Announcements

Diversity (ISSN: 1424-2818), a premier open-access journal under MDPI’s global publishing network, was proud to partner with Mahasarakham University to host the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop on 2 October 2025 in Maha Sarakham, Thailand. This event convened researchers, educators, and publishing experts to delve into cutting-edge strategies for advancing scholarly communication in biodiversity and related fields. Designed to empower participants, the workshop provided actionable insights and tools to amplify the reach and influence of their research, fostering a culture of innovation and open knowledge sharing. The collaboration underscored the enduring partnership between MDPI and Mahasarakham University, united by a shared vision to elevate research standards, promote interdisciplinary dialogue, and champion transparent, accessible science.

Prof. Dr. Pairot Pramual, vice president for Research and Innovation development at Mahasarakham University, shared his thoughts on the importance of science and the publication process. He thanked MDPI Thailand for organizing the workshop, which provided detailed information on the publication process, publication ethics, and journals.

During the first presentation, Mr. Pongsakorn Vithayanon, the Editorial Team Leader and Journal Relations Specialist at MDPI Thailand, discussed open access journals and MDPI’s current position as a leading open access academic publisher. He introduced Diversity as a valuable option for researchers in this field.

The second session was shared by Dr. Krit Inthajak, MDPI’s regional journal relations specialist in Asia-Pacific, with the topic “How to Write Scientific Papers”. This session comprises how to prepare literature reviews before deciding to write a manuscript, the contents on the front matter, main text, and back matter. The majority of the participants are lecturers and professors who have shown great interest in the structures of the front and back matter. They questioned the significance of each authorship, especially the first author and corresponding author. The participants also questioned the importance of copyright permissions between traditional and open access models.

The third session, titled “How to Respond to Peer Reviewers”, was presented by Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana, a Regional Journal Relations Specialist. She discussed the peer-review process at MDPI and guided the participants through how to revise the manuscript professionally. This session also included the key tips of revision preparations and how we can organize a response in an effective way. During the session, she addressed the questions raised. Some participants inquired about how they should revise the manuscript when there are contradicting review reports. She also suggested that the author resubmit the manuscript to the same journal after rejection in order to maintain the continuity of the peer-review process. In conclusion, she encouraged the audience to remain positive, open-minded, and professional when replying to reviewers.

The final session was delivered by Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon, Regional Journal Relations Specialist at the MDPI Bangkok Office, on the topic “Publication Ethics for Authors”. She began by emphasizing the importance of ethical integrity in research and publishing. She then presented several common types of publication ethics issues encountered in the current research landscape, followed by an explanation of MDPI’s ethical guidelines. Ms. Ploy also discussed potential ethical challenges arising from the use of AI in research, encouraging authors to carefully consider these emerging risks. The session concluded with an overview of MDPI’s investigation process for handling ethical issues identified after publication.

As the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop at Mahasarakham University concluded, we celebrated a day of energetic intellectual engagement and cross-sector collaboration. The event drew enthusiastic participation from researchers, academics, and students across diverse life science disciplines, highlighting its relevance and impact. Attendees gained hands-on expertise in high-impact publishing practices, rigorous peer-review methodologies, and the integration of artificial intelligence into research workflows. Key discussions explored emerging trends in open access publishing, ethical guidelines for scholarly dissemination, and the transformative potential of global research partnerships in advancing open science. This collaborative initiative not only reinforced the strong bond between MDPI and Mahasarakham University but also laid a robust foundation for future academic ventures and the sustained professional growth of participants.