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Announcements
17 August 2023
MDPI’s Best Paper Awards in Chemistry and Materials Sciences—Winners Announced in 2022

The purpose of our best paper awards is to promote and recognize the most impactful contributions published within MDPI journals.
The editors of each journal have carefully selected reviews and research papers through a rigorous judging process based on criteria such as the scientific merit, overall impact and the quality of presentation of the papers published in the journal.
We are honored to present the winners announced in 2022 in chemistry and materials science, who were selected among an extensive competition, and congratulate the authors for their outstanding scientific publications. MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition for the academic community.
C:
- “Biochar and Energy Production: Valorizing Swine Manure through Coupling Co-Digestion and Pyrolysis”
by Rubén González, Judith González, José G. Rosas, Richard Smith and Xiomar Gómez
C 2020, 6(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/c6020043
- “Introduction to Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation—An Overview of the Process and Applications”
by Frank Simchen, Maximilian Sieber, Alexander Kopp and Thomas Lampke
Coatings 2020, 10(7), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10070628
- “First Insights into Photocatalytic Degradation of HDPE and LDPE Microplastics by a Mesoporous N–TiO2 Coating: Effect of Size and Shape of Microplastics”
by Brenda Estefanía Llorente-García, Juan Manuel Hernández-López, Antonio Alberto Zaldívar-Cadena, Cristina Siligardi and Erika Iveth Cedillo-González
Coatings 2020, 10(7), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10070658
- “U-Jacketing Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymers in Reinforced Concrete T-Beams against Shear—Tests and Design”
by Constantin E. Chalioris, Adamantis G. Zapris and Chris G. Karayannis
Fibers 2020, 8(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8020013
- “Laser Sources Based on Rare-Earth Ion Doped Tellurite Glass Fibers and Microspheres”
by Elena A. Anashkina
Fibers 2020, 8(5), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8050030
- “Magnetic Materials and Systems: Domain Structure Visualization and Other Characterization Techniques for Application in Materials Science and Biomedicine”
by Roberto Nisticò, Federico Cesano and Francesca Garello
Inorganics 2020, 8(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8010006
- “Magnetic Composite Submicron Carriers with Structure-Dependent MRI Contrast”
by Anastasiia A. Kozlova, Sergey V. German, Vsevolod S. Atkin, Victor V. Zyev, Maxwell A. Astle, Daniil N. Bratashov, Yulia I. Svenskaya and Dmitry A. Gorin
Inorganics 2020, 8(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8020011
- “A Partial Anion Disorder in SrVO2H Induced by Biaxial Tensile Strain”
by Morito Namba, Hiroshi Takatsu, Wataru Yoshimune, Aurélien Daniel, Shoichi Itoh, Takahito Terashima and Hiroshi Kageyama
Inorganics 2020, 8(4), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics8040026
- “Magnetic Nanoparticle Systems for Nanomedicine—A Materials Science Perspective”
by Vlad Socoliuc, Davide Peddis, Viktor I. Petrenko, Mikhail V. Avdeev, Daniela Susan-Resiga, Tamas Szabó, Rodica Turcu, Etelka Tombácz and Ladislau Vékás
Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6010002
- “Magnetite (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application: From Synthesis to Surface Functionalisation”
by Lokesh Srinath Ganapathe, Mohd Ambri Mohamed, Rozan Mohamad Yunus and Dilla Duryha Berhanuddin
Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(4), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6040068
- “Saturation of Specific Absorption Rate for Soft and Hard Spinel Ferrite Nanoparticles Synthesized by Polyol Process”
by Cristian Iacovita, Gabriela Fabiola Stiufiuc, Roxana Dudric, Nicoleta Vedeanu, Romulus Tetean, Rares Ionut Stiufiuc and Constantin Mihai Lucaciu
Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6020023
- “False Chirality, Absolute Enantioselection and CP Violation: Pierre Curie’s Legacy”
by Laurence D. Barron
Magnetochemistry 2020, 6(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry6010005
- “A Broadband Tunable Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Based on Single-Layer Complementary Gammadion-Shaped Graphene”
by Fu Chen, Yongzhi Cheng and Hui Luo
Materials 2020, 13(4), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13040860
- “3-D Printed Protective Equipment during COVID-19 Pandemic”
by Christian Wesemann, Stefano Pieralli, Tobias Fretwurs, Julian Nold, Katja Nelson, Rainer Schmelzeisen, Elmar Hellwig and Benedikt Christopher Spies
Materials 2020, 13(8), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081997
- “On the Vibrations and Stability of Moving Viscoelastic Axially Functionally Graded Nanobeams”
by Ali Shariati, Dong won Jun, Hamid Mohammad-Sedighi, Krzysztof Kamil Żur, Mostafa Habibi and Maryam Safa
Materials 2020, 13(7), 1707; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071707
- “Brief History of Early Lithium Battery Development”
by Mogalahalli V. Reddy, Alain Mauger, Christian M. Julien, Andrea Paolella and Karim Zaghib
