Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering. All the nominations will be assessed by an Award Evaluation Committee, and winners will be announced online on 8 March 2026.

Prizes:

• CHF 1000;
• An electronic certificate;
• A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

Number of winners: 2.

Eligibility and requirements:

• This role is designated for female candidates;
• Must have received their Ph.D. no more than 10 years prior to 31 December 2025;
• Must have produced groundbreaking research and made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering;
• Must be nominated by senior scientists.

List of documents for nomination:

• Detailed curriculum vitae, including an updated publication list and a list of the researcher’s own research grants;
• Scanned copy of doctorate certificate;
• Signed nomination letters from two established senior scientists.

Schedule:

Open for nominations: 23 June 2025;
Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025;
Winner announcement: 8 March 2026.

Nominations and contact:

All nomination materials and award-related communications must be submitted via our official email: ywe-award@mdpi.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Young Women in Engineering Award Team

This webinar brings together leading experts to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we observe, understand, and respond to environmental change. Under the broad umbrella of GeoAI, today’s talks highlight cutting-edge innovations in semantic interpretation of satellite imagery, the integration of citizen science and machine learning, and the development of accessible, open-source tools for geospatial analysis.

We are honored to feature two distinguished speakers: Dr. Xiao Huang will share his work on leveraging AI captioning and foundation models to extract deeper meaning from remote sensing data. Following that, Dr. Di Yang will present on the integration of citizen science and AI for enhancing Earth observation efforts at scale. Dr. Qiusheng Wu will close with an introduction to the GeoAI Python package—a user-friendly, open-source library designed to make AI-driven geospatial analysis more accessible to researchers and practitioners.

Thank you for joining us. We look forward to the exchange of ideas and insights during this session.

Date: 25 June 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m. CEST | 10:00 a.m. EDT | 10:00 p.m. CST Asia 
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5017494938690/WN_SYQ8w1gIS9qjQdAA3b_3Ww
Webinar ID: 895 4650 1334
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/topics-38

Register for free！

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. Qiusheng Wu, Department of Geography & Sustainability, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA;
• Dr. Xiao Huang, Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, USA;
• Dr. Di Yang, Department of Geography, University of Florida, USA.

Relevant Special Issues:
“Geospatial Intelligence in Remote Sensing”
Guest Editors: Dr. Samsung Lim and Dr. Badal Pokharel
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025

“Deep Learning Innovations in Remote Sensing”
Guest Editors: Dr. Zhe Wang, Dr. Chao Fan, Dr. Sanaz Salati, Dr. Marshall (Xiaogang) Ma, Dr. Xiang Que and Dr. Hui Wang
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025

“Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) in Remote Sensing”
Guest Editors: Dr. Xian Sun, Dr. Wanxuan Lu, Dr. Lingqiao Liu and Dr. Shucheng You
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025

World Environment Day is an urgent call to action as nature suffers from the devastating impacts of human activity. Annual plastic production exceeds 400 million tons, half of which is single-use plastic, with under 10% recycled. 11 million tons of plastic (equal to 2,200 Eiffel Towers) pollute waterways yearly. Microplastics contaminate our food, water, and air, with humans ingesting over 50,000 particles annually. This pollution harms health and ecosystems globally. A solution does exist, however. Governments, businesses, and individuals must adhere to the 5Rs—Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink. Join #BeatPlasticPollution this World Environment Day to create a sustainable future.

On this significant day, we are proud to present a curated collection of articles and initiatives dedicated to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions for protecting the environment and beating plastic pollution. We invite readers to explore these resources and join us in our shared mission of a sustainable vision of the future. Together, we can pave the way for a cleaner, healthier planet.

“Enhanced Separation of Palladium from Nuclear Wastewater by the Sulfur-Rich Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework”
by Junli Wang, Chen Luo, Wentao Wang, Hui Wang, Yao Liu, Jianwei Li and Taihong Yan
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(10), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15100714

“Prevention of Biofouling Due to Water Absorption of Natural Fiber Composites in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review”
by Cristiano Fragassa, Sara Mattiello, Martina Fronduti, Jo’ Del Gobbo, Radmila Gagic and Carlo Santulli
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(12), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8120532

“Testing the Effectiveness of an Ecomedia Literacy Environmental Education Lesson”
by Ludovica Lo Iacono, Ludovica Lo Iacono and Emilio Paolo Visintin
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120645

