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The following is an interview with Dr. Moustafa Darwish:

My research team comprises a vibrant and hardworking group of individuals who are consistently working towards the common goal of exploring and understanding the mysteries of physics and materials science. Our team's strength lies in the diversity of our members, who bring a range of skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. This greatly enriches our research and fosters innovative thinking.

As for my own journey to becoming a scientist, I was always intrigued by the fundamental laws of nature and was drawn to physics for its mathematical precision and potential for innovation. The decision to specialize in materials science came later, after gaining exposure to the field during my early career. I was fascinated by the influence of magnetic fields on chemical reactions and the wide range of applications it offers in numerous scientific disciplines.

2. What topics do you consider the most promising regarding future research output in the field of magnetochemistry?

In the field of materials science, I consider the study of magnetic nanomaterials, particularly in conjunction with other functional materials (like polymers), to be highly promising. These composite materials present interesting phenomena and have potential applications in various cutting-edge fields, such as 5G technology, data storage, sensors, and biomedical applications. I believe exploring materials science from a theoretical and experimental perspective could bring about revolutionary changes in these areas.

3. Would you like to share your tips regarding the approach towards research and achieving your goals with your younger peers and colleagues?

For young researchers, I advise maintaining a diligent and inquisitive attitude. Always question the status quo and never stop learning. Collaborative research, patience, resilience, and creative problem-solving are the cornerstones of achieving research goals. Also, effective communication of your findings, either in scientific forums or publications, is crucial to making a significant impact in your field.

4. What are your opinions about the scientific publication market, what do you think about the open access model?

Regarding the scientific publication market, I believe the open access model is a much-needed reform. It democratizes knowledge, making it freely available to anyone, irrespective of their financial capacity. This is particularly important in fostering global research collaborations and allowing scientists from different parts of the world to access and contribute to cutting-edge knowledge. However, it is crucial to balance the economic sustainability of publishers and the accessibility of content.

5. As you have been involved with MDPI—what do you think about the way our peer-review process is managed? Do you find it transparent, and fair?

The peer-review process at MDPI, in my experience, has been transparent and fair. This is essential in maintaining the quality and integrity of published work. The process encourages thorough scrutiny and constructive criticism, which contributes significantly to the evolution of research and encourages a culture of excellence among researchers.

6. What could be done on the side of major publishers, in order to help scholars from developing countries to publish their research?

Major publishers could provide assistance to researchers from developing countries through initiatives like fee waivers, subsidies, mentorship programs, and collaborative opportunities. Access to state-of-the-art research tools and databases could be made more affordable or, if possible, free. Also, fostering collaborations with researchers from developed countries can help in building capacity and improving the global visibility of researchers from developing nations.

Once again, thank you for the honor and the opportunity to express my views. I look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration.

The Magnetochemistry Editorial Office would like to express sincere appreciation for Dr. Moustafa Darwish, who is an extraordinary researcher in his field. His engagement into the review process has made the improvement of many articles possible, while simultaneously ensuring quality and proper understandability of the research. Dr. Darwish has also shared his ideas with our Editorial Office, highlighting the possible hot topics, general research trends in the magnetochemistry discipline, and bringing our attention towards the assistance we could provide to scholars with our services.

MDPI is committed to publishing high-quality articles efficiently and we, as a company, share similar values as Dr. Moustafa Darwish. To enable scholars from developing countries to publish their work, MDPI makes tremendous effort, providing vouchers for reviewers from all around the world, cooperating with universities on Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP link: https://www.mdpi.com/about/ioap) and many more. We are devoted to improving the popularity of the journal and increasing regular contributions, while advocating for the open access initiative. It is our great honor that scientists akin to Dr. Darwish are eager to work with Magnetochemistry (ISSN: 2312-7481) and we hope that our efforts will encourage even more scholars to both provide their contributions to our journal, and also consider long-term projects like Special Issues or Topical Collections.