Materials, 2020, 13(8), 1884; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081884
- “Face Masks and Respirators in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Current Materials, Advances and Future Perspectives”
by Kris O’Dowd, Keerthi M. Nair, Parnia Forouzandeh, Snehamol Mathew, Jamie Gran, Ruth Moran, John Bartlet, Jerry Bird and Suresh C. Pillai
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153363
- “Recent Trends in the Use of Pectin from Agro-Waste Residues as a Natural-Based Biopolymer for Food Packaging Applications”
by Cristina Mellinas, Marina Ramos, Alfonso Jiménez and María Carmen Garrigós
Materials 2020, 13(3), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13030673
- “Membrane Technologies in Wastewater Treatment: A Review”
by Elorm Obotey Ezugbe and Sudesh Rathilal
Membranes 2020, 10(5), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10050089
- “Development of Hydrophilic PVDF Membrane Using Vapour Induced Phase Separation Method for Produced Water Treatment”
by Muhammad Roil Bilad, Normi Izati Mat Nawi, Min Chean Ho, Norazanita Shamsuddin, Thanitporn Narkkun, Kajornsak Faungnawakij and Asim Laeeq Khan
Membranes 2020, 10(6), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10060121
- “Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology”
by Aleksandra Zielińska, Filipa Carreiró, Ana M. Oliveira, Andreia Neves, Bárbara Pires, D. Nagasamy Venkatesh, Alessandra Durazzo, Massimo Lucarini, Piotr Eder, Amélia M. Silva et al.
Molecules 2020, 25(16), 3731; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163731
- “Nanomaterials for Wound Dressings: An Up-to-Date Overview”
by Alexandra Elena Stoica, Cristina Chircov and Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Molecules 2020, 25(11), 2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25112699
- “PROTACs and Building Blocks: The 2D Chemical Space in Very Early Drug Discovery”
by Giuseppe Ermondi, Diego Garcia-Jimenez and Giulia Caron
Molecules 2021, 26(3), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030672
- “LncMirNet: Predicting LncRNA–miRNA Interaction Based on Deep Learning of Ribonucleic Acid Sequences”
by Sen Yang, Yan Wang, Yu Lin, Dan Shao, Kai He and Lan Huang
Molecules 2020, 25(19), 4372; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25194372
- “Merging Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Methods in Drug Discovery: An Overview of Combined Virtual Screening Approaches”
by Javier Vázquez, Manel López, Enric Gibert, Enric Herrero and F. Javier Luque
Molecules 2020, 25(20), 4723; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204723
- “The Protective Role of Butyrate against Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases”
by Serena Coppola, Carmen Avagliano, Antonio Calignano and Roberto Berni Canani
Molecules 2021, 26(3), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030682
- “Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry”
by Michael K. Appenteng, Ritter Krueger, Mitch C. Johnson, Harrison Ingold, Richard Bell, Andrew L. Thomas and C. Michael Greenlief
Molecules 2021, 26(5), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051384
- “Amygdalin: Toxicity, Anticancer Activity and Analytical Procedures for Its Determination in Plant Seeds”
by Ewa Jaszczak-Wilke, Żaneta Polkowska, Marek Koprowski, Krzysztof Owsianik, Alyson E. Mitchell and Piotr Bałczewski
Molecules 2021, 26(8), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082253
- “Perfect Dual-Band Absorber Based on Plasmonic Effect with the Cross-Hair/Nanorod Combination”
by Yuan-Fong Chou Chau, Chung-Ting Chou Chao, Hung Ji Huang, Muhammad Raziq Rahimi Kooh, N. T. R. N. Kumara, Chee Ming Lim and Hai-Pang Chiang
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030493
- “Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Prospects and Applications in Medicine”
by Daniel Ziental, Beata Czarczynska-Goslinska, Dariusz T. Mlynarczyk, Arleta Glowacka-Sobotta, Beata Stanisz, Tomasz Goslinski and Lukasz Sobotta
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(2), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10020387
- “High Quality Factor, High Sensitivity Metamaterial Graphene—Perfect Absorber Based on Critical Coupling Theory and Impedance Matching”
by Chunlian Cen, Zeqiang Chen, Danyang Xu, Liying Jiang, Xifang Chen, Zao Yi, Pinghui Wu, Gongfa Li and Yougen Yi
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10010095
- “An Overview of Micro- and Nanoemulsions as Vehicles for Essential Oils: Formulation, Preparation and Stability”
by Lucia Pavoni, Diego Romano Perinelli, Giulia Bonacucina, Marco Cespi and Giovanni Filippo Palmieri
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10010135
- “Making Nd3+ a Sensitive Luminescent Thermometer for Physiological Temperatures—An Account of Pitfalls in Boltzmann Thermometry”
by Markus Suta, Željka Antić, Vesna Ðorđević, Sanja Kuzman, Miroslav D. Dramićanin and Andries Meijerink
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030543
- “Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agents: An Overview”
by Elena Sánchez-López, Daniela Gomes, Gerard Esteruelas, Lorena Bonilla, Ana Laura Lopez-Machado, Ruth Galindo, Amanda Cano, Marta Espina, Miren Ettcheto, Antoni Camins et al.
