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25 November 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 1st International Online Conference on Behavioral Sciences (IOCBS2026), 1–3 April 2026


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.

6 November 2025
MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Pioneering Contributions in Computational Physical Science


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.

3 March 2026
MDPI Webinar | World Kidney Day (Session 2), 12 March 2026


We are delighted to invite you to the World Kidney Day 2026 Webinar, taking place on 12 March 2026, with the theme of “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet”. This webinar highlights the urgent need to advance prevention, early detection, and equitable access to kidney care while also addressing the environmental impact of kidney disease and its treatments. Climate-related risks such as air pollution, heat stress, and dehydration are increasingly linked to kidney disease, and the resource-intensive nature of some therapies underscores the importance of more sustainable healthcare practices.

The webinar will feature leading experts from research, clinical practice, and public health who will share insights and strategies to improve kidney health outcomes across diverse populations. The session aims to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and support actions that protect both people and the planet through more equitable and sustainable kidney care.

Date: 12 March 2026 at 6.00 p.m. CET | 1.00 p.m. EST | 10.00 a.m. PST
Webinar ID: 812 9109 9546
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MWKD2026-2

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

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.

Register now for free!

Program (Session 2):

Speaker/Presentation Time in CEST Time in PST
MDPI Introduction 6:00–6:10 p.m. 10:00–10:10 a.m.
Prof. Dr. Surya Nauli
Reinvigorating Kidney Health through Targeted Nanomedicine
6:10–6:30 p.m. 10:10–10:30 a.m.
Prof. Yuri Battaglia
The Role of Physical Activity and Exercise for Kidney Health: Evidence and Practice
6:30–6:50 p.m. 10:30–10:50 a.m.
Q&A Session 6:50–7:00 p.m. 10:50–11:00 a.m.
Closing of Webinar 7:00–7:10 p.m. 11:00–11:10 a.m.

Webinar Speakers:

  • Dr. Surya Nauli, Chapman University, United States;
  • Prof. Yuri Battaglia, University of Verona, Italy.

3 March 2026
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Interview with One of the Authors—Prof. Dr. Anabela Correia Martins


Name: Prof. Dr. Anabela Correia Martins
Affiliations: 1 Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua 5 de Outubro, 3045-043 Coimbra, Portugal; 2 H&TR-Health & Technology Research Center, Coimbra Health School, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua 5 de Outubro, 3045-043 Coimbra, Portugal; 3 Center for Rehabilitation Research, Health School, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; 4 SUScita—Research Group on Sustainability, Cities and Urban Intelligence, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: active and healthy ageing; fall prevention, movement and mobility; walkability and age-friendly environments; social participation and community engagement; digital health in physiotherapy; gerontechnology in physiotherapy

“Health and Functioning of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Urban and Rural Areas of Portugal—What Are the Implications for Physiotherapy Care?”
by Magda Reis, Sara Ferreira, Monserrat Conde and Anabela Correia Martins
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(12), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22121827
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/12/1827

The following is the interview with Prof. Dr. Anabela Correia Martins:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
Thank you very much! My name is Anabela Correia Martins. I am a Coordinating Professor at the Polytechnic University of Coimbra IPC-ESTeSC Coimbra Health School, Physiotherapy, Coimbra, Portugal, with research focused on health promotion, fall prevention, healthy ageing, and assistive technologies at the H&TR-Health & Technology Research Center and the Center for Rehabilitation Research, Health School, Polytechnic of Porto. I am a trained physiotherapist with an MSc in sociology and a PhD in psychology. Following several years of clinical practice in hospitals, I have been fully dedicated to teaching and research since 2002.
I coordinate the Falls Group within Portugal’s National Patient Safety Plan 2021–2026 and have led the FallSensing project, which developed technological solutions for fall risk screening and preventive programs.
Currently, my work focuses on studying and promoting active and healthy ageing, with a particular emphasis on fall prevention and health literacy, while being mindful of the inequalities that exist in our country and the scarcity of prevention policies in general, and of healthy ageing policies in particular. I also work in areas related to gerontechnology and the sustainability of physiotherapy care. In practice, this involves developing and evaluating exercise- and education-based interventions aimed at reducing risk and improving mobility, participation, and confidence among older adults. Empowering people throughout the life span, as well as society, together with the use of low-cost technologies and digital solutions, are key strategies to support the autonomy of older adults. For example, in projects such as FallSensing, we have evaluated and adapted formats of exercise programs for older adults, integrated with technological tools.

2. What inspired you to focus on this topic?
What inspired me to choose this topic was always my perception of the very concrete needs of the people I work with, particularly older adults who face mobility risks and limitations and who live in social and cultural contexts that are very specific to Southern Europe.
Throughout my clinical practice and later in my research work, I have seen how falls, functional decline, and a lack of health literacy limit people’s autonomy, social participation, and quality of life. This everyday reality motivated me to develop solutions that would not remain only on paper but could be used and adopted by people living in real communities.
In addition, working daily with undergraduate and postgraduate students is more than an opportunity to put ideas into practice, it is a responsibility. I see them as partners in discovering innovative, sustainable, and equitable responses to the challenges of ageing. For this reason, the projects and programs we develop and implement are grounded in the best scientific evidence available, as they must be. At the same time, we carry out complementary work to test strategies to ensure long-term adherence and sustainability across years and generations. Within our team, we value unity, solidarity, and interdependence between science and society, characterized by the sharing of values and norms and a strong sense of belonging. This approach also contributes to the training of future physiotherapists who can create interventions that are useful, fair, and lasting for communities.
This motivation led me to investigate interventions that are not only effective, but also feasible and culturally appropriate; for example, adapting fall prevention and physical activity promotion programs to rural or urban contexts, so that they can genuinely address real ageing-related problems.
To conclude, my interest emerged from the desire to respond to tangible needs—not only general ones, but also those specific to our region and culture—by helping older adults remain active, safe, and included in their communities, building solutions with equality and real-world impact.

3. Your study highlights significant health disparities between rural and urban older adults in Portugal. What do you think are the most actionable insights for public health policymakers?
Direct more resources and tailored programs towards rural areas, where functional limitations, social isolation, and social exclusion are more pronounced.
Promote self-efficacy for exercise and social participation as core pillars of active ageing policies, through community-based initiatives in both rural and urban settings.
Integrate fall prevention with the management of chronic diseases, using regular functional assessment and combined physiotherapy and health education interventions.
Adapt messages, materials, and actions to different levels of health literacy and local contexts, ensuring equity in both access to and effectiveness of interventions.
In this way, policies can become more closely aligned with current evidence on who is at greater risk and which barriers need to be removed to improve the health and functional capacity of older adults in Portugal.

4. What role can digital physical therapy or telehealth play in bridging the rural-urban gap in rehabilitation access?
Telephysiotherapy and other digital forms of care can be a practical and relatively rapid way to reach rural populations with greater health needs and fewer local resources. They can offer personalized interventions, monitored by professionals, with potential cost-effectiveness and good acceptability—especially when local support and low-cost and user-friendly materials for older adults are in place.
Portuguese society has shown strong social cohesion in times of emergency, as we witnessed during the devastating wildfires of recent summers and as we have seen in recent weeks with successive storms. For example, by involving physiotherapy students, community agents, senior clubs, or primary care units, telephysiotherapy can complement and strengthen existing services rather than compete with them, thereby increasing sustainability.

5. Could you share your vision for the future of your research and the contributions you aspire to make in your field?
I see the future of my research as an increasingly integrated path between technological innovation, social commitment, and human development. I aim to contribute to a model of physiotherapy and health promotion that is entrepreneurial and forward-looking, but also deeply empathetic, equitable, and person-centered.
Recent results from our study with older adults in Portugal revealed clear disparities between rural and urban areas. Sharing these findings showed me that, for some professionals and decision-makers, they were genuinely surprising. In Portugal, and perhaps in other parts of the world, there is an idealized belief that living in rural areas guarantees a better quality of life. This may indeed be true, if services, systems, and policies are also ensured to address residents’ needs, including some very basic ones. These differences reinforce the existence of gaps in access and functional capacity that cannot be ignored and of which decision-makers must be fully aware.
From this perspective, I envision three interconnected lines of progress:
1) Democratize access to physiotherapy for the promotion of active ageing, especially in less advantaged contexts. This includes using technology, telehealth, and artificial intelligence to deliver assessment, guidance, and exercise programs in an accessible, reliable, and culturally adapted way to rural or more isolated communities. However, technology should not be introduced for its own sake. It is essential to ensure that these tools are designed with cultural sensitivity, accessible language, local support, and continuous training for professionals and students, so that they become real instruments of inclusion rather than mere technological luxuries.
2) Foster responsible and sustainable innovation by combining technology with the humanization of care. AI and other technologies should act as allies to physiotherapy, enhancing risk analysis, program personalization, and monitoring, while simultaneously strengthening the quality of the human relationship between professionals and service users. This requires us, as clinicians, educators, and researchers, to continue developing not only technical skills but also competencies in listening, empathy, ethics, and leadership. I want the projects I lead and the students I train to be prepared to build technological solutions that respect and value everyone, regardless of where they live.
3) Create scalable and equitable solutions with genuine local impact. Inspired by the reality highlighted in our study, my ambition is to develop programs and models that can be scaled up—such as community-based fall prevention models or technology-mediated exercise and social participation programs—without losing sensitivity to the specific characteristics of each region and culture. This involves social entrepreneurship: building partnerships, exploring new funding models, developing multidisciplinary projects, and collaborating with policymakers, communities, and civil society organizations. The goal is for science to generate real impact, for interventions to reach those who need them most, and for equity to be a daily practice rather than a slogan.

6. What advice would you give to young scholars seeking to get into academia or publish their work?
I know well how insecurities arise—the academic world often feels full of demands, rigorous evaluations, deadlines, doubts about whether our work will truly have an impact, and even uncertainty about the future. But I want to leave a message of hope and confidence for young scholars and younger researchers: you already carry a distinctive “DNA of extraordinary technological skills.” This is an enormous advantage. What further strengthens this potential is equally embracing human skills—teamwork, empathy, collaboration with citizens, rigor, ethics, and intellectual and scientific honesty. It is this combination that creates science that is useful, sustainable, and capable of making a real difference in people’s lives.
You master digital tools, data, technology, and cutting-edge methods. Use them to solve real problems, not merely to publish for the sake of publishing. Consider, for example, this study showing clear differences between rural and urban older adults in Portugal. These are not just statistics, they are signals of real inequalities that must be addressed. Like this one, there will be many other relevant projects that identify gaps, propose solutions, and test them rigorously.
Cultivate teamwork and cooperation with diverse stakeholders. High-quality research emerges when different minds come together: colleagues from other disciplines, frontline professionals, communities, users, and decision-makers. By embracing diverse perspectives, research becomes stronger, more grounded, and more resilient to criticism.
Practice rigor and ethics from the very beginning—this protects and enhances your work. Intellectual honesty, methodological clarity, transparency in results, and respect for the people involved are not just values, they are the foundations that make research credible, replicable, and useful in the long term. When doubts arise, returning to these principles is the safest path forward.
View every challenge or rejection as a learning opportunity, not as failure. Critical reviews, rejected papers, or difficult questions at conferences are part of the process. Do not be discouraged. Use them to improve your study, refine your message, and strengthen your methodology. The most respected researchers have all been through this.
Maintain your curiosity and take care of your human development. Studying, publishing, and teaching are also opportunities to grow as a person. Develop empathy, active listening, and cultural sensitivity. This ensures that science does not become distant or cold but instead remains a truly transformative force.

7. Could you share your experience with the publication process, and what motivated you to choose our journal for publishing this study?
We chose this journal because I recognize it as having a serious editorial team, clear policies, and wide visibility, including open access, which facilitates the rapid dissemination of results to professionals, decision-makers, and society at large.
The process was rigorous and demanding at every stage—from submission to review and final corrections—which reinforces the high standards required. At the same time, I felt genuine support in addressing questions, and a clear appreciation of the work. Communication was always smooth and transparent, making the experience constructive.

3 March 2026
MDPI Webinar | World Kidney Day (Session 1), 12 March 2026


We are delighted to invite you to the World Kidney Day 2026 Webinar, taking place on 12 March 2026, with the theme of “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Planet”. This webinar highlights the urgent need to advance prevention, early detection, and equitable access to kidney care while also addressing the environmental impact of kidney disease and its treatments. Climate-related risks such as air pollution, heat stress, and dehydration are increasingly linked to kidney disease, and the resource-intensive nature of some therapies underscores the importance of more sustainable healthcare practices.

This webinar will feature leading experts from research, clinical practice, and public health who will share insights and strategies to improve kidney health outcomes across diverse populations. The session aims to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and support actions that protect both people and the planet through more equitable and sustainable kidney care.

Date: 12 March 2026 at 12:00 p.m. CET | 8:00 p.m. JPT | 7:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar
ID: 827 1459 8486
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MWKD2026-1

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

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch online.

Register now for free!

Program (Session 1):

Speaker/Presentation Time in CET Time in CST Asia
MDPI Introduction 12:00–12:10 p.m. 5:00–5:10 p.m.
Dr. Kunitoshi Iseki
Healthy–Diverse Diet and Good Sleep for CKD and Dialysis Patients
12:10–12:30 p.m. 5:10–5:30 p.m.
Dr. Miao Jing
Navigating Acute Interstitial Nedphritis (AIN): Challenges and Solutions
12:30–12:50 p.m. 5:30–5:50 p.m.
Dr. Yoshifumi Saisho
Updates of Diabetes Care: Beta Cell-centric Concept of Diabetes
12:50–1:10 p.m. 5:50–6:10 p.m.
Q&A Session 1:10–1:20 p.m. 6:10–6:20 p.m.
Closing of Webinar 1:20– 1:30 p.m. 6:20–6:30 p.m.

