Announcements

We are delighted to announce the 1st International Online Conference on Behavioral Sciences (IOCBS2026), chaired by Prof. Dr. Jerrell Cassady (Department of Educational Psychology, Ball State University, Muncie, 47306, United States), which will take place from 1 to 3 April 2026.

IOCBS2026 warmly invites researchers from academic institutions and professionals in the behavioral sciences industry to share their original research, innovative ideas, scientific insights, and practical experiences.

We welcome contributions that align with the following thematic areas:
S1. Psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral disorders;
S2. Cognition;
S3. Developmental psychology;
S4. Educational psychology;
S5. Social psychology;
S6. Health psychology;
S7. Child and adolescent psychiatry;
S8. Organizational behaviors;
S9. Experimental and clinical neurosciences.

Important deadlines:
Deadline for abstract submission: 4 January 2026;
Notification of acceptance: 29 January 2026;
Deadline for registration: 27 March 2026.

Guide for Authors:

To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1351.

To register for the event for free, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/IOCBS2026?section=#registration.

For more information, you may refer to: https://sciforum.net/event/iocbs2026.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact us at iocbs2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the 1st International Online Conference on Behavioral Sciences.

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.

MDPI is pleased to announce its participation in the 29th EAFONS 2026, which will be held from 26 to 28 February 2026 in Singapore, Singapore.

The 29th EAFONS 2026 will center on the theme of “Innovate, Integrate, Inspire: Advancing Nursing Excellence in the Digital Era”. The ten main tracks can be explored via the following link: https://eafons2026.sg/abstract/conference-tracks.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Nursing Reports;
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH);
• Women;
• Vision;
• Gastrointestinal Disorders.

If you are planning to attend the 29th EAFONS 2026, we invite you to visit us at our booth. Our representatives, Ms. Merilee Song and Steven Moay, look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://eafons2026.sg.

Name: Dr. Suhana Chattopadhyay
Affiliation: Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 20742, USA

“Viable, Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacteria Recovered from E-Liquids Used with Commercial Electronic Cigarettes”
by Suhana Chattopadhyay, Leena Malayil and Amy R. Sapkota
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(11), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111725
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1725

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Suhana Chattopadhyay, who recently published an article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601). Here, she shares insights into her academic journey, research focus, and the motivation behind her recent work.

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?

Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to share more about my work and the recent publication. I’m Dr. Suhana Chattopadhyay. I’m an assistant research professor at the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, and I also serve as the Program Manager of the Global Future Alliance, an interdisciplinary and international initiative led by Dr. Amy R. Sapkota. This alliance focuses on developing holistic system-based solutions at the food, energy, and water nexus to strengthen our climate resilience and protect global public health.

My research focus broadly examines how environmental exposures influence human health, with a particular emphasis on microbial and chemical risks in everyday environments. This recent study reflects this focus by investigating viable multidrug-resistant bacteria in electronic liquids, highlighting that consumer products have potentially under-recognized bacterial contaminants that are relevant to public health. In parallel, I’m also leading projects on recreational water quality in Maryland and working on initiatives to protect drinking water in underserved communities in Maryland. So altogether, our research efforts focus on understanding these environmental reservoirs of risks and translating this knowledge into strategies that promote the environment and healthier communities.

2. What inspired your team to investigate viable bacteria in e-liquids, and why is this an important public health issue?

I’m so glad you asked this question. We were motivated by the rapid increase in electronic cigarette use in America and around the globe. We found there was a major gap in the knowledge about whether electronic liquids could harbor living bacteria. Most of the prior research on tobacco products has focused on chemical constituents and their toxic capabilities, but very little attention has been given to the microbiological quality of these products. At the same time, over the past decade, studies from our team and others on traditional tobacco products have shown that they can contain diverse and sometimes harmful bacteria, which raises the question of whether similar risks might exist in electronic cigarette liquids.

This is an important public health issue because electronic cigarette users inhale aerosol products produced from these liquids, and, potentially, any of the viable bacteria that might be present in this liquid may be delivered directly into the respiratory tract of the user. Such exposure could affect the oral and the lung microbiomes, increase susceptibility to infections, and potentially contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Understanding these risks is essential for informing product safety standards and protecting electronic cigarette users in America.

3. Your study found multidrug-resistant bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa in e-liquids. Could you explain what makes this finding particularly concerning?