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(2), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10020292
- “Core–Shell Eudragit S100 Nanofibers Prepared via Triaxial Electrospinning to Provide a Colon-Targeted Extended Drug Release”
by Yanfei Ding, Cheng Dou, Shuyue Chang, Zhengming Xie, Deng-Guang Yu, Yanan Liu and Jun Shao
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 2034; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092034
- “The Inhibition Property and Mechanism of a Novel Low Molecular Weight Zwitterionic Copolymer for Improving Wellbore Stability”
by Weichao Du, Michal Slaný, Xiangyun Wang, Gang Chen and Jie Zhang
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030708
- “Solid Polymer Electrolytes with Flexible Framework of SiO2 Nanofibers for Highly Safe Solid Lithium Batteries”
by Jin Cui, Zehao Zhou, Mengyang Jia, Xin Chen, Chuan Shi, Ning Zhao and Xiangxin Guo
Polymers 2020, 12(6), 1324; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061324
- “Conducting Polymers in the Design of Biosensors and Biofuel Cells”
by Simonas Ramanavicius and Arunas Ramanavicius
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010049
About MDPI Awards:
In order to reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.
To see more MDPI awards, click here.
16 August 2023
Meet Us at the 9th International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology (ChinaNANO 2023), 26–28 August 2023, Beijing, China

The ChinaNANO conferences have been held biennially since 2005 and have garnered great success in the field of nanoscience. The 2021 conference was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a four-year hiatus, the conference is returning. ChinaNANO 2023 is a highly anticipated international nanotechnology conference that will provide an unparalleled opportunity for global colleagues to reconnect and engage in discussions on the latest scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, and emerging trends in the field. As the largest and most prestigious conference on nanotechnology in Asia and beyond, ChinaNANO 2023 is expected to draw more than 2500 participants.
MDPI will be attending the event as an exhibitor, and we welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.
We are looking forward to meeting you at our booth, where you can find more information about the journals attending the conference:
- Nanomaterials;
- Nanomanufacturing;
- Symmetry;
- Crystals;
- Micromachines;
- Materials;
- Inorganics;
- Batteries;
- Applied Nano;
- Molecules;
- Nanoenergy Advances;
- Electronics.
Our representatives Ms. Sally Tsui and Ms. Cassie Zhang are eager to answer your questions and address any inquiries you may have.
We welcome you to Beijing in August 2023!
You can find out more about the conference at the following link: http://www.chinanano.org.cn/en/.
14 August 2023
Meet Us at the 17th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes (FEMS EUROMAT 2023), 3–7 September 2023, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The 17th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes (FEMS EUROMAT 2023) will be held from 3 to 7 September 2023, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The conference is organized by the German Materials Society.
Areas include the following:
- Functional materials;
- Structural materials;
- Processing;
- Characterization and modeling;
- Energy and transportation;
- Materials for healthcare;
- Education, strategy, and technology transfer;
- Materials for circularity and sustainability.
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #B-20 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://euromat2023.com/congress/welcome-address.
11 August 2023
Meet Us at the 18th International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets (ICMM2023), 10–14 September 2023, Nanjing, China

Conference: 18th International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets (ICMM2023)
Date: 10–14 September 2023
Location: Nanjing, China
MDPI will be attending ICMM 2023 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.
ICMM is a grand ceremony for all researchers working in related areas all over the world, and is the largest conference covering all topics in molecule-based magnets. The topics that will be covered at the conference will include molecular nanomagnets, spin-crossover materials, long-range ordering magnets, multifunctional and/or switchable materials, nanostructured magnetic materials, molecular spintronics, and devices, as well as other hot topics related to molecule-based magnetism. The conference is organized by the State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry and the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University.
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
- Magnetochemistry;
- Chemistry;
- Crystals;
- Inorganics;
- Magnetism;
- Materials;
- Metals;
- Molecules;
- Physics;
- Quantum Reports;
- Symmetry.
If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://icmm2023.nju.edu.cn/.
27 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #2 - Open Peer-Review and IJERPH

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
Open Peer Review Reports
Continuing the topic of openness from my inaugural monthly CEO letter, in these Opening Thoughts, I highlight the growth and importance of open peer-review reports at MDPI. Open peer reports align with the principles of open science, making the publishing process more transparent and facilitating rigorous peer review.
