Announcements

22 October 2025
Welcoming New Early Career Editorial Members of Minerals

Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) is pleased to announce the following 98 researchers, who have been added to our group of 2025–2026 Early Career Editorial Board Members. Please join us in congratulating them on becoming part of the Minerals community!

Name: Dr. Oluwatoosin Agbaje
Affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: mineralization; biomaterials; bioarcheology; synthetic chemistry; palaeobiology; geoscience; materials science; biophysics; biochemistry; smart concrete
Website: https://www.palaeome.org/collins-group/people/oluwatoosin-agbaje

Name: Dr. Vida Strasser
Affiliation: Laboratory for Biocolloids and Surface Chemistry, Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: biomineralization; calcium phosphates; calcium carbonates; nanomaterials; hydrogels; biomimetics; biomaterials; composites
Website: https://www.irb.hr/Zavodi/Zavod-za-fizicku-kemiju/Laboratorij-za-biokoloide-i-povrsinsku-kemiju/Zaposlenici/Vida-Strasser

Name: Dr. Emeline Raguin
Affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Interests: bone; electron microscopy; cryo-FIBSEM; mineralization; calcium; development
Website: https://www.mpikg.mpg.de/6688214/development-of-mineralized-skeletal-materials

Name: Dr. Gábor Botfalvai
Affiliation: Department of Palaeontology and Geology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross st 13, Budapest, Hungary
Interests: bioapatite; rare earth element geochemistry in fossil bones; trace element geochemistry in fossil bones; vertebrate paleontology; fossilization; taphonomy
Website: https://magyardinoszaurusz.hu/gabor-botfalvai/?lang=en

Name: Dr. Lucian Staicu
Affiliation: Institute for Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: biomineralization; calcium phosphates; calcium carbonates; nanomaterials; hydrogels; biomimetics; biomaterials; composites
Website: https://staiculab.com/team/

Name: Dr. Luoyang Li
Affiliation: Key Lab of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting Techniques, Ministry of Education, College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: cambrian explosion; palaeontology and biostratigraphy; biomineralization; molluscs; cambrian marine invertebrates; cambrian marine ecosystem; small shelly fossils
Website: https://cmg.ouc.edu.cn/2016/0414/c13715a202253/page.htm

Name: Dr. Yi Zhou
Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: crystal structure and surface reactivity of clay minerals; design and synthesis of nanostructured materials for energy and environmental science
Website: http://www.mineralfunctionmaterial.cn/index_zhouyi.html

Name: Dr. Maxim Rudmin
Affiliation: Department of geology and minerals prospecting, Tomsk Polytechnic University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
Interests: glauconite; clay minerals; iron ore; controlled-released fertilizer; chemical activation; mechanochemical activation; geochemistry; geology; mineralogy; applied mineralogy; mineral-based nanocomposites
Website: https://portal.tpu.ru/SHARED/r/RUDMINMA/eng

Name: Dr. Wenbin Yu
Affiliation: Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
Interests: surface/interface reactivity of nanoporous minerals; high-efficiency applications of mineral resources; modification of nanoporous structures; effect of nanoconfinement
Website: https://people.ucas.ac.cn/~0025156

Name: Dr. Qingze Chen
Affiliation: Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: nanominerals; clay minerals; iron/manganese oxides; crystal nucleation and growth; microstructure; surface reactivity; environmental pollution remediation; energy storage; mineral-based functional nanomaterials
Website: https://people.ucas.ac.cn/~chenqingze

Name: Dr. Petros Petrounias
Affiliation: Section of Earth Materials, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Interests: mineral raw materials; sustainable construction; aggregate rocks; construction applications of rocks; circular economy; engineering properties of rocks; carbon capture and storage
Website: http://www.geology.upatras.gr/index.php/en/people-en/faculty-adjunct?layout=edit&id=1216

Name: Dr. Elena S. Zhitova
Affiliation: Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 683006 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Interests: mineral crystal structure; X-ray diffraction; vibrational spectroscopy; volcano, hydrothermal system; titanosilicate; layered double hydroxide
Website: https://crystal.geology.spbu.ru/about/assistants/60-zhitova-es

Name: Dr. Yun Li
Affiliation: Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: in situ visualization techniques (Raman, X-ray CT and neutron scattering); molecular dynamics simulation combined with thermodynamic calculation method; the mineralogical mechanism of CO2 capture and geological storage process and its application
Website: https://www.sustech.edu.cn/zh/faculties/yunli.html

