Announcements

We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.

Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.

We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award.  Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/. 

Chair:

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA

Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes.

Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy	Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe.
Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA	Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas.
Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal	Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis.
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan	Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications.
Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK	Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field.
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA	Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence.
Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA	A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents.

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

Mother Earth is sending us an urgent call to action as nature suffers from the devastating impacts of human activity. Our oceans are choked with plastic and acidifying, while extreme heat, wildfires, and floods have disrupted millions of lives. Climate change, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, illegal wildlife trade, and other human-driven disruptions are accelerating the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity. As we mark the third Mother Earth Day within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is clear that healthy ecosystems are vital for all life on Earth. Restoring damaged ecosystems can help end poverty, fight climate change, and prevent mass extinction, but success depends on everyone playing their part. Together, we must act now to heal our planet and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

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 and restoring our planet. As we celebrate Mother Earth and reflect on the urgent need for action, these contributions highlight critical efforts to combat climate change, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainability. We invite readers to explore these resources and join us in our shared mission to safeguard the health of our planet for future generations. Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure a thriving, resilient Earth for all.

Keynote Speakers

“The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate”
by Marion Howard, Hilary Pearl, Bill McDonald, Yoko Shimizu, Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava and Alison Shapcott
Conservation 2024, 4(4), 657-684; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4040040

“Ten Years of Mediterranean Monk Seal Stranding Records in Greece under the Microscope: What Do the Data Suggest?”
by Maria Solanou, Aliki Panou, Irida Maina, Stefanos Kavadas and Marianna Giannoulaki
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091309

“Groundwater Temperature Stripes: A Simple Method to Communicate Groundwater Temperature Variations Due to Climate Change”
by Manuela Lasagna, Elena Egidio and Domenico Antonio De Luca
Water 2024, 16(5), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050717

“Resilience of an Urban Coastal Ecosystem in the Caribbean: A Remote Sensing Approach in Western Puerto Rico”
by Yadiel Noel Bonilla-Roman and Salvador Francisco Acuña-Guzman
Earth 2024, 5(1), 72-89; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5010004

“Particulate Matter in the American Southwest: Detection and Analysis of Dust Storms Using Surface Measurements and Ground-Based LIDAR”
by Joscelyne Guzman-Gonzalez, Rosa M. Fitzgerald, Nakul N. Karle, Ricardo K. Sakai and William R. Stockwell
Atmosphere 2024, 15(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15010110

“An Imported Environmental Crisis: Plastic Mismanagement in Africa”
by Gilbert Moyen Massa and Vasiliki-Maria Archodoulaki
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020672

“The Effect of Habitat on Insect Movements: Experimental Evidence from Wild-Caught Butterflies”
by Matteo Marcantonio, Raluca Voda, Daniele Da Re, Quentin Igot, Roger L. H. Dennis, Aurélien Vielfaure, Sophie O. Vanwambeke and Caroline M. Nieberding
Insects 2023, 14(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14090737

“Artificial Reefs around the World: A Review of the State of the Art and a Meta-Analysis of Its Effectiveness for the Restoration of Marine Ecosystems”
by Carolina Bracho-Villavicencio, Helena Matthews-Cascon and Sergio Rossi
Environments 2023, 10(7), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10070121

“Topography, Slope and Geomorphology’s Influences on Shoreline Dynamics along Dakar’s Southern Coast, Senegal”
by Ibrahima Pouye, Dieudonné Pessièzoum Adjoussi, Jacques André Ndione and Amadou Sall
Coasts 2023, 3(1), 93-112; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts3010006

“Potential Use of Industrial Biomass Waste as a Sustainable Energy Source in the Future”
by Tomasz Kalak
Energies 2023, 16(4), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041783

In commemoration of International Mother Earth Day, MDPI is organizing a special webinar to bring together researchers and experts to share their thoughts on raising awareness about the importance of environmental protection and addressing pressing global issues such as climate change, ecosystem recovery, and sustainable development.