MDPI journals operate an open peer-review option by default, allowing authors to publish review reports and author responses (often referred to as open reports) together with the published paper. Publishing the reviewer reports and author responses together with the article provides greater transparency and trust for readers, as this allows them to track the editorial decision-making process. Open peer-review also encourages reviewers and editors to provide high-quality comments, as these will be made public if the article is accepted for publication.
Start and Growth of Open Peer Review at MDPI
The MDPI journal Life was a pioneer in offering this opportunity to its authors in 2014. The first MDPI article with peer-review reports openly published was a review by the Nobel Laureate Werner Arber, in which the review reports were published as supplementary material. By 2018, open peer-review was available across all MDPI journals. As such, MDPI authors have embraced the open peer-review model, providing a steady increase in the number of MDPI articles. As of 2023, approximately one-third (34.0%) of MDPI articles were published with open review reports.
As at July 2023, the percentage of MDPI articles published with open peer review has increased to 36.2% of the total papers published in 2023 so far, indicating ongoing growth in adoption.
Open peer review continues to play a critical role in the assessment of the peer-review process in Life. For further insights, please see the recent editorial by Dr. Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto, the former Editor-in-Chief of Life, who spearheaded the implementation of the open peer-review process.
Benefits of Open Peer Review
The benefits of open peer review include increased transparency, trust and constructive feedback. To promote open communication further and increase the robustness of the peer-review process, we encourage reviewers to sign their reports so that their name appears on the review report (this process is referred to as open identity). The default option is for reviewers to remain anonymous; however, by signing the reports, reviewers receive direct credit for their contribution to the peer-review process and show their commitment towards open science.
As the leading open access publisher, MDPI remains committed to promoting open peer-review and encourages authors to choose this approach. Our goal is to provide a rigorous and transparent peer-review process that benefits the scientific community, and we believe that open peer-review is a vital step in fostering openness and collaboration in scientific communication.
Impactful Research
MDPI Papers Cited in the News – IJERPH edition
Every month, our corporate marketing team compiles data from Altmetrics to create a list of MDPI papers that have been cited in the news. This list continues to grow as renowned news outlets regularly reference research published by MDPI in their articles.
During 2022, a total of 111,965 MDPI research papers were mentioned in prominent news outlets such as National Geographic, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Guardian, the BBC, CNN, Time, and Harvard Business Review.
Highly Cited Journal Publications
IJERPH, known for publishing impactful research, received the most news mentions among all MDPI journals in 2022, based on Altmetrics data:
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: 3509 mentions
- Nutrients: 2698 mentions
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences: 1701 mentions
- Journal of Clinical Medicine: 1131 mentions
- Viruses: 1111 mentions
These numbers show the recognition and impact of the articles published in IJERPH. For a more detailed view of the journal’s most cited and viewed papers, you can visit here. In total, IJERPH has garnered over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets, and as at July 2023, an impressive count of over 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more. These figures highlight the impactful contribution of IJERPH publications to the scientific community.
Example of Recent Mentions
During May and June 2023, a noteworthy selection of articles from IJERPH was cited in news articles, including:
The Washington Post: “Bringing nature inside can improve your health. Here’s how to do it.”
IJERPH paper: “Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments”
Harvard Business Review: “How to Take Better Breaks at Work, According to Research”
IJERPH paper: “Canine-Assisted Therapy Improves Well-Being in Nurses”
National Geographic: “Lyme disease is spreading fast—but a vaccine may be on the way”
IJERPH paper: “Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease”
Inside MDPI
MDPI Develops an Artificial Intelligence Tool to Enhance the Peer-Review Process
At MDPI, we believe that rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing. We are grateful to the scholars who generously dedicate their time to peer-review articles submitted to MDPI journals. Their contributions are invaluable to the advancement of science.
Peer-review is a critical part of the publication process, ensuring that MDPI upholds the highest quality standards for the papers we publish. Every manuscript submitted to our journals undergoes a comprehensive peer-review process conducted by subject-matter experts.
To further enhance our peer-review process, our Data Analytics team has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool designed to support the selection of reviewers. This proprietary tool utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP), a specially designed AI language model, to extract information from the title and abstract of submitted papers. It then searches our database for similar manuscripts and suggests potential reviewers based on this analysis. Integrated with MDPI's submission system (SuSy), the AI tool cross-references the suggested candidates with our reviewer database to verify their invitation status and availability.
The goal of this tool is to provide better targeted peer-review invitations, reducing the number of emails sent for each paper and increasing the efficiency of our editorial staff.
In the near future, our Data Analytics team plans to deploy similar AI projects to improve other critical aspects of our services, offering an enhanced experience to our authors and readers.
Click here to learn about MDPI’s review process, including procedures, responsibilities, and benefits.