“Airborne Microplastics: Challenges, Prospects, and Experimental Approaches”
by Alexey R. Rednikin, Yulia A. Frank, Artem O. Rozhin, Danil S. Vorobiev and Rawil F. Fakhrullin
Atmosphere 2024, 15(11), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111380

“Emerging Technologies for Remote Sensing of Floating and Submerged Plastic Litter”
by Lonneke Goddijn-Murphy, Victor Martínez-Vicente, Heidi M. Dierssen, Valentina Raimondi, Erio Gandini, Robert Foster and Ved Chirayath
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101770

“The Other Side of Fire in a Changing Environment: Evidence from a Mediterranean Country”
by Dimitrios Kalfas, Stavros Kalogiannidis, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis and Nikolaos Margaritis
Fire 2024, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7020036

“A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Technologies, Sustainability, and Open Issues”
by Alessandra Zanoletti, Eleonora Carena, Chiara Ferrara and Elza Bontempi
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010038

“A Comparative Analysis of Different Hydrogen Production Methods and Their Environmental Impact”
by Somtochukwu Godfrey Nnabuife, Caleb Kwasi Darko, Precious Chineze Obiako, Boyu Kuang, Xiaoxiao Sun and Karl Jenkins
Clean Technol. 2023, 5(4), 1344-1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol5040067

“Screening of Microplastics in Aquaculture Systems (Fish, Mussel, and Water Samples) by FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Micro-Raman Spectroscopies”
by Kleopatra Miserli, Christos Lykos, Angelos G. Kalampounias and Ioannis Konstantinou
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9705; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179705

“Microplastics, Additives, and Plasticizers in Freshwater Bivalves: Preliminary Research of Biomonitoring”
by Giulia Cesarini, Fabiana Corami, Beatrice Rosso and Massimiliano Scalici
Water 2023, 15(14), 2647; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142647

“Advancements and Applications of Nanomaterials for Removal of Organic Compounds in Aquatic Environment” Guest Editors: Dr. Ramona Riedel and Prof. Dr. Giulio Malucelli Submission deadline: 20 August 2025	“Novel Sources, Designs and After-Use Pathways for Plastics in a Circular Economy” Guest Editor: Dr. María José Arévalo-Caballero Submission deadline: 31 August 2025
“Airborne Micro and Nanoplastics: Detection, Dynamics, and Exposure Assessment” Guest Editor: Dr. Yangyang Liu Submission deadline: 30 September 2025	“Aquatic Microplastic Pollution: Occurrence and Removal” Guest Editor: Dr. Lixin Zhu Submission deadline: 25 October 2025
“Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining” Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Chongchong Qi, Dr. Qiusong Chen and Dr. Danial Jahed Armaghani Submission deadline: 31 October 2025	“Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition” Topic Editors: Dr. Abdul Majeed, Prof. Dr. Yuantao Xie and Prof. Dr. Judit Oláh Submission deadline: 31 October 2025

From 27 April to 2 May 2025, MDPI joined the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, welcoming over 20,984 attendees from 120+ countries at booth 02 in the Entrance Hall. This landmark event featured 18,934 presentations across 1,102 sessions, with 56% of abstracts contributed by Early Career Scientists (ECSs)—a testament to the vibrant future of geosciences.

Academic Engagement: Dialogue and Collaboration

Meet the Editors-in-Chief
We hosted two insightful sessions with editorial leaders from top journals:

• April 28: Prof. Dr. Stephen Macko (Editor-in-Chief of Nitrogen) and Prof. Dr. Zhong Lu (Editor-in-Chief of GeoHazards);
• April 29: Dr. Tommaso Caloiero (Section Editor-in-Chief of Hydrology) and Prof. Dr. Rui A. P. Perdigão (Section Editor-in-Chief of Climate).

These discussions fostered meaningful connections between attendees and editors, strengthening our commitment to supporting scholarly exchange.

Environmental and Earth Sciences Journals Editorial Board Meeting

Award Ceremonies: Honoring Innovation

Remote Sensing Travel Award
On April 30, Dr. Nicola Nocentini (University of Padua and University of Florence) received the award from Associate Editor Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti. Following the ceremony, Dr. Nocentini shared insights into an exclusive booth interview.

Geosciences Best Paper Award

Prof. Dr. Olivier Lacombe (Section Editor-in-Chief of Geosciences) presented the award for the paper “Improving the Estimation of the Occurrence Time of an Impending Major Earthquake Using the Entropy Change of Seismicity in Natural Time Analysis”—a groundbreaking study on earthquake prediction.

