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Announcements
18 September 2025
Materials | Interview with the Newsletter Author—Dr. Ibrahim Haruna Umar

Dr. Ibrahim Haruna Umar is one of the authors of the following newsletter article published in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944):
“Marble Powder as a Soil Stabilizer: An Experimental Investigation of the Geotechnical Properties and Unconfined Compressive Strength Analysis”
by Ibrahim Haruna Umar and Hang Lin
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051208
Dr. Ibrahim Haruna Umar is currently pursuing his PhD in mining engineering at Central South University, China. His research interests lie in sustainable geotechnical engineering, with a particular focus on soil stabilization using industrial by-products and predictive modeling of geotechnical properties. Dr. Umar has authored numerous articles in highly ranked journals exploring innovative approaches to soil improvement, composite pile systems, and machine learning applications in geomechanics. He has also participated in international conferences and collaborative research initiatives across Turkey and Nigeria. His recent work, “Marble Powder as a Soil Stabilizer: An Experimental Investigation of the Geotechnical Properties and Unconfined Compressive Strength Analysis”, received positive evaluations from reviewers and academic editors, and has been selected as a featured newsletter article for further promotion by the journal Materials.
The following is an interview with Dr. Ibrahim Haruna Umar:
- Congratulations on your published paper. Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
Thank you. Our paper investigates the potential of waste marble powder as a sustainable soil stabilizer for fine-grained clayey soils. Through a comprehensive experimental program, we evaluated geotechnical properties such as Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). We also developed a quartic polynomial regression model to predict UCS based on curing time, water content, and composition ratios. The study demonstrates how marble powder can transform weak soils into viable construction materials.
- What are the key takeaways you hope readers will gain from your paper?
I hope readers take away three main points: Readers should recognize the environmental and engineering value of repurposing industrial waste—specifically marble powder—for soil stabilization. The research highlights optimal conditions for strength development and provides a predictive model that can guide future applications. It also underscores the importance of curing time and moisture control in achieving durable soil composites.
- Was there a specific experience or event in your research career that led you to focus on your current field of research?
My interest was sparked by observing the practical challenges in my region, where construction on weak, expansive soils often leads to pavement failures and foundation problems. Simultaneously, I noticed the environmental burden of industrial waste like marble powder. This presented a clear opportunity: to address a pressing engineering problem with a sustainable waste management solution. This intersection of geotechnical engineering and environmental sustainability has been the driving force behind my research focus.
- Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations encountered in your current research?
One difficulty was understanding the non-linear behavior of the soil–powder mixture, especially why strength decreased after a certain optimal marble powder ratio. This required careful analysis beyond simple linear assumptions. The breakthrough innovation was twofold: First, we achieved the “successful application of a high-degree polynomial regression model” that could accurately capture the complex relationships between the input variables and the resulting strength. This model achieved an excellent R² value of 0.954, providing a powerful tool for prediction. Second, through rigorous testing, we quantified the precise influence of each factor (curing time, water content, composition) on the final strength, with curing time emerging as the most critical parameter.
- Does technological progress provide new opportunities for the topic you are researching? Does it bring any potential risks? How do you think these factors will affect future research trends on this topic?
Absolutely. Technological progress, particularly in data analytics and machine learning, provides tremendous opportunities. We can move beyond traditional regression to develop even more sophisticated predictive models that can incorporate a wider range of variables and soil types. Advanced microstructural analysis techniques (e.g., SEM, XRD) can help us visually understand the chemical bonding and reaction mechanisms at a micro-level, optimizing the stabilization process. However, reliance on computational models without sufficient experimental validation poses risks. The future trend will undoubtedly involve a multi-disciplinary approach, combining advanced material science, data analytics, and traditional geotechnical testing to develop intelligent, tailored, and highly reliable stabilization protocols for diverse soil conditions.
- How do you evaluate research trends in this field, and what advice would you give to other young researchers?