Read more:
Coming Together for Science
The Future of IJERPH
On 5 July 2023, Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou, the founding Editor-in-Chief of IJERPH, along with five Section Editors in Chief (Prof. Dr. Germán Vicente-Rodríguez, Prof. Dr. Karl Goodkin, Prof. Dr. William A. Toscano, Prof. Dr. Jimmy T. Efird, and Prof. Dr. William Douglas Evans), gathered in Basel to discuss the future of the journal. The meeting provided an opportunity to address the recent decision by The Web of Science to delist IJERPH due to the journal failing the Content Relevance criterion, and propose best strategies that will ensure high scientific rigor as well as a clear scope and aim of IJERPH, going forward.
While the delisting is disappointing for IJERPH, as well as for our authors, academic editors, and the entire scientific community supporting our journal, we see it as an opportunity to reflect and prepare for the future direction of the journal.
Since its launch in 2004, IJERPH’s vision and mission have evolved to be more complete and comprehensive in engaging scientific communities. In light of this, we will refresh the journal’s aims and scope, ensuring they align with the organic expansion of IJERPH. Additionally, we will restructure the journal sections into broader categories, encouraging collaborative research and transdisciplinary approaches for authors. This is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among diverse fields, contributing to a holistic understanding of health promotion and disease prevention. We are confident that these next steps will enhance the scientific strength and societal impact of our journal.
Journal Achievements
In addition to the productive discussions, we took the time to celebrate some of the remarkable achievements of IJERPH, which I highlight below:
- Founded by Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou in 2004
- Indexed in PubMed in 2008
- Received its first Impact Factor in 2012
- Published its 5000th paper in 2017
- Over 60,000 papers published as at June 30, 2023
- 131,628,173 paper views in 2018–2022
- Over 28,000 mentions in prominent news outlets
- 17,000 papers cited 10 times or more as at June 30, 2023
- No.1 journal in the 2022 Google Scholar Metrics in the category of Public Health
- Awarded several editions of Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards since 2018.
These achievements showcase the journal’s significant contributions to the field and its impact on global health. We are proud of the exceptional work accomplished by the IJERPH team and look forward to building upon this success in the years to come.
Closing Thoughts
MDPI’s Impact in Spain
During the past month, I had the opportunity to visit our new office building in Barcelona, where I met with our local colleagues to discuss the ways we serve the scholarly community, particularly in Spain. The multi-functional office plays a vital role in supporting various business needs, including editorial, design, conference management, data analytics, journal relationship management, publishing partnerships, and collaborations with societies.
Spain holds a significant position in MDPI’s global market, ranking as the fourth-largest contributor to the total number of papers published by MDPI as at July 2023, ranking next to Italy, the USA, and China, with Germany completing the top five.
The Numbers
Out of the 1,680,000 total MDPI articles published as at 25 July, almost 80,000 articles are contributed by Spanish authors, representing nearly 40,000 unique authors affiliated with Spanish institutions. Remarkably, over 6,300 of these authors hold editorial board member (EBM) positions within MDPI journals, with 30 of them serving as Editors-in-Chief (EiCs).
Our commitment to working with institutions is very evident in Spain, where we have successfully established over 40 Institutional Open Access Programs (IOAP) with esteemed institutions such as the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra University, the University of Navarre, and Complutense University of Madrid.
Over the past five years, we have successfully organized eight in-person conferences in Barcelona, attracting over 1,150 registrations, with two forthcoming events scheduled for 2024. Barcelona's excellent connectivity to international airports makes it easily accessible to participants from around the world. Its welcoming atmosphere provides us with the perfect environment for knowledge-sharing, networking, and contributing to the local economy.
Our growth and presence in Spain are a true testament to the incredible service we provide to the scholarly community and the relationships we foster through responsive and collaborative communication. We look forward to continuing to support Spanish scholars, providing them a valuable and trusted experience with MDPI, the leader in open access publishing.
Testimonials
I close this letter as I did in the first edition, by sharing testimonials from our stakeholders. Here are a few IJERPH testimonials from a Spanish guest editor and an author:
Guest Editor
“I want to thank the kindness, attention and professionalism of the MDPI team throughout the editorial process of the Special Issue. I believe that it is a very professional and quality editorial process.”
- Professor Víctor Arufe-Giráldez, University of A Coruña
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Activity in Childhood and Adolescence
Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Physical Education: Present and Future
__
Author
“I want to thank the rigor of the revisions made to the manuscripts to improve their quality, the support to the authors for the editor assignment system they have and the follow-up they carry out, for the speed in answering and in carrying out the entire process of the revision, and for doing all this at an affordable price.”
- Dr. María Paz García-Caro, University of Granada
Article in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Factors Associated with Suicide Attempts and Suicides in the General Population of Andalusia (Spain)
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
11 July 2023
Prof. Dr. Vladimir Chigrinov Appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of Section “Liquid Crystals” in Crystals
We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Vladimir Chigrinov has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Liquid Crystals” in Crystals (ISSN: 2073-4352).
This Section is dedicated to providing a high-quality and rapid publication forum for scientists and engineers working in liquid crystals and other related fields, where they can exchange knowledge and increase the visibility of their studies in related areas of science and technology. Contributions, such as original research articles, reviews, letters, and communications, on all aspects of liquid crystals, will be considered.
Prof. Dr. Vladimir G. Chigrinov is an expert in flat panel technology in Russia. He was recognized by the World Technology Evaluation Centre in 1994, and has been an SID Fellow since 2008. He is an author of 6 books, 25 reviews and book chapters, 320 journal papers, more than 656 conference presentations, and 35 US patents in the field of liquid crystals since 1974. He received the Excellent Research Award of HKUST School of Engineering in 2012. He has been a Member of the EU Academy of Sciences (EUAS) since July 2017. He received the Slottow–Owaki Prize of SID in 2018. He was the 2019 Distinguished Fellow of the International Engineering and Technology Institute.
The following is a short Q&A with Prof. Dr. Vladimir Chigrinov, who shared his vision for the Section with us as well as his views on the research area and open access publishing:
1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?
I strongly respect MDPI for its wonderful review and original publication process. This is a great honor for me to become an Editor-in-Chief of the “Liquid Crystal” Section. I hope to get more valuable publications from my colleagues and collaborators in liquid crystal research.
2. What is your vision for the Section?
I believe we need to publish recent advances in liquid crystal research and their applications in displays and photonics. We need to unite the efforts of liquid crystal researchers to successfully compete with other technologies like OLED and MicroLed. Special attention should be paid to liquid crystal photonic devices, which are used for optical data processing: sensors, lenses, q-plates, beam-steering devices, smart windows, reconfigurable antennas, etc. We should unite the efforts of chemists, physicists, and electronic and optic researchers in making new liquid crystal devices with optimal characteristics for new advanced applications.
3. What does the future of this field of research look like?
The future of liquid crystal research is new materials such as ferroelectric liquid crystals, new technologies, e.g., photoalignment and photopatterning, and new applications in displays and photonics.
We should outline: (i) new trends in liquid crystal electronics and optical devices addressing modern TFT technologies; (ii) new applications of liquid crystal displays such as avionics, biomedical devices, terahertz imaging, AR/VR, and E-paper; (iii) LC applications in photonics such as those that are emerging in telecommunication, fiber optical communication systems, sensors, switchable lenses, LC light converters, switches, polarization rotators, variable optical attenuators, etc., which can successfully compete with micro-electromechanical systems (MEMSs), as well as with thermo-optical, opto-mechanical, or acousto-optical devices; (iv) liquid crystal devices on plastic substrates; and (v) holographic liquid crystal devices for 3D imaging and security applications.
4. Do you have any suggestions for young researchers in this field?
Young researchers should understand the basic principles of liquid crystal chemistry, physics and applications and try to make new devices for displays and photonics. If their research is based on new developments, I am sure it will be successful. I wish them great success in their research and in receiving awards from prestigious international conferences.
5. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
This is a great idea. It will make MDPI more useful and popular and increase its citation index.
We wish Prof. Dr. Vladimir Chigrinov every success in his new position and we look forward to his contributions to the journal.
11 July 2023
Obituary—Prof. Dr. Ronald W. Armstrong
With sadness, we regret to inform you about the passing of Prof. Dr. Ronald W. Armstrong, Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor of Crystals and Metals. We are grateful for his many contributions to the journals and the legacy his research has left in the academic world.
Prof. Dr. Ronald W. Armstrong was a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, A. James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. He received his Ph.D. degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1958, and he finished his postdoctoral studies at Leeds University, UK, in 1959. His work focused on dislocation mechanics, constitutive equations, Hall–Petch relations, Zerilli–Armstrong equations, microstructural stereology, high-rate metal deformations, ductile–brittle transition behaviors, and X-ray diffraction imaging.
His work was recognized with a significant number of honors and awards:
- AIME Robert Lansing Hardy Gold Medal for 1962;
- Senior Fulbright–Hays Fellow, New Zealand, 1974;
- NATO Advanced Study Institute Lecturer, England, 1979, and Crete, 1985;
- Who's Who in America, 1982‑89;
- Liaison Scientist, Office of Naval Research‑London, UK, 1982‑1984 and 1991;
- Visiting Research Fellow, now Life Member, Clare Hall, Univ. Cambridge, UK, 1984;
- Symposium in Honor of Professor Ronald W. Armstrong, Dynamic Deformation;
- Constitutive Modeling, Grain Size, and Other Effects, TMS 2003, 132nd Annual Meeting and Exhibition, 3/2-6/2003, San Diego, CA; see Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 35A, 2545-2745 (2004);
- DYMAT John Rinehart Award, 2015;
- Invited to present/publish more than 50 technical papers in symposia, published in more than 400 technical journal and symposium publications.
We wish to express our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues.
Crystals and Metals Editorial Offices
11 July 2023
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in June 2023
With the first issue released in June 2023, five new MDPI journals disseminating multi-disciplinary science are due to launch, which will cover the subjects of medicine & pharmacology, biology and physical sciences.
