Announcements
4 August 2026
The 3rd International Online Conference on Biomimetics—Submission Deadline Extended
31 July 2026
Ursula Röthlisberger Receives the Inaugural Michele Parrinello Award
We are pleased to announce that the inaugural Michele Parrinello Award has been conferred upon Prof. Ursula Röthlisberger, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to computational chemistry and molecular simulation, particularly through her pioneering work in ab initio molecular dynamics and QM/MM multiscale simulation methods. This award celebrates researchers whose work embodies the spirit of scientific innovation and rigor that Professor Parrinello has championed throughout his career. We warmly congratulate Prof. Röthlisberger on this well-deserved recognition.
The achievements of Prof. Ursula Röthlisberger highlight the profound impact of computational methods on our understanding of complex chemical, biological, and materials systems. We invite the global scientific community to join us in celebrating her outstanding contributions to computational science.
“Professor Ursula Röthlisberger has been recognized by the 2026 Michele Parrinello Award Committee as an exceptional leader in computational chemistry and molecular simulation. Her innovative research has significantly advanced the predictive modeling of complex chemical and biological systems and has created lasting impact across multiple scientific disciplines. Through her outstanding scientific achievements, dedication to education, and leadership in the international research community, she has played a vital role in shaping the development of modern computational science.”
—Prof. Dr. Xin-Gao Gong, Chair of the Award Committee
2026 Michele Parrinello Award Laureate
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Ursula Röthlisberger |
Prof. Ursula Röthlisberger is a professor at the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, EPFL, Switzerland, where she leads the Laboratory of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research focuses on developing computational methods for molecular simulation, including ab initio molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) multiscale approaches, to study complex chemical, biological, and materials systems. Her work has contributed to the advancement of computational frameworks for understanding molecular processes at the atomic level. She has also applied computational approaches to investigate next-generation photovoltaic materials, including dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells, providing insights into material properties, stability, and performance through collaboration with experimental researchers. |
2026 Award Committee
Committee Chair:
- Prof. Dr. Xin-Gao Gong, Fudan University, China.
Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):
- Prof. Alessandro Laio, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Italy;
- Prof. Michiel Sprik, University of Cambridge, UK;
- Prof. David J. Srolovitz, the University of Hong Kong, China;
- Prof. Mark E. Tuckerman, New York University, USA;
- Prof. Su-Huai Wei, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China.
Note: The 2026 Award Committee comprises six members, including one anonymous member.
2026 Award Ceremony
The inaugural Michele Parrinello Award Ceremony will take place on 7 November 2026, at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, China, as part of the 2026 MDPI Materials Science Conference. Further information and updates will be available on the official Michele Parrinello Award website.
About the Michele Parrinello Award
The Michele Parrinello Award was established in November 2025 to honor Professor Michele Parrinello’s enduring legacy in advancing computational science. This biennial international award recognizes senior researchers who have made outstanding contributions to computational physical sciences, encompassing physics, chemistry, and materials science. The recipient will receive a monetary prize of 50,000 EUR, a commemorative medal, and a certificate.
For further information about the award and the laureate, please visit the Michele Parrinello Award website.
5 August 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #37 – Canada Summit, Sciforum Relaunch, 30 Years of Impactful Research & ISPRS 2026
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
Reflections from the MDPI Canada Summit 2026 in Toronto (9–10 July)
As part of this year’s MDPI Summit events, we were delighted to host Editors-in-Chief (EiCs) and Editorial Board Members (EBMs) in Toronto for the MDPI Canada Summit 2026 this July.
Across the two days, we presented on topics including research integrity, editorial leadership, artificial intelligence, peer review, and the evolving role of the EiC. More importantly, the Summit created space for feedback and conversations with the academic community: these engagements continue play and important role in shaping how MDPI develops its journals and services.
Why Canada?
Canada has become one of the world’s leading Open Access (OA) nations. In 2025, 68% of Canadian research publications were published OA, with more than 73,000 OA articles produced during the year. Over the past five years alone, Canadian researchers have published more than 526,000 scholarly articles, showing both the scale and quality of Canadian research.
MDPI Toronto Office
“Canada has become one of the world’s leading Open Access nations”
Since opening in 2019, our Toronto office has grown to more than 85 colleagues supporting editorial operations, research integrity, marketing, societies, conferences, indexing, author services, and many other functions across North America. It was great to spend time with the team, see first-hand the energy and enthusiasm they bring to their work, and recognize the significant role they play in building relationships with the Canadian research community and delivering events such as this Summit.