Our study reported the presence of multiple viable multidrug-resistant bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in commercial electronic liquids that are used with these electronic cigarettes. This finding is particularly concerning for several reasons rooted in microbiology and public health. First, I want to point out the pathogenic potential of this bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is a very well-known opportunistic pathogen capable of causing respiratory and systemic infections, especially in individuals with compromised immunity or underlying lung conditions. This bacterial species is well-known in clinical settings for causing difficult-to-treat infections. Isolates recovered from the tested electronic liquids in our study showed multidrug resistance, meaning their growth was resistant to multiple antibiotics, namely penicillin, tetracyclines, and phenicols. This multidrug resistance potentially means that standard antimicrobial therapies may not be effective should exposure lead to colonization or infection.

We also found exposure risks via inhalation. Electronic liquids are aerosolized and inhaled directly into the respiratory tract, so the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in these products particularly raises concern that users could be exposed to viable multidrug-resistant bacteria through vaping. And bypassing many of the body’s usual first-line defenses, as I mentioned, has direct public health implications. The combination of viability, multidrug-resistance capability, and direct inhalation exposure increases the likelihood that such bacteria could contribute to colonization or infection. These could complicate disease management and potentially contribute to the broader issue of antimicrobial resistance in the community. So, continued surveillance of microbial contaminants in electronic cigarette products is most crucial in this case.

4. What is the most important takeaway for the general public regarding the safety of e-cigarettes from a microbiological perspective?

I’d say the key takeaway for the general public regarding microbiological safety would relate to the liquid that is used with electronic cigarettes. It can contain, as we show, viable bacteria, including strains that are multidrug resistant. And our findings do indicate that users could potentially be exposed to these living viable bacteria that have antibiotic resistance, which represents a microbiological safety concern beyond the chemical and the toxicological risks typically discussed in research on these products.

Although the electronic liquids do show some antimicrobial activity themselves in the laboratory tests that we performed, the mere presence of these viable and resistant bacteria underscores the need for improved quality control, surveillance, and regulation of these electronic cigarette products to protect public health. I would also like to add, in this context, from a microbiological standpoint, this research does suggest that electronic cigarette safety is not solely about inhaled chemicals or toxins but also includes biological contamination. This poses an infection risk, especially to individuals with weakened immunity or respiratory conditions, and it does reinforce the importance of strict manufacturing standards and proper handling of e-liquid products to minimize microbial contamination of these products.

5. What was the most challenging aspect of this study, and how did your team overcome it?

The most challenging aspect of our study was detecting and characterizing these viable bacterial contaminants in our tested commercially available electronic liquids, given that there is limited precedent and methodological constraints in this area of research. Prior to our work, to our knowledge, there was no published data on the presence of viable bacteria in electronic liquids or their antimicrobial properties.

Existing microbiological methods have not been optimized for this specific product. This posed two interrelated challenges. One was recovering a representative diversity of bacteria from these complex and low-biomass products. Electronic liquids are formulated with solvents such as propylene glycol and glycerin, both of which are known to inhibit microbial growth, and they typically contain very low microbial load in these electronic liquids. So the use of non-selective culture media, which we used under aerobic conditions, while necessary for baseline viability assessment, inherently limited the range of bacteria that could be recovered, and so that may have underestimated the total microbial diversity that we report in our study.

Challenge number two was distinguishing between the viable multidrug-resistant bacteria and artifacts of the culture. Confirming that these cultured isolates were both viable and clinically relevant required careful application of these culture-based methods, the gold standard plating method, the Kirby–Bauer susceptibility testing method, and molecular confirmation methods like Sanger sequencing. These techniques have been adapted to ensure reliable identification and resistance profiling despite the low biomass and potential interference by the electronic liquid constituents. To overcome the methodological challenge, we employed rigorous culture methods that are designed to maximize the recovery of viable bacteria from the electronic liquid samples.

Recognizing that standard environmental microbiology approaches might not translate directly to this product, we also used well-validated antimicrobial susceptibility assays to help confirm the multidrug-resistant phenotypes from the recovered isolates. Furthermore, I want to add that we explicitly acknowledged the methodological constraints in the publication, such as reliance on a single culture medium, testing only one brand of electronic liquids, and the low culturability of environmental bacteria. We also outlined concrete strategies for overcoming these in future work if somebody were to replicate the study or test out other electronic liquids on the market.

