Announcements

MDPI is honored to announce the recipients of the 2025 Best Paper Awards, celebrating exceptional research for its scientific merit and broad impact. After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by Academic Editors, this year’s awards showcase papers that stand out for their innovation, relevance, and high-quality presentation.

Out of a highly competitive pool, 396 winning papers have been recognized for their exceptional contributions. We congratulate these authors for pushing the boundaries of their respective disciplines.

At MDPI, we are dedicated to broadening the reach of innovative science. To learn more about the award-winning papers and explore research projects in your field of study, please visit the following links:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Business and Economics;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Computer Sciences and Mathematics;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities;
• Physical Sciences;
• Public Health and Healthcare.

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the global research community and enhance academic dialogue, MDPI journals regularly host award programs across diverse scientific disciplines. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and whose work drives the advancement of their fields.

Explore the Best Paper Awards open for participation, please click here.

We are excited to invite you to a panel discussion “From Data to Insights: Applying Advanced Analytics to Railroad Maintenance Diagnostics and Prognostics”. This webinar will feature four presentations from leading experts in advanced analytics, focusing on improving how railroads gather and analyze data to enhance safety and reduce costs. The presentations will cover a wide range of important topics in railroad operations, including early detection of failed bearings, track stability assessment, effective lubrication strategies, and the seamless integration of manual and automated track inspections.

Date: 7 May 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. CEST | 11:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 894 7768 3152
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Machines-2

Register now for free!

Program:

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

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

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Mehdi Ahmadian, Virginia Tech, USA;
• Dr. Ahmad Radmehr, Virginia Tech, USA;
• Prof. Dr. Constantine Tarawneh, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, USA;
• Dr. Allan Zarembski, University of Delaware, USA;
• Prof. Dr. Dimitris C. Rizos, University of South Carolina, USA.

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.

MDPI is pleased to announce our participation in the World Congress on Condition Monitoring (WCCM 2026), held from 25 to 27 August in Milan, Italy.

WCCM 2026 stands as a premier worldwide platform for scientists and professionals from both academia and industry to share knowledge and insights in the field of condition monitoring. The congress is dedicated to facilitating the global exchange of research and applications, with a strong emphasis on international cooperation and technological advancements.

The conference covers a wide spectrum of key areas, including condition monitoring technologies, sensors and data acquisition, signal processing and machine learning, fault diagnosis and prognostics, and maintenance and reliability. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore industrial applications, standards, and transformative case studies that are shaping the future of asset management.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Sensors;
• Machines;
• NDT;
• ASI;
• Applied Mechanics;
• Vibration;
• JETA;
• Lubricants;
• Technologies;
• Standards;
• Logistics.

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).

The journal Machines (ISSN: 2075-1702) is delighted to present the winner of the 2025 Young Investigator Award—Dr. Lidong Yang.

Dr. Lidong Yang is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Prior to that, he conducted Postdoctoral research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Dr. Yang obtained a PhD degree in mechanical and automation engineering from CUHK in 2020, and he received a BEng degree from Hornor School of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in 2014. His major research interests include micro-/nanorobot design and fabrication, microrobotic system development and control, and biomedical applications of micro-/nanorobots.

The following is an interview with Dr. Lidong Yang:

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself, including your current affiliation and main research areas?
I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and I am the academic committee member of the PolyU-PUTH Joint Medicine–Engineering Collaborative Innovation Research Laboratory. I hold a PhD in mechanical and automation engineering from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and a BEng from the Honors School of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT).
My research is centered on small-scale robotics with applications to biomedicine. The primary areas I research include micro-/nanorobot design and fabrication, microrobotic system development and automated control, and biomedical applications of micro-/nanorobots.

2. Can you describe your current research project? And the practical applications of current research, what challenges have you encountered during the research process, and what prompted you to pursue a career in academia.
My current projects involve advancing the capabilities of small-scale robots, with a strong emphasis on their biomedical translation. A significant part of my recent work has focused on developing deep learning-based frameworks for autonomous navigation of microrobots. For instance, we've demonstrated a system that enables a swarm of microrobots to adapt to and navigate through complex, dynamic environments in real time, a crucial step for applications inside the human body. Another key project involves the development of magnetically actuated microcatheters with soft rotatable tips, designed to enhance access and treatment efficiency in delicate endovascular procedures. We are also exploring reinforcement learning for real-time path planning of microrobots.
The primary practical application of these works are in medicine. The goal is to create tiny and steerable robots that can perform tasks previously impossible in the human body. The challenges in this field are substantial and require highly interdisciplinary efforts. Such a robotic system requires control and navigation in complex biological environments, biocompatibility and safety for the human body, and imaging and tracking deep inside the body, etc. Currently, moving from successful lab demonstrations to reliable and mass-manufacturable clinical tools still faces significant challenges.
As for what prompted me to pursue a career in academia, my academic path has been driven by a deep curiosity about robotics and its potential to solve real-world problems. My time at HIT's State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System and my PhD work at CUHK solidified my passion for research. Academia provides the unique freedom to explore fundamental questions, to work at the cutting edge of technology, and to mentor the next generation of scientists and engineers. To me, all of these aspects in academia are fulfilling.

3. What advice would you give to early career researchers or young scientists who are just starting their academic journey?
Based on my own journey and what I have observed, I would offer the following advice to early career researchers:
(1) Focus on a problem, not just a technique. It's easy to get attracted into a new technology. Instead, identify an important and unsolved problem in the field and then apply your skills to solve it. This makes your research more grounded and ultimately more impactful;
(2) Build a strong collaborative network. Research is rarely a solo endeavor. At present, interdisciplinary research is the trend. Therefore, it’s important to actively seek out and build relationships with colleagues in other fields (e.g., medicine, biology, and chemistry);
(3) Be patient and persistent. Research, especially in a field like robotics, is full of setbacks. Experiments will fail, or papers will be rejected. The key is to learn from each experience, and then adapt and keep pushing forward.

4. Which research topics do you think will receive particular attention from the research community in the coming years?
Looking ahead, I believe the following two areas will be at the forefront of robotics research:
(1) AI-enhanced autonomy and swarm intelligence. The integration of advanced AI, particularly deep reinforcement learning, will be crucial for enabling robots and their swarms to operate autonomously in unpredictable and unstructured environments. This moves beyond simple teleoperation towards true “co-pilots”;
(2) Advanced Materials. To push forward robotics, materials is one of the keys. For clinical translation, deep sea exploration, and deep space exploration, there will be major innovations towards materials to tackle the physical limitations of robots.

5. Do you have any suggestions or advice for our journal Machines?
Machines has established itself as a valuable platform for research in machinery, robotics, and automation. I am honored to receive the Machines Young Investigator Award. My suggestions are as follows:
(1) Encourage interdisciplinary submissions. Given the increasing convergence of robotics with AI, materials science, and biology, it’s a good try to actively promote high-quality interdisciplinary research. Special issues on topics like “AI for microrobotics” or “Biomedical mechatronics” could be very successful;
(2) Maintain high review standards. The reputation of a journal rests on the rigor and fairness of its peer-review process. Continuing to attract expert reviewers who provide constructive feedback will be key to publishing impactful work;
(3) Support open science. Consider initiatives that promote data and code sharing, as this enhances reproducibility and accelerates progress in the field.

6. What are your thoughts on the open access (OA) publication model?
I am a strong supporter of the open access (OA) model. The central goal of scientific research is to disseminate knowledge and accelerate discovery, and OA is the most effective way to achieve that. By removing paywalls, OA ensures that our work is accessible not only to well-funded institutions but also to researchers in developing countries, clinicians, policymakers, and the public. There are more and more OA journals, which is a trend.

We are pleased to introduce the Section “Automation and Control Systems” of the journal Machines (ISSN 2075-1702).

“Automation and Control Systems” is a Section of Machines (ISSN 2075-1702) that focuses on the development of new techniques, methods, systems, and tools that advance the intelligent automation and control of machinery and engineering systems. The Section publishes research articles, reviews, communications, and letters.

Subject areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

Core Control Theory and Methodologies for machinery and engineering system

• Advanced control theory, modeling, and optimization;
• Novel modeling, analysis, and control strategies;
• Optimal control, adaptive control, robust control, and intelligent control algorithms;
• Control system design, simulation, verification, and optimization;
• Decentralized, distributed, and networked control systems;
• Fault detection, diagnosis, and fault-tolerant control.

Automation Engineering and Systems Integration

• Automation system design, integration, and industrial applications;
• Intelligent automation systems and their industrial deployment;
• Flexible and reconfigurable automation systems for manufacturing;
• Green automation technologies and energy-efficient industrial systems;
• Process automation, monitoring, and real-time industrial control;
• Factory automation, intelligent production lines, and smart industrial systems.

Digital and Intelligent Technologies for Automation

• AI- and data-driven methods for automation and control;
• Machine learning and data-driven approaches for industrial control;
• Industrial informatics, industrial IoT, and industrial big data analytics;
• Digital twin technology and its integration with control and automation systems;
• Human–machine interaction and collaborative automation systems.

Robotics-Related Control for Automation Systems

• Basic control principles for robotic systems;
• Motion control and trajectory planning for automated robotic platforms;
• Kinematic and dynamic modeling for robotic mechanisms in automation contexts.

Advanced Machinery-Oriented Control and Automation Hot Topics

• Precision control and servo systems for high-performance equipment and machinery;
• Mechatronic control systems and intelligent mechatronic device development;
• Dynamics control and vibration suppression for mechanical, electrical and electromechanical systems;
• Condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and life-cycle control of industrial systems and equipment;
• Control technologies and emerging applications for special-purpose machinery and engineering systems.

MDPI will be attending the 2026 American Control Conference (ACC 2026) in New Orleans, USA, which will take place from 26th to 29th May 2026. ACC is the annual conference of the American Automatic Control Council (AACC), the U.S. national member organization of the International Federation for Automatic Control (IFAC). National and international society co-sponsors of ACC include the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), IEEE Control Systems Society (IEEE-CSS), Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), International Society of Automation (ISA), Society for Modeling & Simulation International (SCS), and Society for Industrial & Applied Mathematics (SIAM).

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Automation;
• Drones;
• Electronics;
• Aerospace;
• Applied Sciences;
• Applied System Innovation;
• Eng;
• Processes;
• Vehicles;
• Actuators;
• Modelling;
• Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Analyses — Advanced Methods for Science, Engineering, and Technology;
• Logistics;
• Machines;
• World Electric Vehicle Journal.

If you are attending the conference, please feel free to visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://acc2026.a2c2.org/.

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.