Announcements

The editorial team of Encyclopedia (ISSN: 2673-8392) would like to congratulate the winners of the Encyclopedia 2023 Outstanding Contributor Award, Dr. Robert Friedman and Dr. Jude Okolie, for their outstanding contribution to the Encyclopedia community. The winners provided testimonials upon receiving the prizes.

Dr. Robert Friedman is a retired associate professor from the Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.

The following is a message from Dr. Robert Friedman:
“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to publish articles in Encyclopedia, including in 2023, and to have had the generosity of experts at MDPI and the journal in preparation of video presentations corresponding to my published topics in Encyclopedia. Furthermore, these presentations were developed at a level of proficiency more typically seen from the output of large teams in the media industry. It is wonderful to have these opportunities to participate in and publish across the non-traditional forms of science communication and therefore share concepts with a larger community of readers and viewers. My appreciation also extends to the help and support I received during manuscript submission, peer review, and article publication. I have had many correspondences for guidance and advice on topics for meeting the aims and scope of Encyclopedia, including help with the preparation and formatting of a manuscript to meet publication standards. Further, the peer review process has been thorough, professional, timely, and helpful in the development of a manuscript that meets a high standard in its presentation and communication.
Lastly, I appreciate the thorough work during the late stages of the process for article publication, such as the proofreading steps. There are multiple experts who edit the manuscript to enhance its clarity and to ensure that the figures and tables are appropriate and presented well. The above is not nearly a whole account of the help and support at Encyclopedia that I have received, but I am hopeful that I can continue to contribute to the journal, particularly in helping others during the peer review process for their submitted papers. I am confident that the recent advances in AI will lead to new and effective methods for science communication at MDPI and Encyclopedia and that they will continue to expand their technological base for offerings of services to researchers and their efforts to share their scientific findings and ideas with a larger audience. Thank you.”

Dr. Jude Okolie is an assistant professor from the Gallogly College of Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA.

The following is a message from Dr. Jude Okolie:
“I am deeply honored to receive the Encyclopedia Outstanding Contributor Award 2023. This recognition is particularly meaningful as it acknowledges our efforts to publish significant research in the journal. The journal's commitment to quality, through meticulous editing and constant communication, has profoundly shaped our work. I am thankful to the editorial team for their dedication in addressing reviewer comments and ensuring our research's integrity. Our manuscript on infusing gamification in chemical engineering, despite its challenges, represents a significant milestone, and sharing it has been a gratifying experience. This award motivates me to continue contributing valuable insights to our field.”

As awardees, they will receive an honorarium of CHF 300, an electronic certificate, and an offer to publish a paper free of charge before the end of 2024 in Encyclopedia following peer review.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Robert Friedman and Dr. Jude Okolie. We would also like to thank all those from various fields of study for their participation.