Name: Dr. Seungyeol Lee
Affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Interests: mineralogy; economic geology; nanogeoscience; planetary science
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/mmcbnu/home

Name: Dr. Matteo Giordani
Affiliation: Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Interests: mineral fibers; zeolites; environmental mineralogy; risk assessment for mineral fibers; surface properties
Website: https://www.uniurb.it/persone/matteo-giordani

Name: Dr. Ruggero Vigliaturo
Affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, 251 Hayden Hall, 240 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6316, USA
Interests: state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy; medical mineralogy; environmental mineralogy; biogeochemistry; electron microscopy; electron energy-loss spectroscopy; nanominerals; mineral fibers
Website: https://web.sas.upenn.edu/gierelab/people/

Name: Prof. Dr. Shuai Cao
Affiliation: School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: cemented tailings backfill technology; metal mine underground mining method; microstructural characteristics; cement-based composites; backfilling material preparation; solid waste disposal
Website: https://faculty.ustb.edu.cn/ShuaiCao/zh_CN/index/113475/list/index.htm

Name: Dr. Fan Wang
Affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
Interests: utilization of solid waste; cement-solidified polluted soil; environmental science and health; solid waste-based cementitious material; heavy metal solidification
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6417-155X

Name: Dr. Xiaobin Gu
Affiliation: Qinghai Institute of Salt Lake, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
Interests: mineral energy storage materials; interfacial photothermal water evaporation technology for seawater desalination/forced evaporation of brine applications, and solid waste resource utilization
Website: https://isl.cas.cn/rcdw/fgj/202409/t20240905_7333855.html

Name: Dr. Chaorong Chen
Affiliation: Department of Environment, College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
Interests: mineral surface/interfacial reactivity; development of mineral functional materials and their application in pollution remediation; interactions between minerals and microorganisms and their environmental effects
Website: https://hjzy.xtu.edu.cn/info/1074/2774.htm

Name: Dr. Emmanuel Daanoba Sunkari
Affiliation: Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies, University of Mines and Technology, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
Interests: applied geochemistry; mineralogy, mining geology; medical geology; sustainable environment management
Website: https://www.umat.edu.gh/staffinfo/staffDetailed.php?contactID=434

Name: Dr. Jelena T Petrović
Affiliation: Central Laboratory for Testing, Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: waste biomass utilization; thermochemical technologies; hydrothermal carbonization; carbon materials; biofuel
Website: http://itnms.ac.rs/istrazivac.asp?id=123

Name: Dr. Anna Bogush
Affiliation: Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, Wolston Ln, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3LG, UK
Interests: environmental science; geochemistry; environmental engineering; material science; analytical chemistry and biogeochemistry
Website: https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/en/persons/anna-bogush

Name: Dr. Fabio Perlatti
Affiliations: 1 Department of Soil Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture-ESALQ, University of São Paulo—USP, Piracicaba 13418-260, SP, Brazil;
2 National Mining Agency—ANM, Environment Technology, São Paulo 04040-033, SP, Brazil
Interests: soil biogeochemistry; ecological restoration; soil remediation; technosols; phytomining; rhizosphere processes; fate and dynamic of heavy metals; management of mining tailings dams; management and reuse of mining waste; sustainable mining; environmental and mineral policies
Website: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/617950/fabio-perlatti

Name: Prof. Dr. Qiusong Chen
Affiliation: School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: cemented paste backfill; mine backfill; phosphogypsum; backfill materials; mining technology
Website: https://srse.ustb.edu.cn/info/1168/8872.htm

Name: Dr. Muhammad Muniruzzaman
Affiliation: Water Management Solutions, Geological Survey of Finland, Vuorimiehentie 5, Espoo 02151, Finland
Interests: reactive transport; acid mine drainage; electrostatic interactions; low-permeability media
Website: https://www.gtk.fi/asiantuntijat/muniruzzaman-md/#en

Name: Dr. Andrea Ceci
Affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: geomicrobiology; bioremediation; biomineralization; bioleaching; bioweathering; biomining; resource biorecovery
Website: https://research.uniroma1.it/researcher/33b94b0fddef08d850e864da3397588d4d9a391b23c6f99fe8858c81

Name: Dr. Matteo Maron
Affiliation: Directorate for Environment and Ecological Transition–Veneto Region, Calle Priuli–Cannaregio 99, 30121 Venice, Italy
Interests: rock magnetism; paleomagnetism; stratigraphy
Website: https://unich-it.academia.edu/MatteoMaron/CurriculumVitae

