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Announcements
1 October 2025
2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers

We are honored to recognize the 2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers—scholars whose exemplary commitment to rigorous and constructive peer review is vital in upholding the highest standards of academic publishing.
Selected from a distinguished pool of 215,000 reviewers from 65 countries and regions worldwide, these honorees stand out for their exceptional expertise, diligence, and dedication to advancing research through timely and thoughtful reviews. Their constructive and impartial feedback ensures the publication of high-quality, impactful research, while their timely reviews facilitate swift revisions and faster publication of innovative work.
Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. With gratitude and respect, we celebrate these 1000 scholars who made that foundation stronger in 2024. We respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.
The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:
Abbas Yazdinejad |
Hanane Boutaj |
Oscar De Lucio |
Abdessamad Belhaj |
Hany H. Arab |
Otilia Manta |
Abdolreza Jamilian |
Hao Zang |
Panagiotis D. Michailidis |
Abdul Waheed |
Hatem Amin |
Panagiotis Simitzis |
Abiel Aguilar-González |
Henry Alba |
Paola Prete |
Adina Santana |
Hiroyuki Noda |
Paolo Trucillo |
Aditya Velidandi |
Hitoshi Tanaka |
Patricia Kara De Maeijer |
Adrian Stancu |
Horst Lenske |
Patrícia Pires |
Adriana Borodzhieva |
Hossein Azadi |
Paulo Schwingel |
Adriana Cristina Urcan |
Houlin Yu |
Pavel Loskot |
Adriano Bressane |
Huaifu Deng |
Pedro García-Ramírez |
Agbotiname Imoize |
Huamin Jie |
Pedro Pablo Zamora |
Agustin L. Herrera-May |
Hugo Lisboa |
Pedro Pereira |
Ahmed Arafa |
Igor L. Zakharov |
Pei-Hsun Wang |
Ahmet Cagdas Seckin |
Igor Litvinchev |
Pellegrino La Manna |
Ailton Cesar Lemes |
Igor Vujović |
Petar Ozretić |
Akash Kumar |
Ildiko Horvath |
Petko Petkov |
Akihiko Murayama |
Ilya A. Khodov |
Petr Komínek |
Alain E. Le Faou |
Ilya Zavidovskiy |
Petras Prakas |
Alain Massart |
Imran Ali Lakhiar |
Petro Pukach |
Alejandro Plascencia |
Ines Aguinaga-Ontoso |
Petru Alexandru Vlaicu |
Aleksandar Ašonja |
Ioan Hutu |
Phil Chilibeck |
Aleksandra Głowacka |
Ioan Petean |
Pia Lopez-Jornet |
Aleksandra Nesić |
Irena M. Ilic |
Pietro Geri |
Alessio Ardizzone |
Isaac Lifshitz |
Pingfan Hu |
Alessio Faccia |
Ismael Cristofer Baierle |
Piotr Cyklis |
Alexander E. Berezin |
I-Ta Lee |
Piotr Gauden |
Alexander Lykov |
Itzhak Aviv |
Piotr Gawda |
Alexander Robitzsch |
Iustinian Bejan |
Pradeep Kumar Panda |
Alexandre Landry |
Ivan Matveev |
Pradeep Varadwaj |
Alexey Chubarov |
Ivan Pavlenko |
Presentación Caballero |
Alexey Morgounov |
Ivana Mitrović |
Pu Xie |
Alexis Rodríguez |
Iyyakkannu Sivanesan |
Qingchao Li |
Alfredo Silveira De Borba |
Jacek Abramczyk |
Qinghua Qiu |
Ali Hashemizdeh |
Jacques Cabaret |
Qingwei Chen |
Alison De Oliveira Moraes |
Jaime A. Mella-Raipán |
Radoslaw Jasinski |
Aliyu Aliyu |
Jaime Taha-Tijerina |
Radu Racovita |
Alok Dhaundiyal |
James Chun Lam Chow |
Rafael Galvão De Almeida |
Álvaro Antón-Sancho |
James Chung-Wai Cheung |
Rafael Melo |
Amit Ranjan |
James O. Finckenauer |
Rafal Kukawka |
Amritlal Mandal |
Jan Cieśliński |
Rafał Watrowski |
Ana Isabel Roca-Fernández |
Ján Moravec |
Raffaele Pellegrino |
Ana Tomić |
Jarbas Miguel |
Rajender Boddula |
Anas Alsobeh |
Jaroslav Dvorak |
Ralf Hofmann |
Anastasios Karayiannakis |
Jarosław Przybył |
Ran Wang |
Andre Luiz Costa |
Jasenka Gajdoš Kljusurić |
Ranko S. Romanić |
Andrea Bianconi |
Jasmina Lukinac |
Ratna Kishore Velamati |
Andrea Sonaglioni |
Jawad Tanveer |
Rebecca Creamer |
Andrea Tomassi |
Jean Carlos Bettoni |
Reggie Surya |
Andrés Fernando Barajas Solano |
Jennie Golding |
Rehan Siddiqui |
Andrés Novoa |
Jerzy Chudek |
Renato Maaliw |
Andreu Comas-Garcia |
Jhih-Rong Liao |
Reuven Yosef |
Andrew Lane |
Jiachen Li |
Ricardo García-León |
Andrew Lothian |
Jianzhu Liu |
Richard Murray |
Andrew Sortwell |
Jiaquan Yu |
Robert Boyd |
Andrius Katkevičius |
Jibing Chen |
Robert H. Eibl |
Andromachi Nanou |
Jie Gao |
Robert James Crammond |
Andrzej Kielian |
Jie Hua |
Robert Oleniacz |
Andrzej Kozłowski |
Jill Channing |
Roberto Passera |
Andrzej Zolnowski |
Jinfeng Li |
Rodolpho Fernando Vaz |
Ángel Josabad Alonso-Castro |
Jinle Xiang |
Rodrigo Galo |
Ángel Llamas |
Jinliu Chen |
Roger E. Thomas |
Angelo Ferlazzo |
Jinyao Lin |
Roger W. Bachmann |
Angelo Marcelo Tusset |
Jinyu Hu |
Rogério Leone Buchaim |
Anil K. Meher |
Jiří Remr |
Roman Trach |
Animesh Kumar Basak |
Jiying Liu |
Roman Trochimczuk |
Anita Silvana Ilak Peršurić |
João Everthon Da Silva Ribeiro |
Romil Parikh |
Anna Kharkova |
Joao Pessoa |
Romina Fucà |
Anna Lenart-Boroń |
Joaquim Carreras |
Ronald Nelson |
Anna Piotrowska |
John Adams Sebastian |
Rosie Yagmur Yegin |
Anne Anderson |
John Van Boxel |
Roxana Lucaciu |
Antiopi-Malvina Stamatellou |
Jonathan Puente-Rivera |
Rui Sales Júnior |
Antonia Kondou |
Jordi-Roger Riba |
Rui Vitorino |
Antonio Miguel Ruiz Armenteros |
Jorge De Andres-Sanchez |
Ruo Wang |
Anusorn Cherdthong |
Jorge Guillermo Diaz Rodriguez |
Ryoma Michishita |
Aram Cornaggia |
Jorge Luis Zambrano-Martinez |
Sabina Necula |
Ariana Saraiva |
José F. Fontanari |
Sabina Umirzakova |
Ariel Soares Teles |
José Felipe Orzuna-Orzuna |
Said EL-Ashker |
Aristeidis Karras |
José Francisco Segura Plaza |
Saïf Ed-Dı̂n Fertahi |
Arnaud Dragicevic |
José Luis Díaz |
Salvatore Romano |
Artem Obukhov |
José Luis Rivera-Armenta |
Sándor Beszédes |
Arvind Kumar Shukla |
Jose M. Miranda |
Santiago Lain |
Arvind Negi |
Jose M. Mulet |
Sara Black Brown |
Athanasios A. Panagiotopoulos |
Jose Navarro-Pedreño |
Sarat Chandra Mohapatra |
Augustine Edegbene |
José Pedro Cerdeira |
Sarunas Grigaliunas |
Aunchalee Aussanasuwannakul |
Jouni Räisänen |
Saša Milojević |
Aurel Maxim |
Jui-Yang Lai |
Sawsan A. Zaitone |
Barbara Symanowicz |
Juliana Fernandes |
Scott E. Hendrix |
Bartosz Płachno |
Julio Plaza Díaz |
Seong-Gon Kim |
Bela Kocsis |
Juliusz Huber |
Sergii Babichev |
Benedetto Schiavo |
Jun Liu |
Sergio Da Silva |
Bernhard Koelmel |
Junyu Chen |
Sérgio Felipe |
Bhupendra Prajapati |
Karan Nayak |
Sergio Guzmán-Pino |
Bierng-Chearl Ahn |
Karel Allegaert |
Seyed Kourosh Mahjour |
Bo Zhou |
Katarina Aškerc Zadravec |
Seyed Masoud Parsa |
Bohong Zhang |
Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka |
Shedrach Benjamin Pewan |
Bonface Ombasa Manono |
Katarzyna Peta |
Shehwaz Anwar |
Bozhidar Stefanov |
Katarzyna Tandecka |
Shengwen Tang |
Brach Poston |
Katherine Bussey |
Shih-Lin Lin |
Byeong Yong Kong |
Katsuya Ichinose |
Shilong Li |
Caio Sampaio |
Kazuharu Bamba |
Shing-Hwa Liu |
Caius Panoiu |
Kazuhiko Kotani |
Shu Yuan |
Caiyun Wang |
Kazuhiko Nakadate |
Shuohong Wang |
Calin Mircea Gherman |
Keigi Fujiwara |
Shuolin Xiao |
Camelia Delcea |
Keith Rochfort |
Shuping Wu |
Cardellicchio Angelo |
Kenneth Waters |
Sihui Dong |
Carlos Alberto Ligarda Samanez |
Keren Dopelt |
Sławomir Rabczak |
Carlos Almeida |
Kira E. Vostrikova |
Sojung Kim |
Carlos Balsas |
Kit Leong Cheong |
Songli Zhu |
Carlos López-de-Celis |
Konstantinos Vergos |
Soonhee Hwang |
Carlos Marcuello |
Koyeli Girigoswami |
Soo-Whang Baek |
Carlos Pascual-Morena |
Krzysztof R. Karsznia |
Soufiane Haddout |
Carlos Torres-Torres |
Krzysztof Szwajka |
Sousana Papadopoulou |
Casey Watters |
Krzysztof Wołk |
Spiros Paramithiotis |
Castillo Castillo |
Kumar Ganesan |
Spyridon Kaltsas |
Changmin Shi |
Lan Lin |
Srecko Stopic |
Chao Chen |
László Radócz |
Srinivasan Sathiyaraj |
Chao Gu |
Laurent Donzé |
Stefano Mancin |
Chao Zhang (China) |
Lei He |
Subhadeep Das |
Chao Zhang (Singapore) |
Lei Huang |
Sumedha Nitin Prabhu |
Chellapandian Maheswaran |
Leonard-Ionut Atanase |
Sushant K. Rawal |
Cheonshik Kim |
Leonardo Henrique Dalcheco Messias |
Svetoslav Todorov |
Chia Hung Kao |
Leonie Brummer |
Szymon Janczar |
Chiachung Chen |
Levon Gevorkov |
Tadeusz Kowalski |
Chiara Cinquini |
Li Fu |
Tadeusz Sierotowicz |
Chieh-Chih Tsai |
Lidija Hauptman |
Taha Koray Sahin |
Christian Rojas |
Lin-Fu Liang |
Tahir Cetin Akinci |
Chu Zhang |
Ling Yang |
Takuo Sakon |
Chuanyu Sun |
Lingli Deng |
Tamara Lazarević-Pašti |
Chun-Wei Yang |
Ljubica Kazi |
Tao Zhang |
Claudia Bita-Nicolae |
Lotfi Boudjema |
Taras P. Pasternak |
Constant Mews |
Louis Moustakas |
Tarek Eldomiaty |
Cristian Vacacela Gomez |
Luca Ulrich |
Taro Urase |
Cristiano Matos |
Luis Adrian De Jesús-González |
Tenzer Robert |
Cristian-Valeriu Stanciu |
Luis Alfonso Díaz-Secades |
Thawatchai Phaechamud |
Cristóbal Macías Villalobos |
Luis Filipe Almeida Bernardo |
Thomas Michael |
Dalia Calneryte |
Luis Nestor Apaza Ticona |
Tiberiu Harko |
Daniel Hernandez-Patlan |
Luis Puente-Díaz |
Timea Claudia Ghitea |
Daniele Ritelli |
Luiz Antonio Alcântara Pereira |
Timothy John Mahony |
Daniel-Ioan Curiac |
Łukasz Rakoczy |
Timothy Omara |
Daniil Olennikov |
Łukasz Szeleszczuk |
Tomasz Hikawczuk |
Daodao Hu |
Maciej Kruszyna |
Tomasz M. Karpiński |
Daqin Guan |
Magdalena Jaciow |
Tomasz Trzepiecinski |
Daria Chudakova |
Maha Nasr |
Triantafyllos Didangelos |
Daria Mottareale-Calvanese |
Maharshi Bhaswant |
Tsvetelin Zaevski |
Dariusz Dziki |
Maksim Zavalishin |
Ulrich J. Pont |
Dariusz Gozdowski |
Małgorzata Jeleń |
Vadim Kramar |
David Kieda |
Man Fai Leung |
Vagner Lunge |
David Luviano-Cruz |
Manickam Minakshi |
Valério Monteiro-Neto |
Da-Zhi Sun |
Marcel Sari |
Van Giap Do |
Debra Wetcher-Hendricks |
Marcello Iasiello |
Van-An Duong |
Demin Cai |
Marco Limongiello |
Vanni Nicoletti |
Dennis Dieks |
Marco Zucca |
Vasilios Liordos |
Deokho Lee |
Marconi Batista Teixeira |
Vedran Mrzljak |
Deyu Li |
Marcos Vinícius Da Silva |
Vicente Romo Pérez |
Diego Romano Perinelli |
Marek Cała |
Victor-Alexandru Briciu |
Dimitris Tatsis |
Maria G. Ioannides |
Viktor V. Brygadyrenko |
Dirceu Ramos |
Maria João Lima |
Vinícius Silva Belo |
Dmitrii Pankin |
Maria Kantzanou |
Violeta Popovici |
Dmitriy Yambulatov |
Maria Leonor Abrantes Pires |
Viorel Dragos Radu |
Dmitry Kultin |
Mariana Buranelo Egea |
Viswas Raja Solomon |
Dongwei Di |
Mariana Magalhães |
Viviani Oliveira |
Dorota Formanowicz |
Marija Strojnik |
Vlad Rotaru |
Dragan Marinkovic |
Marijn Speeckaert |
Vladica Stojanović |
Drazenko Glavic |
Marina G. Holyavka |
Volodymyr Hrytsyk |
Duguleana Mihai |
Marina Gravit |
Volodymyr Ponomaryov |
Dušan S. Dimić |
Mario Cerezo Pizarro |
Waldemar Studziński |
E Terasa Chen |
Mario Ganau |
Wanming Lin |
Edoardo Bucchignani |
Mariusz Ptak |
Waseem Jerjes |
Eduard Zadobrischi |
Marlen Vitales-Noyola |
Wei-Chieh Lee |
Edwin Villagran |
Marta Forte |
Weiming Fang |
Eitan Simon |
Martha Rocío Moreno-Jimenez |
Weiren Luo |
Elena Chitoran |
Marwan El Ghoch |
Weiwei Jiang |
Elena Marrocchino |
Marzena Włodarczyk-Stasiak |
Wenan Yuan |
Elisabeta Negrău |
Massimiliano Schiavo |
Wenguang Yang |
Elisavet Bouloumpasi |
Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali |
Wenluan Zhang |
Elochukwu Ukwandu |
Mateusz Rozmiarek |
Wiesław Przygoda |
Emil Smyk |
Matt Smith |
Wilian Paul Arévalo Cordero |
Emilio Bucio |
Matteo Riccò |
Wilian Pech-Rodríguez |
Emmanouil Karampinis |
Matthias Müller |
Wislei R. Osório |
Ericsson D. Coy-Barrera |
Mauro Lombardo |
Wi-Young So |
Eugeniusz Koda |
Md. Ataur Rahman |
Wojciech Sałabun |
Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka |
Md. Biddut Hossain |
Wojciech Zabierowski |
Ewa Tomaszewska |
Meisam Abdollahi |
Xiaofei Du |
Ezhaveni Sathiyamoorthi |
Meng-Hwan Lee |
Xiaolong Ji |
Fabio Corti |
Meng-Yao Li |
Xiaomin Xu |
Fahmi Zairi |
Meysam Keshavarz |
Xiaoshuang Ma |
Fanzhi Kong |
Michael Eisenhut |
Xiaoying Liu |
Fasih Ullah Haider |
Michael Gerlich |
Xiao-Yong Wang |
Fayez Tarsha-Kurdi |
Mihaela Brindusa Tudose |
Xinming Zhang |
Fekete Mónika |
Mihaela Niculae |
Xinqiao Liu |
Felipe Jiménez |
Mihaela Tinca Udristioiu |
Xinqing Xiao |
Feng Wen |
Mihaela Toderaş |
Xuechen Zheng |
Ferdinando Di Martino |
Mihai Crenganis |
Xueming Zhang |
Fernanda Tonelli |
Mika Simonen |
Xuezhen Wang |
Fernando Lessa Tofoli |
Milan Toma |
Xuguang Cai |
Fernando Viadero-Monasterio |
Miloš Lichner |
Yair Wiseman |
Fethi Ouallouche |
Milos Seda |
Yang Xu |
Flavio Arroyo |
MIloš Zrnić |
Yangwon Lee |
Flor H. Pujol |
Min Xia |
Yanhong Peng |
Florin Dumitru Bora |
Mina Tadros |
Yao Ni |
Florin Nechita |
Mingren Shen |
Yaoxiang Li |
Francesco Di Bello |
Mircea Neagoe |
Yasushige Shingu |
Francesco Galluzzo |
Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov |
Yaswanth Kuthati |
Francisco Haces Fernandez |
Mirjana Ljubojević |
Yaxin Liu |
Francisco Rego |
Mirko Stanimirović |
Ygor Jessé Ramos |
Francisco Solano |
Mirza Pojskić |
Yi Xu |
Frédéric Muttin |
Modesto Pérez-Sánchez |
Yifan Zhao |
Fredrick Eze |
Mohammad Ali Sahraei |
Yih Jeng |
Gabriel Milan |
Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki |
Yiyang Chen |
Gabriel Zazeri |
Mohammad Qneibi |
Yoichi Shiraishi |
Galina Ilieva |
Mohammed Gamal |
Yong Hwan Kim |
Gary Van Vuuren |
Mohammed Sayed |
Yongqi Yin |
Gennadiy Kolesnikov |
Mounia Tahri |
Young-joo Ahn |
George E. Mustoe |
Muhammad Ahsan Asghar |
Yousi Fu |
George Lazaroiu |
Muhammad N. Mahmood |
Yuan Meng |
George Xiroudakis |
Muhammad Syafrudin |
Yuefei Zhuo |
Georgiy Gamov |
Muhammed Yildirim |
Yugang He |
Gerald Cleaver |
Murilo E. C. Bento |
Yuliia Trach |
Ghassan Ghssein |
Muthuraj Arunpandian |
Yuliya Semenova |
Gian Mario Migliaccio |
Narcis Eduard Mitu |
Yuri Jorge Peña-Ramirez |
Giancarlo Trimarchi |
Naser Alsharairi |
Yuri Konstantinov |
Gianmarco Ferrara |
Natale Calomino |
Yusheng Xiang |
Giovanni Tesoriere |
Natanael Karjanto |
Yutaka Ohsedo |
Giuseppe Brunetti |
Nataša Nastić |
Zaihua Duan |
Giuseppe Di Martino |
Naveed Ahmad |
Zelaya-Molina Lily Xochilt |
Giuseppe Losurdo |
Nebojsa Pavlovic |
Zenon Pogorelić |
Giuseppina Uva |
Neli Milenova Vilhelmova |
Zhang Ying |
Glauber Cruz |
Nguyen Dinh-Hung |
Zhanni Luo |
Glenn Morrison |
Nguyen Quoc Khuong |
Zhao Ding |
Gloria Cerasela Crisan |
Nicola Magnavita |
Zhengmao Li |
Gordana Wozniak-Knopp |
Nicoleta Dospinescu |
Zhengwei Huang |
Gordon Alderink |
Nicoletta Cera |
Zhidong Zhou |
Grazia Giuseppina Politano |
Nidhi Puranik |
Zhijun Li |
Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos |
Nikita Osintsev |
Zhixiong Lu |
Grzegorz Woroniak |
Nikita V. Martyushev |
Zhizhong Zhang |
Grzegorz Zieliński |
Nikola Stanisic |
Zhong-Gao Jiao |
Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas |
Nilakshi Barua |
Zia Muhammad |
Guangnian Xiao |
Nobuo Funabiki |
Žiga Laznik |
Guanxi Yan |
Octavian Vasiliu |
Zigmantas Gudžinskas |
Guoyou Zhang |
Oguzhan Der |
Zishan Ahmad |
Gustavo Henrique Nalon |
Oimahmad Rahmonov |
Zivan Gojkovic |
Hai-yu Ji |
Olga Morozova |
Zoran Mijić |
Hamza Faraji |
Onur Dogan |
Zsuzsanna Bacsi |
Hamza Sohail |
Ophir Freund |
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.
Journal |
Founding Editor-in-Chief |
Journal Topics (Selected) |
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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| |
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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).
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
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 will be announced on October 6 at 11:30 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 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 will be announced on October 7 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. 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 will be announced on October 8 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
29 September 2025
World Architecture Day—“Design for Strength”, 6 October 2025

World Architecture Day, observed annually on the first Monday of October, is a global initiative that highlights the critical role of architecture in addressing societal challenges while promoting sustainable and equitable development of built environments. Established by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985, this day has become a vital platform for advancing architectural innovation and raising public awareness about the transformative power of design.
Aligned with the 2025 theme, “Design for Strength”, and Goal 11 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Cities and Communities), MDPI emphasizes the need for resilient, adaptive, and inclusive architectural solutions. In an era of rapid urbanization and climate uncertainty, architects and researchers are pioneering groundbreaking approaches—from disaster-resistant structures to carbon-neutral materials—that fundamentally redefine how we build and inhabit spaces.
Join us in celebrating World Architecture Day and supporting initiatives that empower architects to create a more sustainable and resilient future. Together, we can shape built environments that not only withstand the tests of time and transformation but also foster equity, well-being, and harmony between humanity and nature.
Engineering |
Chemistry & Materials Science |
Environment & Earth Sciences |
Invited Speakers:
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Prof. Dr. Derek Clements-Croome, |
Dr. Paris Fokaides, |
Dr. Ehsan Harirchian, |
Prof. Dr. Umberto Berardi, |
Free to register for this webinar here!
We are honored to interview Dr. Paris Fokaides from Frederick University, Cyprus, on his research journey and insight.
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Name: Dr. Paris Fokaides “Academic work on ‘design for strength’ must integrate performance simulations, life cycle thinking, and smart readiness assessments to ensure designs are not only safe and durable, but also sustainable and responsive.” Please read the full interview here. |
“Comparison of Pulse-Echo Tomography and Through-Transmission Ultrasonic Test for UPV Characterization of Building Materials”
by Emilia Vasanelli, Davide Di Gennaro, Matteo Sticchi, Gianni Blasi and Luigi Capozzoli
Infrastructures 2025, 10(7), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10070162
“An Ontology-Aided Generative Computational Design Process for Ecological Building Envelopes: Development of a Conceptual Framework for the Early Design Stage”
by Michael Hensel, Jakub Tyc, Albin Ahmeti and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel
Land 2025, 14(4), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040840
“AI-Driven Innovations in Building Energy Management Systems: A Review of Potential Applications and Energy Savings”
by Dalia Mohammed Talat Ebrahim Ali, Violeta Motuzienė and Rasa Džiugaitė-Tumėnienė
Energies 2024, 17(17), 4277; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174277
“Application of Long-Period Fiber Grating Sensors in Structural Health Monitoring: A Review”
by Ying Zhuo, Pengfei Ma, Pu Jiao and Xinzhe Yuan
CivilEng 2024, 5(3), 559–575; https://doi.org/10.3390/civileng5030030
“Recycling Potential of Construction Materials: A Comparative Approach”
by Matan Mayer
Constr. Mater. 2024, 4(1), 238–250; https://doi.org/10.3390/constrmater4010013
“A New Method for Defining the Optimal Separation Gap Distance and the Acceptable Structural Pounding Risk on Multistory RC Structures”
by Maria G. Flenga and Maria J. Favvata
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 1165; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14031165
“A Simple and Effective Method to Evaluate Seismic Maximum Floor Velocities for Steel-Framed Structures with Supplementary Dampers”
by Alexia Kosmidou, Foteini Konstandakopoulou, Nikos Pnevmatikos, Panagiotis G. Asteris and George Hatzigeorgiou
Appl. Mech. 2023, 4(4), 1114–1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmech4040057
“Effects of Chemicals Exposure on the Durability of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporated with Silica Fumes and Nano-Sized Silica at Varying Curing Temperatures”
by Sagar Paruthi, Ibadur Rahman, Asif Husain, Mohd Abul Hasan and Afzal Husain Khan
Materials 2023, 16(18), 6332; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186332
“Innovative and Sustainable Composite Material for the Seismic and Energetic Upgrade of Historic Masonry Buildings”
by Dora Pugliese, Valerio Alecci, Rosa Romano, Gianfranco Stipo, Mario De Stefano and Antonio Nanni
Fibers 2023, 11(9), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib11090076
“Evaluation of the Performance and Durability of Self-Cleaning Treatments Based on TiO2 Nanoparticles Applied to Cement-Based Renders and Boards”
by Alberto Fregni, Luca Venturi and Elisa Franzoni
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13060990
“Predicting Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings Using Advanced Machine Learning Algorithms”
by Fateme Dinmohammadi, Yuxuan Han and Mahmood Shafiee
Energies 2023, 16(9), 3748; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093748
“Key Building Design and Construction Lessons from the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes”
by Iftekhar Ahmed
Architecture 2023, 3(1), 104–106; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3010007
“Resilience and Sustainability in Architecture and Urban Planning: Policies, Practices, Strategies and Visions, 2nd Edition” |
“BioCognitive Architectural Design” |
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“Incorporating Advanced New or Recycled Materials in Reinforced Concrete Structures” |
“Mineral and Metal Materials in Civil Engineering” |
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28 September 2025
Buildings Best Paper Award—Winners Announced

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Buildings 2023 Best Paper Award. All the papers published in Buildings (ISSN: 2075-5309) from 1 January to 31 December 2023 were considered for this award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, taking into account both citations and downloads, five winners were selected.
Section “Architectural Design”
“Perception of Color in Architecture and Urban Space”
by Anna Jaglarz
Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2000; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082000
Section “Building Energy”
“Comparative Analysis of ANN and LSTM Prediction Accuracy and Cooling Energy Savings through AHU-DAT Control in an Office Building”
by Byeongmo Seo, Yeobeom Yoon, Kwang Ho Lee and Soolyeon Cho
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061434
Section “Building Materials”
“Bending Properties and Vibration Characteristics of Dowel-Laminated Timber Panels Made with Short Salvaged Timber Elements”
by Lorenzo Giordano, Mohammad Derikvand and Gerhard Fink
Buildings 2023, 13(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010199
Section “Building Structures”
“Experimental Study on Inner Interface Mechanical Properties of the ESDCM Pile with Steel Core”
by Hua Bao, Jie Peng, Zhangjianing Cheng, Junqing Hong and Yuan Gao
Buildings 2023, 13(2), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020486
Section “Construction Management”
“Robot-Enabled Construction Assembly with Automated Sequence Planning Based on ChatGPT: RoboGPT”
by Hengxu You, Yang Ye, Tianyu Zhou, Qi Zhu and Jing Du
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071772
Each winner will receive CHF 500 and a chance to publish a paper in Buildings in 2025 after peer review.
Please join us in congratulating the winners of the Buildings 2023 Best Paper Award. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our authors for their continued support of our journal.
Buildings Editorial Office
22 September 2025
World Architecture Day | Interview with Dr. Paris Fokaides, Frederick University, Cyprus
World Architecture Day (WAD), created by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985, is celebrated annually on the first Monday of October. This day coincides with the United Nations World Habitat Day, aligning the architectural community’s efforts with global urban development goals. This year, under the theme “Design for Strength”, we were sincerely honored to interview Dr. Paris Fokaides, Editorial Board Member of Sustainability (ISSN: 2071-1050), Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies (ISSN: 1996-1073), and Guest Editor of Buildings (ISSN: 2075-5309).
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Name: Dr. Paris Fokaides |
The following is a short interview with Dr. Paris Fokaides:
1. Could you share a bit of your journey into architectural research?
My academic journey began in process engineering, where I focused on optimizing complex systems to improve efficiency, sustainability, and performance. During my PhD, my work centered on thermochemical processes, energy conversion, and the integration of sustainable technologies into industrial operations. Although my early career was firmly rooted in engineering, I became increasingly aware of how the same principles of optimization and resource efficiency could—and should—be applied to the built environment. Buildings, after all, are complex systems in themselves, with intricate interactions between materials, occupants, and environmental conditions. This realization marked the turning point that brought me into architectural research. I began collaborating with architects, building physicists, and urban planners to translate engineering methodologies into design strategies for sustainable buildings. Over time, my research shifted toward areas such as life cycle assessment (LCA), the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), renewable integration in buildings, and performance-based retrofitting approaches. What continues to inspire me is the interdisciplinary nature of this field: architectural research offers a unique arena where engineering precision, environmental stewardship, and human-centered design converge. My process engineering background provides the analytical rigor to evaluate performance, while my work in architecture connects those results to tangible design outcomes. This bridge between disciplines has allowed me to contribute to innovative solutions that are both technically sound and contextually sensitive—solutions that aim to make our built environment not just more efficient, but also healthier, more resilient, and more responsive to the needs of its users.
2. Could you please share the most impressive breakthrough in your research career, either in terms of ideas or research results?
The most significant breakthrough in my research career was leading to the development of the very first European standard on Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) on-site assessments. As Chairman of the CEN Workshop Agreement (CEN WS Report), I had the privilege of guiding a diverse group of experts—ranging from policymakers and standardization specialists to researchers and industry stakeholders—in shaping a practical, harmonized approach for assessing building smartness in real operational contexts. Prior to this effort, the SRI was a promising concept at the EU level, but it lacked the concrete, field-based methodology needed for its effective implementation. Our work bridged that gap. We established clear procedures, assessment criteria, and reporting formats to ensure that SRI evaluations could be carried out consistently across different building types, climates, and national contexts. This standard was the first of its kind and set the foundation for integrating smartness into mainstream performance evaluations. For me, the breakthrough was not only the technical content but also the collaborative process—bringing together different perspectives and aligning them into a single, coherent framework. The resulting document is now a key reference for Member States as they move toward the large-scale adoption of SRI, helping translate policy goals into measurable and actionable outcomes. This experience reinforced my belief that impactful research is as much about building consensus and applicability as it is about technical innovation. It also demonstrated how academic leadership can shape tools with real-world policy and market implications.