MDPI and Canada
Today, Canada is an important part of the MDPI community:
- More than 53,800 articles from Canadian institutions published with MDPI since 1996
- More than 5,800 MDPI publications from Canadian researchers in 2025
- Nearly 1,900 Canadian Editorial Board Members, including 24 Editors-in-Chief; 49 Section Editors-in-Chief
- More than 30 Institutional Open Access Partnerships (IOAP) with universities across Canada
“The academic community is at the center of everything we do”
These numbers reflect the long-term partnerships with researchers, reviewers, editors, and institutions who continue to place their trust in MDPI.
Summit Program
Throughout the Summit, we presented and discussed topics against the following agenda:
- MDPI at 30: Introduction, Reflections and the Road Ahead – Stefan Tochev (CEO)
- Engagement with Academic Community and Society Partnerships – Karen Irwin (Associate Editorial Engagement Manager) and Carla Aloè (Head of Societies and Acquisition)
- Latest Developments in the Editorial Process – Summer Huggard (Operations Manager)
- Research Integrity and Publication Ethics – Renato Merki (Research Integrity Specialist)
- AI and Technology in Publishing – Dr. Barnaby Crook (Regional Engagement Editor)
- Panel Discussion – Bob Vrooman (Head of Business Development / Operations Manager, USA), Summer Huggard, Renato Merki, and myself
These presentations reinforce something we often say at MDPI: The academic community is at the center of everything we do. Each session concluded with a Q&A, allowing for discussions throughout the Summit to engage directly with our EiCs and EBMs.
Further Reading
I also had the opportunity to be interviewed by University Affairs about the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing, Open Access, and the importance of engaging with the research community. If you’re interested, you can read the interview in:
- English: University Affairs – MDPI Toronto Summit 2026: Bringing Together Leaders to Shape the Future of Scholarly Publishing
- Français: Affaires universitaires – Sommet MDPI de Toronto 2026
Thank You
As OA continues to grow around the world, events such as the MDPI Canada Summit remind us of the importance of meeting with our academic community in person. Listening to feedback, exchanging ideas, and building relationships are essential to ensuring that MDPI continues to evolve alongside the researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutions we serve.
Impactful Research
Five Journals, Five Different Stories of Success
Each year, the release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) provides an opportunity to look at the progress of our journal portfolio and, more importantly, the achievements of the research communities behind it.
A recent MDPI Blog article from Tommy Lax (Content Specialist, MDPI) highlights five journals whose 2025 Journal Impact Factor results show that success can take many forms – from achieving a first Impact Factor, to steady long-term growth, to leadership within highly competitive disciplines.
The featured journals include:
- Machine Learning & Knowledge Extraction (MAKE) – Among the 330 MDPI journals which received an Impact Factor in 2025, MAKE (ISSN 2504-4990) holds the accolade of having the highest rating of 8.4. The journal, which provides an advanced forum for the study of machine learning and its applications, is placed in Q1 for three subject categories: Computer science, artificial intelligence; Computer science, interdisciplinary applications; and Engineering, electrical & electronic.
- Antioxidants – Continuing its strong position across multiple scientific disciplines, Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921) was awarded an exceptional Impact Factor of 8.2. In addition, the journal was placed in Q1 in three subject categories: Biochemistry & molecular biology; Chemistry, medicinal; and Food science & technology.
- Biomass – This year, Biomass (ISSN 2673-8783) was recognized in the JCR for the first time, with a strong debut Impact Factor of 6.7. What makes this achievement even more impressive is the journal’s placement in Q1 of the category Engineering, chemical.
- Analytica – Remaining with the theme of growth, Analytica (ISSN 2673-4532), which provides an advanced forum for all aspects of fundamental and applied analytical chemistry, recorded one of the largest year-on-year increases in Journal Impact Factor, with a 7.4 – an astounding 3.8-point increase from its 2024 rating of 3.6.
- Batteries – Indexed in SCIE, Batteries (ISSN 2313-0105) received an updated Impact Factor of 6.3 this year, representing an increase of 1.5 versus last year, demonstrating consistent growth and increasing visibility over several years.
While citation metrics provide one perspective on journal performance, they tell only part of the story. Every milestone reflects the dedication of Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, reviewers, authors, and colleagues across MDPI who work together to uphold rigorous editorial standards and support high-quality research.
As a signatory of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), MDPI supports a balanced approach to research evaluation. Journal-level metrics should be viewed alongside article-level indicators and the broader scientific and societal impact of published research.
Thank you to everyone whose commitment continues to strengthen our journals and advance Open Access across the global research community.
Inside MDPI
Building Better Tools for the Research Community: The Relaunch of Sciforum
Innovation at MDPI extends beyond journals. Over the past decade, we have continued to invest in products that support researchers, conference organizers, editors, reviewers, and institutions throughout the research lifecycle. As part of this ongoing investment, our Product and Engineering teams have been modernizing several of MDPI’s digital platforms. One important milestone in that journey is the relaunch of Sciforum, our conference management platform.
Read More: Sciforum Relaunch: Empowering Science through Seamless Event Management
Rather than simply updating an existing system, our product and engineering teams have rebuilt Sciforum, using a modern architecture designed to improve the user experience, support future growth, and continue to strengthen our position in the conference management market.
“Scalable technology is essential to delivering a high-quality experience”
Why We Rebuilt Sciforum
Technology must continue evolving alongside the needs of our users. The previous platform had served MDPI well for many years but had become difficult to extend and maintain. The new platform introduces a modular architecture that enables faster development, more flexibility, and a scalable foundation for future work.
Major improvements include:
- Simplified submission workflows
- Role-based dashboards
- A modern website builder
- Flexible pricing options
- Permanent data hosting
- A scalable architecture for future development
Supporting Our Conference Community
Sciforum is more than a software platform: it supports researchers, conference organizers, reviewers, speakers, and attendees by helping them organize, participate in, and share scientific meetings more efficiently. As MDPI continues to expand its conference activities worldwide, investing in modern, scalable technology is essential to delivering a high-quality experience for both our external partners and our internal teams.
Looking Ahead
The relaunch represents the beginning Sciforum’s next chapter. Planned improvements include: the Program Builder, Communication Hub, expanded payment options, Zoom integration, and a mobile application. These will continue to enhance the platform over the coming months.
Coming Together for Science
Highlights from ISPRS Congress 2026 – Toronto, Canada
In early July, I had the pleasure of attending the XXV ISPRS Congress in Toronto, one of the world’s leading gatherings for the geospatial and remote sensing research community. It was a great opportunity to meet researchers, editors, society leaders, and collaborators, while gaining insights into some of the latest developments in geospatial science and technology.
Over several days, I had the privilege of presenting the Jack Dangermond Award; speaking about MDPI’s approach to AI in publishing and our 30-year journey in Open Access publishing; participating in Editorial Board meetings; and engaging with members of the ISPRS community.
Below is a summary of these activities:
Celebrating excellence in research
One of the highlights of the week was presenting the Jack Dangermond Award for the best paper published in the ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (IJGI). Sponsored by MDPI and ESRI, the award recognizes an outstanding paper published over a four-year period and includes an ISPRS certificate together with a USD 10,000 prize.
Awards such as these remind us that journals are much more than publication platforms: they celebrate research that advances knowledge, inspires future work, and delivers meaningful impact for both science and society.
Presentations at ISPRS
I also had the pleasure to give two presentations during the congress:
1. The AI Revolution in Publishing: Challenges, Innovations, and MDPI’s Vision
The development of AI continues to transform scholarly publishing. During this session, I shared how MDPI is integrating AI responsibly, not to replace editorial judgement or peer review, but to support our staff by improving efficiency while maintaining scientific quality and research integrity.
2. MDPI: 30 Years of Open Access Publishing
I also had the opportunity to share MDP’s 30-year journey from a small publishing initiative to becoming a global Open Access publisher serving millions of researchers worldwide. As part of this session, my colleague Carla Aloè (Head of Societies and Acquisitions) introduced the ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (IJGI), sharing its development and contribution to the geospatial research community.
Meeting with Our Editorial Boards
Another rewarding aspect of the congress was meeting with the Editorial Boards of two of our journals:
- Remote Sensing
- ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
These discussions went beyond journal metrics. We heard ideas about editorial quality and emerging research areas, and we discussed reviewer engagement, diversity within editorial boards, and how journals can continue serving their communities for the future. These conversations are a great way to connect directly to the scientists who help shape our journals.