The field is moving decisively towards green and sustainable geotechnics. There is a growing emphasis on using recycled materials, reducing the carbon footprint of construction, and creating circular economies. My advice to young researchers is the following:
- Be interdisciplinary: Don't just be a civil engineer. Learn about materials science, chemistry, data science, and environmental science;
- Focus on applicability: Always ask, “How can this research be implemented in the real world?” Bridge the gap between the lab and the field;
- Embrace sustainability: Look for research questions that offer solutions to environmental challenges. This is not just a trend but the future of our profession.
- Finally, how do you think the open access publishing model impacts authors?
Open access democratizes knowledge. It allows researchers, practitioners, and students worldwide to access cutting-edge findings without subscription barriers, significantly increasing the visibility, citation potential, and real-world application of our work. However, the publishing fee can be a financial consideration, especially for early-career researchers or those without institutional support. However, MDPI offers several avenues for fee reductions, including institutional agreements, waiver programs, and discount applications. I encourage authors to explore these options, as they make open access more accessible while preserving the benefits of global reach and impact.
18 September 2025
Peer Review Week | A Word from the Managing Editors of Materials
The Editorial Office of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) is actively participating in the Peer Review Week (PRW) discussion. Peer review is essential in scientific research and academic publishing, which is why we, as Managing Editors of Materials, would like to contribute to the global discussion, letting our readers dive into our policies and guidelines.
Our journal employs a single-blind peer review process, where authors’ identities are known to the reviewers, but the identity of the reviewer is not known to authors. Peer review comments are confidential. One of the biggest contributions of open access today is transparency. To support this value, we included the option of open peer review. If the authors opt for this, the identity of the reviewer is still unknown to authors during the peer review, but reports will be published alongside the manuscript.
Open peer review means that authors can choose whether review reports are published (open reports) and reviewers have the option to have their name on their published report (open identity). If the authors decide to publish the reports, review reports and author responses will be available on the article abstract page. We encourage authors to take advantage of this opportunity as proof of the rigorous process employed in publishing their research. Furthermore, for reviewers, opting for open peer review brings their review work into the open, transforming it into a public and shareable academic contribution. This provides reviewers with their due recognition, allowing them to include such contributions in their academic portfolios, thereby incentivizing more scholars to engage in high-quality reviewing. Meanwhile, as readers or learners, individuals can evaluate research papers more critically and gain insights through openly available peer review reports.
For Materials, the peer review process should uphold academic integrity, advance knowledge; be fair, inclusive, responsible, and respectful; and foster constructive collaboration among authors, reviewers, and editors to collectively enhance the quality of scholarly publishing. An effective peer review process needs to be rigorous and efficient, fair and transparent, to include reviewers who are experts in the related field, but also pay attention to providing constructive comments, to be handled with confidentiality and ethical compliance, in a human-centered process. Based on these points and values, we keep our structure clear and have defined timelines without compromising the processing speed. Our strict guidelines protect unpublished manuscript confidentiality, provide prevention of data misuse, and we keep strict adherence to academic ethics. We constantly work to improve our editorial process by implementing new tools to help us detect and prevent misconduct. However, we strongly believe that the decisions should remain reliant on human experts to ensure accuracy and contextual understanding.
MDPI recognizes the opportunities and challenges that are presented by the rapid development of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) services such as ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) for scholarly publishing. In order to provide transparency to the academic community, MDPI has developed strict policies based on the general guidance provided by STM and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in their position statement. Further details can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark4.
As the Editorial Office, we would like to emphasize the following to reviewers regarding the use of AI in manuscript evaluation and resisting the reliance on AI for reviews:
- The integration of artificial intelligence into research and publishing brings both opportunities and challenges. While AI tools can assist in language polishing, peer review must remain a human-driven, critical, and intellectually engaged process;
- We do not support using AI to generate review comments or final decisions. Peer review thrives on expert judgment, contextual understanding, and ethical responsibility—qualities that AI cannot replicate. Submitting AI-written reports violates confidentiality, undermines authenticity, and risks introducing biased or inaccurate feedback.
Instead, we encourage you to adhere to the following guidelines:
- Use AI responsibly, e.g., for improving language clarity, while ensuring no manuscript data is exposed to unauthorized platforms;
- Uphold your role as an expert, apply your knowledge to evaluate novelty, rigor, and scholarly significance;
- Protect confidentiality—never input any part of manuscript content into public or unsecured AI tools.
We are committed to supporting you with clear guidelines, training resources, and ethical frameworks for AI use. Together, we can embrace technological advances while preserving the integrity and trust that define peer review.
Editorial Office of Materials,
Managing Editors
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Ms. Daisy Liu Chief Managing Editor |
Ms. Hellen Hu Managing Editor |
Ms. Abby Wang Managing Editor |
Ms. Fay Liu Managing Editor |
Ms. Divena Dai Managing Editor |
15 September 2025
Materials | Peer Review Week

Today is the start of Peer Review Week (PRW)! MDPI and Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) are proud to participate in this event as good peer review is one of the pillars of scientific research and is essential in academic publishing.
At MDPI, we pride ourselves on our dedication to an efficient, rigorous and fair peer review process. From submission to publication, we offer clear and transparent peer review and Materials is proud to offer the option of Open Peer Review.
The main topic of PRW is “Rethinking Peer Review in the AI Era”. There is no avoidance of artificial intelligence in almost any sphere of today's world, which also impacts academic publishing. Eyes of the community have been diligently following the development of AI use since the beginning.
At MDPI and Materials, we follow the guidance outlined by COPE (The Committee of Publication Ethics) to develop strict and thorough AI usage guidelines: https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark4.
Through many workshops, blogs, and lectures on a global level throughout this week, we will explore the topic of AI within peer review.
To learn more, join our free webinar on 16 September 2025 at the following link:
https://sciforum.net/event/JAMS-2.
More information about MDPI's approach to Peer Review Week can be found at the following announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/about/announcements/13165.
More information about the event globally can be found at the following link: https://peerreviewweek.net/theme.php.
12 September 2025
Meet Us at the 2025 Chinese Biomaterials Congress (CSBM 2025), 9–12 October 2025, Shaoxing, China

Conference: 2025 Chinese Biomaterials Congress (CSBM 2025)
Date: 9–12 October 2025
Location: Shaoxing, China
MDPI will be attending the 2025 Chinese Biomaterials Congress as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.
The Chinese Biomaterials Congress is the most comprehensive, largest, and highest-level comprehensive academic exchange platform in its field. The 2025 Chinese Biomaterials Congress ence and Exhibition of New Technologies, Products, and Instruments (CSBM 2025), hosted by the Chinese Society for Biomaterials and organized by the Zhejiang University Shaoxing Research Institute, will be held at the Zhejiang Shaoxing International Convention and Exhibition Center from 9 to 12 October 2025. Driven by the new quality productivity policy, biomaterials, as a key area of strategic emerging industries, are experiencing unprecedented development opportunities.
The conference will focus on cutting-edge biomaterials science, technological innovation, application of research findings, and regulatory science, sharing the latest research findings and practical experiences and discussing the future direction of the biomaterials field. Experts, scholars, researchers, physicians, and entrepreneurs from renowned research institutions, medical institutions, businesses, and regulatory agencies, engaged in the research, development, production, testing, regulation, and clinical practice of biomaterials and medical devices, will attend.
Here is a list of just a few of the cutting-edge topics for all:
1. Innovative bone regeneration biomaterials and bone health;
2. Cardiovascular and peripheral vascular materials and devices;
3. Advanced manufacturing cutting-edge technologies;
4. Tissue and organ regenerative medicine materials;
5. Biomedical metal materials;
6. Nanobiomaterials and pharmaceutical development;
The following MDPI journals will be represented:
If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. 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 website: https://2025.csbm.org.cn/.
8 September 2025
MDPI Webinar | International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, 8 September 2025

MDPI is launching a special webinar to commemorate the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (IDCABS) and encourage researchers to share their knowledge to raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution.
Air pollution is the leading environmental threat to human health, causing millions of premature deaths each year. In order to recognise its global impact, the UN has designated 7th of September as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies to highlight the need for urgent action towards a sustainable future.
Date: 9 September 2025 at 12:00 p.m. CEST | 6:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 891 7022 7572
Register now for free!
Program
Speaker/Presentation | Time in CEST | Time in CST (Asia) |
MDPI Introduction | 12:00–12:10 p.m. | 6:00–6:10 p.m. |
Dr. Linda Walters Atmospheric Deposition of Microplastics and other Anthropogenic Materials |
12:10–12:30 p.m. | 6:10–6:30 p.m. |
Dr. Suraj Bhagat How AI/ML is Shaping the Fight Against Air Pollution for Better Public Health |
12:30–12:50 p.m. | 6:30–6:50 p.m. |
Prof. Umberto Berardi Mechanical Ventilation and Air Pollution |
12:50–1:10 p.m. | 6:50–7:10 p.m. |
Q&A Session | 1:10–1:30 p.m. | 7:10–7:30 p.m. |
Closing of Webinar | 1:30–1:35 p.m. | 7:30–7:35 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information 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 to watch.
Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Suraj Bhagat, Marwadi University, India;
- Prof. Umberto Berardi, Politecnico di Bari, Italy;
- Dr. Linda Walters, University of Central Florida, USA.
Relevant Special Issues:
“Air Pollution: Health Risks and Mitigation Strategies”
Guest Editors: Dr. Gabriele Donzelli and Prof. Dr. María M. Morales Suárez-Varela
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025
Submit to Atmosphere
“Bio-Energy: Biogas, Biomethane and Green-Hydrogen”
Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. João Fernando Pereira Gomes
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025
Submit to Gases
“Air Quality in Indoor Environments, 3rd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Ana Monteiro, Prof. Dr. Carla Viegas, Dr. Sandra Cabo Verde and Dr. Marina Almeida-Silva
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 January 2026
Submit to Applied Sciences
“The Impact of Wildfires on Climate, Air Quality, and Human Health”
Guest Editors: Dr. Diogo Lopes and Dr. Estela Vicente
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026
Submit to Fire
“Air Pollution Exposure and Its Impact on Human Health”
Guest Editor: Dr. Nedim Durmus
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026
Submit to Air
Relevant feature papers:
“Mitigating Built Environment Air Pollution by Green Systems: An In-Depth Review”
by Serena Vitaliano, Stefano Cascone and Provvidenza Rita D’Urso
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(15), 6487; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14156487
“Methanol, a Plugin Marine Fuel for Green House Gas Reduction—A Review”
by Dimitrios Parris, Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos, Konstantina Ragazou, Anna Giovou and Constantinos Tsanaktsidis
Energies 2024, 17(3), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030605
“Determination of Ozone Concentration Levels in Urban Environments Using a Laser Spectroscopy System”
by Mioara Petrus, Cristina Popa and Ana-Maria Bratu
Environments 2024, 11(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11010009
“Review of Satellite Remote Sensing of Carbon Dioxide Inversion and Assimilation”
by Kai Hu, Xinyan Feng, Qi Zhang, Pengfei Shao, Ziran Liu, Yao Xu, Shiqian Wang, Yuanyuan Wang, Han Wang, Li Di and Min Xia
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(18), 3394; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16183394
“An Overview of Waste-to-Energy Incineration Integrated with Carbon Capture Utilization or Storage Retrofit Application”
by Michele Bertone, Luca Stabile and Giorgio Buonanno
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4117; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104117
5 September 2025
Welcoming the New Editorial Board Members for Materials Joined in August 2025
We are pleased to announce that three new scholars have been appointed as Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for Materials (ISSN: 1996-144), effective August 2025. We wish our new members success in both their research and their efforts to develop the journal.
Name: Dr. Wang Junjie
Affiliation: Tsinghua University, China
Interests: sustainable building materials with low CO2 emissions and low energy costs (such as recycled cement, geopolymer concrete, and recycled aggregate concrete); highly durable and high-performance concrete in marine environments; non-destructive testing methods for concrete structures
Publications in Materials:
1. Carbon Sequestration by Preparing Recycled Cement, Recycled Aggregates, and Recycled Concrete from Construction and Demolition (C&D) Wastes
Materials 2024, 17(20), 5020; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17205020
2. A Review on Concrete Superplasticizers and Their Potential Applications for Enhancing the Performance of Thermally Activated Recycled Cement
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4170; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174170
Name: Prof. Dr. Simka Wojciech
Affiliation: Silesian University of Technology, Poland
Interests: coating; material characterization; materials; nanomaterials; microstructure advanced materials; corrosion; plasma electrolytic oxidation; titanium; dental implants
Publications in Materials:
1. Zirconia Dental Implant Designs and Surface Modifications: A Narrative Review
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174202
2. Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Test of INTEGRA Dental Implant System
Materials 2024, 17(5), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051213
Name: Prof. Dr. Wang Peng
Affiliation: Zhejiang University, China
Interests: design and synthesis of organic/nanomaterials with unique optoelectronic properties; fabrication and device physics of optoelectronic devices; interfacial excited states and carrier dynamics; atomic/molecular scale microstructures
We are currently still recruiting Editorial Board Members and Guest Editors. Please contact the Editorial Office if you are interested in these positions.
Materials Editorial Office
3 September 2025
Join Us at the MDPI at the University of Toronto Career Fair, 23 September 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada

Date: 23 September 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m
Location: The Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto
MDPI is thrilled to announce our participation in the University of Toronto’s largest career fair, taking place at the St. George Downtown Campus. This exciting event brings together thousands of students, graduates, and professionals looking to connect with top employers and explore career opportunities.
We invite all attendees to visit the MDPI booth to discover how you can be part of one of the world’s leading open access academic publishers. Whether you are passionate about scientific research, editorial work, marketing, or supporting global innovation in publishing, we want to meet YOU!
What to expect at our booth:
- Learn more about MDPI’s mission and global impact;
- Explore exciting career opportunities in publishing, editorial, communications, and more;
- Network with our team and ask questions about working at MDPI.
Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to take the next step, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with MDPI. Bring your resume, your curiosity, and your questions—we look forward to seeing you there!
For additional information on the Career Fair and Open MDPI positions, please visit the following links:
1 September 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #26 - CUJS, Head of Ethics, Open Peer Review, AIS 2025, Reviewer Recognition

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
Society of China University Journals (CUJS) visit to MDPI Basel
In August, we had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Society of China University Journals (CUJS) to our Basel headquarters. The visit was part of CUJS’s broader European tour, which included meetings with several major publishing organizations.
Purpose of the visit
The delegation’s stop in Basel involved an introductory meeting and knowledge-sharing with a view to identifying potential collaboration opportunities with MDPI. The CUJS team shared an overview of the Chinese scientific publishing landscape, including recent policy developments, and gave us insights into the journals and services they operate across China’s academic institutions.
MDPI presentations
We used the opportunity to introduce CUJS to MDPI’s mission, structure, and recent achievements. I presented on the latest developments at MDPI and our role in supporting global open access, addressing many follow-up questions from the delegation. Warm thanks are due to the following colleagues for their contributions to the session:
- Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer, Scientific Officer and Sustainability Specialist) shared an overview of our editorial process, including the quality indicators we use to track peer-review performance.
- Renato Merki (Publication Ethics Assistant) presented on behalf of our Research Integrity and Ethics team, emphasizing our commitment to responsible publishing.
- Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager) introduced the JAMS platform, highlighting how it supports efficient journal management for editors and publishers alike.