3. How do you interpret the theme of “design for strength” from an academic perspective?
From an academic perspective, “design for strength” extends far beyond the traditional engineering notion of withstanding loads or resisting failure. In architecture and the built environment, strength is a multi-layered concept encompassing structural integrity, environmental resilience, social relevance, and long-term adaptability. Structurally, it refers to designing buildings and infrastructures that can safely bear intended loads, resist natural hazards, and maintain performance over their intended life cycle. However, when examined through the lens of sustainable architectural research, strength also involves the capacity of a design to adapt to changing conditions—climatic, technological, and societal—without losing functionality or value. In my research, I see “strength” as a product of synergy between engineering precision and human-centered design. A building may be physically robust, but if it fails to provide comfort, energy efficiency, and adaptability, its true strength is compromised. Therefore, academic work on “design for strength” must integrate performance simulations, life cycle thinking, and smart readiness assessments to ensure designs are not only safe and durable, but also sustainable and responsive. Strength can also be interpreted in terms of resilience—how well a building recovers from disruption, whether due to environmental events, energy system fluctuations, or changing user needs. In this sense, designing for strength is designing for continuity, ensuring that the built environment remains functional and relevant in the face of uncertainty. Ultimately, from an academic standpoint, “design for strength” is about uniting physical robustness with adaptability and sustainability, creating buildings that stand the test of both time and transformation.
4. Where do you see the future of architectural research?
The future of architectural research is moving toward a deeply integrated, interdisciplinary model where technology, sustainability, and human well-being converge. Historically, architecture has been perceived primarily as a creative and spatial discipline, while engineering and environmental sciences addressed performance and sustainability. This separation is dissolving. The buildings of the future will be conceived, designed, and operated as intelligent systems—able to adapt to climate conditions, interact with energy networks, and enhance occupant experience in real time. Digitalization will play a central role. The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with real-time data from sensors, smart controls, and digital twins will allow researchers to simulate, test, and optimize building performance throughout its life cycle. Standardization—such as the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) framework I contributed to—will help ensure that these advancements are measurable and comparable across different contexts. Sustainability will remain a driving force, but the definition will expand to include circularity, biodiversity integration, and the social dimension of the built environment. Climate resilience will become a core research priority, especially in adapting buildings to extreme weather, energy volatility, and changing user needs. Collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers will be critical. Research will increasingly need to produce tools and methodologies that are directly applicable in practice, influencing regulations and market adoption.
5. Do you have anything to say to your fellow scholars?
To my fellow scholars, I would say this: research in our field is not only about producing knowledge—it is about shaping the way people live, work, and interact with the built environment. We have the privilege, and the responsibility, to ensure that our contributions lead to spaces that are not just functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. One of the greatest strengths we have as a community is our diversity of perspectives. Engineers, architects, social scientists, environmentalists, and policy experts all bring unique insights to the table. The most transformative solutions emerge when we allow these disciplines to interact freely and constructively. My own experience leading standardization work for the Smart Readiness Indicator has shown me the value of consensus-building—bringing together people from different backgrounds to create something meaningful and applicable beyond academia. I encourage colleagues to stay engaged not only with academic discourse but also with industry, policymakers, and communities. Our work gains relevance when it addresses real-world challenges and finds its way into practice, regulation, and everyday use. Finally, embrace curiosity and adaptability. The challenges of climate change, digital transformation, and societal shifts mean that our field will continue to evolve rapidly. New methods, tools, and even philosophies will emerge. By remaining open to learning and collaborating, we can ensure our research remains both rigorous and impactful—driving progress toward a built environment that serves both present and future generations.
6. As an Editorial Board Member of Sustainability, Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies, and Guest Editor of Buildings, could you share your experience with MDPI journals?
Serving as an Editorial Board Member of Sustainability, a Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies, and a Guest Editor of Buildings has given me a comprehensive perspective on the editorial process within MDPI journals. These roles have allowed me to engage with the research community from a different angle—evaluating submissions not only for their technical merit but also for their novelty, clarity, and potential impact. One aspect I particularly value about MDPI is the efficiency and transparency of its review process. The open access model ensures that high-quality research is freely available to both academics and practitioners, broadening the reach and potential influence of each publication. As an editor, I have witnessed how rapid but rigorous peer review can accelerate the dissemination of new findings without compromising quality.
My involvement has also deepened my appreciation for thematic Special Issues, which MDPI journals excel at organizing. These provide an excellent platform to cluster research efforts around emerging topics—whether in sustainable building design, smart readiness assessments, or advanced energy systems—helping to create coherent bodies of knowledge that can influence future research agendas. Equally rewarding is the interaction with authors and reviewers worldwide, which fosters a truly international exchange of ideas. This exposure to different academic cultures and approaches has been both enriching and inspiring. Overall, my MDPI experience has reinforced the importance of combining academic rigor with accessibility, ensuring that cutting-edge research serves the widest possible audience.
