Announcements

The Third National Conference on Coastal Zones will be held from 28 to 30 July 2025 in Yantai, Shandong Province, under the theme of “Sustainable Coastal Zones”. The conference focuses on coastal zone resources and environment monitoring, land- and sea-integrated planning, ecological restoration and disaster prevention and control and other cutting-edge issues, aiming to respond to the strategic needs of the national ocean power and ecological civilization construction and to promote scientific and technological innovation in the field of coastal zone and sustainable development. Through keynote reports, invited special reports, a scholars’ forum, poster presentations, journal columns, and other diversified forms, the conference will systematically highlight the latest achievements in coastal zone research driven by new technologies such as air and space information, big data, artificial intelligence, etc., and discuss the scientific path of the integrated management of coastal zones, ecological protection, and synergistic economic and social development. The conference will provide an interdisciplinary exchange platform for domestic and international experts, scholars, industry representatives, and young researchers to help modernize governance systems and promote the high-quality development of China’s coastal zone.

MDPI will be attending the conference as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from diverse backgrounds to attend and share their latest ideas with us.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Ecologies;
• Diversity;
• JMSE;
• Land;
• Earth;
• Safety;
• Coasts;
• Conservation;
• Environments;
• Remote Sensing;
• Hydrology.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.science-conference.pro/demo_1023/cn/index.html.

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

Academic Engagement: Dialogue and Collaboration

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

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

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

Environmental and Earth Sciences Journals Editorial Board Meeting

Award Ceremonies: Honoring Innovation

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

Geosciences Best Paper Award

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

Interactive Highlights: Fun and Engagement

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

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

Looking Ahead: Advancing Open Science

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

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

Workshop Highlights:

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

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

Program:

Conference: 44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering (OMAE)
Date: 22–27 June 2025
Location: Vancouver, Canada

MDPI will attend the 44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering (OMAE) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from 22 to 27 June 2025.

The 44th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering (OMAE) is organized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

OMAE is where researchers present new advances in offshore and ship structures, reliable production methods, ocean engineering technology, and arctic sciences. And recently, OMAE has expanded to highlight research on offshore wind and solar energy, digitalization in key offshore operations, incorporation of advanced analytical techniques, and successful implementation of new technologies in the field.

Topics include the following:

• Structural Reliability;
• Materials Technology;
• Offshore Wind;
• Carbon Capture and Storage;
• Hydrogen Storage and Transport;
• Climate Change Impacts;
• Sustainable Solutions.
  

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• JMSE;
• Oceans;
• Coasts;
• Energies;
• Applied Sciences;
• Applied Mechanics;
• JMMP;
• Wind;
• Machines;
• ESA;
• NDT;
• Hydrology.
  

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #5 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://event.asme.org/OMAE.

World Tuna Day, observed on May 2, serves as a global call to raise awareness about the pressing challenges facing tuna populations and to emphasize the need for sustainable fishing practices. Tuna and tuna-like species are vital to the global economy and food supply, contributing significantly to food security, economic growth, and the livelihoods of communities around the world. However, the growing market demand has placed immense pressure on tuna stocks. Alarming data show that 33.3% of the seven main tuna species are now fished at biologically unsustainable levels, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts and international cooperation.

In recognition of World Tuna Day 2025, we encourage you to explore current research and expert discussions featured in MDPI journals such as Animals, Fishes, Foods, and Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (JMSE). Through open access publishing and interdisciplinary collaboration, MDPI is dedicated to advancing innovative solutions that support the sustainable management of tuna and promote the long-term health of our oceans.

“Correlation Between Sensory Characteristics and Physicochemical Properties of Wild and Farmed Frozen Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)
by Hiroki Kashikura, Masafumi Yagi, Yusa Nakamura, Akira Sakai, Kigen Takahashi, Seiichi Hiratsuka and Keiichi Goto
Fishes 2024, 9(12), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9120473

“The Impact of Acute Ammonia Nitrogen Stress on Serum Biochemical Indicators and Spleen Gene Expression in Juvenile Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)”
by Yongyue Sun, Zhengyi Fu and Zhenhua Ma
Animals 2024, 14(21), 3090; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14213090

“Optimization of the Preparation Process and Ameliorative Efficacy in Osteoporotic Rats of Peptide–Calcium Chelates from Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) Meat”
by Wan-Zhen Yan, Jiao Wang, Yu-Mei Wang, Yu-Hui Zeng, Chang-Feng Chi and Bin Wang
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2778; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172778

“Exploring the Blood Glucose-Lowering Potential of the Umami Peptides LADW and EEAEGT Derived from Tuna Skeletal Myosin: Perspectives from α-Glucosidase Inhibition and Starch Interaction”
by Shuai Zhao, Shengbao Cai, Lixin Ding, Junjie Yi, Linyan Zhou, Zhijia Liu and Chuanqi Chu
Foods 2024, 13(2), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13020294

“Mechanisms of Digestive Enzyme Response to Acute Salinity Stress in Juvenile Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)”
by Ninglu Zhang, Rui Yang, Zhengyi Fu, Gang Yu and Zhenhua Ma
Animals 2023, 13(22), 3454; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223454

“Projected Changes in Spawning Ground Distribution of Mature Albacore Tuna in the Indian Ocean under Various Global Climate Change Scenarios”
by Sandipan Mondal, Aratrika Ray, Ming-An Lee and Malagat Boas
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(8), 1565; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081565

“Effects of Climate Variability on Two Commercial Tuna Species Abundance in the Indian Ocean”
by Yang Wang, Fan Zhang, Zhe Geng, Yuying Zhang, Jiangfeng Zhu and Xiaojie Dai
Fishes 2023, 8(2), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8020099

“Impact of Salinity Changes on the Antioxidation of Juvenile Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)”
by Shengjie Zhou, Ninglu Zhang, Zhengyi Fu, Gang Yu, Zhenhua Ma and Lei Zhao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(1), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11010132

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.

We are pleased to inform you that the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (JMSE, ISSN: 2077-1312) has been accepted into Ei Compendex in the Engineering Village. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the authors, reviewers, and editors who have contributed to this journal and helped us to accomplish this achievement.

JMSE is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal which provides an advanced forum for studies related to marine science and engineering. It publishes reviews, research papers, and communications. We aim to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible.

To make the most of this opportunity, we would like to invite you to submit your research to the journal. We warmly welcome you to consider JMSE as a platform for publishing your work. If you have a paper concerning any topic within the scope of the journal, please submit it via the journal’s website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jmse.

JMSE Editorial Office

We are pleased to announce the continuity of our initiative—the Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program will enable early career researchers (who must possess a Ph.D. in a related field) to experience editing a Special Issue in MDPI journals, under the mentorship of our experienced Editorial Board Members or other experienced scientists. The mentor program will provide an excellent opportunity for early career scientists to gain editorial experience and cultivate their ability to edit scientific research. It is important to note that, within this program, the mentor will hold the title of Guest Editor (GE), while the mentee will be recognized as the Guest Editor Assistant (GEA).

The mentee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Proposing a Special Issue title and assisting the mentor in preparing a summary (around 200–400 words) and 3–10 keywords describing the background, importance, and goal of the Special Issue;
• Writing a brief promotion plan for the Special Issue;
• Compiling a list of scholars who may be interested in the issue and personally sending invitations on behalf of the Guest Editors;
• Writing an editorial for the online Special Issue together with the mentor;
• Providing opinions and suggestions to the GE mentor to assist them with making their final decisions (but they cannot make decisions during paper processing, and the GE Assistant will not be listed in the published papers as an Academic Editor).

The mentor’s responsibilities include but are not limited to, the following:

• Conducting a final check before the Special Issue is published online;
• Performing editorial control of the Special Issue and quality control of the publications in a timely manner;
• Providing suggestions to younger scholars if they have any doubts or concerns regarding submissions;
• Organizing video calls with young scholars and the Editorial Office regularly to discuss problems and improvement suggestions for the Special Issue;
• Making and submitting decisions for the submissions with the assistance of mentees.

Certificates and awards:
After the Special Issue closes, the Editorial Office will provide official certificates to all the mentors and mentees.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the JMSE Editorial Office, and we will discuss the process (mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (JMSE, ISSN: 2077-1312) continues to welcome all Special Issue proposals based on trending research topics.

JMSE Editorial Office