideas, and envision a future where education empowers every learner and strengthens communities worldwide.

Session 1:
Keywords: education; learning; teaching; access; educational equity; EdTech; critical thinking
Date: 23 January 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. CET | 9:00 p.m. AEST | 6:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 893 6942 9630
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/IDEW2026

Register now for free!

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. Sherif E. Abdelhamid, Computer and Information Sciences Department, Virginia Military Institute, USA;
• Prof. Dr. Albert Ziegler, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Psychology, Germany;
• Prof. Alison Kington, University of Worcester, United Kingdom;
• Dr. Ben Looker, University of Worcester, United Kingdom;
• Dr. Amy Been Bennett, Center for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education and the Department of Mathematics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA;
• Dr. Amira Elnokaly, School of Design and Architecture, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.

We have expanded our open access portfolio with eight new journals publishing their inaugural issues in December 2025, as well as three journal transfers. These additions span physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, environmental and Earth sciences, medicine and pharmacology, and public health and healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who are shaping these journals’ direction. All journals uphold 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.

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).

We are pleased to announce updates to our article template, aimed at improving the readability and visual appeal of our publications. The following updates will be applied to articles published in volumes in 2026, starting from 19 December 2025.

Left information bar:

• Updated the logo and URL for “Check for updates”;
• Removed the “Citation” section (Note: Citation details remain accessible via “Cite” in the online article version);
• Changed the link in “Copyright” to a hyperlink format.

Footer:

• Added a DOI link at the bottom-right corner of each page.

The updated template is now available for download from the Instructions for Authors page of each journal.

We hope that the new version of the template will provide users with better experience and make the process more convenient.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact our production team at production@mdpi.com.

Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being—regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

In this period of turbulence and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection, and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity. Through this campaign, we aim to re-engage people with human rights by showing how they shape our daily lives, often in ways we may not always notice. Too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials that we rely on every day.

To commemorate this day, we invite you to engage with a collection of thought-provoking journals, articles, and Special Issues spanning diverse fields such as human rights law, social justice, gender equality, refugee and migrant rights, and civil liberties. By sharing these insights, we aim to honor, advance, and celebrate the universal principles of human rights, and transform this knowledge into meaningful dialogues and actions that will foster a more just, equitable, and compassionate world for all.

“The Role of Assessment in Improving Education and Promoting Educational Equity”
by Irit Levy-Feldman
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020224

“Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice”
by Maria Irene Carvalho, Cristina Albuquerque and Pedro Borrego
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14010014

“Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Services for Young Women with and Without Disabilities During a Pandemic”
by Jill Hanass-Hancock, Ayanda Nzuza, Thesandree Padayachee, Kristin Dunkle, Samantha Willan, Mercilene Tanyaradzwa Machisa and Bradley Carpenter
Disabilities 2024, 4(4), 972-995; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities4040060

“On the Human in Human Dignity”
by Isaac E. Catt
Philosophies 2024, 9(5), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9050157

“Human Rights and Territories: Academic Perceptions of the 2030 Agenda”
by Jesús Delgado-Baena, Juan de Dios García-Serrano, Laura Serrano and José Tomás Diestre Mejías
Societies 2024, 14(6), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14060083

“An International Data-Based Systems Agency IDA: Striving for a Peaceful, Sustainable, and Human Rights-Based Future”
by Peter G. Kirchschlaeger
Philosophies 2024, 9(3), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9030073

“A Pioneer Tool to Reduce Restrictive Practices toward People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities”
by Victoria Sánchez-Gómez, Miguel Ángel Verdugo, Manuela Crespo and Amalia San Román
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040344

“Taking Back Control: Human Rights and Human Trafficking in the United Kingdom”
by Todd Landman, Ben Brewster and Sara Thornton
Societies 2024, 14(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14040047

“Rethinking Dignity and Exploitation in Human Trafficking and Sex Workers’ Rights Cases”
by William Paul Simmons
Societies 2024, 14(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14020016

“Human Rights-Based Intersex Healthcare: Using Hospital Data to Quantify Genital and Reproductive Surgery on Children in Aotearoa New Zealand”
by Katrina Roen, Claire Breen and Ashe Yee
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(12), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12120660

“A Post-Secular Approach to Managing Diversity in Liberal Democracies: Exploring the Interplay of Human Rights, Religious Identity, and Inclusive Governance in Western Societies”
by Zakaria Sajir
Religions 2023, 14(10), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14101325

“Women’s Rights in Nigeria’s Indigenous Systems: An Analysis of Non-Discrimination and Equality under International Human Rights Law”
by Foluke Oluyemisi Abimbola, Stanley Osezua Ehiane and Roman Tandlich
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(7), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070405

“Personal Factors, Living Environments, and Specialized Supports: Their Role in the Self-Determination of People with Intellectual Disability”
by Eva Vicente, Patricia Pérez-Curiel, Cristina Mumbardó-Adam, Verónica M. Guillén and María-Ángeles Bravo-Álvarez
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13070530

“Participation, Legal Capacity, and Gender: Reflections from the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Project in Serbia”
by Holly Wescott, Delia Ferri and Malcolm MacLachlan
Disabilities 2023, 3(1), 129-146; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities3010010

“Child and Family Welfare Regimes and Policies in the Context of Migration, Multiculturalism, and Cultural Diversity” Guest Editor: Dr. Elitsa Dimitrova Submission deadline: 28 February 2026	“School Well-Being in the Digital Era” Guest Editors: Dr. Kwok Kuen Tsang and Dr. Ying Zhang Submission deadline: 31 March 2026
“Barriers to Learning and Participation in Educational Settings: Lights and Shadows Towards Inclusive Education” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Antonio-Manuel Rodríguez-García and Dr. Juan Carlos de la Cruz-Campos Submission deadline: 15 June 2026	“Intersections of Religion and Law: Freedom, Social Change, and Human Rights” Guest Editor: Dr. Nadirsyah Hosen Submission deadline: 1 August 2026

The Medical College of Wisconsin and the Center for Advancing Population Science (CAPS), in collaboration with MDPI and the Behavioral Sciences journal, will host an Academic Publishing Workshop on the fundamentals of academic publishing, with a focus on practical skills and emerging trends. In addition to guidance on structuring and writing journal articles, the session will introduce participants to the role of artificial intelligence in publishing—from foundational concepts in generative AI to its broad applications in research workflows and its integration within MDPI’s operations. Attendees will also explore best practices in peer review, including how the process works, what constitutes a strong review report, and how to deliver high-quality feedback as both authors and reviewers. Finally, the session will cover essential aspects of publication ethics, outlining common ethical challenges, how journals address them, and real case studies to help participants navigate responsible research and publishing. All students and early-career researchers interested in strengthening their publishing skills are warmly encouraged to attend.

Project Name	Online Behavioral Sciences APW at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Date and Time (local Time)	13:00–15:00 CST, 3 December 2025
Online /Offline	Online
Venue	Online (Zoom)
Registration	https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8117637587953/WN_92QH3XSmTXKRdgxXq_D9Rg
Institution	Medical College of Wisconsin's Center for Advancing Population Science (CAPS)
Institution Banner
Leading journal	Behavioral Sciences (ISSN: 2076-328X)

Schedule:

MDPI Speakers: