Announcements

To further enhance the international influence of the journal Languages (ISSN: 2226-471X), promote academic exchange among young scientists, and provide the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Languages is inviting interested and eligible early-career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

Recruitment:
We plan to recruit 20 Early Career Editorial Board Members. They will hold the position for two years with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application eligibility:

• Research interest falls within the scope of Languages;
• Completed their doctorate/PhD degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• Have a strong and impactful portfolio of publications in a given field of research;
• Currently (at the time of application) an assistant professor, research assistant professor, associate research scientist, post-doctoral fellow, or equivalent early career position;
• Willingness to dedicate their time to the development of the journal with passion and enthusiasm;
• Researchers who are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).

Benefits for an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized on the journal’s social media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to the role of Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who participated in the peer-review process on the journal website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editors-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member include the following:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Providing input on any new journal development initiatives;
• Inviting submissions from local and overseas world-leading scientists in their research fields.

Applications:
Please fill in the application form here.

Please send the application form and your academic resume to languages@mdpi.com with the subject line “Languages Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 28 February 2027.

Selection process and announcement:
The selection process is as follows: initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editors-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Languages (ISSN: 2226-471X), an open access journal whose central concern is promoting the understanding of the world’s languages in all their diversity. The journal aims to present discussions and developments of multidisciplinary research, thereby generating broad and practical applications for the study of languages in the current world.

With an Impact Factor of 1.2 and a CiteScore of 1.8, the journal is covered in the ESCI, Scopus, ANVUR-Class A and other databases. Over the past decade, Languages has published more than 1000 papers from more than 3000 authors. In addition, more than 2000 reviewers have conducted at least one review for Languages. We are grateful for the contributions made by our editors, authors, and reviewers.

As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on a decade of achievements and look forward to new opportunities in scholarly publishing. We invite you to join us in commemorating this special occasion and to explore the curated content prepared for our anniversary.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact us at languages@mdpi.com.

Recommended papers:

1. “A Systematic Review of Eye-Tracking Technology in Second Language Research”
by Xin Hu and Vahid Aryadoust
Languages 2024, 9(4), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9040141

2. “Predictions of Individual Differences in the Acquisition of Native and Non-Native Languages: An Update of BLC Theory”
by Jan Hulstijn
Languages 2024, 9(5), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9050173

3. “The Complexity in Bilingual Code-Switching Research: A Systematic Review”
by William Rayo, Aldo M. Barrita, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez and Ivan Carbajal
Languages 2024, 9(6), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9060217

4. “Chinese “Dialects” and European “Languages”: A Comparison of Lexico-Phonetic and Syntactic Distances”
by Chaoju Tang, Vincent J. van Heuven, Wilbert Heeringa and Charlotte Gooskens
Languages 2025, 10(6), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages10060127

5. “The Sino-Vietnamese Negative Prefixes bất, vô, phi and Their Coexistence with Sentential Negators: A Synchronic and Diachronic Analysis”
by Giorgio Francesco Arcodia and Trang Phan
Languages 2025, 10(6), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages10060146

Special Issues:

“East Asian Perspectives on the Acquisition of Argument Structure”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Jidong Chen and Prof. Dr. Yasuhiro Shirai
Submission deadline: 15 May 2026

“New Advances in Chinese Formal Semantics”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Haihua Pan and Dr. Bo Xue
Submission deadline: 17 May 2026

“Social Communication Disorders in Childhood: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Assessment and Intervention”
Guest Editors: Dr. Weifeng Han and Dr. Tianchong Wang
Submission deadline: 15 June 2026

“Generative AI-Supported Language Assessment for Learning”
Guest Editors: Dr. Mikyung Kim Wolf and Dr. Saerhim Oh
Submission deadline: 7 December 2026

“Experimental Insights into Acoustic and Articulatory Variability: Coarticulation and Prosodic Effects in Greek Speech Production”
Guest Editors: Dr. Katerina Nicolaidis, Dr. Mary Baltazani and Dr. Anna Sfakianaki
Submission deadline: 28 February 2027

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

Conference: Language Resources and Evaluation Conference 2026
Organization: ELRA Language Resources Association
Date: 11−16 May 2026
Place: Palma, Spain
Booth Number: 7

A number of MDPI journals will be exhibiting at the Language Resources and Evaluation Conference 2026, an exciting event that will be held in Palma, Spain, from 11 to 16 May 2026. The exhibition time is from 12–15 May 2026.

The Language Resources and Evaluation Conference (LREC) has been biennially organised by the ELRA Language Resources Association since 1998 with the support of institutions and organisations involved in Human Language Technologies (HLT). The conference will bring together researchers and practitioners in computational linguistics, speech, multimodality, and natural language processing, with special attention to evaluation and the development of resources that support work in these areas. Over the years, LREC has become the major international conference in the field of Language Resources and Evaluation. For the past editions, the event has gathered 1800+ participants from both academic institutions and industrial companies all over the world.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Information;
• Languages;
• AI;
• Analytics;
• BDCC;
• Computation;
• Computers;
• Future Internet;
• Informatics;
• Knowledge;
• MAKE;
• Data.