6. For young researchers interested in environmental microbiology or global health, what advice would you give?

My advice is to focus on research questions that sit at real-world human–environment interfaces. Our work shows that microbes and antimicrobial resistance can exist in everyday products and environments, so not just in hospitals. Asking questions with direct exposure and public health relevance is critical. Secondly, build strong interdisciplinary skills. Environmental microbiology today combines classical culture methods with molecular tools like sequencing and data analysis. Being comfortable across these approaches makes someone more versatile and better prepared to study these complex environmental systems. Thirdly, I would say to adopt the One Health approach or perspective. Human health, environmental reservoirs, and microbial evolution are tightly interconnected. So, especially for antimicrobial resistance, which is a growing public health concern, and these emerging pathogens, research that integrates these dimensions tends to have a broader impact on communities, overall health, human health, and the Earth’s health.

So finally, translationally and collaboratively, consider how your findings could inform surveillance, regulations, or interventions, and seek collaborations across disciplines and sectors. Environmental and global health problems are systems problems, so they do require team-based solutions. If you work in silos, you’re never going to solve a particular problem. So, working across teams and disciplines and trying to develop that at a young age helps you be a better researcher.

7. What led you to choose our journal for publishing this particular study, and how was your experience with the publication process with IJERPH?

We chose IJERPH because the journal has a strong track record of publishing interdisciplinary studies at the intersection of environmental exposure, public health, and microbial risk, which closely aligns with the objectives of our work. Our study does address the emerging exposure pathway with implications for antimicrobial resistance and consumer safety, so we felt that IJERPH’s broad public health focus was well-suited to disseminate these findings to researchers, practitioners, or even policymakers.

Our experience with the publication process was very positive. The reviewer feedback was very constructive and helped us strengthen both the methodological clarity and the public health framing of the manuscript. The editorial process was very efficient, transparent, and well-coordinated, which we greatly appreciated for our work with policy implications. Overall, the process was very professional and supportive of rigorous interdisciplinary research. I’m very appreciative of the staff who worked with us on our group’s two recent publications in the journal.

Conference: Unlock Healthy Longevity Conference 2026
Date: 26–27 February 2026
Venue: Shaw Foundation Alumni House, National University of Singapore

MDPI will be exhibiting at the Unlock Healthy Longevity Conference 2026, which will be held from 26 to 27 February 2026 at Shaw Foundation Alumni House, National University of Singapore (NUS). The conference is organized by NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity.

This exciting event will bring together leading experts, researchers, and professionals in the health science field to share their knowledge, present their latest discoveries, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Healthcare;
• Nutrients;
• Pharmacoepidemiology;
• IJERPH;
• JAL;
• Diabetology;
• Vision;
• Geriatrics;
• Gastrointestinal Disorders;
• Women;
• JCM.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. 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://longevityacademy.sg/unlock-healthy-longevity-conference.

You are invited to join the 1st International Online Conference on Healthcare—The Future of Healthcare: Innovations and Trends organized by MDPI’s Healthcare (ISSN: 2227-9032; Impact Factor: 2.4), taking place from 25 to 26 March 2026. 

Registration is now open until 20 March. You can secure your place at the event and join us for free by clicking here. 

Conference Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Lorraine S. Evangelista, University of California Irvine, USA. 

The Topics of Interest:

• S1. Digital Health Adoption and Innovation: A Vision for the Future of Healthcare;
• S2. Patient-Centered Care—Optimizing Care Pathways through Engagement and Outcome Measurement;
• S3. Connected Care—Leveraging Technology to Build an Integrated Care Ecosystem;
• S4. Clinical Data Management—Balancing Transparency with Innovation for Enhanced Care Quality;
• S5. Generative AI in Clinical Practice—Evidence-Based Evaluation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications.

For any inquiries regarding the event, please contact ioch2026@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at IOCH2026!

World Leprosy Day, which is observed annually on the last Sunday of January, will take place on 25 January this year. This international day provides an opportunity to honor people who have experienced leprosy, raise awareness of the disease, and call for an end to leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. The theme for World Leprosy Day 2026, “Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma”, highlights the urgent need to address the social barriers that persist despite the availability of effective treatment.

Although leprosy is fully curable when diagnosed early, stigma continues to profoundly affect the lives of those impacted. Misconceptions surrounding the disease led to job loss, social exclusion, disrupted education, and family separation. Fear of discrimination often causes individuals to hide symptoms and delay seeking care, resulting in preventable complications and ongoing transmission. Addressing stigma is therefore essential not only for social justice, but also for effective disease control.

In support of World Leprosy Day 2026, MDPI journals aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and research on the medical, social, and public health dimensions of leprosy. Through Special Issues, research articles, and webinars, MDPI provides platforms to explore stigma, intersectionality, and inclusive approaches to care.

“Tissue Expression of NGF in Skin Lesions of HIV-Coinfected and Non-Coinfected Leprosy Patients and Its Relationship with Leprosy Neural Damage”
by Marília Brasil Xavier, Lucas dos Santos Fontes, Mariana Garcia Borges do Nascimento, Simone Rodrigues dos Passos, Débora Pinheiro Xavier, Larissa dos Santos Alcantara, Elza Baía de Brito, Cláudia Maria de Castro Gomes and Carlos Eduardo Pereira Corbett
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2271; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102271

“Hansen’s Disease in Ecuador: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Research Priorities: A Literature Review”
by Manuel Calvopiña, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Jorge Vasconez-Gonzalez, Lorena Vaca and Elías Guamán
Pathogens 2025, 14(8), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080832

“Vasculonecrotic Reaction Caused by Mycobacterium Lepromatosis Infection—A Case Report of an HIV/Leprosy-Coinfected Patient”
By Fernando Amador-Lara, Jorge L. Mayorga-Garibaldi, Felipe J. Bustos-Rodríguez, Luz A. González-Hernández, Pedro Martínez-Ayala and Jaime F. Andrade-Villanueva
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17030058

“Spatial, Social and Serological Factors in the Prevalence and Risk of Leprosy in Areas of High Endemicity: An Integrative Review”
by Daniele dos Santos Lages, Isabela Cristina Lana Maciel, Sarah Lamas Vidal and Francisco Carlos Félix Lana
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2025, 17(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr17030057  

“Correlation and Trends in Primary Health Care and Family Health Strategy Coverage of Leprosy Detection in Minas Gerais”
by Daniele dos Santos Lages, Isabela Cristina Lana Maciel, Sarah Lamas Vidal and Francisco Carlos Félix Lana
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040490

“Integrating Community Engagement in Zero Leprosy Efforts: A Pathway to Sustainable Early Detection, Control and Elimination”
by Anil Fastenau, Matthew Willis, Constanze Vettel, Sophie C. W. Stuetzle, Srilekha Penna, Priyanka Chahal, Fabian Schlumberger, Mowmita Basak Mow, Ngozi Ekeke, Joseph Ngozi Chukwu et al.
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(12), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120296

“Genomic and Phenotypic Variations Among Thai-53 and Mycobacterium leprae Clinical Isolates: Implications for Leprosy Pathogenesis and Research”
by Tiago Araujo Gomes, Tatiana Pereira da Silva, Edson Machad, Sidra Ezidio Gonçalves Vasconcelos, Bruno Siqueira Mietto, Daniela Ferreira de Faria Bertoluci, Patricia Sammarco Rosa, Roberta Olmo Pinheiro, Philip Noel Suffys, Letícia Miranda Santos Lery et al.
Pathogens 2024, 13(11), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13110986

“Ecuador Towards Zero Leprosy: A Twenty-Three-Year Retrospective Epidemiologic and Spatiotemporal Analysis of Leprosy in Ecuador”
by Santiago Hernandez-Bojorge, Tatiana Gardellini, Jeegan Parikh, Neil Rupani, Benjamin Jacob, Ismael Hoare, Manuel Calvopiña and Ricardo Izurieta
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(10), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9100246

“Community-Based Intervention for Active Detection and Provision of Single-Dose Rifampicin Post-Exposure Prophylaxis to Household Contacts of Leprosy in Bolivia”
by Abundio Baptista Mora, Nimer Ortuño-Gutiérrez, Deisy Zurita Paniagua, Carlos Hurtado Solares, Anil Fastenau and Christa Kasang
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(5), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9050101  

“Self-Care Ability and Life Quality of Cured Leprosy Patients: The Mediating Effects of Social Support”
by Li Xu, Guangjie Jin, Xiang Li, Yuting Shao, Yunhui Li and Lianhua Zhang
Healthcare 2023, 11(23), 3059; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233059

MDPI will be attending the 10th Asia Pacific Region Conference of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (APRC 2026) from 4 to 7 February 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. With over 1,000 experts and delegates expected from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, APRC 2026 will provide a dynamic platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and actionable solutions that shape the future of lung health worldwide.

The theme of APRC 2026 is “Transforming Lung Health and Creating a Future Free of Tuberculosis through Research, Innovation, and Networking”. The conference will cover the following:

• Tuberculosis research and treatment innovations;
• Emerging respiratory infectious diseases;
• Universal health coverage and access to care;
• Environmental and societal impacts on lung health;
• Breakthroughs in non-communicable respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and interstitial lung disease.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

• IJERPH;
• Medicina;
• TropicalMed;
• COVID;
• Vaccines;
• Epidemiologia;
• JMAHP.

We invite you to visit MDPI’s booth (#A45) to meet our representatives, explore our latest initiatives, and discuss potential collaborations. For more details about the conference, please visit the official website: https://aprc2026.org/.

We look forward to connecting with you in Bangkok!

Name: Dr. Jacob Carson
Affiliations: Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA

“Agreement Between Consumer and Research-Grade Physical Activity Monitors in a Public Health Intervention for Adolescent Latinas”
by Jacob Carson, David Wing, Job G. Godino, Michael Higgins and Britta Larsen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(11), 1663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22111663
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/11/1663

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Jacob Carson, whose recent publication in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601). Here, he shares insights into his academic journey, research focus, and the motivation behind his recent work.

The following is the interview with Dr. Jacob Carson:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?

My name is Jacob Carson, and I am a fourth-year PhD candidate in Health Behavior in the joint doctoral program between the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University. My research focuses on the built environment and health, particularly on how walkability is measured and how policies can support walkable environments to promote physical activity.

2. What initially drew you to study physical activity monitoring in adolescents?

This interest developed through my work with the principal investigator, Dr. Britta Larseon, who has conducted physical activity promotion research using randomized controlled trials for some time. We became increasingly interested in how physical activity is measured, especially because traditional tools such as ActiGraph accelerometers can be expensive and burdensome for participants. With the rise of consumer wearables like Fitbits, an important question emerged regarding how these devices compare to established methods. While some validation work has been done in laboratory settings, much of physical activity promotion research occurs in free-living environments, which motivated us to examine these tools in real-world contexts.

3. Compared to existing studies (or literature), what are the differences or innovative aspects of your research?

One key difference is the sample size, which is larger than that used in many previous studies. More importantly, the study focuses on adolescent girls, a group that is among the least physically active in the United States. This is particularly relevant from a health equity perspective, especially given the inclusion of Latina adolescents as a subgroup. This study focused entirely on a cohort of Latina adolescents. Methodologically, we examined physical activity at both the minute level and the day level, which allowed us to assess granularity as well as aggregated patterns. We also used multiple cut points, reflecting the lack of a well-established standard for this age group and highlighting the need to reconsider how these thresholds are applied.

4. What do you think is the most important academic contribution or practical value of your research?

I see the study as a reflection point for researchers working in physical activity measurement. Many studies rely on cut points that were used in previous work without fully questioning their appropriateness. Our findings show substantial mismatches between Fitbit and ActiGraph measurements at the minute level, while aggregation changes how these differences appear. The main takeaway is that researchers should be more careful and intentional when deciding what they treat as a gold standard for physical activity measurement, rather than assuming that one device or approach is inherently superior. Moreover, I would like to see more work that breaks down specific activities and considers the environmental and contextual factors in free-living settings. Certain activities, such as weightlifting, cycling, or swimming, are not well captured by traditional accelerometry, while heart-rate-based devices can be influenced by stress or temperature. Understanding how different activities and contexts affect measurement accuracy is essential so that researchers can apply these tools more thoughtfully.

5. For other students who are also interested in conducting similar research, what suggestions do you have?

One important area for younger researchers to explore is the opacity of consumer wearables. These devices rely on proprietary algorithms, and researchers often do not fully understand how the data are generated. I believe wearables represent the future of physical activity measurement, particularly in research on 24-hour activity cycles that integrate sleep and movement. However, it is critical to move beyond treating these tools as black boxes, especially since algorithm updates can change how data is processed. I think we are clearly moving toward greater reliance on consumer wearables, regardless of ongoing debates. There is increasing interest in using data that already exists, often in collaboration with companies such as Google through Fitbit or other platforms like Garmin. This places us in a transitional period where it is essential to understand how historical measurement approaches compare with newer methods. Doing so allows us to maintain continuity in physical activity surveillance and make meaningful comparisons over time.

6. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? How was your experience submitting to IJERPH?

IJERPH has a broad scope that includes both public health and environmental research, which aligns well with the interdisciplinary nature of our work. There was also relevant research already published in this area, which made the journal feel like a natural fit. Additionally, I appreciated the relatively fast review turnaround, as lengthy review processes can be a challenge at other journals.