Announcements

31 December 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #30 - Scaling with Integrity, Highly Cited Researchers, KEMÖ Consortium, Michele Parrinello, and Best PhD Thesis Awards

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


With colleagues at MDPI headquarters in Basel, representing the people behind our global growth and shared commitment to integrity.

Scaling with Integrity: A Year of Growth, Responsibility, and Trust

When I look back on 2025, one phrase seems to sum up the year: “Scaling with integrity.” That was our watchword for 2025, and it will remain so as we move forward in to 2026.

Our journal portfolio continued to grow in 2025, reflecting the trust of a widening proportion of the scholarly community.

Today, MDPI has 355 journals indexed in Scopus and 330 in Web of Science – a testimonial to the scale at which our journals meet established external quality criteria. During the year, 45 of our journals were newly accepted into Scopus and 29 into Web of Science (this excludes transferred journals to our portfolio that were already indexed), following rigorous, independent evaluation by the world’s leading indexing bodies

Meeting external quality benchmarks

These results underline the fact that scaling responsibly is not only about expanding our catalogue, but also about meeting external quality benchmarks consistently, transparently, and at scale. Our indexing performance remains one of the strongest independent validations of MDPI’s commitment to rigor, trust, and long-term sustainability.

Over the course of 2025, we made targeted investments to ensure that the integrity of our editorial process scaled to keep pace with our growth. We strengthened our editorial governance by doubling down on our dedicated Publication Ethics department, appointing a Head of Ethics, and expanding our research integrity team by the addition of new specialists plus the creation of embedded editorial ethics roles across key journals. We also introduced new internal ethics guidelines, pre-review integrity checks, and monitoring dashboards to help teams identify potential issues and apply consistent standards across our portfolio.

Besides investing in systems and tools, we of course also invested heavily in our people and culture, delivering organisation-wide training on topics such as image integrity, AI use in publishing, and ethical oversight, while actively engaging with the wider publishing community through COPE and STM forums.

All these efforts reflect a simple principle: growth only matters if it is matched by rigor, responsibility, and trust.

Technology and AI: Supporting the editorial decision-making process

At MDPI, AI is designed to assist, not replace, editorial decision-making. It is one element in a broader system that combines people, technology, and processes to support scale responsibly.

In 2025, we continued to invest heavily in technology that supports quality rather than shortcuts. Our AI team doubled in size, ensuring that increased automation goes hand-in-hand with expertise and oversight. Proprietary AI tools such as Scholar Finder have significantly improved the precision of reviewer matching, while Ethicality has been widely adopted across editorial workflows to identify contextual signals, such as scope alignment and citation behaviour, so that human judgment can be applied where it matters most.

Partnerships: Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreements and Societies

Our recent growth is also reflected in the strength of our partnerships. In 2025, we entered into more than 150 new IOAP agreements, bringing our total to 975 active agreements worldwide. This activity included the signing of our first-ever consortium agreements in North America, renewals of all major national consortia in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Croatia, and the conclusion of several flat-fee agreements. At the same time, we concluded a total of 30 agreements, encompassing 24 new Society affiliations, four strategic publishing partnerships, and two journal acquisitions.

In 2025, we opened MDPI USA in Philadelphia – our latest global office, which complements our Toronto office in representing North America. MDPI USA is responsible for accelerating Open Access in the US through ongoing support of our scholars and for expanding our institutional and society partnerships.

On the other side of the globe, meanwhile, we signed an IOAP agreement in India, allowing researchers discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs), streamlined APC management for universities, and visibility into submissions, supporting India’s push for wider Open Access by offering flexible models and helping institutions meet national mandates such as Plan S.

Sustainability, sponsorships and awards

We continued to expand our sustainability efforts during 2025, hosting the 11th World Sustainability Forum, awarding CHF 125,000 in sustainability-related funding, and launching the Z-Forum on Sustainability and Innovation conference, which will officially take place in January 2026.

We also saw a record year for conference sponsorships and awards (while establishing new awards such as the Michele Parrinello Award), recognising scholars across disciplines and reinforcing our commitment to supporting the global research community at every stage of the academic journey.

Deepening our relationships

In 2025, I had the opportunity to travel more widely than ever before on MDPI business, meeting many of our stakeholders face to face and relishing the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their science communication needs. It was also excellent to visit a large number of MDPI offices and witness the commitment and service orientation of so many of our colleagues around the world. I shall resume my itinerary in the new year, and I look forward to many more such interactions.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will be celebrating a very significant milestone: 30 years of MDPI. From our foundation as a single Open Access journal in 1996 to the global publishing organisation we are today, our mission has remained consistent: advancing Open Access through rigorous and trustworthy scientific communication.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders – authors, Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board members, and reviewers – who have placed their trust in us during 2025. On behalf of the entire MDPI team, I look forward to deepening our relationships yet further in 2026 and celebrating 30 Years of Open Science at MDPI, something we’ve built together.


Basel, Switzerland, where MDPI was founded in 1996.

Impactful Research

621 MDPI Editors Named Highly Cited Researchers in 2025

I am pleased to share an important milestone for our editorial community and for MDPI. In late November, Clarivate announced the 2025 Highly Cited Researchers, and 621 MDPI Editorial Board Members were included among the most influential scientific contributors over the past decade! 

The 621 editors come from 33 countries, representing 21 scientific disciplines, and account for nearly one in every ten Highly Cited Researchers globally. This recognition speaks to the depth of expertise across our Editorial Boards and the strength of the scientific communities that choose to collaborate with MDPI. It is important to note that while citation metrics are not in themselves a proxy for quality, they do offer one lens on sustained scientific influence.

“Our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us”

Why this is important

Having more than 600 editors recognized on this list highlights:

  • The high level of expertise guiding peer review across our journals
  • The global and disciplinary diversity within our Editorial Boards
  • Our commitment to maintaining strong, knowledgeable, and engaged editorial oversight

Impactful science is of course shaped by broad, diverse research communities, and no single metric captures the full picture of research quality. However, this recognition does serve as meaningful, independent affirmation of the calibre of many editors who contribute to MDPI’s work.

A closer look at the recognition

Clarivate’s methodology highlights researchers whose publications rank in the top one per cent by citation count, reflecting consistent influence over the past decade. The process includes:

  • Evaluation of c. 200,000 highly cited papers
  • Removal of retracted publications
  • Filtering of papers with unusually large authorship groups to focus on clear contributions

That so many of our editors meet these thresholds reflects the impact of the communities behind our journals.

What this means going forward

This recognition underlines the fact that our strength comes from the scientific communities who choose to work with us.

For authors, partners, and readers, it confirms that:

  • MDPI journals benefit from editorial guidance grounded in active, high-impact research
  • Our Editorial boards include leaders who are helping shape the future direction of their fields
  • MDPI continues to attract experts who value openness, efficiency, and scientific integrity

For our internal teams, it is a reminder that the work we do every day (supporting editors, refining workflows, and improving systems) directly contributes to the trust placed in MDPI by researchers worldwide.

Thank you to all our editorial teams, publishing staff, and journal relationship specialists, and to everyone who collaborates with our Editorial Boards. Achievements like this are only possible because of your ongoing hard work, dedication, and collaboration.


From our first annual MDPI UK Summit in Manchester, bringing together over 30 Chief Editors and Editorial Board Members to discuss MDPI’s mission, achievements, and collaborations in the UK.

Inside MDPI

MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Computational Physical Science

In case you missed it, in November, we announced the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award. This new biennial international award will recognize pioneering contributions in computational physical science. The award honours Michele Parrinello, one of the most influential scientists of the past half-century in atomistic simulations and computational materials research.

This award reflects MDPI’s long-standing commitment to recognizing scientific excellence, supporting foundational research, and inspiring the next generation of scholars across disciplines.

“Be confident that what you do is meaningful”

Honouring a transformative scientific legacy

Professor Parrinello’s work has fundamentally reshaped how scientists model matter at the atomic scale. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, widely known as the Car–Parrinello method, opening new pathways in electronic structure calculations and molecular simulations. His subsequent contributions, including the Parrinello–Rahman method and metadynamics, have become core tools across physics, chemistry, materials science, and increasingly biology.

“Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking, ‘What is going to happen to me?’ and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

 – Professor Michele Parrinello

A global, community-led award

The award committee is chaired by Xin-Gao Gong, Professor of Physics at Fudan University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University will serve as the supporting institute, reinforcing the award’s international and cross-cultural foundation.

Nominations for the first edition of the Michele Parrinello Award opened on 1 November 2025, with submissions accepted until March 2026. The award will recognize scientists whose work has advanced computational physical science across physics, chemistry, and materials research – fields increasingly central to energy, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and technological innovation.

Why this matters for MDPI

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which supports science as a driver of long-term societal progress.

Alongside other foundation-level honours, including the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award, this new prize builds on our role in supporting excellence across career stages and disciplines.

MDPI journals and programs continue to recognize researchers through Best Paper Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, and Outstanding Reviewer Awards. Together, these initiatives reflect a simple belief: strong scientific communities are built through recognition, trust, and sustained support.

As MDPI approaches its 30th anniversary, the launch of the Michele Parrinello Award highlights our commitment not only to publishing research but also to helping shape the future of science by celebrating those who expand its boundaries.

Coming Together for Science

KEMÖ Consortium (Austria) Extends Open Access Agreement with MDPI until 2027

I’m pleased to share that MDPI has renewed its Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) agreement with the Austrian library consortium KEMÖ, extending our partnership through 2027.

The renewed agreement now includes 23 Austrian institutions, with the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) joining the partnership. Participating institutions benefit from APC discounts across MDPI’s more than 495 journals, with centralized funding options further reducing the administrative burden for researchers and libraries.

“This renewal reflects shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe”

Austria continues to be an important and engaged research community for MDPI, with 525+ Austrian Editorial Board Members, eight Editors-in-Chief, and 15 Section Editors-in-Chief contributing to our journals.

This renewal reflects long-term trust and shared commitment to advancing Open Access publishing in Europe, and improves MDPI’s collaboration with national OA infrastructures such as the Open Access Monitor Austria. Such long-term agreements show how MDPI’s growth is increasingly built on institutional trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to Open Access.

A big thank-you to the IOAP team and everyone involved in supporting this partnership.

Closing Thoughts

Celebrating the Next Generation of Scholars: MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards

One of the privileges of working in scholarly publishing is supporting the beginning of new scientific journeys. We recently announced the recipients of MDPI’s 2024 Best PhD Thesis Awards, recognizing some of the most promising emerging researchers across disciplines.

These awards do more than celebrate academic excellence. They reflect something deeper about our mission: supporting the next generation of authors and the future of Open Science.

Recognition of Excellence

This year, we made awards to 55 early-career researchers across seven fields:

For those of you who have completed a PhD, you’ll know first-hand that behind each number is a story of perseverance, curiosity, and sustained effort. These researchers represent institutions around the world, with thesis topics spanning:

  • Brain–machine interfaces and neural engineering
  • Sustainable materials and next-generation batteries
  • Cancer genomics, tumour microenvironments, and immunotherapy
  • AI-driven image analysis, robotics, and computational models
  • Climate change monitoring and environmental risk assessment
  • Regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and drug development

These dissertations are early signs of the scientific directions that will shape the coming decade.

“Our mission is about building a global community of authors”

Why this is important

Every year, millions of scholars begin their research careers with limited visibility and few platforms for sharing their work. By recognizing outstanding PhD theses, we elevate authors early in their academic journeys, build MDPI’s connection to the global research community, reinforce our commitment to quality and rigor, and highlight the depth and breadth of scholarship published across our portfolio (from biology to materials science to mathematics).

A foretaste of the future

These 55 awardees represent the next generation of researchers whose work will influence science, policy, and society in the years ahead. What we support today helps shape the scientific ecosystem of tomorrow. Our mission goes beyond publishing papers. It is about building a global community of authors who will define the next era of scientific discovery.

To explore more about MDPI Awards, including current and upcoming Best PhD Thesis Awards, please click here.

Thank you to the editors, reviewers, and teams across MDPI who make these awards possible each year.

Everything we achieved this year was made possible by the collective effort of our global teams and the trust placed in us by the scholarly community. Thank you again, and here’s to the successful continuation of our collaboration in 2026!

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

16 December 2025
Education Sciences Best Paper Award—Winners Announced


The Education Sciences Best Paper Award for papers published in 2023 has been presented to the authors of the following articles, selected by a committee chaired by the journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Daniel Muijs. Following a thorough review process performed by the Award Evaluation Committee, four winners were chosen.

First prize: CHF 500 plus a free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year

“Profound Concerns about “Profound Autism”: Dangers of Severity Scales and Functioning Labels for Support Needs”
by Steven K. Kapp
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13020106
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/2/106

“Generative Artificial Intelligence: Implications and Considerations for Higher Education Practice”
by Tom Farrelly and Nick Baker
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13111109
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/11/1109

Second prize: a free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year

“Virtual Reality as the Catalyst for a Novel Partnership Model in Initial Teacher Education: ITE Subject Methods Tutors’ Perspectives on the Island of Ireland”
by Pamela Cowan and Rachel Farrell
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13030228
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/3/228

“Attitudes and Perceptions of School Principals about the Contribution of Evaluation to the Efficient Operation of Schools Both at the Administrative and Educational Levels”
by Vasiliki Brinia, Christos Katsionis, Andriani Gkouma and Ioannis Vrekousis
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13040366
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/4/366

Please join us in congratulating the winners of the Education Sciences 2023 Best Paper Award. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our authors for their continued support of Education Sciences (ISSN: 2227-7102).

11 December 2025
Article Layout and Template Revised for Future Volumes

We are pleased to announce updates to our article template, aimed at improving the readability and visual appeal of our publications. The following updates will be applied to articles published in volumes in 2026, starting from 19 December 2025.

Left information bar:

  • Updated the logo and URL for “Check for updates”;
  • Removed the “Citation” section (Note: Citation details remain accessible via “Cite” in the online article version);
  • Changed the link in “Copyright” to a hyperlink format.

Footer:

  • Added a DOI link at the bottom-right corner of each page.

The updated template is now available for download from the Instructions for Authors page of each journal.

We hope that the new version of the template will provide users with better experience and make the process more convenient.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact our production team at production@mdpi.com.

10 December 2025
Human Rights Day—“Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”, 10 December 2025


Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being—regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

In this period of turbulence and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection, and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity. Through this campaign, we aim to re-engage people with human rights by showing how they shape our daily lives, often in ways we may not always notice. Too often taken for granted or seen as abstract ideas, human rights are the essentials that we rely on every day.

To commemorate this day, we invite you to engage with a collection of thought-provoking journals, articles, and Special Issues spanning diverse fields such as human rights law, social justice, gender equality, refugee and migrant rights, and civil liberties. By sharing these insights, we aim to honor, advance, and celebrate the universal principles of human rights, and transform this knowledge into meaningful dialogues and actions that will foster a more just, equitable, and compassionate world for all.

The Role of Assessment in Improving Education and Promoting Educational Equity
by Irit Levy-Feldman
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020224

Social Work and Human Rights: Uncrossed Paths Between Exposure, Engagement, Lens, and Methods in Professional Practice
by Maria Irene Carvalho, Cristina Albuquerque and Pedro Borrego
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14010014

Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Services for Young Women with and Without Disabilities During a Pandemic
by Jill Hanass-Hancock, Ayanda Nzuza, Thesandree Padayachee, Kristin Dunkle, Samantha Willan, Mercilene Tanyaradzwa Machisa and Bradley Carpenter
Disabilities 2024, 4(4), 972-995; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities4040060

On the Human in Human Dignity
by Isaac E. Catt
Philosophies 2024, 9(5), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9050157

Human Rights and Territories: Academic Perceptions of the 2030 Agenda
by Jesús Delgado-Baena, Juan de Dios García-Serrano, Laura Serrano and José Tomás Diestre Mejías
Societies 2024, 14(6), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14060083

An International Data-Based Systems Agency IDA: Striving for a Peaceful, Sustainable, and Human Rights-Based Future
by Peter G. Kirchschlaeger
Philosophies 2024, 9(3), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies9030073

A Pioneer Tool to Reduce Restrictive Practices toward People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
by Victoria Sánchez-Gómez, Miguel Ángel Verdugo, Manuela Crespo and Amalia San Román
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040344

Taking Back Control: Human Rights and Human Trafficking in the United Kingdom
by Todd Landman, Ben Brewster and Sara Thornton
Societies 2024, 14(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14040047

Rethinking Dignity and Exploitation in Human Trafficking and Sex Workers’ Rights Cases
by William Paul Simmons
Societies 2024, 14(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14020016

Human Rights-Based Intersex Healthcare: Using Hospital Data to Quantify Genital and Reproductive Surgery on Children in Aotearoa New Zealand
by Katrina Roen, Claire Breen and Ashe Yee
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(12), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12120660

A Post-Secular Approach to Managing Diversity in Liberal Democracies: Exploring the Interplay of Human Rights, Religious Identity, and Inclusive Governance in Western Societies
by Zakaria Sajir
Religions 2023, 14(10), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14101325

Women’s Rights in Nigeria’s Indigenous Systems: An Analysis of Non-Discrimination and Equality under International Human Rights Law
by Foluke Oluyemisi Abimbola, Stanley Osezua Ehiane and Roman Tandlich
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(7), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070405

Personal Factors, Living Environments, and Specialized Supports: Their Role in the Self-Determination of People with Intellectual Disability
by Eva Vicente, Patricia Pérez-Curiel, Cristina Mumbardó-Adam, Verónica M. Guillén and María-Ángeles Bravo-Álvarez
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(7), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13070530

Participation, Legal Capacity, and Gender: Reflections from the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Project in Serbia
by Holly Wescott, Delia Ferri and Malcolm MacLachlan
Disabilities 2023, 3(1), 129-146; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities3010010

Child and Family Welfare Regimes and Policies in the Context of Migration, Multiculturalism, and Cultural Diversity
Guest Editor: Dr. Elitsa Dimitrova
Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
School Well-Being in the Digital Era
Guest Editors: Dr. Kwok Kuen Tsang and Dr. Ying Zhang
Submission deadline: 31 March 2026
Barriers to Learning and Participation in Educational Settings: Lights and Shadows Towards Inclusive Education
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Antonio-Manuel Rodríguez-García and Dr. Juan Carlos de la Cruz-Campos
Submission deadline: 15 June 2026
Intersections of Religion and Law: Freedom, Social Change, and Human Rights
Guest Editor: Dr. Nadirsyah Hosen
Submission deadline: 1 August 2026

19 November 2025
World Children’s Day, 20 November 2025


World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare. 20 November 1959 is an important date as it is when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Additionally, on the same date in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

From the moment the sun rises, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they did not make. However, every child, everywhere, also wakes up with rights, including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard. It is time to listen to children to understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing, or pursued every day.

To commemorate this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including pediatric public health, childhood education, child psychology, and child development. By sharing these findings, we hope to advocate, promote, and celebrate children’s rights, and translate these findings into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.

Public Health & Healthcare Social Science, Art and Humanities
Adolescents; Behavioral Sciences;
Children; Challenges;
Healthcare; Education Sciences;
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education;
Journal of Clinical Medicine; Genealogy;
Nutrients; Humanities;
Thalassemia Reports. Religions;
  Social Sciences;
  Societies;
  Youth.

Keynote speakers:

 
Dr. Amy Pan,
Medical College of Wisconsin, USA
Prof. David Tzuriel Emeritus,
Bar-Ilan University, Israel
 

Feel free to register for this webinar here!

We are honored to feature a series of insightful interviews with distinguished scholars dedicated to child-centered research, as they share their inspiring journeys and valuable perspectives on advancing children’s well-being, rights, and development in diverse global contexts.

Name: Dr. Anna Di Sessa
Affiliation:
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Italy
“World Children’s Day serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard and prioritize the health, rights, and well-being of children. As a researcher, it underscores the need to address the unique health challenges children face through evidence-based research. On a broader scale, it emphasizes the importance of creating a world where all children can thrive, free from poverty, violence, and neglect”.
Please read the full interview here.
Name: Dr. Diego Gomez-Baya
Affiliation:
University of Huelva, Spain
“Programs to foster positive youth development should be active and participatory, allowing adolescents to take ownership of their own development. Likewise, measures that encourage greater civic and environmental engagement are equally necessary, hand in hand with the promotion of personal character strengths”.
Please read the full interview here.
Name: Dr. Graham Connelly
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde, UK
“We need to protect children from being harmed by conflict and provide the best care for children affected by strife, dislocation, famine and poverty. We need to fund international children’s agencies better, and yes, of course hold them to account for the funds they receive. There are very good examples, worldwide, of ways of consulting with children that are not tokenistic. I’d like to see these being expanded”.
Please read the full interview here.

Mucous Fistula Refeeding in Newborns: Why, When, How, and Where? Insights from a Systematic Review
by Layla Musleh, Ilaria Cozzi, Anteo Di Napoli and Fabio Fusaro
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152490

Our Children/Our Future: Examining How Indigenous Peoples in the US Assert Self-Determination and Prioritize Child Wellbeing
by Meschelle Linjean and Hilary N. Weaver
Genealogy 2025, 9(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy9010026

Machine Learning in Pediatric Healthcare: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions
by Hammad A. Ganatra
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(3), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030807

Developmental Patterns in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Preschool Children
by Maria Eugenia Martelli, Federica Gigliotti, Federica Giovannone, Giuliana Lentini, Filippo Manti and Carla Sogos
Children 2025, 12(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020125

Climate Action and the UNCRC: A ‘Postpaternalist’ World Where Children Claim Their Own Rights
by Aoife Daly, Nabin Maharjan, Esther Montesinos Calvo-Fernández, Liesl Heila Muller, Emily Margaret Murray, Alicia O’Sullivan, Florencia Paz Landeira and Katie Reid
Youth 2024, 4(4), 1387-1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth4040088

Understanding the Wellbeing Needs of First Nations Children in Out-of-Home Care in Australia: A Comprehensive Literature Review
by Darren Garvey, Ken Carter, Kate Anderson, Alana Gall, Kirsten Howard, Jemma Venables, Karen Healy, Lea Bill, Angeline Letendre, Michelle Dickson and Gail Garvey
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091208

A Systematic Review of Economic and Concrete Support to Prevent Child Maltreatment
by Gretchen Cusick, Jennifer Gaul-Stout, Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber, Olivia Wilks, Yasmin Grewal-Kök
and Clare Anderson
Societies 2024, 14(9), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090173

Family Functioning and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Gifted Children
by Maria Assunta Zanetti, Tommaso Trombetta, Luca Rollè and Carlo Marinoni
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(5), 1171-1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14050077

Impact of Sexual Abuse on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
by Ana Carolina Alves, Maria Leitão, Ana Isabel Sani and Diana Moreira
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(4), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040189

Challenges of Iron Chelation in Thalassemic Children
by Alkistis Adramerina and Marina Economou
Thalass. Rep. 2024, 14(1), 1-9; https://doi.org/10.3390/thalassrep14010001

MIH and Dental Caries in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Marta Mazur, Denise Corridore, Artnora Ndokaj, Roman Ardan, Iole Vozza, Sylvie Babajko and Katia Jedeon
Healthcare 2023, 11(12), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11121795

Picture Books, Imagination and Play: Pathways to Positive Reading Identities for Young Children
by Amanda Niland
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13050511

Paying Attention to the Spiritual Flourishing of Young Children in Church Toddler Groups: A Scoping Study Evaluating the Feasibility of a Research Study in This Context
by Ann Casson, Mary Woolley, Ann Pittaway, Tansy Watts, Nicola Kemp, Robert A. Bowie, Katie Clemmey
and Rosanne Aantjes
Religions 2023, 14(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020236

Mitigating the Impact of Maternal Mental Health Challenges on Children’s Development
Guest Editors: Dr. Nanmathi Manian and Prof. Dr. Pamela J. Surkan
Submission deadline: 1 January 2026
Early Childhood Education Policy: Impact on Children’s Well-Being and Development
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Nadia Siddiqui and Dr. Johny Daniel
Submission deadline: 17 January 2026
Substance Use and Child Welfare: Intersecting Crises
Guest Editors: Dr. Rebecca Gomez and Dr. Kasey Claborn
Submission deadline: 31 January 2026
Healthy Child, Healthy Adult—Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity as a Public Health Concern
Guest Editors: Dr. Lindsy Kass and Dr. Gillian McLellan
Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
Shaping Futures: Health Policy Innovations for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
Guest Editor: Dr. Ucheoma Nwaozuru
Submission deadline: 15 June 2026
Parenting in Context: Family Engagement in Promoting Child Development
Guest Editors: Dr. Joo Young Hong and Dr. Shinwoo Choi
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026

17 November 2025
MDPI Webinar | World Children’s Day, 20 November 2025


In order to commemorate World Children's Day (https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-childrens-day), MDPI is launching a special webinar to encourage researchers to join together, take action, and raise awareness of children’s rights.

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and to improve children's welfare. World Children’s Day offers each of us an inspirational opportunity to advocate, promote, and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.

The webinar aims to encourage connections and collaboration among the international open access community to share and discuss their research findings. We are looking forward to seeing you at MDPI World Children’s Day 2025.

Date: 20 November 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. EST | 5:00 p.m. CET
Webinar ID: 836 2414 2567
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MWCDW-2?subscribe

 

Register now for free!

 

Speaker/Presentation

Time in EST

Introduction

11:00–11:05 a.m.

Dr. Amy Pan
Beyond the Curve: A Deep Dive into Growth Charts

11:05–11:35 a.m.

Dr. Linda Shaw
Play For All - Child and Adult Perspectives on Inter-Generational Play Opportunities in an Urban Park in the UK

11:35–12:05 p.m.

Q&A Session

12:05–12:20 p.m.

Closing of Webinar

12:20–12:30 p.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email outlining how to join the event. 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.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speaker:

  • Dr. Amy Pan, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA;
  • Dr. Linda Shaw, School of Education, Humanities and Languages, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.

Relevant Specials Issues:
Children
Mitigating the Impact of Maternal Mental Health Challenges on Children's Development
Guest Editors: Dr. Nanmathi Manian and Prof. Dr. Pamela J. Surkan
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 January 2026

Education Sciences
Early Childhood Education Policy: Impact on Children's Well-Being and Development
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Nadia Siddiqui and Dr. Johny Daniel
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 17 January 2026

6 November 2025
MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Pioneering Contributions in Computational Physical Science


MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.


About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.


Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process.

The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.


About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.

4 November 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #28 - WSF11, Nobel Laureates, Proofig AI, Romania Summit, STM and FBF

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

Highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona

I’m pleased to share some highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF 11), held in Barcelona on 2–3 October 2025 under the theme Sustainable and Resilient Cities.

Why WSF matters

The WSF series is a flagship initiative for MDPI and is supported by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. It serves as a transdisciplinary platform for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to engage on sustainability challenges. WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse.

This year’s Barcelona edition focused on urban resilience, landscape design, and social community impact in the sustainability space. Over 48 hours of sessions, we brought together leading minds across disciplines to translate vision into practice. With participants from 53 countries across all continents, WSF 11 was truly global in scope.

“WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse”

What made WSF 11 especially successful (from my vantage point) was the level of positive engagement with our participants. Chief editors, researchers, and attendees repeatedly told me how professionally executed the event was, highlighting the high energy, logistical smoothness and quality of MDPI’s event management. That kind of recognition from peers really builds our reputation as more than just a publisher, but as a convener of meaningful scientific dialogue.

Our conferences are a form of experiential marketing as they create memorable and immersive connections between a brand and attendees. These positive associations build promotion and brand loyalty, ultimately impacting the MDPI’s trust and reputation for the better.

WSF 11: By the numbers

Here’s a quick snapshot of WSF 11’s scale and reach:

  • 181 registrations across global participants.
  • 8 keynote speakers and 5 invited speakers.
  • 144 abstracts accepted (over 355 submitted), resulting in 75 short talks and 69 posters.
  • 53 countries were represented across all continents, making it a truly international event.
  • First time that we ran parallel sessions for WSF (an ambitious program).
  • A dedicated awards ceremony to honour outstanding sustainability research: World Sustainability Award (WSA) x 2 winners, and Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) x 3 winners.

Interviews with our World Sustainability Award Winners

One of the most rewarding parts of WSF is recognizing researchers whose work advances sustainability in powerful ways. In our Blog series, Daniella Maritan-Thomson (Content Specialist, MDPI) interviewed the two winners of the World Sustainability Award, Professor Dr. Stuart Pimm and Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, who offered insights to the human side of sustainability research, the people behind the data, and the stories behind the science.

Prof. Stuart Pimm, whose decades of conservation work make him a leader in biodiversity preservation, reflected on his WSF Award experience and research in this interview: [Interview: Prof Stuart Pimm]

Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, an expert in crop improvement and winner of the WSF Award, shares his journey and perspectives here: [Interview: Dr Abdelbagi M. Ismail]

“Our conferences create memorable and immersive connections”

Emerging Sustainability Leader Award winners


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz (left to right).

We also recognized three recipients of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award: Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz, for their contributions as early-career researchers advancing sustainability through innovation, impact, and academic excellence across the field.

What this means for MDPI

  1. Building our global identity in events
    WSF is a marquee MDPI event, not just a gathering, but a statement of how we wish to position ourselves in the global sustainability ecosystem. The positive feedback helps us build on our approach for future editions, so that we remain a reference point for quality, relevance, and engagement.
  2. Expanding capacity across offices
    The success of WSF 11 in Barcelona’s would not have happened without great teamwork from Basel, Barcelona, Romania, the UK, and the APAC Conference team. Thanks to everyone for their work to bring this ambitious event to life.
  3. Supporting MDPI’s mission
    At this event, I had the opportunity to present on MDPI's role in Open Access, sustainability publishing, and the intersection of science and policy. WSF is not only about the science; it’s also a platform for us to position MDPI as a thought leader and a collaborator in shaping the future of sustainable research.

I look forward to the WSF momentum as we work towards WSF 12 in Hong Kong, which is scheduled for August 2026.


MDPI Colleagues at the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona, Spain, 2–3 October 2025.

Impactful Research

Celebrating 2025 Nobel Laureates who have published with MDPI

October is always an inspiring month in science. It’s when the world turns its attention to the Nobel Prize announcements, recognizing discoveries that have changed how we understand the world.

Over the years, many distinguished researchers who have received the Nobel Prize have chosen to publish their work with MDPI. These are scientists whose breakthroughs have shaped entire fields of research, and who have entrusted our Open Access journals to share their findings with the world.

“The work we support can be world-class and world-changing”

Congratulations to the 2025 Laureates

Dozens of Nobel Laureates have published in our journals: as at 2024, more than 40 laureates had contributed over 115 articles across more than 35 MDPI journals. Congratulations to the three 2025 Nobel prize-winners who have published with MDPI during their careers. Below are links to their MDPI publications and announcements for further reading:

These connections strengthen our mission to make research freely available and ensure that transformative ideas reach the widest possible audience.

Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge

The privilege of hosting such contributors resonates deeply with our editorial teams. It shows that top-tier scientific work has a home at MDPI, which builds our visibility in the research community. It signals that our publishing model, our editorial workflows, and our commitment to Open Access are respected at the very highest levels of science. It also gives our authors, reviewers, editors and staff the message that the work we support can be world-class and world-changing.

Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge isn’t just about individual papers – it’s about the ecosystem of support, transparency, and accessibility that makes discovery possible. Let’s continue to build a publishing platform and provide a service that attracts and enables both everyday research and the breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Inside MDPI

Strengthening Research Integrity: MDPI partners with Proofig AI

I’m pleased to share that MDPI has entered a multi-year partnership with Proofig AI, a leader in AI-driven proofing and integrity software for scientific publishing. This follows the success of our pilot program, in which Proofig AI proved highly effective in detecting duplicated, altered, and manipulated images across biomedical submissions.

Safeguarding the credibility of the research we publish

Research integrity is at the core of MDPI’s mission. The life sciences, in particular, face increasing risks of image-related issues due to advanced editing tools and generative AI. By integrating Proofig AI into our workflows, we improve our ability to detect issues early, reduce post-publication corrections, and safeguard the credibility of the research we publish.

Pilot outcomes

  • Successful detection of duplicated confocal and histology images, even when altered to disguise similarities.
  • Early results showed a significant drop in post-publication image manipulation flags year-on-year.
  • Positive feedback from editors and staff highlighted the tool’s ease of use and reliability.

Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal (co-founder and CEO of Proofig AI) said: 

“The MDPI team conducted a highly professional and carefully monitored pilot, achieving excellent results in detecting problematic images.

Their fast and effective integration process was impressive, and we are excited to contribute to this important collaboration.”

Sanita Meijere (IT Product and Project Manager, MDPI), shared:

“For more than a year, we’ve tested all the available image manipulation detection tools. Proofig AI’s quality and ease of use, alongside positive feedback from our internal users, made their software a clear stand-out.

We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this partnership, ensuring we do our utmost to protect MDPI’s biomedical journals. Using this advanced image proofing software reaffirms MDPI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in research integrity.”

Raising the bar for integrity

This partnership sets a new benchmark for quality control in biomedical publishing.

As Tim Tait-Jamieson (Head of Publication Ethics, MDPI), explains:

“The life sciences are disproportionately affected by research integrity issues, making vigilance in this field especially critical. This is driven, in part, by the increasing sophistication of image editing software and generative AI.

Whether accidental or deliberate, image manipulation can have a lasting impact on credibility. By integrating Proofig AI into our editorial workflows, we strengthen our ability to detect scientific misconduct early and reduce post-publication amendments.”

Faster and more accurate quality control

Proofig will automatically flag potentially problematic images during submission checks, giving our editors more confidence in the integrity of manuscripts and freeing up time to focus on editorial decisions. The tool will also reduce the burden of manual checks, while supporting faster and more accurate quality control. This partnership reinforces MDPI's reputation as a publisher that takes integrity seriously and continues to invest in tools to support authors, editors, and reviewers alike.

A big thank-you to all colleagues who supported the pilot and rollout. You can read more in our MDPI Blog post.

Coming Together for Science

The MDPI Romania Summit 2025

On 21–22 October, I had the pleasure of joining our colleagues in Bucharest for the MDPI Romania Summit 2025. The event was organized by our Romania Marketing team, with support from colleagues across our Romanian offices. It brought together academics, policymakers, and collaborators to discuss the country’s evolving research landscape.

Over two days, we welcomed more than 30 participants, including Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and policy-makers from the Romanian research and education sectors, including representatives from the Romanian Academy and the National Commission for the Accreditation of Academic Titles (CNATDCU).

The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community and its active engagement in Open Access publishing.

“The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community”

Romania’s role in Open Access

Romania loves Open Access and has emerged as one of MDPI’s most engaged national research communities. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • 67% of all publications in Romania were Open Access in 2024.
  • MDPI accounts for 39% of the country’s total OA publications (14,779 in 2024).
  • Over the last five years (2020–2024), Romanian institutions published over 33,000 papers with MDPI.
  • There are 460 active Editorial Board Members from Romania, including 8 Chief Editors.
  • 29 institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), with 8 new members joining in 2025.

These numbers reflect the trust and reliable partnership we have built with the Romanian academic community.

Highlights from the Summit

The program covered a wide range of topics from MDPI’s achievements and updates to our editorial processes, peer-review quality, AI in publishing, IOAP and Open Access funding models, and publication ethics.

Agenda Highlights:

  • MDPI Introduction, Performance & Achievements, and Collaboration with Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).
  • Trust the Process: Editorial Workflow and Quality in Publishing – Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Scientific Review Group).
  • Publication Ethics at MDPI: Safeguarding the Integrity of the Published Scholarly Record – Diana Cristina Apodaritei (Research Integrity Specialist).
  • Institutional Partnerships – Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager, MDPI).
  • AI in Publishing and MDPI's Actions – Sanita Meijere (AI Product Manager).
  • Closing Remarks – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).

Participants shared feedback and ideas for future collaborations, including organizing author workshops, possible conference collaborations, and strengthening our engagement with national institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Council of Romanian Rectors.

As Acad. Dr. Nicolae-Victor Zamfir, Vice President of the Romanian Academy, noted during the discussions:

“The organization of the event is very timely, because MDPI is a publishing house in full development and expansion. The opinion of researchers is important for increasing the quality of published works.”

A collaborative future

Events like this remind us how essential it is to engage locally and listen directly to the voices of our editors, authors, and institutional partners. They help us build relationships, improve our understanding of the local market, and align our shared goals in advancing Open Access and research quality.

Thank you to everyone involved, especially our Romania Marketing team, who organized the event, and to all colleagues who continue to build relationships with our academic communities around the world.

Thank you!

A special thank-you to the Romanian Marketing team and all colleagues behind the scenes who made this Summit such a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We look forward to building on this momentum with future Summits in Europe and beyond.

Closing Thoughts

STM and FBF 2025: Connecting Through Science and Publishing


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing, MDPI) at STM Conference, Frankfurt, 14 October 2025.

On 13–14 October, I attended the STM Frankfurt Conference 2025, my fourth visit to the Frankfurt event, and it continues to be one of the most valuable gatherings in our industry.

The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders to speak on current trends and challenges shaping our industry.

This year’s theme – “Science Diplomacy: What is it and How Does it Work?” – unpacked the growing intersection of science, policy, and publishing.

Discussion topics ranged from what is science diplomacy and how publishers can contribute to global collaboration to how science communication can help maintain trust during an era of disruption.

I was joined by Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, our Head of Indexing, who met with representatives from Scopus, Web of Science, Digital Science, ProQuest, and other partners. These meetings give us a chance to share feedback on our collaborations, learn about new updates being developed, and build our relationships with indexing bodies.

“The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders”

STM also provides a space to connect with industry peers, as I did with colleagues from Elsevier, Frontiers, Clarivate, Sage, and STM itself, reinforcing MDPI’s engagement within the broader publishing community. It was also nice to bump into some former colleagues and see them continuing to grow in their publishing careers.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair


The MDPI booth at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair.

Following STM, I spent the next day at the Frankfurt Book Fair (15–19 October) – one of the largest and most influential events in the publishing world.

It’s always inspiring to see the scale and energy of this global gathering, which spans everything from books and education to digital innovation and academic publishing.

We set up an MDPI booth to host discussions with partners, vendors, and researchers.

The Fair ran into the weekend, with colleagues from several MDPI departments attending to represent the company and connect with the scholarly community.


Events like STM and FBF are a nice reminder of how dynamic and interconnected our industry is, and how important it is for MDPI to continue taking part in global conversations about science, communication, and the future of publishing.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

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

Editorial | view inaugural issue

family formation and dynamics; family relationships; family diversity and structure; family processes; family challenges; global perspectives of family |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee,

National University of Singapore, Singapore

Editorial | view inaugural issue

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 |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Steven Paul Nistico,

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

aesthetics; reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery; dermatology; oral and maxillofacial surgery; surgical procedures; non-surgical procedures |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli,

University of Pisa, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

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|

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Sergej M. Ostojic,

University of Agder, Norway;
University of Pécs, Hungary

Editorial | view inaugural issue

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 |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Michele Nappi,

University of Salerno, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

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 |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Philippe Gorce,

Toulon University, France

Editorial | view inaugural issue

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 |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Ronald Charles Sims,

Utah State University, USA

Editorial | view inaugural issue

bioresources; bioproducts; bioenergy and biofuels; environmental protection; public health protection; biological waste treatment; biomass transformation; circular bioeconomy; bio-based materials and chemicals; bioresidues |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. M. Jamal Deen,

McMaster University, Canada

Editorial | view inaugural issue

device design and engineering; circuit design and system integration; applications and emerging technologies; materials and fabrication innovations; testing, reliability, and standards |

view journal scope | submit an article

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).

8 October 2025
Empowering Academic Growth with MDPI: Online Academic Publishing Workshop with the University of South Florida, 27 October 2025


MDPI is thrilled to collaborate with University of South Florida to hold an online Academic Publishing Workshop dedicated to discussing how to best write and structure academic articles. This workshop aims to support researchers at various stages of their academic journey by providing essential guidance on navigating the publishing process. This is a comprehensive workshop for scholars of all disciplines, which plans to cover:

  • MDPI editorial process and peer review process;
  • Publication ethics for authors;
  • Academic article-writing techniques and publication.

Participants will gain practical guidance on essential aspects of writing academic articles, including manuscript preparation, navigating peer review, and best practices for citation. Attendees can expect to come away with a clearer understanding of the academic publishing landscape and how to successfully contribute to it.

Date: 27 October 2025
Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 818 4844 6142
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3817593281149/WN_8cGXg5TeRx6xIyU8ni1WFQ

Speaker

Program/Content

Time EDT

Dr. Aleksandar Antić

MDPI Introduction and Editorial Process

5:00–5:25 p.m.

 

Academic Article-Writing Techniques

5:25–5:50 p.m.

 

Publication Ethics for Authors

5:50–6:30 p.m.

 

Q&A/Discussion

6:30–7:00 p.m.

MDPI Speaker:

Dr. Aleksandar Antić holds a PhD in geosciences from the University of Novi Sad and completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Lausanne. He joined MDPI in 2019 as an Assistant Editor, later becoming a Special Issue Editor for Sustainability and several social science journals. He also worked in the Training Department before moving into his current role as Journal Relations Specialist and Editorial Group Leader at MDPI’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, where he oversees social science journals, including Education Sciences.

Organizers:

Leading Journal:

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