If you are attending the above conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth, booth #7. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

Of the participating journals, these are celebrating their 10th anniversary:

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Languages, a peer-reviewed open access journal on discussions and developments of multidisciplinary research with broad practical applications for the study of languages in the modern world. With an Impact Factor of 1.2 and a CiteScore of 1.8, the journal is covered in the ESCI, Scopus, and other databases, and has published more than 1000 papers from more than 3000 authors. In addition, more than 2000 reviewers have conducted at least one review for Languages. We are grateful for the contributions made by our editors, authors, and reviewers.

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Data, a peer-reviewed open access journal on data science. With an Impact Factor of 2.0 and a CiteScore of 5.0, the journal is covered in Scopus, ESCI, Ei Compendex, Inspec, DOAJ, and other databases. The journal has published more than 1200 papers from more than 5300 authors. More than 3000 reviewers have reviewed the journal at least once. We equally value the contributions made by our editors, authors, and reviewers.

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In the first quarter of 2026, nine new journals released their inaugural issues and three transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of clinical medicine, chemistry, computer science & mathematics, engineering, environment & ecology, and social sciences & psychology.

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these brand-new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

We are pleased to present the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop, organized in collaboration with Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. This joint initiative underscores a shared vision for fostering interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing global sustainability issues through creative methodologies, cross-sector partnerships, and impactful solutions.

Rooted in a shared dedication to researcher development, this workshop is designed to support the academic community at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. Attendees will gain insights into current trends in sustainability, open access publishing, and direct interaction with journal editors and publishing experts. With a special focus on early-career researchers and innovators, the session aims to equip participants with practical skills to elevate the reach of their research and cultivate lasting international collaborations.

Date: 12 May 2026
Time: 9:00–12:00 p.m.
Location: Lecture 3, Faculty of Liberal Arts
Language: Thai
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TG88QNG

Chair

Supit Boonlab is an Assistant Professor and serves as the Vice Dean for research development, and academic services at the Faculty of Liberal Arts. She earned her PhD degree in public administration. She specializes in public administration, leadership, and public policy, focusing on local governance, education management, and digital citizenship. Her significant contributions include developing structural equation models for policy and education systems, advancing digital-era learning frameworks, and promoting sustainable community and governance innovations in Thailand.

MDPI Speakers:
	Dr. Krit Inthajak obtained his PhD in engineering and technology from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University. He joined MDPI in March 2020 as an Assistant Editor for Molecules. He was appointed as a Section Managing Editor in 2021 and worked as a Group Leader from 2021 to 2024. He is now one of MDPI’s Regional Journal Relations Specialists for the Asia–Pacific region.
	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.
	Dr. Siriporn Tantiwatcharothai obtained her PhD in applied chemistry from the Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. She joined MDPI in December 2022 as an Assistant Editor for Catalysts. In 2024, she was promoted to Section Managing Editor, and as of April 2025, she has been serving as the Chief Section Managing Editor. And she is currently one of MDPI’s Regional Journal Relations Specialists for the Asia–Pacific region.

MDPI will be attending the 76th Annual ICA Conference (ICA 2026), held from 4 to 8 June 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. Under the theme of “Communication and Inequalities in Context”, this flagship global gathering brings together communication scholars, practitioners, and students to critically examine how communication intersects with inequality across diverse social, cultural, and geographical settings.

ICA 2026 will address deep societal divisions and persistent interpersonal, institutional, and structural inequalities that shape modern life, exploring how unequal access to political, economic, social, and communication resources will drive global disparities. The conference will also discuss inequalities within communication research itself, such as gender gaps in publication, language barriers for non-English-speaking scholars, the under-representation of Global South knowledge, and ongoing calls to de-Westernize the field.

As one of the world’s largest academic events in communication studies, ICA 2026 will offer a vital platform for sharing cutting-edge research, fostering international collaboration, and advancing more equitable and inclusive scholarship.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Journalism and Media;
• Societies;
• Social Sciences;
• Publications;
• Genealogy;
• Languages.

MDPI will be attending The English Linguistic Society of Japan’s 19th International Spring Forum 2026, which will take place from 23 to 24 May 2026 at Shimane University (Matsue Campus), Shimane, Japan.

The forum provides an excellent opportunity for researchers in English linguistics to share insights and discuss current trends in the field.

We would be delighted to welcome you to our booth, where you can learn more about languages and speak directly with our team.

If you plan to attend the forum, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak with our representatives. We look forward to meeting you in person and assisting you with any questions you may have.

For more information, please visit the official website: https://elsj.jp/sf_top/.

We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Tu Youyou Award. Named after Nobel Laureate Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin has saved millions of lives, this award recognizes researchers whose work advances the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, while also contributing to human health.

Prize

– CHF 100,000;
– A medal;
– A certificate.

The monetary prize will be shared equally should there be multiple recipients.

Who May Be Nominated?

– Scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Nominees must be individuals; team or group nominations are not permitted. Nominations are valid only for the current award cycle.

Who May Submit a Nomination?

– The director of the nominee’s host research institution or recognized scientists within the field.

Self-nominations will not be considered.

Nomination Materials

– A biographical sketch;
– A detailed description of the nominee’s contributions;
– 5–10 representative academic publications;
– A list of academic honors, awards, and funded projects;
– A nomination letter signed by two nominators.

How to Submit?

Submit nominations online via the following link: https://tuyouyouprize.org/nomination

Important Dates

– Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026
– Winner Announcement: March 2027

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/). For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.