- Aimar Xiong (Publisher, Section Managing Editor) and Giuliano Braccini (Office Manager) facilitated the meeting, offering clarity in response to specific questions, building the relationship during and beyond the meeting itself.
“Building relationships with organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation”
Why is this important?
China is one of the world’s largest producers of scientific research, with its universities and research institutes playing a key role in global scholarly publishing. Building strong relationships with influential organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation vis-à-vis the Chinese academic community, share best practices, learn from differing publishing models, and explore collaborations that have the potential to enhance the quality, reach, and diversity of our journals.
Looking ahead
It was a productive and friendly exchange that reflected our shared commitment to advancing scholarly communication and improving journal publishing practices. We value these visits, which allow us to create collaborations with stakeholders in the global academic community.
Our Basel office is a hub for hosting international delegations, partners, and collaborators. We look forward to creating more global connections that support our mission.
Impactful Research
Appointment of Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics
As part of our ongoing commitment to research integrity and publishing excellence, I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics.
In this role, Tim will lead the development of our ethics strategy and oversee the continued growth of the Publication Ethics Department, which is based across our offices in Basel, Manchester, Belgrade/Novi Sad, and Cluj. Guided by the principles of effective prevention and efficient resolution, the department plays an essential role in ensuring the highest standards of integrity throughout our editorial processes.
Department focus
Working closely with internal teams and external partners, the Publication Ethics Department focuses on refining our policies, aligning our operations with international best practices, and addressing complex cases with fairness and transparency. This work is critical in supporting our editors, reviewers, and authors, reinforcing MDPI’s contribution to the global dialogue on research integrity.
“Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI”
About Tim
Tim joined MDPI in 2021 and has held several roles within the Publication Ethics Department, most recently serving as Research Integrity Lead. Based in our Basel office, he brings a strong academic background, with a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and a proven track record of leadership in research integrity.
Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI. I look forward to Tim’s leadership as we continue investing in the people, processes, and partnerships that uphold the trust and credibility of scholarly publishing.
Read more:
Inside MDPI
How and why MDPI offers Open Peer Review
At MDPI, we are committed to advancing openness and transparency in scholarly publishing. One area where we’ve taken a leadership role is peer review. Since 2014, MDPI has offered authors the option of open peer review, giving them the opportunity to publish reviewer comments alongside their papers. Each year, more authors are choosing this path, helping to build trust in the editorial process and provide valuable context for the research we publish.
Jack McKenna (Senior Content Specialist, MDPI) recently wrote an informative piece looking at the impact and importance of open peer review at MDPI. He highlights how this approach not only benefits readers but also gives well-deserved recognition to our reviewers, who generously dedicate their time and expertise to the academic community.
I encourage you to read this blogpost to see how MDPI is helping set standards for transparency in scholarly publishing.
Coming Together for Science
Recap of MDPI’s AIS 2025 Conference in Kuala Lumpur
Entering the month of August, we held The 2nd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field”
The second edition of AIS brought together 335 attendees from across Asia and beyond, including participants from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The event, chaired by Prof. Dr. Toshihiro Itoh (University of Tokyo), Prof. Dr. Sang-Woo Kim (Yonsei University), and Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore), continues to grow in reputation and has become an important platform for researchers and students to present their work, exchange ideas, and build international collaborations.
AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field, with participants highlighting its quality of service, its expanding academic network, and the value it delivers in the context of tightening research budgets in the region.
It was also excellent to see our new MDPI journal AI Sensors, which originated from a conference topic, host a successful launch party at the event.
Highlights from participant feedback:
- Southeast University (China) sent a student delegation and considers AIS a regular fixture for Ph.D. students in need of international conference experience.
- CAS Aerospace Information Research Institute sent a 10-member delegation and plans to further promote AIS internally.
- Japanese researchers regard AIS as a must-attend event, placing it on a par with IEEE conferences and citing the benefits of networking and exchange.
- Korean academics praised the organization and noted improved perceptions of MDPI among their institutions, viewing AIS as a strategic opportunity to deepen engagement in the region.
Award winners
We recognized the recipients of the Best Presentation, Best Scientist, Best Poster, and Best Student Paper awards, whose contributions set a standard for academic excellence. The full award announcement is available here.
Looking ahead
The 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers will be held from 5 to10 August 2026 in Jeju, Korea. The General Chairs will be Prof. Inkyu Park (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Prof. Zhou Li (Tsinghua University), Prof. Xinge Yu (City University of Hong Kong), and Prof. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore). We look forward to bringing together innovators, researchers and experts who are shaping the future at the intersection of sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.
Thank you
Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism and are already planning improvements to make the conference even more accessible. Special thanks to the National University of Singapore for their support, and to our entire conference team and collaborators for their dedication.
AIS is gaining momentum, and we look forward to supporting its role as a bridge between MDPI and the global academic community.
“Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism”
Closing Thoughts
Recognizing our outstanding reviewers
As we close this edition of the newsletter, I would like to spotlight MDPI’s 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Awards, which showcase a group of winners whose contributions often go unseen but are essential to the integrity of scholarly publishing: our reviewers.
In 2024, more than 215,000 reviewers dedicated their time and expertise to MDPI journals. From this community, we are proud to recognize 356 recipients of the Outstanding Reviewer Awards, who went above and beyond by providing timely, thorough and constructive feedback.
These awards are not only a token of our appreciation but also a reflection of the values we stand for: rigor, fairness and collaboration in advancing science.
To explore the full list of awardees across disciplines, from life sciences to the humanities, please visit the following pages:
- Biology and Life Sciences
- Business and Economics
- Chemistry and Materials Science
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Engineering
- Environmental and Earth Sciences
- Medicine and Pharmacology
- Physical Sciences
- Public Health and Healthcare
- Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
About MDPI Awards
To recognize the academic community, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. Serving as a source of recognition and inspiration, these awards help increase the influence of scholars who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their respective fields.
To explore more opening Outstanding Reviewer Awards, please click here.
To all our reviewers: thank you for being the foundation of trust that makes open access publishing possible!
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
27 August 2025
Materials | Scope Update

To further enhance the quality of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944) and the papers published in it, under the guidance of our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Maryam Tabrizian, the journal has updated and revised its scope. The original scope and the updated version are listed below.
Scope (new version): |
Scope (old version): |
The journal will not consider submissions that only present clinical cases, or that only cover geological and engineering applications of natural materials (e.g., soil, rocks, loess, basalt). |
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For more detailed information, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/about.
Materials Editorial Office
25 August 2025
Welcoming New Editorial Board Members of Materials Joined in July 2025
We are pleased to announce that five new scholars have been appointed as Editorial Board Members (EBMs) for Materials (ISSN: 1996-144), effective July 2025. We wish our new members success in both their research and their efforts to develop the journal.
Name: Dr. Yiqing Zeng
Affiliation: Nanjing Tech University, China
Interests: Functional materials and catalytic technologies for air pollution control; membrane separation and catalysis; catalytic purification of nitrogen oxides; and catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds.
Name: Prof. Dr. Yifeng Zheng
Affiliation: Nanjing Tech University, China
Interests: solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs); Zn–Air batteries; anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers; ceramic materials
Name: Dr. Noel Díez
Affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono (INCAR), CSIC, Spain
Interests: carbon materials; porous carbon; hard carbon; electrochemistry; batteries; capacitors
Name: Prof. Dr. Guohui Qin
Affiliation: Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China
Interests: potassium ion battery; fast charging; electrolyte science; anode materials; cathode materials
Name: Prof. Dr. Tao Gao
Affiliation: Sichuan University, China
Interests: actinides; uranium; plutonium; density functional theory
The office is currently still recruiting Editorial Board Members and Guest Editors. Please contact the Editorial Office if you are interested in these positions.
Materials Editorial Office