The theme of the webinar revolves around fostering a deeper understanding of humanity’s role in preserving our planet for future generations, as well as the crucial roles of biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices in preserving our ecosystems for future generations. This webinar will provide a platform for meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange on the importance of climate change and the importance of the recovery of our ecosystems.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the MDPI International Mother Earth Day Webinar 2025. Please find an up-to-date outline of the presenters below.

Any interesting suggestions regarding topics and speakers are welcome.

Date: 22 April 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. CEST | 4:30 p.m. AEST | 2:30 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 878 0932 6864

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will inform you when the recording is available to watch.

Register now for free!

Program:

Webinar Speakers:

• Prof. Károly Németh, ¹ National Program of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Saudi Geological Survey, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; ² Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, Sopron, Hungary; ³ Geoconservation Trust Aotearoa SW Pacific, Opotiki, New Zealand;
• Prof. Brendan Macke, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.

For more information about this webinar, please visit https://sciforum.net/event/MEDW2025?subscribe.

If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact journal.webinar@mdpi.com.

MDPI International Mother Earth Day Webinar Secretariat

The International Day of Human Space Flight, observed annually on 12 April, commemorates Yuri Gagarin’s historic 1961 spaceflight—the first human journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This milestone marked the dawn of human space exploration, fostering scientific and technological advancements that continue to benefit humanity. Space science and technology play a crucial role in sustainable development, atmospheric research, satellite communications, and global cooperation.

In recognition of the International Day of Human Space Flight, MDPI plans to celebrate the achievements of space exploration and the scientists and engineers who are driving innovation in aerospace and related fields. Through its open access publishing modal, MDPI ensures that cutting-edge research on space technologies, geosciences, and remote sensing is accessible to experts, decision-makers, and global audiences. By promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange, MDPI supports the continued advancement of space research, ensuring that outer space remains a shared frontier for peaceful and sustainable development.

“Use of Simulation for Pre-Training of Drone Pilots”
by Alexander Somerville, Timothy Lynar, Keith Joiner and Graham Wild
Drones 2024, 8(11), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8110640

“Aircraft Skin Machine Learning-Based Defect Detection and Size Estimation in Visual Inspections”
by Angelos Plastropoulos, Kostas Bardis, George Yazigi, Nicolas P. Avdelidis and Mark Droznika
Technologies 2024, 12(9), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12090158

“Landsat 9 Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 (TIRS-2) Pre- and Post-Launch Spatial Response Performance”
by Rehman Eon, Brian N. Wenny, Ethan Poole, Sarah Eftekharzadeh Kay, Matthew Montanaro, Aaron Gerace and Kurtis J. Thome
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(6), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16061065

“Lineament Domain Analysis to Unravel Tectonic Settings on Planetary Surfaces: Insights from the Claritas Fossae (Mars)”
by Evandro Balbi and Fabrizio Marini
Geosciences 2024, 14(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030079

“Simulation of Human Movement in Zero Gravity”
by Adelina Bärligea, Kazunori Hase and Makoto Yoshida
Sensors 2024, 24(6), 1770; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061770

“Enhancing Planetary Exploration through Digital Twins: A Tool for Virtual Prototyping and HUMS Design”
by Lucio Pinello, Lorenzo Brancato, Marco Giglio, Francesco Cadini and Giuseppe Francesco De Luca
Aerospace 2024, 11(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11010073

“Performance Estimate of a Spin-Stabilized Drag Sail for Spacecraft Deorbiting”
by Lorenzo Niccolai and Giovanni Mengali
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020612

“The Design of a Reaction Flywheel Speed Control System Based on ADRC”
by Jiachen Song, Jianguo Guo, Changtao Qin and Wanliang Zhao
Automation 2023, 4(3), 246-262; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation4030015

“Short-Term Prediction of 80–88 km Wind Speed in Near Space Based on VMD–PSO–LSTM”
by Shaoyi Yang, Hua Yang, Na Li and Zonghua Ding
Atmosphere 2023, 14(2), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14020315

“Enhanced Range and Endurance Evaluation of a Camber Morphing Wing Aircraft”
by Bruce W. Jo and Tuba Majid
Biomimetics 2023, 8(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8010034

We wish to congratulate Dr. Manuel López on winning the Geosciences 2025 Travel Award. Dr. Manuel López is a young researcher from the Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG; CONICET-UNLP) of La Plata, Argentina. In his research, he primarily focuses on sedimentary responses to tectonic and volcanic processes and their stratigraphic preservation in continental basins and sediment routing systems. He holds an assistant teaching position in the chair of Structural Geology at the Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (FCNYM) from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP; University of La Plata). Dr. Manuel also collaborates with the Latin American Journal of Sedimentology and Basin Analysis of the Asociación Argentina de Sedimentología (AAS) as an editor of production and participates in the Commission of Volcanogenic Sediments (CVSs) of the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).

Please see below for an interview with Dr. Manuel López:

1. How did winning this award impact your career, and what other career goals do you hope to achieve going forward?

Winning this award represents a fundamental source of aid that I will use to attend the 2025 Scientific Assembly of the IAVCEI. It will also consolidate my collaboration with the association as an early career researcher (ECR) and a representative Member of the Commission of Volcanogenic Sediments (CVSs). My participation in this event is an excellent opportunity to take decisive first steps as a young researcher and enhance my future research in my scientific career by sharing the advances of my new research project, expanding international social networks, and promoting the discussion and exchange of methodologies and knowledge with colleagues.

The Geosciences Travel Award is excellent for mitigating some of the costs of attending international meetings or congresses. In this sense, it is worth highlighting how important these kinds of awards are for young and senior researchers from needful countries that are sunken into transient financial scientific and academic underfunding crises promoted by denialist scientific policies.

2. What is your current research interest and why did you choose this research field?

In the last few decades, sedimentary basin analysis has focused on the production, transfer, and accumulation of sediments controlled by the interaction between tectonic, climatic, and eustatic forcings. However, in volcanically active regions, the process, volume, and timescale sediment dynamics are not exclusively controlled by these external controls. My current research focuses on how volcanism adds variable volcanic products that may be delivered to the background sedimentary systems, triggering different temporal and spatial environmental effects that could be preserved in stratigraphy within a timescale from hours to millions of years.

I chose the volcano-sedimentary research field because the interaction between volcanic and environmental variables in the short and long term implies challenges in basin analysis that are difficult to assess using classical volcanological and sedimentological techniques and formal stratigraphic analysis. This provokes conceptual gaps in our knowledge of how volcanism exerts short- and long-term control over sedimentary basin infills, mainly because each volcanic and environmental parameter is interdependent, and their effects are time-dependent in a geological record characterized by transient preservation.

Establishing an integrated temporal and spatial perspective of basin analysis and sediment routing systems is one of the major challenges for worldwide volcano-sedimentary researchers. It is also important for natural resource exploration, climate change, human hazard prevention, geoheritage, and volcano tourism. The specific research region between the Southern Volcanic Zone of the North Patagonian Andes and the foreland up to the distal coastal Atlantic Ocean represents an excellent natural laboratory on Earth where researchers can study volcanically affected basin infills and sediment routing systems.

3. What qualities do you think young scientists need?

Young scientists, especially in the field of geosciences, need to possess a unique blend of qualities that combine scientific, technical and methodological skills, and more importantly, a genuine desire to explore, discover, and learn about the Earth and its processes. That desire can be focused on one of the increasingly specific sub-disciplines of geosciences, making new advancements in knowledge possible regardless of the transient financial, emotional, or other setbacks, both within the laboratory or outdoors in the field. However, I humbly suggest that it is also fundamental that young researchers gain a critical and up-to-date global understanding of as many research fields as possible from the beginning of their careers.

This holistic point of view should not be underestimated in these days of research atomization, since it opens our minds to a comprehensive understanding of the fractal temporal and spatial complexity behind the causes and effects that govern the planet. In this sense, as the world faces pressing environmental challenges, young geoscientists and their interrelations with societies play a vital role in the sensible management of natural resources and the prediction of natural hazards.

4. If you have the opportunity, will you actively apply to attend academic conferences? What do you think you can learn from participating in conferences that you could not learn from working in a lab?

Yes, I would apply to participate in conferences at least once a year whenever possible. Active participation in conferences or academic meetings is crucial for a young scientist. These events provide valuable opportunities to develop presentation skills through various formats (posters, talks, etc.), engage with colleagues from around the world, and learn how to secure and manage funding for both participation and event organization.

Attending scientific meetings is an excellent way to gain visibility, showcase one's research, and present the latest findings. This exposure allows for constructive feedback that can help refine methodologies, enhance discussions, and ultimately lead to better results. Additionally, taking an active role in organizing sessions, coordinating field trips, or participating in conference committees fosters connections with a diverse range of colleagues, opening up numerous opportunities for future collaborations.

Finally, attending conferences also has an enjoyable side that extends beyond the academic and formal aspects. Social and cultural events, along with field trips organized by the congress, offer excellent opportunities to explore new places and connect with colleagues in a more relaxed way. These moments of enjoyment and camaraderie are not only fun but also enriching and rewarding.

5. As the winner of this award, is there anything else you would like to share, or anyone you would like to acknowledge?

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Geosciences, especially the Travel Award Committee, for their consideration. This award is a tremendous source of support at this stage of my career. I deeply appreciate the journal’s initiative in organizing and presenting this award, along with others such as the Outstanding Reviewer Award, Editor of Distinction, Best Ph.D. Thesis Award, and Best Paper Award. I recognize that these awards play a crucial role in acknowledging the often unseen, yet fundamental scientific efforts that drive research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

Additionally, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my mentors, Prof. Dr. Leandro D’Elia and Prof. Dr. Karoly Nemeth, for their unwavering encouragement and support in securing funding. Their guidance has enabled me to actively participate in scientific events by submitting papers and organizing sessions. I would also like to highlight the importance of collaborative work and recognizing the different stages of each individual’s academic journey. Fostering such development is essential for a rewarding scientific career, which is intricately tied to the natural processes that shape our world every day.

All papers published in 2024 in Geosciences (ISSN: 2076-3263) were considered for the award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, citations, and downloads, the winner was selected.

“Improving the Estimation of the Occurrence Time of an Impending Major Earthquake Using the Entropy Change of Seismicity in Natural Time Analysis”
by Panayiotis A. Varotsos, Nicholas V. Sarlis, Efthimios S. Skordas, Toshiyasu Nagao, Masashi Kamogawa, E. Leticia Flores-Márquez, Alejandro Ramírez-Rojas and Jennifer Perez-Oregon
Geosciences 2023, 13(8), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13080222

The winners will receive CHF 500 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Geosciences in 2025.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Panayiotis A. Varotsos:

1. Could you give us a brief introduction of yourself to the readers?

I am an Emeritus Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Since the 1970s, I have focused on the dielectric properties of solids including several rocks, and I have established a rigorous foundation of the thermodynamic parameters that govern the formation and/or migration of defects in solids. In the early 1980s, I found that the presence of aliovalent impurities in ionic solids results in the formation of extrinsic defects, forming electric dipoles—the relaxation time of which depends on pressure (stress). I also showed that when the pressure reaches a critical value, σ_cr, a cooperative orientation of these dipoles may occur, which results in the emission of a transient electric signal. This may happen before an earthquake (critical point) since the stress gradually increases in the focal region before the rupture. These signals are termed Seismic Electric Signals (SESs) and have been experimentally detected since 1981, providing information on the magnitude and the epicenter location of a forthcoming earthquake. Such signals have been observed on many occasions in Greece and other countries. Moreover, in 2001, a new concept of time, termed natural time, was introduced, the analysis of which enables the study of the dynamical evolution of a complex system and identifies when the system approaches a dynamic phase transition. Such a transition is a major earthquake occurrence.

I have authored or co-authored about 300 publications and five monographs.

Photo 1. At the beginning of the 1970s and 1980s, Prof. Dr. Varotsos established the foundation of the thermodynamic parameters governing the formation and/or migration of defects in solids, which reveal that a series of transient electric signals (termed SES activity) should be emitted and when the critical point is approached a major earthquake is impending.

2. Could you briefly summarize the key findings or contributions of your award-winning paper?

A new procedure is presented concerning a more accurate identification of the occurrence time of an impending major earthquake by combining the entropy change in natural time under time reversal and the non-additive Tsallis entropy. A shortening of the time window of the impending mainshock is achieved for large events in Japan, Mexico, and California. Specifically, the time of occurrence is almost one day before the 2011 M9 Tohoku mega-earthquake, which is the largest event ever recorded in Japan; a comparable shortening to earthquakes of smaller magnitude of the order of M8 and M7 is achieved. Namely, the Chiapas M8.2 earthquake (which is Mexico’s largest event for more than a century, which took place on 7 September 2017 near the coast of Chiapas state Mexico), the 19 September 2017 M7.1 earthquake that occurred within the Mexican flat slab, and the M7.1 Ridgecrest on 6 July 2019 in California.

3. What inspired you to pursue this particular research topic?

Upon studying the seismicity in a region for a time period during which a major earthquake may occur, the superiority of the entropy changes in natural time under time reversal compared to the non-additive Tsallis entropy has been identified. The change in natural time under time reversal exhibits a unique minimum, while Tsallis non-additive entropy may exhibit several minima. The combination of the two entropies is achieved, in accordance with the aim of our paper.

Photo 2. In the 2000s, Prof. Dr. P. Varotsos in the central laboratory explains to his co-workers that an SES activity has just been emitted (printed on a multiple recorder just behind him), which -upon applying natural time analysis- shows that a major earthquake is impending.

4. What were the biggest challenges you faced during this research, and how did you overcome them?

The minimum of the entropy change in natural time under time reversal is accompanied by an evident increase in the complexity measure that quantifies these fluctuations. This minimum can, therefore, be uniquely distinguished as a precursor of an impending major earthquake. This was challenging because the problem had to be expressed appropriately to achieve these properties.

5. How does it feel to receive the Best Paper Award, and what does this recognition mean to you?

We feel that this award may serve as a recognition of our many decades of research efforts on earthquake prediction research. Moreover, this award shows that as time goes by, more scientists and seismologists are interested in earthquake prediction.

6. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Geosciences?

Geosciences is an appropriate journal for the publication of our research efforts. The open access format of Geosciences, as well as social media sharing, contribute to disseminating our work to a wide audience of interested researchers.

7. Can you talk about your feelings about manuscript processing when submitting to Geosciences?

Our experience submitting to Geosciences was very positive.

8. Who would you like to thank for helping you achieve Best Paper?

Some of the results described in the present paper have been obtained under the guidance of the Academician Seiya Uyeda, to the memory of which this paper is dedicated.

9. What are the next steps for this research? Are there any follow-up studies or applications you plan to pursue?

There exist several next steps for this research; for example, a further improvement of shortening the time window of an impending major earthquake, as well as applying this method to earthquakes in other areas, e.g., in Taiwan.

10. What advice would you give to young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact work like yours?

We would advise young researchers that in order to achieve very good results, several decades of research efforts may be needed. Hence, they should continue pursuing their research goals no matter how difficult this might be.

11. What do you think makes a paper stand out in a competitive environment like this?

In order to make a paper stand out in a competitive environment, several years of effort may be needed. This paper applies the achievements we made throughout these years to very important and destructive earthquakes. Its ability to be practically implemented for earthquake prediction is also an additional important factor.

12. Do you have any suggestions for how we can improve the Best Paper Award competition in the future?

The best paper award could be followed by a teleconference on topics related to papers that received the award.