Name: Dr. Yassine Taha
Affiliation: Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: sustainable mining; circular economy; mine waste repurposing; resource recovery; critical raw materials; industrial ecology
Website: https://industrylink.eu/speaker/yassine-taha/

Name: Dr. Sumant Avasarala
Affiliation: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, USA
Interests: biogeochemistry, fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants; water quality and water treatment
Website: https://gonzaric.people.unm.edu/team.html

Name: Dr. Hu Li
Affiliation: Department of Tourism Management, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Yibin 644000, China
Interests: energy geology; tourism geology; structural geology; resource and environmental management; artificial intelligence
Website: https://jjxy.suse.edu.cn/2024/0717/c2149a95155/page.htm

Name: Dr. Jianfeng Wang
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Processes and Resources, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: micro-mechanical properties and creep behavior of geological rocks; hydrocarbon generation; expulsion of source rock; carbon storage
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2018-3348

Name: Dr. Chengang Lu
Affiliation: National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy, Beijing 102211, China
Interests: CCUS; geological hydrogen

Name: Dr. Qiuming Pei
Affiliation: Faculty of Geosciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, China
Interests: exploration and evaluation of major mineral resources and strategic mineral resources; genesis of hydrothermal deposits; petrology; petrogeochemistry; rock tectonics; remote sensing for mineral exploration
Website: https://faculty.swjtu.edu.cn/peiqiuming/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Jian Li
Affiliation: School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
Interests: ore-forming fluids; ore deposit; mineralization dynamics

Name: Dr. Wenyan Cai
Affiliation: School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
Interests: ore-forming theory; magmatic hydrothermal deposits
Website: https://ziyuan.sdut.edu.cn/2020/1020/c8073a399937/page.htm

Name: Prof. Dr. Ming Wang
Affiliation: College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130061, China
Interests: structural geology; tectonic evolution; Gondwana supercontinent; Tethys ocean; Tibet region
Website: https://teachers.jlu.edu.cn/WangMing/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Xinlu Hu
Affiliation: School of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: mineralization prediction; structural geology; formation mechanism
Website: https://grzy.cug.edu.cn/huxinlu/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Shuiyuan Yang
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: genesis of endogenic uranium polymetallic deposits
Website: https://grzy.cug.edu.cn/yangshuiyuan/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Bo Liu
Affiliation: School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: tectonics; igneous rocks; geochemistry; regional metallogeny
Website: http://faculty.neu.edu.cn/liubo1/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Nan Ju
Affiliation: Shenyang Center, China Geological Survey, Shenyang 110034, China
Interests: magmatism and mineralization; enrichment and mineralization of rare earth elements

Name: Dr. Byung Choon Lee
Affiliation: Department of Earth and Environment Sciences, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: high-grade metamorphism; Precambrian geology; tectonic evolution
Website: https://natural.jnu.ac.kr/natural_eng/14560/subview.do?enc=Zm5jdDF8QEB8JTJGcHJvZiUyRm5hdHVyYWxfZW5nJTJGNDMyJTJGMjQxOSUyRnZpZXcuZG8lM0Y%3D

Name: Dr. Jeffrey Steadman
Affiliation: Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 79, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Interests: ore deposits; mineral chemistry; orogenic Au; IOCG
Website: https://discover.utas.edu.au/Jeff.Steadman

Name: Prof. Dr. Degao Zhai
Affiliation: School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: Ag-Pb-Zn deposits; epithermal deposits; ore genesis
Website: https://scholar.cugb.edu.cn/scholar/scholarDetail/2131.shtml

Name: Dr. Ilias Lazos
Affiliation: Institute of Geodynamics, National Observatory of Athens, 11810 Athens, Greece
Interests: active tectonics; crustal deformation; GNSS analysis; seismotectonics; tectonic geomorphology; structural geology; geological mapping
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6832-8801

Name: Dr. Ilaria Fuoco
Affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DIBEST), University of Calabria (UniCAL), 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Interests: water quality; water–rock interaction; soil pollution; heavy metals; water remediation
Website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RM1cOJcAAAAJ&hl=en

Name: Dr. Kyu-Cheul Yoo
Affiliation: Division of Glacial Environment Research, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
Interests: marine geology; paleoceanography; sediment trap; sediment core analysis; sediments in subglacial lake; sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 degrees Celsius
Website: https://kpdc.kopri.re.kr/science-data/sedicore

Name: Dr. Elizaveta Kovaleva
Affiliation: School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville campus, Durban 4000, South Africa
Interests: metamorphic petrology and deformation in shear zones; tectonic deformation and shock deformation effects in accessory minerals; formation and evolution of shock-generated melts and other impactites
Website: https://agriculture-science.ukzn.ac.za/staff-profile/dr-elizaveta-kovaleva/

Name: Dr. Manuel Toscano
Affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Interests: ore mineralogy; ore processing; major and trace element geochemistry; isotopic geochemistry; volcanic massive sulphides; fluid inclusions; zircon; U-Pb dating of igneous and hydrothermal rocks; hydrothermal alteration
Website: https://produccioncientifica.uhu.es/investigadores/211306/detalle

Name: Dr. Nadia Mery 
Affiliation: Department of Mining Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago 8370450, Chile
Interests: geostatistics; machine learning; ore body evaluation; uncertainty quantification
Website: https://ingenieria.uchile.cl/sobre-la-fcfm/organizacion/personas/cuerpo-academico/ingenieria-de-minas?qui_id=93037

Name: Dr. Jia Lin
Affiliation: WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Kalgoorlie, WA 6430, Australia
Interests: rock mechanics; coal seam gas; fluid mechanics; CO2 geo-sequestration; ECBM; mining engineering; permeability; gas diffusion in porous media; cemented past backfill; fly ash
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2145-7993

Name: Dr. Mohammad Parsa
Affiliation: Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E8, Canada
Interests: geochemical exploration; remote sensing; geomatics; geological mapping; mineral exploration; mining
Website: https://hes.laurentian.ca/people/mohammad-parsasadr-phd

Name: Dr. Sheida Makvandi
Affiliation: Application Competence Center, Malvern Panalytical B.V., Lelyweg 1 (7602 EA), P.O. Box 13, 7600 AA Almelo, The Netherlands
Interests: indicator minerals; mineral exploration; till geochemistry; applied mineralogy; applied geochemistry; minerals chemistry; multivariate statistical methods; micro-analytical techniques; LA-ICP-MS
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3071-8190

Name: Dr. Manuel Canovas
Affiliation: Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta CP 1270709, Chile
Interests: sustainable mining; blasting engineering; mining exploitation; risk assessment and management of contaminated sites; mathematical modeling; porous media
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4981-9271

Name: Dr. Mohammad Maleki
Affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, Chile
Interests: geostatistical modeling; resource estimation; data analysis
Website: https://ficg.ucn.cl/academicos/mohammadali-malekitehrani/

Name: Dr. Ziye Wang
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: mineral prospectivity mapping; geological remote sensing; machine learning; big data
Website: https://grzy.cug.edu.cn/wangziye/en/index.htm

Name: Dr. Kati Laakso
Affiliation: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, Canada
Interests: hyperspectral; mineral exploration; spectroscopy
Website: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/earth-sciences/people/details.html?person=laakso

Name: Dr. Srikumar Roy
Affiliation: School of Earth Sciences, University College Dublin, A94T286 Dublin, Ireland
Interests: gas hydrates; seabed fluid-flow; carbon capture and geological storage; high-resolution 2D/3D pore-structure imaging techniques; shale gas characterization; igneous intrusions; submarine volcanic ridges
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2418-6300

Name: Dr. Seyedalireza Khatibi
Affiliation: Petroleum Engineering Department, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
Interests: petroleum engineering; exploration geophysics; exploration geochemistry; Raman spectroscopy; mechanical earth modeling
Website: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9644-0163

Name: Dr. Michael Jorgensen  
Affiliations: 1 TechnoImaging, LLC, Salt Lake City, UT 84107, USA;
2 Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, USA
Interests: magnetics; magnetization vector inversion; 3D inversion; high-performance computing
Website: https://profiles.faculty.utah.edu/u0664660  

Name: Dr. Fenghao Duan
Affiliation: School of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China
Interests: geochronology; geochemistry; magmatic rocks
Website: https://js.chd.edu.cn/dzgcychxy/dfh/list.htm

Name: Dr. Haibo Yan
Affiliation: Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
Interests: experimental geochemistry; element geochemistry; the mobility of metal complexes in the fluids
Website: https://zjxy.fzu.edu.cn/info/1172/6152.htm

Name: Dr. Yangyang Wang
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric and Environmental Coevolution, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
Interests: fluid/melt inclusions; mineralization; isotope geochemistry
Website: https://faculty.ustc.edu.cn/wangyangyang/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Maria Di Rosa
Affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: thermobarometry; geochronology; metamorphic petrology; mineral chemistry; geological mapping; tectonics; structural analysis; regional geology; stratigraphy
Website: https://unimap.unipi.it/cercapersone/dettaglio.php?ri=168041&template=dettaglio.tpl

Name: Dr. Grazina Skridlaite
Affiliation: Institute of Geology and Geography, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: petrology; field geology; geological processes; geochemistry; geochronology; petrography; regional geology; geoeducation; geoheritage
Website: https://gamtostyrimai.lt/en/darbuotojai/grazina-skridlaite/

Name: Dr. Vinod O. Samuel
Affiliation: Department of Earth System Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
Interests: petrology; geochemistry; tectonics; magmatism; metamorphism; metasomatism; fluids; pseudosection modeling
Website: http://geo.yonsei.ac.kr/en/index.php?hCode=STAFF_LIST&gubun=DR

Name: Prof. Dr. Gianni Gallello
Affiliation: Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Valencia, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 28, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: archaeological science; chemical elements; archaeological materials; analytical chemistry
Website: https://www.uv.es/uvweb/college/en/profile-1285950309813.html?p2=gallello&idA=true

Name: Dr. Jinhe Pan
Affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coal Processing & Efficient Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: mineral processing; trace element occurrence; hydrometallurgy; utilization of coal combustion waste
Website: https://faculty.cumt.edu.cn/panjinhe/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Chenwei Li
Affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: enhancement of the flotation separation process for fine-grained coal/minerals; development of technologies for the resource utilization of waste lithium batteries and coal gasification residues and other solid wastes
Website: https://scet.cumt.edu.cn/c3/4f/c21941a639823/page.htm

Name: Dr. Yuqiang Mao
Affiliation: Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: flotation theory and technology; comprehensive utilization of mineral resources; mineral surface interface wetting theory
Website: https://gzy.kmust.edu.cn/info/1069/2525.htm

Name: Dr. Dingzheng Wang
Affiliation: College of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: recycling of secondary resources; efficient processing of mineral resources; preparation and application of mineral materials; wastewater and waste gas treatment
Website: https://prof.gxu.edu.cn/teacherDetails/2f88fe65-83c0-4f31-b7a0-aa19ca2b80ff

Name: Dr. Changtao Wang
Affiliation: Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: flotation theory; reagents; processes and the comprehensive utilization of tailings resources
Website: https://gzy.kust.edu.cn/info/1069/2536.htm

Name: Dr. Yijiang Li
Affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: flotation; flocculation; colloid and interface chemistry; intelligent mineral processing; design of mineral processing equipment
Website: https://jx.tyust.edu.cn/info/1201/4785.htm

Name: Dr. Mingyang Li
Affiliation: School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243032, China
Interests: surface interaction; density functional theory; adsorption; chemical modification
Website: https://yjxy.ahut.edu.cn/info/2842/4399.htm

Name: Dr. Xinran Zhu
Affiliation: Department of Mineral Engineering, College of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: refractory iron ore; spodumene; vanadium-bearing shale; gold; pyrometallurgy; leaching; magnetic separation; phase transformation; magnetism; kinetics; XRD; Mössbauer spectroscopy; VSM; TG-DSC
Website: http://www.zitu.neu.edu.cn/2023/0714/c1088a233492/page.htm

Name: Dr. Xiangning Bu
Affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: flotation kinetics; nanobubbles; ultrasound cavitation; emulsified oily collectors; recycling of spent LIBs
Website: https://scet.cumt.edu.cn/f9/e4/c20581a588260/page.htm

Name: Dr. Ningning Liao
Affiliation: School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Interests: comminution theory and technology; lithium resource efficient separation theory and technology; particle simulation and modeling
Website: https://zh.jxust.edu.cn/info/1146/14262.htm

Name: Dr. Liuyang Dong
Affiliation: Faculty of Land Resources Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: mineral processing; froth flotation; flotation chemistry; flotation reagent design
Website: https://gzy.kust.edu.cn/info/1068/2704.htm

Name: Dr. Xiaomin Ma
Affiliation: Department of Mineral Processing Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Interests: solid–liquid separation; coal sludge; comprehensive utilization of coal waste
Website: https://kyxy.tyut.edu.cn/info/1120/4687.htm

Name: Dr. Hainan Wang
Affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Interests: fine-grained flotation; fluid mechanics
Website: https://nerccpp.cumt.edu.cn/whn/list.htm

Name: Prof. Dr. Guixia Fan
Affiliation: Zhongyuan Critical Metals Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
Interests: critical metal beneficiation and separation technology; surface/interface science engineering; solid waste resource recycling
Website: https://www7.zzu.edu.cn/criticalmetal/info/1125/1915.htm

Name: Dr. Weiping Liu
Affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: froth flotation; hydrometallurgy; big data analysis; simulation
Website: https://faculty.csu.edu.cn/weipingliu/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Prof. Dr. Fang Zhou
Affiliation: School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073, China
Interests: separation science and technology; mineral processing; surface chemistry; chemical engineering
Website: http://xfme.wit.edu.cn/info/1016/3042.htm

Name: Dr. Shichao Wu
Affiliation: Metallurgical Engineering‌, School of Metallurgy and Energy Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: clean and efficient utilization of refractory metal mineral resources; low-carbon metallurgy; resource utilization of solid waste
Website: https://yn.kmust.edu.cn/info/1099/4287.htm

Name: Dr. Zhoujie Wang
Affiliation: Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Interests: environmental sciences; colloid and interface science; natural organic matter; heavy metals; flotation
Website: https://hzxy.swust.edu.cn/2024/1106/c10656a207866/page.htm

Name: Dr. Tianfu Zhang
Affiliation: Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: mineral flotation; efficient and clean utilization of renewable resources
Website: https://gzy.kmust.edu.cn/info/1069/2533.htm

Name: Dr. Qing Sun
Affiliation: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Interests: flotation separation; interface chemistry; surfactant synthesis
Website: https://hgxy.hunnu.edu.cn/info/1565/10236.htm

Name: Dr. Song Zou
Affiliation: School of Resource and Environment Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
Interests: low-carbon mineral processing theory and technology; molecular design and development of environmentally friendly mineral processing reagents; joint green utilization of secondary resources for mining and smelting
Website: https://zh.jxust.edu.cn/info/1146/14265.htm

Name: Dr. Sultan Ahmed Khoso
Affiliation: Department of Mining Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Interests: minerals’ extraction processes; process optimization; plant design; quality control
Websites: https://site.muet.edu.pk/departments/mining-engineering/faculty-members;
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sultan-Khoso-2

Name: Dr. Zhijie Chen
Affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
Interests: froth flotation; ore beneficiation; waste utilization; mineral materials; electrochemistry; environmental functional materials
Website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/jay-chen

Name: Dr. Gaofeng Wang
Affiliation: Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: clay mineral; mining; rare earth elements; ion-adsorption rare earth deposits; electrokinetics; adsorption; surfaces and interfaces
Website: https://gig.cas.cn/sourcedb/zw/rck/202505/t20250523_7790439.html

Name: Dr. Renji Zheng
Affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: mineral material; semiconductor mineral; DFT calculation; catalysis; wastewater treatment
Website: https://faculty.csu.edu.cn/zhengrenji/zh_CN/index.htm

Name: Dr. Elif Emil Kaya
Affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Interests: hydrometallurgy; pyrometallurgy; recycling of critical metals from secondary sources; recycling of permanent magnets and solar cells
Website: https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/elif.e.kaya

Name: Prof. Dr. Hernán Anticoi
Affiliation: Departament d’Enginyeria Minera, Industrial i TIC, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya Barcelona Tech, Av. Bases de Manresa 61-63, 08242 Manresa, Spain
Interests: mineral processing; comminution; modeling; energy optimization; pollution remediation
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernan-anticoi-sudzuki-66240461/?originalSubdomain=cl

Name: Dr. Gauti Asbjörnsson
Affiliation: Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden
Interests: steady-state and dynamic process simulations; unit and process optimization; crushing and screening modelling; aggregates; data science; environmental product declarations and operator training
Website: https://www.chalmers.se/en/persons/gauti/

Name: Dr. Mehdi Parian
Affiliation: Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, SE-971 87 Luleå, Sweden
Interests: liberation; ore characterization; comminution; process mineralogy
Website: https://www.ltu.se/staff/m/mehpar-1.94151?l=en

Name: Dr. Theerayut Phengsaart
Affiliation: Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Interests: mineral processing; physical separation; coal cleaning; resource recycling; plastic separation; waste management; environmental remediation
Website: https://www.eng.chula.ac.th/en/staff/theerayut-phengsaart-ph-d

Name: Prof. Dr. Ye Chen
Affiliation: School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: flotation theory and technology; quantum chemistry research on mineral flotation; comprehensive utilization of mineral resources
Website: https://prof.gxu.edu.cn/teacherDetails/a6daa6a7-d91e-4b3b-95cb-83ce7529f071

 

 

 

15 October 2025
Interview with Mr. George Mustoe—Winner of the Minerals Best Paper Award


We are pleased to announce that Mr. George Mustoe’s paper “Silicification of Wood: An Overview”  has won the Minerals 2023 Best Paper Award, acknowledging it as an exceptional article published in Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X). As the winner of this award, Mr. George Mustoe will receive CHF 500, a certificate, and a free voucher for article processing fees valid for one year.

The following is a short interview with the winner, Mr. George Mustoe:

1. Congratulations on winning the Minerals 2023 Best Paper Award! Could you please briefly introduce yourself?

I did not start out as a paleontologist. My original training was in geochemistry, and as I got older, I became interested in fossil plants because, in this area, most of the local bedrock is Eocene sediment, that is, full of fossil plants, mostly fossil leaves. There had been some work conducted on that topic, but not a lot, and I finally decided if somebody was going to work on it, it might as well be me—despite the fact I knew almost nothing about botany. This goes back to the mid-1990s, I guess, when I decided, I would start looking at these fossil leaves and try to learn enough botany to make some sense of them. In my early years, I was basically looking at fossil leaves, and I became interested in paleoclimate modeling. I was influenced by a US Geological Survey geologist, Jack Wolf, who invented the first computer model of paleoclimate. So, I started out doing that, and after a while I became more interested in petrified wood, which is abundant in the Western United States. A consistent theme of my research is that I have been interested in how ancient life becomes fossilized. I have performed some taxonomy and some classical paleontology work, but mostly I have been interested in the fossilization process. I started looking at fossil wood, and it became one of my main research interests. I had good analytical skills and was performing a lot of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis—tools that were really useful for looking at fossils, particularly fossil wood. Although I have worked on many other projects, fossil wood has remained a continued interest for me. One of the things that has always interested me is the boundary areas between scientific disciplines. The world is not divided into categories like chemistry, geology, and physics, yet that is how it is usually taught. For me, one of the attractions of paleontology is that it sits at the intersection of geology, biology, and, in my case, chemistry as well. I enjoy working in those boundary areas, and almost all of the research I have chosen to do has been in that space. In paleontology, I have always been fascinated by the simple fact that when you hold a fossil in your hand, you are holding something that was once alive. My geology program focused on hard rock geology, petrology, and to some extent geophysics. I took courses in crystallography, mineralogy, and related areas, but those subjects never captivated me as much. I have always been more interested in what has happened on the surface of the Earth rather than deep within it. While hard rock geology certainly has value, my curiosity lies in surface processes and history. Paleontology, for me, is the closest thing to having a time machine.

2. Could you give a brief overview of the main content of your award-winning paper?

A great percentage of the research that has been published about fossil wood has been performed by botanists and biologists who have not had much interest in geology, so the publications have largely focused on taxonomy—what kind of wood it is—and reconstructing the paleoenvironment from the species that were living at the time. There has often been very little discussion of the geologic setting where the fossil wood was preserved, and very little about the processes of fossilization.

Early on, I saw that wood is commonly fossilized in several steps, sometimes with long delays in between. It is not a simple “wood turned to stone” process. A consistent theme of my work has been studying the succession of processes that cause wood to become mineralized. There are simple examples, but mostly very complicated ones. I have continued to follow this path, examining how wood transitions from cellulose and lignin material to mineral replacement.

One commonly repeated idea is permineralization—the belief that the open spaces in wood become filled with minerals while the actual wood tissue remains. This has been repeated in textbooks and journals, but for silicified wood, that interpretation is usually wrong. Permineralization is attractive because of its simplicity, but it has rarely been tested. One of the only attempts I found was by Dr. Saint John, who published a paper around 1927. She treated silicified wood with hydrofluoric acid to dissolve the silica and examined what remained. Of six samples, almost none retained organic matter. Her work, published in the Journal of Economic Geology, was largely ignored because it was not read by paleontologists.

