Announcements

On UNESCO’s 2024 Oceans Day, MDPI encourages the scientific community to increase the accessibility of ocean research to accelerate ocean conservation.

Basel, Switzerland, June 7, 2024: MDPI, a leading open access (OA) publisher, is proud to announce its active support for World Oceans Day 2024, celebrated under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade framework. MDPI’s CEO, Stefan Tochev hopes that “the latest ocean research can be made freely accessible to help empower scientists and communities at large to save our oceans,” under UNESCO’s Ocean Decade until 2030.

Open Access: A Catalyst for Ocean Action

MDPI’s presence at the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference 2024 highlights our unwavering commitment to using OA to advance ocean science, support research communities, and promote sustainable ocean management.

"Our involvement in the UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference underscores MDPI's commitment to the underfunded Ocean SDG. By promoting OA to scientific articles and books on SDGs, we aim to inspire critical actions," said Tochev. "Our initiatives, like the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Award, further demonstrate our dedication to advancing sustainability.”

Showcasing MDPI’s Contributions to Ocean Research

Over the past three years, MDPI has published 30,000 papers focused on ocean research and related topics. Key MDPI journals contributing to this body of work include:

• Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (4.9k papers)
• Remote Sensing (2.6k papers)
• Sustainability (2k papers)
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) (1.7k papers)
• Marine Drugs (1.5k papers)
• Water (1.5k papers)

These publications highlight MDPI’s contributions to ocean science, reinforcing our role in the broader sustainability agenda by promoting blue innovation and economy.

Additionally, MDPI has launched Oceans, an international, peer-reviewed forum specifically aimed at publishing studies related to all branches of oceanography with an emphasis on the functioning of the ocean and the sustainable use of its resources and ecosystem services.

Affirming MDPI’s Commitment to Ocean Science

MDPI’s commitment to OA is pivotal in addressing critical global challenges, from climate change to ocean sustainability. Our efforts resonate with Outcome 4 of the UNESCO Ocean Decade action roadmap: an accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information, technology, and innovation. By aligning with UNESCO’s goals, MDPI continues to contribute to shaping a sustainable future for our oceans, reinforcing our position as a forward-thinking publisher dedicated to environmental stewardship and scientific excellence.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at rui.duarte@mdpi.com or +41764313242.

About MDPI

95% of authors rate MDPI’s publication process as excellent or good, setting a new benchmark in scientific publishing – reveals 2023 Annual Report. 

Basel, Switzerland, June 4, 2024: MDPI, the leading open access (OA) publisher, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Annual Report, detailing remarkable achievements and reaffirming its leadership in advancing OA publishing. In 2023, MDPI received 655,065 submissions, of which 285,244 articles were published. The company now commands a 17% market share in gold open access articles, with a median publication time of six weeks.

Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO, stated, "As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI has long been a game-changer in the scholarly community, serving millions of authors around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available. Reflecting on our incredible journey at MDPI, 2023 has been marked by growth in paper submissions, ambitious projects and initiatives aimed at improving our internal processes and delivering top-notch services to our scientists."

MDPI's 2023 Annual Report highlights several key achievements:

• 17% market share in gold open access articles across all disciplines.
• Record satisfaction rates: 95% of authors, 82% of reviewers, and 85% of guest editors.
• Enhanced editorial standards and feedback processes.
• Increased reach and impact with 54 new MDPI journal inclusions in Scopus, 29 in Web of Science, and 77 in DOAJ.

MDPI’s unwavering commitment to advancing OA has transformed the landscape of scholarly publishing, making high-quality research freely accessible to the global scientific community. The continuous improvement in our editorial standards and feedback processes underscores MDPI’s dedication to ensuring academic integrity and excellence.

Global Reach and Collaboration

MDPI’s global footprint continues to expand, with authors from diverse regions: 37% from Asia/Pacific, 36% from Europe, 15% from the Americas, and 12% from other parts of the world. The company’s fully OA platform attracted nearly 14 million monthly visitors in 2023, reflecting its widespread influence in the scientific community.

Commitment to Partnerships

With over 800 institutional partners, MDPI continues to demonstrate its dedication to providing reliable and collaborative publishing services. The introduction of a transparent flat-fee model highlights MDPI's ongoing efforts to enhance affordability and support to the academic community. For more details read our 2023 Annual Report.

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at rui.duarte@mdpi.com or +41764313242.

About MDPI

MDPI will attend the 14th International Symposium on Polymer Physics (PP’2024). We invite researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us. 

The 14th International Symposium on Polymer Physics (PP’2024) will be co-organized by the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); Kyushu University, Japan; Drexel University, USA; Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany. The Symposium invites scientists all over the world to exchange and discuss new ideas and new findings in various areas of polymer physics. 

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Polymers;
• Materials;
• Separations;
• Physics. 

If you are planning to attend the above 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 you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://pp2024.casconf.cn/.

The 50th World Polymer Congress will be held from 1 to 4 July 2024 in Coventry, UK. The conference is being organized by the University of Warwick.

The areas of focus for the above conference include the following:

• Bio-based polymer chemistry;
• European polymer journals;
• Polymers at surfaces and interfaces;
• Polymers for data science;
• Dynamic polymer networks;
• Block copolymers and self-assembly;
• Functional and sustainable polymers & elastomers.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Materials;
• Polymers;
• Molecules;
• Membranes;
• Gels;
• Nanomaterials.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you and answering any questions that you may have. Our booth number is awaiting confirmation and will be updated as soon as possible. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.macro2024.org/.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Weili Zhang has been appointed Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Optical and Photonic Materials” in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Prof. Dr. Weili Zhang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Oklahoma State University, USA, holds a Ph.D. in optical engineering from Tianjin University (1993), China. His research interests include terahertz optoelectronics, nano- and micro-structured materials optics, ultrafast phenomena, and semiconductor photonics. Prof. Dr. Zhang has published over 420 invited or contributed articles in peer-reviewed journals. His articles indexed by Web of Science have received a total of over 21,500 cites, with an h-index of 74. Prof. Dr. Zhang has been named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher from 2019 to 2023. He currently serves as associate editor of Photonics Insights, and is a fellow of Optica (formerly OSA).

The following is a Q&A with Prof. Dr. Weili Zhang, who shared his vision for the Section, in addition to his views on the research area and open access publishing:

1. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to become its Section Editor-in-Chief?
My in-depth interaction with Materials began with a review article that we submitted to this journal. I was very impressed with the quality work of the editors and reviewers, their professional handling of manuscripts, and the incredibly fast peer-review cycle from submission, to revision, to publication. With the role of Section Editor-in-Chief, I am hoping to have an opportunity to assist with attracting high-impact submissions, increasing visibility within the optics and photonics materials research community, seeking collaborations with professional societies, identifying emerging areas of the fields, and enhancing the impact and reputation of the journal.

2. What is your vision for the Section “Optical and Photonic Materials”?
Optical and photonic materials, as an interdisciplinary research field, bring together researchers from optics and photonics, materials science, engineering, and other areas to tackle emerging challenges in science and technologies. This will, on the one hand, lead to breakthroughs in research advances of material science, optics, photonics, and optoelectronics, and on the other hand, transformative technologies that promise a wide range of applications, particularly in communications, healthcare, and renewable energy.

3. As an expert in the field of optical and photonic materials, which research topics do you think are popular at present and what does the future of this field of research look like?
Currently, popular research topics include (1) subwavelength photonics, such as micro- and nano-scale metamaterials and metasurfaces, two-dimensional materials, and plasmonic geometries; (2) quantum photonics; and (3) biophotonics. The future of research in optics and photonics materials is promising. Breakthroughs in these popular topics will eventually lead to advancements in materials, novel devices, circuits, methods, and technologies for practical deployment in various applications.

4. You have reviewed many articles as a reviewer. What do you think are the most important points of an article?
Obviously, novelty is the most important point of a research article. In optical and photonic materials, in particular, novelty can be revealed through research creativity, innovations, and discoveries. In addition, novel work should also be presented through rigorous methodology, sound analysis, and clear communication to ensure the integrity and high impact of the publication.

 5. What do you think of the development of open access in the publishing field?
Open access for journals has been proven to be a very effective method to disseminate research. It significantly increases the accessibility of published research by making articles freely available to anyone with an internet connection. This is, in particular, very convenient for researchers and readers who are working diligently off campus. A good example is Optics Express, one of the Optica journals. It has been an open access journal since it was launched over 20 years ago and has been very well received by the optics and photonics community.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Weili Zhang as the new Section Editor-in-Chief and we look forward to him leading Materials to many more milestones.