9 September 2025
Empowering Academic Growth with MDPI: Gold-Tier Sponsorship of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS) Held on 19–21 August 2025

MDPI was proud to serve as a Gold-Tier Sponsor of the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS) 2025, hosted by the University of Alberta, Canada. This annual event provides a vital platform for graduate students to present their research, exchange knowledge, and build connections across academic and professional communities.
As part of our sponsorship, MDPI hosted a Scientific Publishing Workshop on 19 August, providing graduate students with guidance on the fundamentals of MDPI’s scholarly publishing process and the benefits of open access. In addition, our representatives were present at the Industry Mixer on 21 August, engaging directly with participants to share insights into MDPI and opportunities to participate as authors, reviewers, and editors.
This collaboration between MDPI’s engineering subject, FEGRS, and the University of Alberta underscores a shared commitment to advancing scholarly research, promoting academic excellence, and supporting the next generation of engineers. By supporting initiatives like FEGRS 2025, MDPI continues to champion the principles of accessibility, collaboration, and innovation in publishing—empowering the next generation of researchers to thrive in their academic journeys.
For additional information on the event and our sponsorship, please see the event website here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/engineering/research/graduate-student-research/faculty-of-engineering-graduate-research-symposium/index.html.
For additional information on MDPI’s promoted engineering journals, please visit the following websites:
- Aerospace;
- Applied Sciences;
- Bioengineering;
- Biomimetics;
- Buildings;
- Electronics;
- JMSE;
- Lubricants;
- Machines;
- Micromachines;
- Processes;
- Robotics;
- Smart Cities;
- Telecom.
MDPI Speakers:
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Mr. Carlo Cunanan has a BSc and MSc in chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo. His expertise lies in energy systems and energy economics. He joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor for the Sustainability journal at the Toronto office and is now a Group Leader and Section Managing Editor. He travels across Canada and the United States, attending conferences and meeting with scholars. |
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Ms. Charlie Cai graduated from Queen Mary University of London and joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor in the Sensors journal at the Beijing office. She is currently a Section Managing Editor of the Sensors journal. |
Organizers:
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The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS) is an annual event where graduate students can present their research to their colleagues and professors across all disciplines. This event gives many early career researchers a place to present their ideas to an interdisciplinary audience without the pressures of larger conferences. Additionally, we organize multiple career development workshops with industry partners and professional organizations and cap the event off with an Industry–Student Mixer. The whole event is organized and planned by graduate student volunteers. |
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A pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Based in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI’s mission is to foster open scientific exchange in all forms and across all disciplines. |
4 September 2025
Scientific Publishing Workshop: Navigating Trends, Challenges & Opportunities Held on 21 August 2025

On 21 August 2025, MDPI, in collaboration with Taylor’s University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, hosted a half-day Academic Publishing Workshop at Taylor’s University. The event gathered undergraduates, PhD students, early career researchers, and faculty members from both institutions.
The workshop opened with remarks from Associate Professor Dr. Camelia May Li Kusumo, Head of the School of Architecture, Building and Design, Taylor’s University, before moving into a series of engaging sessions. Dr. Colin Wee (MDPI Singapore) introduced MDPI, the principles of open access, and the editorial process, followed by key insights on common reasons for rejection at pre-check.
Dr. Lee Wei Thye then covered how to effectively respond to peer reviewers and shared practical advice on writing and structuring an academic paper. His session concluded with an interactive “Reviewer Says, You Respond” Skills Lab, where participants practiced drafting responses to reviewer comments.
In the afternoon, Dr. Colin discussed AI in Academic Writing, outlining MDPI’s approach to its use in publishing. This set the stage for a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Lee, featuring Prof. Ar. Dr. Lim Chin Haw (UKM), Prof. Wong Hyuk Nien (NUS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Keith Tan Kay Hin (Taylor’s University), and Dr. Colin. The panellists shared their perspectives on AI as a tool in scholarly publishing, institutional challenges, and the need for clearer policies, with Professor Wong drawing parallels between AI-assisted language checks and traditional proofreading practices.
The workshop concluded with Prof. Wong Hyuk Nien offering valuable advice from his experience publishing in Q1 and Q2 journals, leaving participants with both practical strategies and words of encouragement.
MDPI warmly thanks Taylor’s University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for their partnership, and the professors and speakers for their generous contributions. Above all, we are grateful to the participants whose enthusiasm and engagement made the workshop a success.
3 September 2025
Join Us at the MDPI at the University of Toronto Career Fair, 23 September 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada

Date: 23 September 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m
Location: The Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto
MDPI is thrilled to announce our participation in the University of Toronto’s largest career fair, taking place at the St. George Downtown Campus. This exciting event brings together thousands of students, graduates, and professionals looking to connect with top employers and explore career opportunities.
We invite all attendees to visit the MDPI booth to discover how you can be part of one of the world’s leading open access academic publishers. Whether you are passionate about scientific research, editorial work, marketing, or supporting global innovation in publishing, we want to meet YOU!
What to expect at our booth:
- Learn more about MDPI’s mission and global impact;
- Explore exciting career opportunities in publishing, editorial, communications, and more;
- Network with our team and ask questions about working at MDPI.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to take the next step, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with MDPI. Bring your resume, your curiosity, and your questions—we look forward to seeing you there!
For additional information on the Career Fair and Open MDPI positions, please visit the following links: