Announcements
25 March 2025
Drones Webinar | Advanced Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Communication Networks for the Next Generation of Drones, 31 March 2025
This webinar is open to research, university, and industry experts involved in the field of advanced communication networks (both terrestrial and non-terrestrial) and innovative applications for drones.
Webinar speakers will present new findings on basic and advanced research topics.
Any interesting suggestions regarding topics and speakers are welcome.
Date: 31 March 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m. CEST | 4:30 p.m. JST Asia | 3:30 p.m. CST Asia | 6:30 p.m. AEDT
Webinar ID: 839 5264 9119
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Are you unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available to watch.
Register now for free!
Program:
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
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Prof. Dr. Alessandro Vizzarri |
9:30–9:35 a.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Alessandro Vizzarri |
9:35–9:55 a.m. |
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Dr. Parameshachari B.D. |
9:55–10:15 a.m. |
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Mr. Jewel Sengupta |
10:15–10:35 a.m. |
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Dr. Miguel García Torres: |
10:35–10:55 a.m. |
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Dr. Kishore A.T.: |
10:55–11:15 a.m. |
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Q&A Session |
11:15–11:25 a.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Alessandro Vizzarri |
11:25–11:30 a.m. |
Webinar Chair and Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Alessandro Vizzarri, Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy;
- Dr. Parameshachari B.D., Department of ECE, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, India;
- Mr. Jewel Sengupta, Informatics Engineering, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania;
- Dr. Miguel García Torres, Data Science and Big Data Lab, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain;
- Dr. Kishore A.T., Dhanwantari Drone Pilot Academy, India.
For more information about this webinar, please visit https://sciforum.net/event/Drones-3?subscribe.
Drones Editorial Office
25 March 2025
Meet Us at the 2025 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS), 14–17 May 2025, Charlotte, USA
13 March 2025
Drones | Issue Cover Articles Published in 2024
The articles listed below have been selected as part of the 2024 issue cover articles of Drones (ISSN: 2504-446X). These articles represent the latest research advancements in the journal's domain, and we hope they will provide scholars and relevant authors with new research ideas and references.
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1. “The Detection of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Using Drones and Optical Sensors: Implications for the Management of Invasive Plants and Insects” |
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2. “Study on Drone Handover Methods Suitable for Multipath Interference Due to Obstacles” |
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3. “Historical and Current Landscapes of Autonomous Quadrotor Control: An Early-Career Researchers’ Guide” |
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4. “Review of Wind Flow Modelling in Urban Environments to Support the Development of Urban Air Mobility” |
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5. “Detection of Leak Areas in Vineyard Irrigation Systems Using UAV-Based Data” |
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6. “Monitoring Nodal Transportation Assets with Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review” |
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7. “Fed4UL: A Cloud–Edge–End Collaborative Federated Learning Framework for Addressing the Non-IID Data Issue in UAV Logistics” |
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8. “Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Radar Perspectives on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detection and Classification: A Primer for Researchers with Comprehensive Machine Learning Review and Emphasis on Full-Wave Electromagnetic Computer-Aided Design Tools” |
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9. “Aerodynamic Interaction Minimization in Coaxial Multirotors via Optimized Control Allocation” |
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10. “Potential and Challenges in Airborne Automated External Defibrillator Delivery by Drones in a Mountainous Region”
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11. “Joint Sensing and Communications in Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicle-Assisted Systems” |
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12. “Urban Air Mobility Communications and Networking: Recent Advances, Techniques, and Challenges” |
11 March 2025
Meet Us at the 2025 AAG Annual Meeting, 24–28 March 2025, Detroit, MI, USA
27 February 2025
More than 300 MDPI Journals Indexed in Web of Science
MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines.
To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data.
This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide.
As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.
17 February 2025
MDPI Celebrates Excellence in Medical Research with Early Career Researcher Awards
MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.
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Honoring Excellence in Research
The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:
Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:
- Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
- Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
- Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.
Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:
- Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;
- Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
- Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.
Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.
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Looking Ahead to 2025
Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.
Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.
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12 February 2025
Topics Webinar | Leveraging Earth Observation for Assessing Climate Change Impact in the Arctic: Insights and Innovations from the EO-PERSIST Project, 4 March 2025
Permafrost plays a crucial role in the Earth’s climate system, storing vast amounts of carbon and influencing ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. However, as the climate warms, permafrost has begun to thaw at an accelerated rate, creating significant environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
In this webinar, we will explore the critical role of Earth Observation (EO) technologies in monitoring and understanding permafrost changes. From satellite imagery to remote sensing techniques, EO provides valuable, real-time data that help researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders track permafrost dynamics, assess risks, and develop strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Join us to learn how cutting-edge EO innovations are advancing the science of permafrost monitoring and shaping the future of Arctic sustainability. To this end, key research findings will be presented from EO-PERSIST, an EU-funded project that aims to develop a cloud-based platform for mapping the socioeconomic impacts of climate change in the Arctic regions.
Date: 4 March 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m. CET | 10:00 a.m. EST | 11:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 826 0289 7331
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/topics-32
Register now for free!
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CEST/CET (Basel time) | Time in EST |
| Dr. George P. Petropoulos Chair Introduction |
4:00–4:10 p.m. | 10:00–10:10 a.m. |
| Dr. Ionut Sandric Mapping Permafrost Thawing: Impacts on Landscapes and Ecosystem Using Earth Observation |
4:10–4:30 p.m. | 10:10–10:30 a.m. |
| Dr. Nikolina Myofa Assessing the Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Change in the Arctic: Insights from the EO-PERSIST Project |
4:30–4:50 p.m. | 10:30–10:50 a.m. |
| Mr. Spyridon E. Detsikas Monitoring Arctic Coastal Properties Using Geoinformatics |
4:50–5:10 p.m. | 10:50–11:10 a.m. |
| Mr. Kleanthis Karamvasis Time Series Analysis of InSAR Data for Improving the Understanding of Snow Dynamics and Freeze-Thaw Cycle in Arctic Environments |
5:10–5:30 p.m. | 11:10–11:30 a.m. |
| Mr. Juval Cohen SAR and Passive Microwave Observations and Modeling Tools for Monitoring Soil Freeze/Thaw Dynamics and Snow Cover Properties in Northern Environments |
5:30–5:50 p.m. | 11:30–11:50 a.m. |
| Q&A Session | 5:50–6:20 p.m. | 11:50–12:20 p.m. |
| Chair Closing of Webinar |
6:20–6:30 p.m. | 12:20–12:30 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. George P. Petropoulos, Department of Geography, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece;
- Dr. Ionuț Șandric, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Romania;
- Dr. Nikolina Myofa, Department of Geography, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece;
- Mr. Spyridon E. Detsikas, Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece;
- Mr. Kleanthis Karamvasis, National Technical University of Athens, Remote Sensing Laboratory, Greece;
- Mr. Juval Cohen, Research Scientist, Earth Observation Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland.
Relevant Special Issues and Papers:
“Environmental Monitoring Based on Remote Sensing, Earth Observation and Geoinformation”
Guest Editors: Dr. George P. Petropoulos, Prof. Dr. Daniela Silva-Fuzzo, Prof. Dr. Nikos Koutsias and Prof. Dr. Yansong Bao
Deadline for manuscript submission: 29 July 2025
“Quantifying Soil Erosion Processes Using Satellite Data: Progress and Perspectives”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Arjun Heimsath
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 April 2025
“Open-Source Geoinformation Software Tools in Environmental Modelling”
Guest Editors: Dr. George P. Petropoulos, Dr. Prashant Srivastava and Prof. Dr. Daniela Silva-Fuzzo
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025
“Aerial and Drone LiDAR Data for Geomorphological Mapping, Landform Extraction and Landscape Evolution”
Edited by Dr. Dario Gioia, Dr. Nicodemo Abate, Dr. Giuseppe Corrado, Dr. Antonio Minervino Amodio and Prof. Marcello Schiattarella
“Segment Anything Model Can Not Segment Anything: Assessing AI Foundation Model’s Generalizability in Permafrost Mapping”
by Wenwen Li, Chia-Yu Hsu, Sizhe Wang, Yezhou Yang, Hyunho Lee, Anna Liljedahl, Chandi Witharana, Yili Yang, Brendan M. Rogers, Samantha T. Arundel et al.
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(5), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16050797
“New Method for Hydraulic Characterization of Variably Saturated Zone in Peatland-Dominated Permafrost Mires”
by Radhakrishna Bangalore Lakshmiprasad, Stephan Peth, Susanne K. Woche, and Thomas Graf
Land 2024, 13(12), 1990; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13121990
“Assessment of Ecosystem Service Value in Response to LULC Changes Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case Study in the Merbil Wetland of the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India”
by Durlov Lahon, Dhrubajyoti Sahariah, Jatan Debnath, Nityaranjan Nath, Gowhar Meraj, Pankaj Kumar, Shizuka Hashimoto and Majid Farooq
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2023, 12(4), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi12040165
5 February 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #20 - Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok, JAMS, Jisc
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
2024 Annual Meeting – Beijing (15 January 2025)
You haven’t truly experienced a New Year’s celebration until you’ve attended one of MDPI’s Chinese Annual Meeting festivities. This year I visited our annual meeting in Beijing, held on the 15th of January.
Imagine this: stepping into a banquet hall filled with 140 tables and about 1,400 colleagues from our Beijing offices, all gathered to share in a six-hour event. The agenda included year-end speeches and presentations, a variety of performances by our colleagues, a selection of awards honouring local employees for their work, group photos for the memories, and a dinner.
This may have been one of the largest events I have attended. For those unaccustomed to such an event, it might seem overwhelming, but it was quite the opposite. The atmosphere was one of celebration as everyone came together to support their peers and celebrate the achievements of 2024.
I was honoured to deliver the opening speech and a presentation highlighting our growth and investment in MDPI’s most valuable asset: our people.
“Our editorial teams represent MDPI at its finest”
I want to give special recognition to the editorial department, across all of our offices, which forms the heart of our business. These teams are the frontline communicators with our authors, reviewers, and guest editors, creating a smooth experience of processing our manuscripts. Their professionalism and kindness are often highlighted as key drivers of satisfaction with MDPI. For this, I extend my deepest gratitude to all our editorial staff, across every office. They truly represent MDPI at its finest.
Beijing is home to two of our offices, with just over 800 employees in Tongzhou and over 600 in Haidian. Thank you to our administrative teams and everyone involved in organizing these New Year’s celebrations across all offices. These events provide a moment to reflect on our shared accomplishments and appreciate the positive impact each of you has on our culture.
MDPI Offices in China
While the history of MDPI begins in Basel, Switzerland, the story of MDPI is very much rooted in China. Below is a list of MDPI’s current offices in China and their respective dates of inauguration:
- 2008: Beijing (Tongzhou, Haidian)
- 2013: Wuhan (Hankou, Guanggu)
- 2019: Tianjin
- 2021: Dalian
- 2021: Nanjing
To date, over 381,000 MDPI research articles have been published by authors affiliated with Chinese institutions, making China our largest market. This is reflected not only in the volume of publications but also in the scale of our workforce supporting local operations and contributing to global success.
While no new offices in China were launched between 2022 and 2024 due to the pandemic and strategic planning, we remain committed to future growth here. Our plans include expanding operations as we continue to build our global workforce.
We look forward to a year filled with continued collaboration, growth, and shared success.
“We remain committed to future growth in China”
Impactful Research
MDPI and Jisc Consortium Extend Open Access Agreement for 2025
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has extended its agreement with the Jisc consortium in the UK for 2025. This renewal strengthens our partnership with UK institutions and reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing open access publishing.
Jisc is the UK’s not-for-profit digital, data, and technology agency supporting tertiary education, research, and innovation. Through initiatives such as our agreement, Jisc helps institutions access essential digital resources and infrastructure to support researchers. Currently, 62 UK institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) through this partnership.
Authors from participating institutions benefit from discounts on article processing charges (APCs), with even greater support for institutions that centrally fund APCs. This helps researchers focus on their work while simplifying the publishing process.
A full list of participating institutions can be found here.
As Becky Castellon, our Institutional Partnerships Manager, puts it: “Extending our agreement with Jisc is a reward for the strong partnership we’ve built with research institutions throughout the UK.”
At MDPI, we are dedicated to making research more accessible while reducing administrative burdens for institutions and authors. Open access publishing is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to expand its reach in the UK and beyond.
Inside MDPI
Visit to MDPI's Singapore office
During my January trip to some of our APAC offices, I also had the pleasure of visiting our Singapore office for the first time. It’s exciting to see how much the team has grown, now numbering over 55 staff members, with more joining us in February.
Welcoming and Supporting New Team Members
“Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring new hires”
I had the opportunity to connect with both experienced colleagues and new team members who are currently embarking on their careers. This visit reminded me of what it was like when I was in their shoes. I encourage all of us to engage new colleagues with empathy, as we have all been in their position. By creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we can help them settle in and learn about the corporate world, MDPI and our mission.
Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring and guiding new hires, most of whom are transitioning from academia to their first job. I’m especially grateful to colleagues such as Colin Chen, Alicia Ren, Yu Nwe Soe, Colin Wee, Amy Cham and other senior members who have contributed to shaping the culture and work environment in Singapore.
Building MDPI’s Positive Reputation
During my visit, I spoke with the office staff about the importance of their roles in building a positive reputation that helps create trust in MDPI. I shared how every interaction and communication point contributes to the marketing of MDPI and our journals. I also highlighted the career development opportunities available as MDPI continues to grow.
Connecting with the Singapore Marketing Team
I also spent time connecting directly with the Singapore Marketing team, which has quickly grown to 15 young and ambitious members. They are eager to learn and are actively contributing to our journal and corporate marketing activities. I shared insights into our corporate marketing structure and strategy and look forward to supporting them as they grow.
During the visit, I was joined by my colleague Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing, who provided training on indexing. This training was greatly appreciated by the local staff.
Meeting with Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta
Lastly, we had the privilege of meeting Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta, Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of Technologies since 2016 and Section EiC of Metals.
Prof. Gupta is an active decision-maker for the journal and a great brand ambassador for MDPI.
Prof. Gupta has helped sustainably scale Technologies, which now has a 4.2 Impact Factor and a 6.7 CiteScore, ranking Q1 in the JCR category of Engineering and Q1 in the CiteScore category of Computer Science.
During our meeting, we discussed strategies for Institutional Open Access Partnership agreements and ways to promote MDPI journals in Singapore.
PS. During the visit, we also had the chance to participate in Lo Hei, also known as Yee Sang or the “prosperity toss.” This is a raw fish salad traditionally enjoyed during Chinese New Year and is particularly popular among Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Everyone gathers around the table as the ingredients are added one by one, and then the salad is mixed together. It was a fun experience to take part in this New Year tradition!
Coming Together for Science
JAMS – Journal & Article Management System
I am excited to announce the official relaunch of JAMS (Journal & Article Management System), one of MDPI’s key initiatives to support academic publishers worldwide.
With this relaunch, JAMS now offers new pricing models and flexible solutions for small-scale journals, commercial publishers, and university presses. We have also redesigned the JAMS website to enhance the user experience.
“JAMS is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process”
Explore the new website here: jams.pub
It’s also great to see the JAMS team expanding our presence at conferences and on social media to engage more effectively with the academic community.
Recently, Facundo Santomé (Senior Marketing Manager) and Alex Ramos (Senior Marketing Specialist) represented JAMS at the APE 2025 conference in Berlin, highlighting how our platform empowers small and independent publishers to streamline and scale their journal management.
JAMS was built to change that by adapting to the unique requirements of each publisher.
At MDPI, we continually invest in our growth – not only by expanding our operations and staff but also by developing innovative products that serve the academic and publishing community at large. JAMS, with its comprehensive suite of journal management tools, is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process for our partners.
Imagine a submission system that frees up your time for strategy, innovation, and impactful publishing.
Under the leadership of Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager, MDPI), the JAMS team has conducted in-depth market research to understand the challenges publishers face: endless administrative tasks, inefficient workflows, and systems that don’t always meet their needs.
If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.
What Sets JAMS Apart?
- Scalability – Whether you're a niche journal or managing thousands of submissions, JAMS grows with you.
- End-to-End Workflow – From submission to peer review and final publication, everything is in one place.
- Automation That Works for You – Say goodbye to chasing reviewers and formatting issues, so that you can focus on quality instead.
- Built by Publishers, for Publishers – JAMS is backed by MDPI’s expertise; we know exactly what it takes to run a journal smoothly.
- Flexible & Fair Pricing – Supporting journals of all sizes, with special rates for non-profits and publishers in the Global South.
Partners Who Already Trust JAMS
If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.
Closing Thoughts
Visit to MDPI's Bangkok office
To conclude my APAC trip, I had the pleasure of visiting our Bangkok office from 22 to 24 January. The office has grown significantly, closing 2024 with a total of 445 colleagues across various departments, including Editorial, Production, Conference, Training, Journal Relationship Specialists (JRS), Managing Editors, and supporting teams in HR, Admin, IT, and Finance.
I would like to praise our Bangkok management team for their excellent work in supporting our growth and creating a positive work environment. Our colleagues here are humble, talented, hardworking, and appreciative of MDPI’s mission.
Thailand was among MDPI’s top 30 markets in 2024 for total publications. With our office in Bangkok, we have an opportunity to further promote open access while supporting local researchers and institutions. This includes open access discounts, author training sessions, conference sponsorships, and other initiatives. We currently have 25 Editorial Board Members (EBMs) from Thailand and will work on expanding this network.
Engaging with Group Leads
“Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment”
During my visit, I met with our group leads to highlight their crucial role in managing journal performance and mentoring new employees, especially given our increased hiring targets. Many new hires are early in their careers and require training, development, and support. Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment that fosters professional growth while maintaining MDPI’s reputation for service quality.
To wrap up the session, I added a personal touch by holding the door and giving everyone high-fives – a small gesture to show appreciation, boost morale, and strengthen team spirit. It’s important for our colleagues to feel seen, heard, and valued.
University Visit: King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB)
We also visited King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) to explore collaboration opportunities.
Our discussions focused on: Institutional Open Access Partnership (IOAP), Author training sessions, Conference sponsorships, Student employment initiatives, and more.
This visit reinforced the importance of building strong relationships with local universities, ensuring we continue to support and engage with the academic community in Thailand.
“My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring”
My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring. The senior team has done a great job in growing the office and creating a supportive, high-performing environment. I look forward to seeing continued success from our colleagues in Thailand.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
4 February 2025
Topics Webinar | EO&GEO Series: Soil Moisture Retrieval from Remote Sensing Data, 12 February 2025
Soil moisture plays a crucial role in the exchange of water and energy within the soil–plant–atmosphere system. Its significance is acknowledged across a spectrum of environmental disciplines, encompassing meteorology, hydrology, agriculture, and climate change studies. Consequently, the precise monitoring and estimation of the spatial and temporal fluctuations in soil moisture are of particular importance.
Remote sensing technologies have revolutionized our ability to monitor soil moisture dynamics at a regional scale. Satellite-based remote sensing offers a global-scale perspective with continuous spatiotemporal resolution, making it a cornerstone for soil moisture estimation. During the last few decades, significant progress has been made in estimating soil moisture from remote sensing data. Advancements in both active and passive remote sensing technologies, satellite remote sensing, drone technologies, and data assimilation methods have enabled us to obtain soil moisture estimations at different spatial scales from meters to tens of kilometers, in addition to temporal resolutions from hours to daily.
However, obtaining reliable soil moisture information at the required spatiotemporal resolution and along soil depth with a high level of accuracy is still challenging, especially due to highly variable soil moisture behavior on its spatiotemporal domains and its complex relationships with forcing factors such as vegetation, soil texture, topography, and meteorology. The retrieval of soil moisture remains challenging due to limited satellite observations, the high correlation between different polarizations, angles, and channels, and the uncertainties in radiative transfer models and ancillary datasets.
As part of this webinar, it is our great honor to invite Prof. Dr. Arnon Karnieli to discuss soil moisture retrieval from remote sensing data. He will discuss the OPTRAM model and its applications in worldwide rangelands. Prof. Dr. Maofang Gao will discuss soil moisture retrieval from L-band SAR data.
Title: EO&GEO Series: Soil Moisture Retrieval from Remote Sensing Data
Date: 12 February 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. CET | 3:00 p.m. CST Asia | 9:00 a.m. EET
More information: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-31
This is a free webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Register for free:
Program:
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CET | Time in CST Asia |
| Prof. Dr. Maofang Gao (Chair) Chair Introduction |
8:00-8:10 | 15:00-15:10 |
| Prof. Dr. Maofang Gao Soil Moisture Retrieval From L Band SAR Data and its Applications in Southwest and Northeast China |
8:10-8:30 | 15:10-15:30 |
| Prof. Dr. Arnon Karnieli OPTRAM Model and its Applications in Worldwide Rangelands |
8:30-8:50 | 15:30-15:50 |
| Q&A Session | 8:50-9:10 | 15:50-16:10 |
| Prof. Dr. Maofang Gao (Chair) Closing of Webinar |
9:10-9:15 | 16:10-16:15 |
Webinar Chair and Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Maofang Gao, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China;
- Prof. Dr. Arnon Karnieli, The Remote Sensing Laboratory, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boker, Israel.
Relevant Special Issues:
“Root-Zone Soil Moisture Retrieval and Applications from Remote Sensing Measurements”
Guest Editors: Dr. David Fairbairn, Dr. Bertrand Bonan and Dr. Luca Brocca
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025
“Salinity Monitoring and Modelling at Different Scales: 2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Maria da Conceição Gonçalves, Dr. Mohammad Farzamian and Dr. Tiago Brito Ramos
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025
24 January 2025
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Drones in 2024