We are pleased to announce that after a recommendation from the Editor-in-Chief of Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944), Prof. Dr. Maryam Tabrizian, ten outstanding Topical Advisory Panel Members were promoted to the position of Editorial Board Members. This is due to their impressive expertise in the materials field and great dedication to the journal over the past two years. We wish them every success in their new position and look forward to working with them on the journal.

Name: Prof. Dr. Xinxing Zhang
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Homepage: https://sklpme.scu.edu.cn/szdw/gdyr/js/2017-04-28/156.html
Interests: self-healing; supramolecular chemistry; polymer nanocomposites; sensors; actuators

Name: Prof. Dr. Jingdong Zhang
Affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
Homepage: http://faculty.hust.edu.cn/zhangjingdong/zh_CN/index.htm
Interests: electrochemical analysis; environmental chemistry; materials chemistry; pollution analysis and control; photoelectrochemical catalysis; nano-optoelectronic materials; biosensors

Name: Dr. Zhonghua Yao
Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Homepage: http://smse.whut.edu.cn/szdw/jsml/202311/t20231128_971740.shtml
Interests: piezoelectric materials; ferroelectric materials; dielectric materials; multilayered ceramic capacitors; low-temperature cofired ceramics; giant-permittivity materials

Name: Prof. Dr. Rujie He
Affiliation: Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Homepage: https://xjjg.bit.edu.cn/yjtd/zrjs/b83728.htm
Interests: structural ceramics; ceramic matrix composites

Name: Dr. Xueyan Liu
Affiliation: Section of Pavement Engineering, Department of Engineering Structures, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Homepage: https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ceg/about-faculty/departments/engineering-structures/sections-labs/pavement-engineering/staff/dr-xueyan-liu
Interests: mechanics of multiphase media; experimental testing and constitutive modeling of pavement materials; pavement analysis & design; multi-physics flow and damage phenomena in asphalt mixtures; non-linear finite element analysis techniques; experimental testing and constitutive modeling of structural interlayer systems; experimental testing and computational characterization of multilayer asphalt surfacing systems on orthotropic steel deck bridges; multi-scale constitutive modeling of asphalt concrete; induction healing technology for asphalt concrete; warm rubberized asphalt concrete technology; waterproofing membrane material development and testing method; epoxy modified bitumen technology for durable and sustainable pavement; cold in place asphalt concrete recycling; high quality recycling of polymer modified asphalt; warm/cold rubberized asphalt concrete technology

Name: Prof. Dr. Zengtao Chen
Affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Homepage: https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/zengtao
Interests: characterization of materials; micromechanics modeling; finite element modeling; functionally graded materials; smart materials and structures; composite materials; multifield behavior; manufacturing engineering; structural integrity; thermoelasticity; electromagnetic materials

Name: Prof. Dr. Qunhong Weng
Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Homepage: http://www.wengqh.de/members.html
Interests: boron nitride; band gap; functional materials; biomedicine; microbattery

Name: Prof. Dr. Gang Li
Affiliation: Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
Homepage: https://textile.suda.edu.cn/93/93/c6548a168851/page.htm
Interests: biomedical textiles; silk-based biomaterials; fiber-based implants; smart e-textiles; functional textiles; intestinal stents; vascular prosthesis; drug-loaded sutures

Name: Dr. Bin Wang
Affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, London, UK
Homepage: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/bin-wang
Interests: constitutive laws of materials; composites; stress and structural analysis; fracture and fatigue; functional materials; biomechanics; impact and dynamics

Name: Dr. Jiehua Li
Affiliation: Institute of Casting Research, Montanuniversität Leoben, Leoben, Austria
Homepage: https://pure.unileoben.ac.at/portal/en/persons/jiehua-li(fbf73479-8998-4bb6-be09-3e24505730be).html
Interests: solidification and casting; electron microscopy; high-performance alloys; phase transformation

We are pleased to announce MDPI’s Transfer Service.

This service provides a convenient method of transferring your manuscript file, along with any reviewer comments, to another journal within our publishing portfolio.

We are committed to helping authors find the right home for their research, and we will provide authors with guidance and technical support through all stages of the transfer process. Authors will be able to choose to transfer in the following two situations:

1. Select alternative journals on submission.

2. Authors are encouraged to transfer manuscripts to other MDPI journals.

More details about the Transfer Service can be found at the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/authors/transfer-service

Welcome message by the webinar chair Dr. Rabin Basnet:

Join our comprehensive webinar exploring cutting–edge advancements in silicon solar cells and module technology. Our expert panel will delve into various topics, including the latest developments in tunnel oxide passivated contacts, the long–term reliability of high–efficiency silicon modules, and the repair possibility of the backsheets of silicon modules.

Through insightful presentations and discussions, you will gain valuable insights into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of silicon photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Whether you are a researcher from academia or industry, an engineer, or a sustainability enthusiast, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches toward building a greener, more resilient future for generations to come.

Welcome message by the webinar chair Dr. Mohamed M. Shehata:

Welcome to our groundbreaking webinar, where we will embark on a journey through the dynamic realm of silicon solar cell technology!

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue below, dedicated to exploring the latest innovations in silicon solar cell technology. As the world embraces sustainable energy solutions, silicon–based solar cells stand as pillars of reliability and scalability, offering promising avenues for harnessing solar energy.

Throughout this Special Issue, we aim to uncover a plethora of topics, from the enhancement of ingots and wafers to the exploration of advanced cell architectures such as silicon heterojunctions (SHJs) and tunnel oxide passivated contacts (TOPCons). We seek to delve into the intricacies of defect engineering, impurity gettering, and long–term performance reliability, all crucial elements in optimizing the efficiency and durability of silicon solar cells.

Moreover, we eagerly anticipate contributions relating to the burgeoning field of tandem solar cells, where perovskite materials are integrated with silicon to unlock unprecedented potential efficiency. Additionally, we encourage discussions on sustainable practices for managing the end–of–life phase of PV modules, underlining our commitment to circular economy principles within the renewable energy landscape.

As we convene to exchange insights, expertise, and discoveries, we invite researchers, academics, and industry professionals alike to join us in shaping the future of silicon solar cell technology. Together, let us push the boundaries of innovation, propel sustainable energy solutions, and pave the way towards a brighter, greener future for generations to come.

Date: 29 May 2024 at 8:00 a.m. CEST | 2:00 a.m. EDT | 2:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 822 6317 4886
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Materials–13

Register now for free!

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 inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Rabin Basnet (Chair), School of Engineering, ANU College of Engineering, Computer Science and Cybernetics, The Australian National University, Australia;
• Mohamed M. Shehata (Chair), School of Engineering, ANU College of Engineering, Computer Science and Cybernetics, The Australian National University, Australia;
• Anika Gassner, OFI, Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology, Vienna, Austria;
• Jana–Isabelle Polzin, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Freiburg, Germany;
• Heping Shen, College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics, The Australian National University, Australia.

Please find the relevant Special Issue at the following link:

“Innovations in Silicon–Based Solar Cells”
Guest Editors: Dr. Rabin Basnet and Dr. Mohamed M. Shehata
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2024

In acknowledgment of the groundbreaking achievements of Professor Tu Youyou, the Nobel laureate credited with the discovery of artemisinin, MDPI is proud to announce the Tu Youyou Award. This award, inaugurated in 2016, seeks to honor scholars who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Prize:

• CHF 100,000 in total (If there is more than one winner, the prize will be divided equally amongst the winners);
• An award medal for each winner.

Who should be nominated?

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

Who can submit a nomination?

• Academic research institutes
• Universities
• Academic societies

Any personal nominations are not accepted.

How do I submit a nomination?
Candidates’ institutional affiliations need to submit their nominations for final candidates to the Tu Youyou Award Team directly by email after internal screening, and each institution can only nominate a maximum of two candidates for each edition of the Tu Youyou Award. Please note that the nominations cannot be modified once they are submitted and confirmed by the Tu Youyou Award Team.

Required nomination materials:
Nomination Form (Download)

Schedule:
Nomination deadline: 31 December 2024;
Winner announcement: 30 April 2025.

Contact:
Tu Youyou Award Team (tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com)

More information can be found on the Tu Youyou Award official website. For any inquiries, do not hesitate to contact the Tu Youyou Award Team.