22 March marks World Water Day, a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of water resources. The theme for World Water Day 2025, “Glacier Preservation”, underscores the critical role glaciers play in sustaining life on Earth. Glaciers are vital natural reservoirs, providing meltwater that is essential for drinking water, agriculture, industry, clean energy production, and the health of ecosystems. However, the rapid melting of glaciers due to climate change is creating uncertainty in water availability, with profound consequences for communities, economies, and the planet.

As glaciers shrink, the world faces increasing risks of water scarcity, disruption to ecosystems, and heightened vulnerability to natural disasters. Protecting these frozen water resources is not just an environmental imperative but a necessity for ensuring a sustainable future.

Echoing the mission of safeguarding glaciers for generations to come, MDPI’s established journals in the Environmental and Earth Sciences field serve as leading platforms for scientific communication. By sharing cutting-edge research and practical solutions, MDPI contributes to global efforts to address the water crisis and protect these invaluable natural assets.

Join us in celebrating World Water Day 2025 and supporting initiatives that prioritize glacier preservation. Together, we can work toward a future where water resources are protected, ecosystems thrive, and communities are resilient in the face of climate challenges.

Feel free to register for this webinar here!

“Physical Vulnerability of The Gambia’s Coastline in the Context of Climate Change”
by Muhammad Leroy Albert Gomez, Kissao Gnandi, Chrétien Ngouanet, Ibrahima Pouye and Joshua Ntajal
World 2025, 6(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6010017

“Segmentation of Glacier Area Using U-Net through Landsat Satellite Imagery for Quantification of Glacier Recession and Its Impact on Marine Systems”
by Edmund Robbins, Robert D. Breininger, Maxwell Jiang, Michelle Madera, Ryan T. White and Nezamoddin N. Kachouie
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(10), 1788; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12101788

“Evaluating Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Water Scarcity Mitigation in Small Greek Islands under Climate Change”
by Elissavet Feloni and Panagiotis T. Nastos
Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2592; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062592

“Snow Water Equivalent Monitoring—A Review of Large-Scale Remote Sensing Applications”
by Samuel Schilling, Andreas Dietz and Claudia Kuenzer
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(6), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16061085

“Ecosystem Services Supply from Peri-Urban Watersheds in Greece: Soil Conservation and Water Retention”
by Stefanos Stefanidis, Nikolaos Proutsos, Vasileios Alexandridis and Giorgos Mallinis
Land 2024, 13(6), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060765

“Comparison of Multiple Methods for Supraglacial Melt-Lake Volume Estimation in Western Greenland During the 2021 Summer Melt Season”
by Nathan Rowley, Wesley Rancher and Christopher Karmosky
Glacies 2024, 1(2), 92-110; https://doi.org/10.3390/glacies1020007

“Microbial Community Abundance and Metabolism Close to the Ice-Water Interface of the Blomstrandbreen Glacier (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard): A Sampling Survey Using an Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle”
by Maria Papale, Gabriella Caruso, Giovanna Maimone, Rosabruna La Ferla, Angelina Lo Giudice, Alessandro Ciro Rappazzo, Alessandro Cosenza, Filippo Azzaro, Roberta Ferretti, Rodolfo Paranhos et al.
Water 2023, 15(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030556

“Projected Future Flooding Pattern of Wabash River in Indiana and Fountain Creek in Colorado: An Assessment Utilizing Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Climate Data”
by Swarupa Paudel, Neekita Joshi and Ajay Kalra
Forecasting 2023, 5(2), 405-423; https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast5020022

“Mountain Cryosphere Landscapes in South America: Value and Protection”
by Sebastián Ruiz-Pereira, Voltaire Alvarado Peterson and Darío Trombotto Liaudat
Conservation 2023, 3(1), 232-246; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation3010017

“Diversity and Variability of the Course of Ice Phenomena on the Lakes Located in the Southern and Eastern Part of the Baltic Sea Catchment Area”
by Rajmund Skowron, Pavel Kirvel, Adam Choiński and Ivan Kirvel
Limnol. Rev. 2023, 23(1), 33-49; https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev23010003