Announcements

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.

We are honored to recognize the 2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers—scholars whose exemplary commitment to rigorous and constructive peer review is vital in upholding the highest standards of academic publishing.

Selected from a distinguished pool of 215,000 reviewers from 65 countries and regions worldwide, these honorees stand out for their exceptional expertise, diligence, and dedication to advancing research through timely and thoughtful reviews. Their constructive and impartial feedback ensures the publication of high-quality, impactful research, while their timely reviews facilitate swift revisions and faster publication of innovative work.

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. With gratitude and respect, we celebrate these 1000 scholars who made that foundation stronger in 2024. We respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

MDPI recently conducted a successful Academic Publishing Workshop in collaboration with the University of Southampton Malaysia. The session was designed to equip researchers and PhD students with advanced skills in publication strategy and navigating the future of scholarly communication. The session provided valuable insights to faculty and students alike, ensuring they remain competitive and ethical in the global research landscape.

Strategic Insights on Publication Trends

The workshop kicked off with Dr. Nicholas Cho presenting an in-depth session on “Web of Science—Publication Trends and Hot Topics Identification”. This segment focused on empowering researchers to utilize the Web of Science platform strategically. 

Dr. Cho demonstrated practical methods for analyzing global research data, allowing attendees to identify emerging research fronts and pinpoint “hot topics” that are attracting high-impact attention. This training is crucial for making informed decisions on where to focus research efforts and selecting the most appropriate journals for submission. 

Navigating the AI Revolution in Publishing

Following the data-driven segment, Ms. Stefania Hetrea led a timely and critical discussion on “Artificial Intelligence in the Scientific Publishing Industry: New Challenges”. Ms. Hetrea provided a comprehensive overview of how AI tools, such as Large Language Models (LLMs), are reshaping the publishing process. 

The session addressed both the opportunities AI provides for efficiency and the crucial ethical and practical challenges it introduces. Key discussions focused on maintaining academic integrity and understanding evolving publisher policies regarding the use of AI-generated content.

The collaborative workshop, successfully hosted by the University of Southampton Malaysia and delivered by MDPI, offered a potent blend of strategic data analysis and forward-looking guidance on ethical publishing. 

The expertise shared by Dr. Nicholas Cho and Ms. Stefania Hetrea provided attendees with the tools necessary to enhance their research impact and confidently navigate the evolving world of scientific publishing.

MDPI is pleased to announce an Academic Publishing Workshop in collaboration with University of Southampton Malaysia. This session is designed to equip researchers and scholars with current knowledge on publishing trends and the evolving landscape of scholarly communication.

This in-person workshop is part of MDPI’s ongoing commitment to support early-career researchers in navigating the academic publishing landscape with confidence.

We look forward to a meaningful exchange of ideas and supporting students in their publishing journey!

Date: 24 October 2025

Time: 2:30–4:30 p.m.

Venue: University of Southampton Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

MDPI speakers:

Dr. Nicholas Cho Rui Wen graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a PhD from the School of Biological Sciences, studying the Gentianaceae species using bioinformatics tools such as statistical modeling and R and Linux, to apply the results to conservation efforts. He joined MDPI in March 2023 as an Assistant Editor, becoming Section Managing Editor in January 2024 and Journal Relations Specialist in August 2024, and part of this work involves engaging with scholars and researchers to work with MDPI, and conducting outreach to guide young budding researchers.

Ms. Stefania Hetrea joined MDPI in September 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial biotechnology and her master’s degree in molecular biotechnology, both from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Since joining MDPI, she has held several roles, including Assistant Editor, Group Leader, and Section Managing Editor. She currently serves as a Journal Relations Specialist, representing five MDPI journals within the scientific community.

Conference: The International Battery Materials Association Annual Meeting 2025
Date: 9–14 November 2025
Location: Singapore

MDPI will be attending the International Battery Materials Association Annual Meeting 2025 as an exhibitor. The event will take place in Singapore, from the 9 to 14 November 2025. The IBA annual conference series began in 1975 and has established a strong reputation for state-of-the-art presentations and information exchange on the latest emerging battery technologies and their wide-ranging applications.

We are quite hopeful that this IBA 2025 conference will provide an excellent forum for interaction and friendship with world-wide renowned battery researchers for battery R&D.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Batteries;
• Energies;
• WEVJ;
• Electronic Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Materials;
• Clean Technol.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://iba2025.com/.

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.

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).

To address the challenges of global climate change, advance the transition toward a green and low-carbon energy structure, and promote international exchange and cooperation in sustainable energy, the China Energy Society, the China International Association for Science and Technology Promotion, and the Beijing Energy and Environment Society will convene at the Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Energy Development in Beijing, China, from 28 to 30 November 2025. Centered on the theme “Innovation Drives Green Transformation, Technology Leads the Future of Energy”, this conference will focus on technological innovations in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and solid-state batteries. It will explore pathways for intelligent and sustainable energy systems under carbon neutrality, contributing intelligent solutions to the global energy transition.

