Announcements
21 May 2025
Materials | Selected Papers Published in 2024 in the “Carbon Materials” Section
21 May 2025
Materials | Highly Cited Papers from 2024 in the “Advanced Materials Characterization” Section
19 May 2025
Meet Us at the International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT 2025), 30 June–4 July 2025, Singapore
14 May 2025
Meet Us at the EPF European Polymer Congress 2025, 22–27 June 2025, Groningen, the Netherlands
14 May 2025
International Day of Light—“Light, Innovation, Society”, 16 May 2025
Celebrating the International Day of Light, we reflect on light’s essential role in connecting scientific discovery with daily life. Guided by the 2025 theme, “Light, Innovation, Society”, we explore how light transcends boundaries—driving innovations across disciplines, enhancing human experiences, and fostering collaborative solutions to shared challenges. As both a universal symbol and a scientific tool, light continues to inspire curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections in an ever-evolving world.
MDPI invites researchers and readers to engage with our open access journals, Special Issues, and collaborative platforms dedicated to advancing light-related research. Discover freely accessible studies spanning from foundational principles to emerging applications, participate in global discussions through interdisciplinary forums, and contribute to open science efforts that bridge ideas and communities. Together, let us harness light’s simplicity and depth to spark dialogue, empower collective progress, and illuminate pathways toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
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“Preparation and Photoelectric Properties of Nanostructured Native Oxide of Gallium Monoselenide with Applications in Gas Sensors”
by Veaceslav Sprincean, Alexandru Macovei, Liviu Leontie, Aurelian Carlescu, Silviu Gurlui and Mihail Caraman
J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(4), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs9040194
“Optical Forces on Chiral Particles: Science and Applications”
by Weicheng Yi, Haiyang Huang, Chengxing Lai, Tao He, Zhanshan Wang, Xinhua Dai, Yuzhi Shi and Xinbin Cheng
Micromachines 2024, 15(10), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15101267
“Innovative Integration of Dual Quantum Cascade Lasers on Silicon Photonics Platform”
by Dongbo Wang, Harindra Kumar Kannojia, Pierre Jouy, Etienne Giraud, Kaspar Suter, Richard Maulini, David Gachet, Léo Hetier, Geert Van Steenberge and Bart Kuyken
Micromachines 2024, 15(8), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15081055
“Extremely Weak Electro-Optic Kerr Effect in Methyl Silicone Oils”
by Marek Izdebski, Rafał Ledzion and Szymon Węgrzynowski
Materials 2024, 17(8), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081850
“Estimating Compressive and Shear Forces at L5-S1: Exploring the Effects of Load Weight, Asymmetry, and Height Using Optical and Inertial Motion Capture Systems”
by Iván Nail-Ulloa, Michael Zabala, Richard Sesek, Howard Chen, Mark C. Schall, Jr. and Sean Gallagher
Sensors 2024, 24(6), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061941
“A Review of Solar Forecasting Techniques and the Role of Artificial Intelligence”
by Khadija Barhmi, Chris Heynen, Sara Golroodbari and Wilfried van Sark
Solar 2024, 4(1), 99-135; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar4010005
“Pulp Particle Classification Based on Optical Fiber Analysis and Machine Learning Techniques”
by Stefan B. Lindström, Rabab Amjad, Elin Gåhlin, Linn Andersson, Marcus Kaarto, Kateryna Liubytska, Johan Persson, Jan-Erik Berg, Birgitta A. Engberg and Fritjof Nilsson
Fibers 2024, 12(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib12010002
“A Review of State-of-the-Art and Short-Term Forecasting Models for Solar PV Power Generation”
by Wen-Chang Tsai, Chia-Sheng Tu, Chih-Ming Hong and Whei-Min Lin
Energies 2023, 16(14), 5436; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145436
“Long-Cavity M-Plane GaN-Based Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers with a Topside Monolithic Curved Mirror”
by Nathan C. Palmquist, Ryan Anderson, Jared A. Kearns, Joonho Back, Emily Trageser, Stephen Gee, Steven P. Denbaars and Shuji Nakamura
Photonics 2023, 10(6), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10060646
“Direct Fabrication of Ultrahydrophobic Laser-Induced Graphene for Strain Sensors”
by Devanarayanan Meena Narayana Menon, Matteo Giardino and Davide Janner
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4935; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084935
“Photonic Crystals Fabricated by Two-Photon Polymerization with Mechanical Defects”
by Victoria Paige Stinson, Nuren Shuchi, Dustin Louisos, Micheal McLamb, Glenn D. Boreman and Tino Hofmann
Optics 2023, 4(2), 300-309; https://doi.org/10.3390/opt4020021
“Beyond Conventional Sensing: Hybrid Plasmonic Metasurfaces and Bound States in the Continuum”
by Dominic Bosomtwi and Viktoriia E. Babicheva
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13071261
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“Novel Approaches for High Speed Optical Communication” |
“New Prospects in Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications” |
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“Photonic Integrated Circuits for Information, Computing and Sensing” |
“Microrheology with Optical Tweezers” |
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“Optical Composites, Nanophotonics and Metamaterials” |
“Recent Trends in Light-Assisted Reactions for CO2 Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals” |
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14 May 2025
Materials | Highly Cited Papers in 2024 in the “Thin Films and Interfaces” Section
13 May 2025
Empowering Academic Growth with MDPI: A Scientific Publishing Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, 15 May 2025
MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.
Workshop Highlights:
- Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
- How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
- How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
- Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
- How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.
Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University
Program:
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Speakers |
Program and Content |
Time |
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Dr. Stephen Mora |
Introduction to MDPI |
12:00–12:05 p.m. |
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How to Write and Structure a Research Article |
12:05–12:45 p.m. |
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How to Respond to Reviewer Comments |
12:45–1:30 p.m. |
12 May 2025
8th UN Global Road Safety Week, 12–18 May 2025
Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with nearly 1.2 million people killed and as many as 50 million people injured each year. They are the leading killer of young people aged 5–29 years. Globally, more than one of every four deaths occurs among pedestrians and cyclists.
The 8th UN Global Road Safety Week offers an opportunity to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe, by highlighting concrete and specific interventions that can be taken by different stakeholders: governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses, and schools.
MDPI believes these actions will help promote and facilitate a shift to walking and cycling, which are more healthy, green, sustainable, and economically advantageous modes of transport. This will also contribute, directly and indirectly, to the attainment of many Sustainable Development Goals. As a global enterprise, it is our duty to advance responsible practices that will ensure a bright future for our planet.
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“Advances in Traffic Congestion Prediction: An Overview of Emerging Techniques and Methods”
by Aristeidis Mystakidis, Paraskevas Koukaras and Christos Tjortjis
Smart Cities 2025, 8(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8010025
“Advancing Road Safety: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Object Detection Models for Commercial Driver Monitoring Systems”
by Huma Zia, Imtiaz ul Hassan, Muhammad Khurram, Nicholas Harris, Fatima Shah and Nimra Imran
Future Transp. 2025, 5(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp5010002
“Mechanical, Durability, and Microstructure Characterization of Pervious Concrete Incorporating Polypropylene Fibers and Fly Ash/Silica Fume”
by Hassan Bilal, Xiaojian Gao, Liborio Cavaleri, Alamgir Khan and Miao Ren
J. Compos. Sci. 2024, 8(11), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs8110456
“Spatial Cluster Analysis of the Social Determinants of Health and Fatal Crashes Involving US Geriatric and Non-Geriatric Road Users”
by Oluwaseun Adeyemi, Charles DiMaggio, Corita Grudzen, Sanjit Konda, Erin Rogers, Saul Blecker, JohnRoss Rizzo and Joshua Chodosh
Trauma Care 2024, 4(4), 266–281; https://doi.org/10.3390/traumacare4040023
“Impact of Mixed-Vehicle Environment on Speed Disparity as a Measure of Safety on Horizontal Curves”
by Tahmina Sultana and Yasser Hassan
World Electr. Veh. J. 2024, 15(10), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj15100456
“Enhancing Road Safety Strategies through Applying Combined Treatments for Different Crash Severity”
by Mohammad Nour Al-Marafi, Taqwa I. Alhadidi, Mohammad Alhawamdeh and Ahmed Jaber
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(3), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8030109
“Safety Impact Prediction of Redesigning National Roads Crossing Residential Areas: An Italian Case Study”
by Maurizio Crispino, Kevin Camozzi, Misagh Ketabdari, Arianna Antoniazzi and Emanuele Toraldo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 4984; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14124984
“An Overview of the Efficiency of Roundabouts: Design Aspects and Contribution toward Safer Vehicle Movement”
by Konstantinos Gkyrtis and Alexandros Kokkalis
Vehicles 2024, 6(1), 433–449; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6010019
“Properties and Characterization Techniques of Graphene Modified Asphalt Binders”
by Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza, Tatiana Navarro-Donado, Daniela Ortega-Martinez, Emilio Turbay, Gilberto Martinez-Arguelles and Rita Peñabaena-Niebles
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(5), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13050955
“Reconstruction of Asphalt Pavements with Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt Mixture in Cold Region: Material Characterization, Construction, and Performance”
by Dongzhao Jin, Dongdong Ge, Jiaqing Wang, Lance Malburg and Zhanping You
Materials 2023, 16(5), 1874; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16051874
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“Vehicle Dynamics and Control: Advanced Mobility Technologies and Transportation Safety” |
“Advanced Road Materials and Pavement Engineering: Design, Structure, Performance and Characterization” |
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“Vehicle Safe Motion in Mixed Vehicle Technologies Environment” |
“Autonomous Vehicles and Urban Evolution: Technological, Social and Environmental Perspectives” |
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“Innovative Transportation Systems: Shaping Smart and Sustainable Urban Mobility” |
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The Sustainable Mobility and Transportation Symposium 2024 Győr, Hungary | 14–16 October 2024 Volume Editors: |
30 April 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 3rd International Online Conference on Corrosion and Materials Degradation, 30 June–2 July 2026
30 April 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #22 - 300 Journals in WoS, Norway & Sweden Consortiums, Self-citations
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
Over 300 MDPI Journals are Indexed in Web of Science
Indexing is essential to scholarly publishing as it promotes visibility and the impact of research. I’m excited to share that MDPI now has over 300 journals indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). This milestone reflects the work of our authors, editors, reviewers, and the entire MDPI staff, contributing to greater visibility and impact for open access research.
Publish with MDPI, publish with impact.
Having over 300 MDPI journals indexed in the Web of Science is more than a numbers game. It represents a recognition of the quality, consistency, and relevance of the research published in our journals. For the academic community, it reflects the growing trust in MDPI as a reputable publisher, leading the way in open access publishing.
A closer look at the achievement
Being indexed in the WoS nvolves meeting a list of quality criteria, including 24 quality benchmarks for ESCI journals.
For MDPI, rigorous editorial standards and scientific integrity are key. These enabled over 300 journals to pass the Web of Science quality criteria for indexing.
Here we share a blog post discussing the importance of this milestone for MDPI and open scholarly research. In this post, Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing, at MDPI, and Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead, share their thoughts and insights on what this achievement means for our commitment to high-quality research.
“MDPI has a well-structured quality assurance framework that applies to all our journals. We also apply clear, standardized peer-review policies across our portfolio, ensuring transparency and consistency.” – Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing
“This achievement is a step forward for Open Access research, reinforcing the mission to share scientific knowledge globally and facilitate research progress.” – Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead
Read the blog here: https://blog.mdpi.com/2025/04/03/300-mdpi-journals/
Looking to the future
This milestone is a testament to MDPI’s dedication to peer review, editorial excellence, and innovation in academic publishing. It highlights our role as leaders in open access publishing.
Personally, I see this as just the beginning. We will continue to support researchers, expand our contributions to scholarly communication, and push the boundaries of academic publishing.
Impactful Research
Nearly 920 partner institutions in MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
I’m pleased to share some exciting progress from MDPI's Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), which now includes nearly 920 partner institutions worldwide. This is more than just a number. It reflects the growing trust and collaboration we’ve built with universities, libraries, and research organizations across the globe.
The IOAP offers institutions discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs), access to a dedicated institutional dashboard, and transparency throughout the publishing process.
Norway’s Sikt Consortium Renews national agreement with MDPI
MDPI has renewed its national agreement with the Sikt Consortium, which now supports 36 institutions across Norway. New partners, such as Kristiania University of Applied Sciences, join long-standing collaborators such as NTNU, the University of Bergen, and UiT, The Arctic University of Norway. The agreement promotes affordable, high-quality open access publishing through centralized APC funding, and reinforces Norway’s leadership in open science.
These agreements reflect MDPI’s mission to remove barriers to scientific publishing and make research freely available to all. By collaborating with national consortia and institutions, we advance the open access and strengthen our global network and collaborations.
Our IOAP Team
A big thank-you to our IOAP team for driving these important collaborations. Their work includes increasing MDPI’s visibility in scholarly communications, strengthening relationships with IOAP partners, and building trust with key stakeholders.
These efforts not only help researchers to publish their work openly and affordably but also reinforce MDPI’s position as a trusted leader in open access.
What are the benefits of MDPI’s IOAP?
For Authors: Researchers affiliated with IOAP partner institutions benefit from automatic discounts on APCs, Book Processing Charges (BPCs), JAMS, and Author Services across MDPI’s journals. The process is seamless as there is no need for codes or special applications. The publishing experience is smoother and more affordable, and centralized invoicing helps simplify the process, allowing authors to focus on their research rather than administration.
For Libraries: Participating libraries receive access to a dedicated institutional dashboard with live metadata on submissions from affiliated authors, past and present. They also benefit from flexible invoicing options (direct, collective, or prepayment) to help streamline administration, while clear, transparent agreements ensure that there are no hidden clauses or small print. Automated deposits into Institutional Repositories further reduce manual work, supporting libraries in their mission to advance open access and serve their research communities.
Inside MDPI
MDPI Self-citation study shows industry alignment
Earlier this month, Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Enric Sayas published a thoughtful and transparent article on the ALPSP blog, presenting a self-citation analysis across MDPI’s 237 journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).
They found that MDPI's average self-citation rate in 2024 was 14.85%, well within industry norms and ranking 6th among the top ten publishers. Only 2.3% of MDPI journals were identified as outliers with high self-citation rates, compared to 4.7% among other leading publishers. An alternative approach, using weighted average by publication volume, shows MDPI’s self-citation rate rises from 14% to 19.7%, shifting our rank from 6th to 3rd. The study also shows that the impact of self-citation on journal quartile placement is minimal.
Read the full article on the ALPSP blog: https://blog.alpsp.org/2025/03/mdpi-self-citations-study-highlights.html
Why is this important?
As explained in the full article, the results “reinforce the fact that self-citations have minimal influence on MDPI journal rankings, emphasizing the integrity of editorial practices and the absence of any deliberate efforts to manipulate impact.”
Self-citation is a hot topic, and MDPI is sometimes unfairly singled out in this area. This analysis helps put some perspective to that narrative.
At MDPI, we are committed to transparency and to using data-driven insights to address common misconceptions about open access publishing. Our focus on self-citation reflects this commitment, and we plan to extend our efforts to other areas where the Gold OA model is often misunderstood.
About the authors
Dr. Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead, leverages her expertise in science communication, editorial processes, and Open Access (OA) promotion to address both institutional and country-specific challenges. She collaborates with teams across PR, Editorial Procedures, Institutional Partnerships, Research Integrity, AI and more, developing strategies to engage stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, and industry leaders. Her responsibilities include enhancing MDPI’s scientific network and promoting OA initiatives at events worldwide, supporting the efforts of various departments, and ensuring effective communication to both specialist and broader audiences.
Dr. Enric Sayas is a Business Analyst specializing in the integration of AI and Machine Learning in scientific publishing.
Within MDPI’s AI team, Enric combines his editorial expertise with his passion for AI to support the development of AI-driven solutions tailored to editorial needs, enhancing efficiency and improving decision-making.
Enric’s interests extend to data science methodologies applied to scientific publishing, as well as the broader impact of AI on open science, peer review, and the future of scientific publishing.
Coming Together for Science
Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security
Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando presenting at Plants 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
The MDPI Conference Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security took place in Barcelona, Spain, from 31 March to 2 April 2025.
It was chaired by Editor-in-Chief of MDPI journal Plants (Q1 journal); Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando from the University of Manitoba, in Canada, and Section Editor-in-Chief of Plants; Dr. Fermín Morales from Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB) – CSIC, in Spain; and Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in Spain.
The conference brought plant scientists together to discuss innovations in sustainable agriculture, crop improvement, and environmental conservation.
With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the conference addressed key challenges such as food security, climate change, and sustainable agroecosystems through keynote talks and seven specialized sessions.
The conference gathered 111 attendees from 36 different countries, featuring 1 keynote speaker, 9 invited speakers, and 41 selected talks, along with 56 posters. The event received just over 200 submissions and 102 accepted abstracts.
From insightful talks, engaging poster sessions and engaging networking moments, Plants 2025 was a special experience. You can relive the highlights from the Plants 2025 conference here with our after movie!
Awards
Four awards were presented at the conclusion of the conference, sponsored by the journal Plants: two Best Poster Awards (€250 each) and two Best Oral Presentation Awards (€300 each).
Plants 2025 Conference Team
The Plants 2025 Conference was organized by colleagues from MDPI’s Conference Team: Ana Sanchis (Conference Manager), Cédric Spinnler (Senior Conference Organizer), Raquel Sellès (Conference Organizer) and Laura Perez (Conference Assistant).
Upcoming event
5–7 May 2025
The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Metals
Location: Online event (Central European Summer Time)
As one of the pillar technologies that support the development of modern society and metallurgy, IECME 2025 will present the state-of-the-art of Metallurgy and Metals.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Closing Thoughts
Swedish consortium renews partnership with MDPI
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has renewed its national partnership with Sweden’s Bibsam Consortium. This is a continued commitment to advancing open access publishing and supporting Sweden’s vision for fully open research.
Under this renewed agreement, 22 leading institutions including KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, Linnaeus University, and Linköping University, will continue to benefit from MDPI’s IOAP. This provides discounts on APCs and a more streamlined, researcher-friendly publishing experience.
MDPI and Bibsam renew national agreement for Sweden
“With robust backing from national open science guidelines, Sweden’s open-access landscape is rapidly advancing,” says Becky Castellon, institutional partnerships manager at MDPI.
“In fact, fewer than 15% of all Swedish research outputs were locked behind paywalls in 2023. We are passionate about the positive impact our ongoing partnership with the Bibsam Consortium will have on Swedish research, paving the way for ground-breaking developments and a more inclusive, open scientific community. Through flexible solutions and tailored policies, we enable institutions to prioritize research, foster innovation, and enhance accessibility, driving the shift to full open access.”
Recent MDPI IOAP Consortium signings from 2025:
- The UK’s Jisc Consortium extended its national agreement, continuing support for more than 60 institutions across the UK.
- Switzerland’s CSAL (Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries) renewed its agreement, continuing our collaboration with top institutions such as ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne.
- In Germany, we signed a new national agreement with ZB MED that includes over 100 universities and research institutions, with 78 institutions joining under a central or flat-fee model to simplify APC coverage.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