The newly launched journals will be overseen by professional Editorial Board Members and Editors to ensure an accurate and rapid publication, rigorous peer review and broad visibility.
Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.
Journal | Founding Editor-in-Chief | Journal topics (selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Jun Ma, Peking University, China| Editorial | view inaugural issue | growth and development; diet and nutrients; school health promotion policies and practices; child health and care; adolescent health and wellbeing | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Bernd Rehm, Griffith University, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue | DNA and gene synthesis; synthetic transcription factors; protein engineering; viral engineering; metabolic engineering | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Varsha Gandhi, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | lymphatics; cancers associated with lymphocytes and lymphoblasts; lymphatic tissues; lymphoma; lymphoid leukemia | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Dr. Bradley Turner, University of Melbourne, Australia | Editorial | view inaugural issue | multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; primary lateral sclerosis; atherosclerosis; systemic sclerosis | view journal scope | submit an article |
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Prof. Dr. Clemens Burda, Case Western Reserve University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue | Gamma ray, X-ray, and UV–Vis spectroscopies; NIR/mid-infrared/Raman spectroscopy; microwave and THz spectroscopy; high-resolution gas-phase atomic, molecular, and cluster spectroscopy; MS, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy | view journal scope | submit an article |
We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to submit an application to the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com) if you would like to create more new journals.
3 July 2023
MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter #1 - Open Access and Impactful Research

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
The Future is Open, and MDPI is Leading the Way
I strongly believe in a future that embraces openness, where open source, open information, and open access (OA) take center stage. This belief that led me to join MDPI in 2020, and I am honored to have recently been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In this capacity, and operating in close liaison with Dr. Lin and MDPI’s senior management, I shall work to build on Dr. Lin’s achievements of the past quarter-century. In this role, I will focus on communication initiatives to promote MDPI's remarkable work and continue to build our company as a trusted leader in OA publishing. For over two decades, MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020. This trajectory is deeply rooted in our history and reflects our unwavering commitment and vision for an open future.
1 Million Published Articles
2023 began with a remarkable achievement for MDPI, as we became the first OA publisher to reach the milestone of 1 million published articles. This represents 2.7 million unique authors who have trusted us with their work, or about a third of all researchers worldwide. As the world's most cited OA publisher, we are proud in sharing these significant milestones.
Our mission remains unchanged: to make science open and accessible to all. We understand the importance of knowledge access, empowering researchers to stay at the forefront of a rapidly changing world. Our diverse range of journals covers a wide spectrum of disciplines, offering cutting-edge insights, trusted tools, and crucial knowledge to address global challenges.
Liberating Science
As the world’s leading OA publisher, MDPI is actively liberating science. We are committed to eliminating the frustrations researchers and the general public face when accessing information, ensuring it is not locked behind paywalls. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to information, and our commitment to open access publishing drives our work.
In this inaugural edition of Insights: The CEO's Letter, I draw inspiration from the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access. Its stated mission reminds us that true impact is achieved when knowledge is widely and readily available to society:
"Our mission of disseminating knowledge is only half complete if the information is not made widely and readily available to society”
Impactful Research
MDPI Publishes Impactful Research: Recognized by Leading Indexing Databases
MDPI journals are indexed in every single top database in the world.
As of June 2023, we have 214 journals indexed within Web of Science, 223 indexed within Scopus, 87 indexed within PubMed and PMC, and 17 indexed within MEDLINE, and these numbers increase every month. We constantly strive to expand the coverage of our journals within leading multi-disciplinary and scope-specific databases, resulting in an incredibly broad range of journals that are indexed within a variety of databases. MDPI has active relationships with approximately 65 well-known databases around the world, and we continue to expand our portfolio every year so that your work can be found, cited, and referenced with ease.
Continued Growth of MDPI Journals
The 2022 Scopus and Web of Science journal citation metrics were officially released in June, and I am pleased to report that 31 MDPI journals received their first CiteScore, taking the total number of journals with a CiteScore to 216. The number of MDPI journals receiving an Impact Factor (IF) also continues to grow with 111 receiving their first, by being covered in the ESCI, bringing our total number of journals with an IF to 208 of which 41 journals received an IF above 4.0. Looking at 2022 CiteScores in the Scopus database, 80% of MDPI journals have a score that ranks them in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
Publishing impactful science would not be possible without all of our authors, editors and reviewers. Thank you for your contribution and continued support! Together we share the latest scientific insights faster and ensure that your work is accessible to all.
Read more
Inside MDPI
Preprints.org: Clarivate adds the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science
At MDPI, we are dedicated to driving the advancement of science. Through our initiative, Preprints.org, researchers can publish their work and gain valuable feedback from the broader research community, ensuring rapid progress in their respective fields. This is particularly crucial during times of health and climate challenges, where timely dissemination of findings is essential.