The following open access journal will represent MDPI at this conference:

• Fuels;
• Solar;
• Hydrogen;
• Vehicles;
• Inorganics;
• Clean Technol.;
• Eng;
• Energies.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to reach out online and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions you may have. For more information about this event, please click on the following link: http://www.biee.org.cn/article/13_1302_0_2150331.html.

Energies (ISSN: 1996-1073) owes much of its success and reputation to the dedication of its Editorial Board Members. The Editorial Office deeply appreciates the hard work and commitment of our editors. The Energies Editor of Distinction Award is given annually to acknowledge Editorial Board Members’ exceptional contributions in maintaining the journal’s high international standards.

We spoke with Prof. Dr. Sergio Ulgiati, one of the winners of the Energies 2024 Editor of Distinction Award, to hear about his scientific research experience.

Name: Prof. Dr. Sergio Ulgiati
Affiliation: Department of Science and Technology, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Napoli, Italy
Research interests: life cycle assessment; energy–exergy–emergy; environmental impact assessment; circular economy; urban metabolism and sustainability; food and water security; disparity in access to energy sources; large efforts invested in energy and resource efficiency, prosperous way down, and environmental integrity

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Sergio Ulgiati and I am a retired professor from the University of Parthenope, Naples, Italy. However, I keep working even though I am retired, for interest and pleasure. I teach environmental chemistry and environmental accounting. These include many other aspects, among which are energy and circular economy. These methodologies and topics find the interest of many students and they are happy to attend in-person and online courses. I am also involved with Beijing Normal University, China, where I hold in-person and online courses. At both universities I sometimes supervise PhD students.

2. How was your experience being an editor for Energies?
I had a very good experience with the journal, and it also helped me to stay in touch with my colleagues. It is also a way to help young researchers and expand my knowledge. I am lucky enough to be able to gain contacts all over the world due to this editorial activity. I can also help young scholars to be involved with the journal and make them involved in writing and sharing academic articles. Sometimes the workload was heavy, but apart from this I believe publishing papers is important for teaching and research.

3. Do you have any suggestions for improving our editorial process?
We need greater support from the reviewers, and we must find a way to help them help us. We need their contribution to help those who submit papers. Submitting a paper is only part of the process: reviewers are the ones who help make better papers—suggesting and offering advice. We know that reviewers are also very busy, so we must find a way to compensate them (e.g., providing the possibility to publish with discounts). They are an important part of the journal, and we should more often have meetings with them and discuss with them what we really need. We should possibly also encourage their work. We also need more creative support from the members of the Editorial Board. I know they are very busy, but we really need editors to not only teach students but also teach authors and transfer their experience to them.

4. What motivated you to participate actively in the editorial process, and what do you find most rewarding about it?
For me, working on research is a way to relax. The most important thing for me is to maintain relations with colleagues, students and friends worldwide, in order to work on topics of common interest like energy, climate, and sustainable production and consumption. The most important thing is to share results with the community of researchers and policy makers and support them in order to improve relations between science and society.

5. How do you manage your time and balance your responsibilities as a researcher and an editor?
First of all, I must say that I like to perform this task. It is a way for me to continue my research. To read new papers submitted by other colleagues is a way to learn and grow. I do believe that what pushes me is that I am convinced that society needs the contribution of scientists to improve and understand better what is happening and what should be done, for example increasing the diversity of topics, attracting young scientists’ contributions and trying to match the needs of the world. For instance, we can talk about sustainability and societal happiness. My experience has been that many people who have known some scientists and read their papers have then tried to apply their work and maybe write about their topics directly; this may have been a great opportunity to share and learn from them. Innovation is not possible alone but can only be implemented by collaborating together.

6. How do you see the role of editors evolving with the advancements in artificial intelligence and automated tools in research publishing?
It’s a difficult topic. I believe that for sure AI is a way to go deeper into what is happening in the world, the research that is developed, and the results that are achieved. It’s also certainly a way to make things easier and to know what others are writing about and trying to achieve. AI helps in finding out what’s being developed around the world, like a research engine that makes scholars able to read more. In any case, when I read, I need to understand, add my own ideas, develop interpretations. I do not consider AI a substitute for my work or anybody else’s work. It is a way for me to find more information in order to interpret the work of others and add my opinion. We are the intelligence. We will use AI but we will not be replaced.

7. In your opinion, which research topics will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
The world’s population is increasing and its needs are increasing as well, as everybody wants to have a better life. A better life does not mean a bigger car or becoming richer. I believe the future we need to develop must enable us to meet each other and stay more in touch, do things together, share our ideas and use that sharing to do better things. All of this aims at promoting a better life for everybody. A better life means more and better relations. Working together for common happiness. This is our goal and duty. I believe Energies is an excellent journal for that, i.e., many papers published here contain tools and suggestions for a better life. I would like to provide my contribution.

The articles below were selected as issue cover articles by the Editorial Office of Energies (ISSN: 1996-1073) in the first half of 2025. These articles came from multiple fields within the scope of Energies, and we hope they can provide insights and references for scholars in related fields.