MDPI Open Science Insights: Academic Publishing Workshop at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 11 May 2026

MDPI is excited to collaborate with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid to host an exclusive academic publishing workshop aimed at empowering researchers with the knowledge and tools needed for successful academic publishing. This workshop will cover key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing model, including journal selection, editorial workflow, and publication ethics. Participants will receive practical tips on improving their scientific writing and addressing reviewer comments, guided by experienced editors.

Date: 11 May 2026
Time: 15:30–17:30
Venue: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas

Schedule:

Speaker	Program and Content	Time
Ms. Caral Zhou	Introduction to Open Access and the Biology & Brain Sciences Journal	15:30 – 15:55
Ms. Caral Zhou	Peer-Review Editorial Process	15:55 – 16:20
Ms. Caral Zhou	Open Access and Publication Repositories	16:20 – 16:40
Mr. Iñigo Aristizabal	Integrity in Scientific Publishing	16:40 – 16:55
Mr. Iñigo Aristizabal	Responsible Use of AI in Academic Publications	16:55 – 17:20
Mr. Iñigo Aristizabal	Quality Criteria in Scientific Publications	17:20 – 17:30
	Q&A Session

Chair:

Dr. Nuria de Pedro Ormeño, Editorial Board Member of Biology
Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Teaching Unit of Animal Physiology| Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.

Speakers:

Mr. Iñigo Artistizabal is a biochemist with strong expertise in the academic publishing industry. He joined the MDPI office in Barcelona as an Assistant Editor in November 2017 and has worked as a Section Managing Editor and later as Senior Journal Relations Specialist, helping journals with scholarly meetings and booth attendance at both virtual and in-person conferences.

Ms. Caral Zhou holds a master’s degree from the University of Barcelona. She began her career at MDPI in 2023, working with the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) and the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (JFMK). In 2024, she advanced to the position of Section Managing Editor, and in 2025, she was appointed Journal Relations Specialist for JFMK, where she continues to contribute to the journal’s development and collaboration initiatives.