“One of our core missions has always been to make high-quality research openly accessible”
Partnerships matter
Scientific publishing is built on collaboration. Throughout the congress, our team welcomed researchers to the MDPI booth, met with authors and editors, and discussed opportunities for collaboration across our journals and society partnerships.
Special thanks to our MDPI colleagues who were present throughout the ISPRS congress supporting our Editorial Board meetings and the MDPI booth: Andy Tran, Carla Aloè, Carlo Cunanan, Diana Ribeiro Tosato, and Elena Duan.
Thank you to ISPRS for organizing this congress, to the researchers who shared their work, to our Editorial Board members, and to MDPI colleagues whose dedication continues to shape the journals and communities we support.
Closing Thoughts
Insights Into 30 Years of Impactful MDPI Research
As we celebrate 30 years of MDPI, it’s worth reflecting on the impact that the research we publish has on society. One of our core missions has always been to make high-quality research openly accessible so that it can inform new discoveries, public policy, education and innovation around the world.
A recent article on the MDPI Blog highlights several examples of MDPI publications that have gone beyond academic citations to help inform governments, international organizations and public policy discussions.
Research Creating Real-World Impact
The MDPI blog article features research that has contributed to topics including:
- protecting the Amazon rainforest through satellite mapping
- understanding climate change and urban heat inequality
- encouraging more young women to pursue STEM careers
- tackling obesity through healthier food environments
- shaping sustainable urban planning through the “15-minute city” concept
These examples remind us that publishing research is not only about producing articles: it is about helping knowledge reach the people who can use it to improve lives and address global challenges.
Thirty Years of Open Access
MDPI’s 30th Anniversary is also an opportunity to recognize the collective contribution of everyone across MDPI. Every manuscript processed, every review coordinated, every system developed, every conference organized, every partnership established and every article published contributes to a much larger purpose: helping scientific knowledge move further and faster.
You can explore the full article here: 30 Years of Impactful MDPI Research
You can also visit our 30th Anniversary page to learn more about MDPI’s journey over the past three decades.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
31 July 2026
Announcing the Award Committee for the Inaugural Michele Parrinello Award
MDPI is pleased to announce the Award Committee for the inaugural Michele Parrinello Award, presented alongside the announcement of the 2026 laureate.
Established in 2025 in honor of Prof. Michele Parrinello’s pioneering contributions to atomistic simulation and computational science, the Michele Parrinello Award is presented biennially to recognize distinguished senior scientists who have made significant contributions to computational physical sciences, encompassing physics, chemistry, and materials science, with particular emphasis on fundamental research.
To ensure the highest standards of evaluation, the Award Committee brings together internationally recognized experts whose expertise spans computational physical sciences, including physics, chemistry, and materials science. Chaired by a distinguished scientist in the field, the committee provides independent perspectives to evaluate nominations based on rigor, integrity, and academic excellence.
Committee Chair:
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Prof. Dr. Xin-Gao Gong |
Committee Members:
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Prof. Alessandro Laio |
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Prof. Michiel Sprik |
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Prof. David J. Srolovitz |
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Prof. Mark E. Tuckerman |
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Prof. Su-Huai Wei |
Note: The 2026 Award Committee comprises six members, including one anonymous member.
We sincerely thank the committee members for their valuable contributions and dedication to the Michele Parrinello Award. Their expertise and commitment are essential to maintaining the academic excellence and integrity of this international award.
For more information about the Michele Parrinello Award, please visit the official award website: https://mparrinelloaward.org/.
31 July 2026
Materials | Highly Cited Papers Published in 2025 in the “Polymeric Materials” Section
31 July 2026
Materials | Highly Cited Papers Published in 2025 in the “Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology” Section
31 July 2026
Materials | Highly Cited Papers Published in 2025 in the “Energy Materials” Section
30 July 2026
Materials Travel Award—Application Deadline Approaching
30 July 2026
Materials | Highly Cited Papers Published in 2025 in the “Polymeric Materials” Section
Polymeric materials, owing to their versatile properties, have found numerous applications in various areas of our daily life, such as packaging (plastics), industry (in fabrication of spaceships, airplanes, bridges, high-performance cars, boats, sports equipment, 3D printing, etc.), civil engineering (polymer concrete), energy (polymer solar cells), and pharmaceutical industries. They cover many fields, e.g., soft matter, biomaterials, polymer chemistry, polymer physics, engineering, etc. The Section “Polymeric Materials” of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944) aims to rapidly publish contributions on all aspects of polymeric materials, including preparation, characterization, processing, property, and application of plastics, as well as fibers, rubbers, and their related composites.