Webinar Speakers:

  • Dr. Kunitoshi Iseki, Nakamura Clinic, Japan;
  • Dr. Jing Miao, Mayo Clinic, USA;
  • Dr. Saisho Yoshifumi, Saisho Diabetes Clinic, Japan.

3 March 2026
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | An Interview with One of the Authors—Dr. Paul B. Allwood

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Paul B. Allwood, who has recently published 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.

Name: Dr. Paul B. Allwood
Affiliation: National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

“Association Between Low-Level Lead Exposure and Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Concentrations as a Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in U.S. Adolescents Aged 12–19 Years”
by Wenping Hu, Tanya T. LeBlanc, Audrey F. Pennington, Cheryl R. Cornwell and Paul B. Allwood
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010028
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/23/1/28

Below is the interview with Dr. Paul B. Allwood:

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

I'm the branch chief for the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch at CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. My team and I work on CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Our mission is straightforward: to eliminate lead exposure as a public health threat for children. This study came out of that work. We're constantly looking at the data to understand how lead affects children's health, even at levels that were once considered safe. Understanding these effects helps us develop better strategies to protect children across the country.

2. What inspired you to focus on low-level lead exposure in adolescents rather than adults or occupational groups?

Most research on lead and oxidative stress has focused on adults in occupational settings—workers who face relatively high exposures. But adolescents are going through critical developmental changes, and their bodies may be particularly vulnerable to even small amounts of lead. What's more, adolescents are encountering lead in their everyday environments: homes, schools, and neighborhoods. We wanted to better understand whether the lead that persists in our environment today negatively impacts adolescents aged 12-19 years. The short answer is we have confirmed that even low levels of lead in the bloodstream are hazardous to a child’s health. This validates our position that there is simply no safe level of lead exposure.

3. What are the potential public health implications of linking low-level lead exposure to oxidative stress in young people?

The implications are significant. Oxidative stress is essentially cellular damage. It’s linked to a range of health problems, including cognitive difficulties, cardiovascular issues, and kidney dysfunction. If we're seeing signs of oxidative stress at lead levels five times lower than the current CDC blood lead reference value of 3.5 ug/dL, it confirms our current position that no amount of lead exposure is safe for children. From a public health perspective, this reinforces the urgency of eliminating remaining lead sources, such as paint from before the 1978 ban, aging water infrastructure with lead or lead-coated pipes, and contaminated soil, as well as emerging sources like food, cookware, cosmetics, some imported toys and jewelry, and some imported candies and traditional medicines. It's not just about preventing the dramatic lead poisoning cases we saw decades ago; it's about protecting every child and teen from subtle, chronic damage that could affect their long-term health, learning, and quality of life.

4. Your research suggests that lead might be quietly affecting our bodies in ways we don’t immediately see. What would you say is the most underappreciated source of lead exposure today?

I think many people assume lead is a problem of the past because we removed it from gasoline and paint. But lead doesn’t disappear; it persists in the environment for generations. The most underappreciated sources are probably the “invisible” ones: lead service lines delivering water to homes, deteriorating lead paint in older housing (especially in lower-income communities), and contaminated soil around homes and play areas where lead paint chips have accumulated or where leaded gasoline residue settled decades ago. These sources don't make headlines, but they result in ongoing, low-level exposures that add up over time. Children in older neighborhoods are particularly at risk, and many families have no idea they're being exposed.

5. Where do you see the field of environmental health moving in the next 5–10 years, especially regarding low-level toxin exposure?

I think we’re entering an era of greater precision and integration. Our team has worked to address this issue by lowering our blood lead reference value in 2021 and launching the Lead Detect Prize in 2023 to promote the need to enhance the detection of low levels of lead exposure through blood tests administered where medical care is given. I expect we’ll see more research on how lead, cadmium, mercury, and other environmental contaminants interact in the body. We’ll also leverage better biomarkers and more sophisticated data analysis to detect subtle health effects earlier. Technology will play a role, too, with access to better screening tools and real-time environmental monitoring. Ultimately, I hope the field moves toward true primary prevention: removing hazards before exposure occurs, rather than just managing them after the fact.

6. For researchers considering where to publish, what would you say are the strengths of IJERPH compared to other journals in environmental health?

We sought to publish in a journal that had three key features: open access, an interdisciplinary approach, and a reasonable timeframe from manuscript submission to actual publication. Open access is important so our findings can reach the widest possible audience. An interdisciplinary approach is important because it enables us to bridge environmental science, epidemiology, toxicology, and public health practice. A reasonable timeframe is important because it is important to get findings out to inform current prevention efforts.

28 February 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #32 - MDPI China and Thailand, China Science Daily, 1,000 Partnerships, R2R

Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.

In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.


Opening Thoughts

Reflections from China: Year-End-Celebrations and Open Access Publishing

In February, I had the pleasure of joining over a thousand colleagues from our Tongzhou and Haidian offices at their end-of-year annual celebration in Beijing.

Spending time with our teams in China is also a powerful reminder of the scale and complexity of MDPI as a global organization. Our colleagues in Beijing, Wuhan, and across the country play a significant role in our day-to-day operations and long-term development. I’m grateful for the hospitality, collaboration, and commitment shown by our managers and teams in China, alongside colleagues worldwide, who have helped steadily build MDPI, brick by brick, over the years.

Below are some data on Open Access (OA) publishing in China and our collaboration in this important research market.

Open Access Publishing in China

China has been the world’s leading country in research and review article publication volume since 2019, exceeding one million publications in 2025. Over the past five years, the gap between China and the second-ranked country, the United States, has continued to widen.

In 2025:

  • 47% of China’s research output was published Open Access
  • Of those OA publications, 76% were Gold Open Access (approximately 382,930 articles)
  • The overall OA distribution remained stable compared with 2024, with Gold OA increasing by 1%

Over the past five years (2021–2025):

  • China published 4,398,050 research and review articles
  • Approximately 48% of this output was OA

According to Dimensions, when comparing the top 20 countries by publication volume (2021–2025):

  • China ranks 1st worldwide in publication volume
  • China ranks 9th in citation performance within this group (for comparison, the US ranks 2nd in publication volume and 10th in citation ranking)
  • Average citations per article: 12.51

Among the top 10 universities globally by publication volume, six are Chinese institutions, alongside Harvard University (USA), the University of São Paulo (Brazil), the University of Toronto (Canada), and the University of Oxford (UK).

MDPI and China

China is an important and long-standing part of MDPI’s global publishing ecosystem:

  • In 2025, MDPI was the largest fully Open Access publisher in China
  • MDPI published 22% of China’s Gold Open Access output (82,133 papers)
  • We received 290,999 submissions from China-affiliated authors and published 82,133 articles
  • There are 8,500+ active Editorial Board Members based in China
    • 64% (5,438) have an H-index above 26
  • MDPI works with:
    • 117 Editors-in-Chief
    • 103 Section Editors-in-Chief
  • 71 China-based institutions currently hold IOAP agreements with MDPI, seven of which rank among the top 10 Chinese institutions by publication volume

China's scale in research output means that the publishing platforms chosen by Chinese scholars will continue to influence the direction of scholarly publishing. At the same time, MDPI’s strength comes from its international collaboration, with colleagues, editors, reviewers, and authors working together across regions and disciplines.

Thank you to all our colleagues in China, and around the world, who support MDPI’s publishing activities across departments and help advance open access research every day.

Impactful Research

“Progress in open science is built through trust, dialogue, and relationships”

Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with China Science Daily

During my trip to Beijing, I also had the opportunity to visit China Science Daily and take part in an interview and broader exchange with their team in Beijing. Visits like this matter because progress in open science is built not only through platforms and infrastructure, but also through trust, dialogue, and relationships across research communities and regions.

China Science Daily: History Museum

As part of the visit, I was given a tour of their History Museum, which offers a thorough perspective on the evolution of China’s first science and technology newspaper, established in 1959. The exhibition highlights how the organization developed into a trusted institution connecting research with the public and policymakers. It was a helpful reminder that at the core of publishing is stewardship, credibility, and long-term public engagement with science.

An Open Exchange on Open Science

During the visit, I met with Dr. Zhao Yan, Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet. We had an open and engaging conversation about MDPI’s role in Open Access, the evolution of open science globally, and the potential for more collaboration going forward. He especially appreciated the candid and personal nature of our exchange, noting that this kind of dialogue feels important in a landscape where trust and transparency matter.

Interview on Open Access

I also participated in an interview with Ms. Yan Jie, from the Online Media Center and Editor-in-Chief of ScienceNet, China Science Daily. Our discussion covered the growth of Open Access over the past 30 years, MDPI’s mission and values, academic integrity, collaboration with the Chinese research community, and MDPI’s own 30th anniversary milestone. It was a great opportunity to reflect on how open science has matured, and where shared responsibility across publishers, institutions, and researchers continues to matter most.

“Progress in open science is built by more than scale and infrastructure”

I’m sharing a few photos from the visit as a glimpse behind the scenes. The full interview will be published by China Science Daily in due course, and I look forward to sharing it when it is available.

More broadly, visits like this reinforce something I’ve always believed in: progress in open science is built not only through scale and infrastructure, but also through continued dialogue, mutual respect, collaboration, and a willingness to listen across regions and perspectives. That remains central to our work, especially as MDPI reflects on 30 years of publishing, built together.

Inside MDPI

Bangkok Visit: Growth, Partnership, and Local Impact

In February, I also had the opportunity to visit our Bangkok office for the second time in two years to support their local meetings and deliver a training session on how we present MDPI at a corporate level.

It’s easy to spend time with our colleagues in Thailand. From Editorial and Production to Conferences, Marketing, Design, and our Regional Journal Relations Specialist (RJRS), the team continues to grow in scale and professionalism. I’d also like to recognize our local management and admin teams, who have been steadily expanding our office and supporting more than 500 colleagues on the ground.

Academic Partnerships

During the visit, we met with the Engineering Department at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL). Our discussion focused on the recent MDPI developments, Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) opportunities, Author Publishing Workshops (APW), and the potential use of JAMS to support their institutional journal.

“MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand”

We also shared insights into the growth of Open Access (OA) in Thailand and KMITL’s own publishing trends. These conversations matter because institutions are looking for sustainable ways to support their researchers. Our IOAP agreements are one simple example of how we can provide value in this area while maintaining accessibility for authors.

Thailand and MDPI: 2025 Snapshot

Our Bangkok office, officially launched in 2022, has been growing to support over 500 staff members while continuing to expand its engagement in scholar visits, workshops, and conference collaborations. As at 2025, Thailand submissions to MDPI have increased about 21% and publications by about 25%, maintaining a rejection rate close to the company average. MDPI is the third-largest OA publisher in Thailand, publishing 15% of all Gold OA output in 2025.

Representing MDPI Externally

During the visit, I delivered a training session on how we present MDPI at external events.

This session covered topics related to:

  • Our aim and guiding principles
  • High-level company milestones and Indexing facts and figures
  • Industry partnerships and collaborations
  • Market trends in OA and subscription publishing
  • Country-specific publishing data and collaborations with MDPI
  • Insights from our Voice of Community report

I find that while many colleagues are very familiar with the specific journal for which they have responsibility, fewer have visibility into the broader MDPI ecosystem and the company’s global positioning. These sessions help build alignment, confidence, and consistency in how we represent the company.

What stands out most is that MDPI’s growth is not abstract: it’s visible in the people, the partnerships, and the professionalism developing across our offices.

Coming Together for Science

1,000 Institutional Partners: A Milestone Built on Trust

This month, we reached an important milestone: more than 1,000 institutions worldwide are now part of MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). On paper, that is a number. In practice, it represents trust.

This milestone symbolizes thousands of conversations with libraries and institutions. It stands for negotiations, renewals, consortium expansions, and, most importantly, relationships built over time. It reflects the work of colleagues across publishing, institutional partnerships, marketing, editorial, finance, and many other teams who contribute to making these agreements operational.

In 2025 alone, more than 61,300 research articles benefited from article processing charge (APC) discounts through IOAP agreements. Tens of thousands of authors were able to publish through a simplified and structured process. At the same time, institutional administrators gained clearer oversight and streamlined workflows.

Why IOAP Matters

When we launched IOAP, the objective was straightforward: to reduce barriers for researchers while supporting institutions in navigating the evolving OA landscape. Over the past decade, the research ecosystem has changed. Funder mandates, national policies, and Plan S–aligned requirements have accelerated the transition to OA.

Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency. IOAP was designed to support that reality.

For colleagues who would like to better understand the program, this blog-post overview of MDPI’s IOAP provides additional context, including common questions around the transition to OA and how our institutional partnerships are structured.

“Institutions need publishing partners who provide transparency, scalability, and operational efficiency”

Recent Examples

Our agreements continue to evolve across regions:

These examples show that institutions seek structured, predictable models that support their researchers at scale.

Looking Ahead

Crossing the threshold of 1,000 partners tells us that institutions see MDPI not just as a publisher but as a reliable operational partner in advancing open science. This milestone is not a finish line. It is a reminder that the work continues.

Thank you to the entire IOAP team and to all colleagues who contributed to reaching this achievement.

P.S. You can read about this milestone across industry outlets, including STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Research Information, EurekAlert, Brightsurf, among others. You can also read about the coverage in Poland (e.g., media-room, bomega) Korea (newstap), and Romania (EduLike).

Closing Thoughts

Reflections from the Researcher to Reader Conference

During 24–25 February, I attended the 2026 Researcher to Reader Conference in London, UK. Leaders from across scholarly publishing, research infrastructure, libraries, and technology gathered to discuss AI and research integrity, peer review reform, metadata and infrastructure, community engagement, open research policy, and the evolving role of publishers in a rapidly shifting ecosystem.

The conversations were open and honest, and at times uncomfortable – exactly what we need at times. Below are a few reflections that stayed with me.

The Battle for Knowledge: What Becomes Accepted as ‘True’?

One recurring theme was not whether science evolves but whether our infrastructure is resilient enough to sustain trust at scale. Science does not promise certainty: it promises process. As publishing systems grow more complex and become more technologically mediated, the question is how intentionally we design, monitor, and strengthen that process.

Peer Review: Speed, Credentials, and Structural Loops

Researchers consistently call for faster peer review. At the same time, reviewer credentials are often tied to publication records. This creates a structural loop. Publishing history opens reviewing opportunities, reviewing strengthens credentials, and those without early access remain outside the cycle.

There is a need for us to reflect on how opportunity circulates within our systems: we should ask how we create more inclusive pathways for researchers globally to participate in peer review.

Community Engagement Workshop

One of the highlights of R2R was the workshop format, whereby small groups met repeatedly over two days and moved from ideas to tangible strategies.

I joined the Community Engagement workshop led by Lou Peck (CEO at The International Bunch) and Godwyns Onwuchekwa (Principal Consultant at Global Tapestry Consulting). We explored two deceptively simple questions: What is a community? and What does engagement truly mean?

“Engagement requires shared design and shared responsibility”

Too often, organizations equate communication with engagement. The framework discussed mapped a maturity spectrum – from enablement (broadcasting, informing and consulting) to true engagement (collaborating and co-creating).

It was a useful reminder of the fact that if we want trust and loyalty, engagement must go beyond announcements and surveys. It requires shared design and shared responsibility.

AI: Democratization or Digital Colonialism?

I especially enjoyed the thought-provoking presentation from Nikesh Gosalia (Chief Partnership Officer at Cactus Communications), which highlighted an uncomfortable reality:

  • 93% of AI-generated content is in English
  • Approximately 2% is in French
  • Approximately 2% is in German
  • More than 7,000 languages are represented in less than 5% of the content within large AI systems

The implications are profound. Is AI democratizing access to scholarly publishing (making it easier for researchers everywhere to participate in global knowledge production)? Or are we encoding colonialism at scale (entrenching linguistic and structural hierarchies, and making it harder for voices from the Global South to be heard)?

AI is already reshaping how research is created, reviewed, discovered, and shared. Its potential is enormous. But its impact depends not only on capability, but on governance, design, and intentionality. Publishers, funders, and researchers all share responsibility in shaping how these systems evolve.

Ethicality in practice (Lightening Talk)

It was also great to have our colleague Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation at MDPI) present MDPI’s Ethicality platform during a lightning talk.

“Technology alone is not the answer”

Ethicality embeds AI-driven checks directly into the submission workflow, supporting editors proactively rather than reacting after publication. As we scale, tools like this help balance trust, efficiency, and research integrity.

This goes back into the underlying theme of the conference that technology alone is not the answer. However, technology embedded thoughtfully within clear governance frameworks can strengthen confidence in the editorial process.

Final thought

The question is no longer whether technology will transform research infrastructure: it is already doing so. The real question is what role each of us will play in shaping that transformation deliberately, with structural maturity, inclusive governance, and engagement that moves from informing to co-creating.

Science needs to evolve, responsibly. And that responsibility extends not only to what we publish, but also to how the systems behind publication are designed. Some important topics to continue reflecting on both internally and within our broader community.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

26 February 2026
Meet Us at Heart Rhythm 2026, 23–26 April 2026, Chicago, USA


Conference: Heart Rhythm 2026
Date:
23–26 April 2026
Location: Chicago, USA

MDPI will attend Heart Rhythm 2026 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Chicago, USA, from 23 to 26 April 2026.

The Heart Rhythm meeting is an annual event organized by the Heart Rhythm Society and is one of the must-attend events for those researching or delivering arrhythmia care or services. From groundbreaking science to transformative technologies and worldwide collaboration, Heart Rhythm 2026 is where the future of arrhythmia care will take shape.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Clinical Arrhythmia & Heart Failure Care;
  • Digital Health & Advancing Technology-Enabled Diagnosis;
  • Translational, Basic & Experimental Science;
  • Health Systems & Professional Practice.

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

 If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #439 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://heartrhythm.com/heart-rhythm-2026.

25 February 2026
Empowering Academic Growth with MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop at the Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Chulalongkorn University, 13 March 2026


We are pleased to announce the launch of the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop, organized through a collaboration between the Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Chulalongkorn University, and MDPI. This initiative highlights a joint commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research aimed at addressing global sustainability challenges via innovative methods, cross-sector partnerships, and transformative approaches.

As part of an ongoing partnership, the workshop is designed to support and empower researchers at the Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Chulalongkorn University. It will focus on emerging trends in sustainability, open access publishing strategies, and opportunities for direct engagement with journal editors and industry experts. The session aims to equip participants—especially early-career researchers and innovators—with practical skills to enhance the impact of their academic output and to establish substantive international collaborations.

Date: 13 March 2026
Time: 1:00—3:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room, 3rd Floor, Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Language: English
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QDT88GK

Speaker Program Time
Assoc. Prof. Puree Anantachoti, Program Director of the Master of Science Program in Research for enterprise, Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University Opening Speech   1:00–1:10
Ms. Rattikan Pancharoen MDPI and Journal Introduction 1:10–1:30
Dr. Juthathip Poofery How to Write Scientific Papers 1:30–2:00
  Q&A Session 2:00– 2:10
Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana How to Respond to Peer Reviewers and Understand Pre‑Check Rejections 2:10–2:40
  Q&A Session 2:40–2:50
Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon Publication Ethics for Authors 2:50–3:20
  Q&A Session 3:20–3:30

Chair:  
Assoc. Prof. Puree Anantachoti is the Program Director of the Master of Science Program in Research for enterprise, Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University. She is specialized in pharmaceutical policy and regulation, access to medicines, health financing and social and administrative pharmacy practice.

MDPI speakers:

 
Ms. Rattikan Pancharoen received her master’s degree in silviculture technology from Kasetsart University. She joined MDPI in July 2020 as an Assistant Editor. She currently works as a Section Managing Editor and a Section Training Assistant for the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH).
Dr. Juthathip Poofery holds a PhD in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. She began working at MDPI in 2021 as an Assistant Editor for Medicina and advanced to the position of Section Managing Editor in 2022. Since 2023, Dr. Poofery has been serving as the Group Leader of the “Medical Science” Section, where she oversees editorial operations and contributes to the advancement of research in the field.
Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana obtained her master’s degree in food science and biotechnology from Teesside University. She joined MDPI in December 2020 as an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Imaging. She was appointed as a Section Managing Editor in March 2023 and a Regional Journal Relations Specialist for the Asia–Pacific region in July 2024.
Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon obtained her master’s degree in chemistry from Thammasat University, Thailand, in 2020 and joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor for the journal Crystals in the same year. She became a Section Managing Editor in 2021 and a Group Leader in 2022. She is currently one of MDPI’s Regional Journal Relations Specialists for the Asia–Pacific region.

25 February 2026
MDPI Open Science Insights: Online Academic Publishing Workshop at the Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, 25 February 2026


MDPI is pleased to present an academic publishing workshop led by Regional Journal Relations Specialist Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj, focusing on empowering researchers to successfully write and publish their first academic article. Dr. Ulndreaj will cover key topics including academic writing techniques and proper, effective responses to peer reviewers. Participants will gain practical advice on article composition, submission venue selection, peer review navigation, and crafting thoughtful “Author’s Reply” responses. The workshop also outlines clear learning objectives: guiding attendees from initial article ideas to final submission, teaching peer review insights and response skills, emphasizing academic integrity best practices, and offering a Q&A session for further clarification.

Date: 25 February 2026
Time: 14:00–15:00 (EST)
Venue: Online on Zoom 
Registration: https://msm-edu.zoom.us/j/97682922220?pwd=UteaycJ9tNXo88tzEN2Lxzk7ByWYQu.1
Meeting ID: 976 8292 2220
Passcode: 188176

Schedule:

Speaker

Programme and Content 

Time  

Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj 

Academic Article Writing Techniques 
  • How to structure a research article 
  • Finding the right journal for your work 
  • Navigating peer-review 
  • Q&A Session

14:00–14:30 

Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj 

How to Respond to Peer Reviewers Properly Effectively 
  • Brief introduction of MDPI peer-review workflow 
  • Core principles to respond to review comments 
  • How to write the “Author’s Reply” 
  • Q&A Session

14:30–15:00  

MDPI Speaker

Dr. Antigona Ulndreaj holds a PhD in medical science from the University of Toronto and has completed three postdoctoral fellowships specializing in regenerative medicine and clinical diagnostics. She currently serves as an Assistant Editor for Pharmaceuticals and as a Regional Journal Relations Specialist. With extensive experience in academic publishing, Antigona has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles, reviewed more than 25 manuscripts, and, in her editorial role, has processed over 130 manuscripts. Her multifaceted perspective on research and publishing allows her to guide academics in effectively translating their data and ideas into clear, impactful manuscripts.

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