Increased Visibility for Preprints
I am pleased to share that Clarivate recognizes the significance of preprints and has taken a crucial step to enhance their visibility. Clarivate has added the Preprint Citation Index to the Web of Science, encompassing preprints published not only on Preprints.org but also on other reputable repositories.
Looking ahead, the future of preprints appears promising, bolstered by the recent indexing announcement from the Web of Science. As a result, preprints will receive increased visibility, serving as a valuable resource for staying informed about the latest research developments.
Read more
What are Preprints?
The Pros and Cons of Preprints
Preprints and COVID-19
Preprints—The Future of Open Access Publishing?
Coming Together for Science
The First International Conference on Antioxidants: Sources, Methods, Health Benefits and Industrial Applications
In this edition of ‘Coming Together for Science,’ I am pleased to highlight the First International Conference on Antioxidants organized by our conference team in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. The conference attracted over 130 attendees, who engaged in 42 talks, and 89 poster presentations spread across several sessions.
Working Together
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano (Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy) and Prof. Dr. Rosa M. Lamuela Raventos (Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, University of Barcelona, Spain) as chairs, and supported by the committee members, 10 invited keynote speakers, poster presenters, and all the attendees, this dedicated group of academics came together to discuss the natural sources, methodologies, health benefits, and industrial applications of antioxidants.
Especially noteworthy is the positive feedback received from attendees, with 94% rating the overall organization of the conference as good or excellent. I particularly love the picture above, capturing the gathering of some of the participants. You can browse through more photos in the event gallery located here.
Managing Events With Sciforum
If you are considering hosting your own academic event, I highly recommend checking out Sciforum, MDPI's event management platform. Sciforum simplifies the entire process, making it easy to host your own event by allowing you to focus on what really matters: Science!
Read more
Closing Thoughts
Stefan Tochev, Dr. Shu-Kun Lin, Dr. Eric O. Freed, Peter Roth, Wynne Wang, Allison Yang
Viruses and Editorial Quality: Acknowledging the Dedication of our Viruses Journal Team
During a June meeting with Dr. Eric O. Freed, the founding and current Editor-in-Chief of our journal Viruses, I was reminded of the exceptional dedication of our editorial board. Meeting with Eric is a pleasure, as he has a strong commitment and clear vision for the journal. Over the course of two days, we gained a deep understanding of the journal’s expectations and focus on strategic growth, editorial board representation, and engagement.
I am pleased to share that Viruses holds a CiteScore of 7.1 (an increase of 7.57% versus the 2021 metric) and an Impact Factor of 4.7. You can view the journal statistics here. Viruses publishes highly cited papers, and is indexed in renowned databases such as Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, and others, and maintains affiliations with prestigious societies. Moreover, the Viruses team has recently announced an exciting upcoming event titled ‘Viruses 2024 – A World of Viruses,’ scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from 14–16 February 2024.
Testimonials
If you notice my enthusiasm regarding our editorial service, it’s because the surveys and testimonials we receive speak volumes about the experiences of our authors, reviewers, and guest editors who collaborate with MDPI. The purpose of these letters is to highlight the exceptional work that we do and the experiences we create for the scholars – thus, let me end with this testimonial from an author:
“It was a great pleasure to publish in Viruses Special Issue [Emerging Viruses in Aquaculture]. The submission process was easy. Guest editors were very helpful and provided all the guidance and support as needed. The handling of the manuscript by the Editorial Team was very fast, efficient, and professional. The reviewer’s comments were insightful, and the publication processes were remarkably rapid.”
– Ms. Magdalena Stachnik, Państwowy Instytut Weterynaryjny | PIWet
Article in Viruses: Emerging Viral Pathogens in Sturgeon Aquaculture in Poland: Focus on Herpesviruses and Mimivirus Detection
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
29 June 2023
Meet Us at the 21st National Conference on Catalysis, 21–25 July 2023, Kunming, China

MDPI will attend the 21st National Conference on Catalysis. This event of the Chinese Chemical Society will be held from 21 to 25 July 2023 in Kunming, China, and is hosted by the Catalysis Professional Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society. The event is being jointly organized by Yunnan University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, and Yunnan Precious Metals Laboratory.
This conference is the largest academic conference at the highest level in the field of catalysis in China and is held every two years. The theme of the conference is "Catalytic Science and Technology for Two-Carbon Strategy", and its topics will cover both the development of frontier technology and basic research into catalysis in the fields of chemical industry, energy, environment, materials, biology, pharmaceuticals, analysis, etc.
The conference program will include invited reports, oral reports, poster presentations, forums, creative pop-up sessions, etc. During the conference, the Catalysis Professional Committee will issue the “Ninth China Catalysis Award”. The conference will also organize well-known manufacturers in the field of catalysis to carry out related product exhibitions and technical exchanges and arrange special workshops on their applications.
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth (#C035) and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://21ncc.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/16736.