Interactive Highlights: Fun and Engagement

Raffle Games
Attendees enjoyed lively prize draws, with customized gifts adding a playful touch to scientific networking.

Quick Q&A Sessions
Topic-based quizzes sparked friendly competition, turning academic curiosity into interactive fun—even hesitant scholars joined the excitement!

Looking Ahead: Advancing Open Science

Participating in the EGU General Assembly constituted a profoundly enriching experience. Through this engagement, we engaged in profound dialogues not only with authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Boards associated with MDPI, but also were afforded the invaluable opportunity to disseminate our institutional mission to emerging scholars.
As an entity steadfastly committed to fostering open scientific exchange across all academic disciplines, MDPI reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing global scholarship. We earnestly look forward to prospects of connecting with researchers from around the world, collaborating in unison to expand the frontiers of knowledge and advocate for the practices of open science.

Modeling the changing world has long been a challenge for the geospatial society. ISPRS initiated the workshop series on “Dynamic and Multi-dimensional Geographic Information System (DMGIS)” in 1997, and eight workshops with this name have been organized in different places around the world since then.

The advent of ICT (Information, Communication, and Technology) has opened a new era, which greatly increases the demand for the capturing, integration, and analysis of complex spatial and temporal data in multiple dimensions for various applications, ranging from urban planning and environmental monitoring to disaster response and smart city development. Furthermore, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected and data-driven, we need sophisticated models that can represent and simulate the dynamic interactions between physical, social, and economic systems over time and across different geographical scales, so to predict the behavior of systems within a multidimensional spatial-temporal framework becomes crucial for decision-making, resource allocation, and risk management. Some countries have already initiated National 3D Mapping programs, and the demand for related methodologies and technologies has become more urgent.

To enhance the study of dynamic and multi-dimensional modelling of the real world, we have organized the 9th International Workshop on Dynamic and Multi-dimensional Geospatial Information Simulation (9th DMGIS), to bring together researchers, practitioners, industry experts, and thought leaders from around the globe to discuss, share, and explore the latest developments and innovations in the fields.

The event is organized by ISPRS Technical Commission IV (Spatial Information Science), hosted by Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. It is also supported by FIG Commission 3 (Spatial Information Management), Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory, Commission on Intelligent Mapping of the CSGPC, Commission on Low-altitude Economy of GLAC, etc.

Themes of the event:

• Autonomous real-time acquisition of dynamic and multi-dimensional data;
• AI-empowered recognition of dynamic and multi-dimensional objects (scenes);
• AI-empowered dynamic and multi-dimensional modeling, presentation, and services;
• Integration of multi-dimensional modeling and digital twin technologies;
• Real-time monitoring and simulation in dynamic GIS;
• Safety and security of spatial-temporal information;
• Applications of multi-dimensional models in low-altitude flight and urban management.

For more information, you can write to us at DMGIS_help@hotmail.com or visit https://dmgis2025.scievent.com/.

MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.

Workshop Highlights:

• Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
• How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
• How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
• Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
• How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.

Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

MDPI will be attending the Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2025 in Chiba, Japan, which will take place from 25 to 30 May 2025. The conference will focus on the theme of “Earth and planetary sciences”.

The annual meeting held in May is a major event related to Earth and planetary sciences in Japan. It is a valuable opportunity to develop various fields in Earth and planetary sciences through presentations and discussions, and to promote interdisciplinary and inter-researcher exchanges. The hybrid format is a mechanism that allows for diverse forms of convention participation. The conference will continue with the hybrid format this year with some revisions. International research exchanges, which had been temporarily stagnant, have become much more active, and the number of overseas participants in the JPGU Meeting has been increasing. If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth; our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Quaternary (leading);
• Geotechnics;
• Geomatics;
• Geographies;
• Atmosphere;
• Climate;
• Geosciences;
• GeoHazards;
• Remote Sensing;
• Mining;
• Land;
• Earth;
• Minerals;
• IJGI;
• Fossil Studies.

A message from the webinar Chair:

Vegetation cover maps, whether they focus on structural attributes, ecological aspects, or biomass content, are invaluable for understanding Earth’s ecosystems in a spatial context.

The advent of Earth Observation data has transformed vegetation mapping and trend analysis, delivering datasets with various spatial and spectral resolutions on a global scale. Vegetation mapping and analysis provide critical insights into the distribution and density of vegetation, while also highlighting the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystems. The accurate interpretation of this remote sensing data necessitates sophisticated analytical techniques to manage their complexity and vastness.

Join us for an insightful webinar that explores cutting-edge machine learning methodologies and their role in vegetation analysis using Earth Observation (EO) data. This webinar features four scholars presenting their latest research on how machine learning and EO data can enhance vegetation monitoring and mapping. This will facilitate the exchange of insights and ideas among participants while fostering opportunities for future collaboration.

We are privileged to welcome esteemed research scientists and academics from recognized research institutions and universities in Australia. They will share their expertise and findings on the effective application of machine learning technology in Earth Observation data in obtaining essential information related to climate change, land use planning, ecosystem conservation, weed management, and agricultural management.

Webinar: EO&GEO Series: Investigating State-of-the-Art Machine Learning Approaches in Vegetation Analysis through Earth Observation Data
Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 3.00 p.m. AEST | 1.00 p.m. CST | 7.00 a.m. CEST
Webinar ID: 854 2945 1681
More information: https://sciforum.net/event/topics-34

This is a free webinar. After registration, you will receive a confirmation email 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 becomes available for viewing.

Register for free:

Program:

Webinar Chairs and Speakers:

• Dr. Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
• Dr. Chandrama Sarker, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia;
• Dr. Catherine Ticehurst, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia;
• Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia;
• Dr. Roozbeh Valavi, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia);
• Dr. Kate Giljohann, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.

Relevant Special Issue:

“Investigating State-of-the-Art Machine Learning Approaches in Vegetation Analysis through Earth Observation Data”
Guest Editors: Dr. Arnick Abdollahi and Dr. Chandrama Sarker
Deadline for submission: 25 May 2025

Relevant Papers:
“Retrieval of Crop Canopy Chlorophyll: Machine Learning vs. Radiative Transfer Model”
by Mir Md Tasnim Alam, Anita Simic Milas, Mateo Gašparović and Henry Poku Osei
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(12), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16122058

“A Robust Dual-Mode Machine Learning Framework for Classifying Deforestation Patterns in Amazon Native Lands”
by Julia Rodrigues, Mauricio Araújo Dias, Rogério Negri, Sardar Muhammad Hussain and Wallace Casaca
Land 2024, 13(9), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091427

“Evaluating Land Surface Temperature Trends and Explanatory Variables in the Miami Metropolitan Area from 2002–2021”
by Alanna D. Shapiro and Weibo Liu
Geomatics 2024, 4(1), 1-16; https://doi.org/10.3390/geomatics4010001

“A GIS-Based Framework to Analyze the Behavior of Urban Greenery During Heatwaves Using Satellite Data”
by Barbara Cardone, Ferdinando Di Martino, Cristiano Mauriello and Vittorio Miraglia
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(11), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13110377

“UAV-Based Wetland Monitoring: Multispectral and Lidar Fusion with Random Forest Classification”
by Robert Van Alphen, Kai C. Rains, Mel Rodgers, Rocco Malservisi and Timothy H. Dixon
Drones 2024, 8(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8030113

Conference: Dreiländertagung 2025 (Trinational Conference 2025 of the Swiss, German, and Austrian Societies for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
Organization: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland
Date: 3–5 June 2025
Place: Muttenz, Switzerland

MDPI journals will be attending Dreiländertagung 2025 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Muttenz, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 June 2025.

The objectives of Dreiländertagung 2025 are to bring together the photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geoinformation societies of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. The conference aims to showcase the current state of research and technology in the German-speaking world. It focuses on leveraging spatial image data and artificial intelligence as key drivers of future developments, while also providing a platform for sharing current experiences and promoting the creation of sustainable habitats.

The conference topics will include, but are not limited to, the following: photogrammetric methods and innovations, remote sensing technologies and applications, artificial intelligence in geospatial data processing, 3D modeling and digital twins of urban and natural environments, UAV and satellite-based data acquisition, Geographic Information Systems (GISs) for smart cities, climate monitoring and environmental change analysis, sustainable land use and habitat planning, spatial data infrastructures and interoperability, education and training in geoinformation sciences, and cross-border geospatial collaboration in the DACH region.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Remote Sensing;
• Geomatics;
• GeoHazards;
• IJGI;
• Land;
• Sensors;
• Sustainability.

If you plan to attend this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.fhnw.ch/plattformen/dlt2025/.