Section Editor-in-Chief
Name: Prof. Dr. Xuming Xie
Affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: super tough hydrogels; nanomaterials and nanocomposites; polymer blends; plastic recycling and value-added reuse
As all of the articles published in our journal are shared in open access, you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We encourage you to read our Most Highly Cited Papers published in 2025, listed below:
- “T700 Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Resin Composite Material Hygrothermal Aging Model”
by Jinjie Lu, Chuanxiang Zheng, Liang Wang, Yuchen Dai, Zhenyu Wang and Zhaobo Song
Materials 2025, 18(2), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020369
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/2/369 - “Nano-Fibrillated Bacterial Cellulose Nanofiber Surface Modification with EDTA for the Effective Removal of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Solutions”
by Sayaka Fujita, Ryosui Sasa, Nanami Kinoshita, Ryota Kishimoto and Hiroyuki Kono
Materials 2025, 18(2), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020374
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/2/374 - “Effect of Plasma Treatment on Coating Adhesion and Tensile Strength in Uncoated and Coated Rubber Under Aging”
by Miguel Angel Martínez, Juana Abenojar and Daniel García-Pozuelo
Materials 2025, 18(2), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18020427
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/2/427 - “Anaerobic Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid-Based Items: A Specific Focus on Disposable Tableware Products”
by Marica Falzarano, Alessandra Polettini, Raffaella Pomi, Andreina Rossi, Tatiana Zonfa, Maria Paola Bracciale, Serena Gabrielli, Fabrizio Sarasini and Jacopo Tirillò
Materials 2025, 18(5), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18051186
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/5/1186 - “Influence of Print Speed on the Mechanical Performance of 3D-Printed Bio-Polymer Polylactic Acid”
by Ludwik Lorkowski, Katarzyna Wybrzak, Emila Brancewicz-Steinmetz, Jacek Świniarski and Jacek Sawicki
Materials 2025, 18(8), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18081765
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/8/1765 - “Biodegradability of Bioplastics in Managed and Unmanaged Environments: A Comprehensive Review”
by Giovanni Gadaleta, Johana Carolina Andrade-Chapal, Sara López-Ibáñez, María Mozo-Toledo and Ángela Navarro-Calderón
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2382; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102382
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/10/2382 - “Additive Manufacturing of Alumina-Based Ceramic Structures by Vat Photopolymerization: A Review of Strategies for Improving Shaping Accuracy and Properties”
by Jia-Jun Zhao, Yun-Zhuo Zhang, Jia-Hao Li, Zi-Heng Wang, Wei-Jian Miao, Fan-Bin Wu, Shu-Qi Wang and Jia-Hu Ouyang
Materials 2025, 18(11), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18112445
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/11/2445 - “A Comprehensive Experimental, Simulation, and Characterization Mechanical Analysis of Ecoflex and Its Formulation Under Uniaxial Testing”
by Ranjith Janardhana, Fazli Akram, Zeynel Guler, Akanksha Adaval and Nathan Jackson
Materials 2025, 18(13), 3037; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18133037
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/13/3037 - “PLA, PBS, and PBAT Biocomposites—Part A: Matrix–Filler Interactions with Agro-Industrial Waste Fillers (Brewer’s Spent Grain, Orange Peel) and Their Influence on Thermal, Mechanical, and Water Sorption Properties”
by Jules Bellon, Feriel Bacoup, Stéphane Marais and Richard Gattin
Materials 2025, 18(16), 3867; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18163867
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/16/3867 - “Biodegradable Plastics as Sustainable Alternatives: Advances, Basics, Challenges, and Directions for the Future”
by Eunbin Hwang, Yung-Hun Yang, Jiho Choi, See-Hyoung Park, Kyungmoon Park and Jongbok Lee
Materials 2025, 18(18), 4247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184247
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/18/18/4247
29 July 2026
Meet Us at the 15th International Conference on Mechanical Technologies and Structural Materials (MTSM 2026), 17–18 September 2026, Split, Croatia