When I examined samples myself, I also found very little organic matter in most silicified wood. I developed a different method: powdering the wood, heating it to about 500°C to burn off any organic matter, measuring the weight loss, and comparing it to the original density of the wood. This gave a semi-quantitative measure of preserved organic matter, which was typically very small. Thus, permineralization is mostly a comfortable fiction; actual testing shows it to be rare. Fossilization is instead a competitive process—while wood degrades through microbial activity or chemical reactions, minerals such as silica infiltrate and replace it. Petrifaction only occurs when the rates of degradation and mineralization balance. If degradation is faster, the wood is destroyed, leaving only a cast. If mineralization is faster, more organic matter may remain. But most often, almost all organic matter is lost as minerals replace it in successive stages.

The structure of wood itself favors petrifaction. Wood provides strength in trees and contains conductive cells for transporting water and dissolved minerals upward, and nutrients downward. This porosity means that, once buried, wood must be in an environment that inhibits decay—often below the water table in anaerobic conditions. If groundwater carries dissolved minerals, these can precipitate. For silica, the first step is attachment to the cell walls due to chemical affinity, followed by filling of the cell interiors, and later, fractures or larger voids. Many fossilized woods show incomplete processes, with preserved cell walls but unfilled interiors, or larger fractures left open.

Two common questions I am asked about fossil wood are “What species is it?” (I do not focus on taxonomy), and “How long does it take to petrify?” The answer to the second is highly variable. In the right conditions, wood can mineralize fairly quickly; in other cases, it never mineralizes. For example, wood in the Canadian Arctic buried in sediments without groundwater can remain as original wood for tens of millions of years. Locally, I have seen Miocene and Pleistocene wood preserved in impermeable clay, essentially sealed, still cuttable with a knife or burnable with a match. More commonly, wood mineralizes in multiple stages, over variable timescales, depending entirely on environment.

3. Could you describe some challenges you have faced during your career?

I grew up in a small town in Nevada, in a family where higher education was not an option. My father grew up on a small homestead ranch in Colorado. His father died of a heart attack in his 40s, leaving eleven children. At age of 14, my father dropped out of school after eighth grade to find work and send money home to support his widowed mother and younger siblings. He worked for ten years as a miner until serving in the army during World War II. After the war, with the mining industry in decline, he spent his life as an auto mechanic.

My mother was also a child of the Great Depression. She graduated from high school, but like my father, wanted something better for us. I had an older brother, Raymond, and my parents hoped we could both attend college, though we had no money. Their plan was simple: when Raymond was a senior in high school, the family would move to a town with a college so we could live at home and attend inexpensively. Scholarships never occurred to us, even though we were good students.

So, we moved to Bellingham, Washington—a place we had never been—because it had a small college. Raymond graduated in anthropology, and I started as a freshman majoring in geology. I worked minimum-wage jobs to pay my way through college while living at home. By the end, I became interested in biochemistry and began graduate school in that field, but my professor died of cancer at age 34, leaving me stranded. Fortunately, I had enough geology credits to complete a master’s degree in geology.

I then worked at the university as a research technician for 40 years. I was never a professor and never earned a PhD, but I had access to laboratories and freedom to study what I wanted. This led to a large publication record and an active research career. I have now been retired for 11 years, but I still have my lab keys, and continue conducting research, and enjoy the freedom of working only when I want to.

I often think about my father, who left school so early but was one of the smartest people I have known. His lack of formal education limited him, but he taught me that there are many ways to learn besides sitting in a classroom. Too often, college can feel like information being poured into your head. But what really matters in life is knowing how to find information when you need it and being willing to keep learning.

If your education ends when you receive a diploma, you can remain ignorant as the world changes. What’s important is staying curious and learning as life goes on. In my time, that meant reading journals and going to the library. Today, everything seems to be online. That makes access easier, but it also brings the challenge of separating accurate information from the enormous amount of misinformation. The real skill is not just finding information—but finding information you can trust.

4. What factors attracted you to submit your paper to Minerals? How was your submission experience?

Well, I am pleased to say I love MDPI publications. I have published in many journals and completed several hundred peer reviews across different outlets. My experience with MDPI has been excellent. The peer review is first-rate, both in the reviews I have received and in those I have conducted as a reviewer. The process is efficient, the editors are responsive, and it is refreshing not to wait six months or more for a paper to appear. Peer review is not perfect anywhere, but MDPI demonstrates a strong commitment to quality, and in my view, it is among the best.

5. What advice would you give to young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact research results?

I really recommend pursuing things that capture your interest. If you focus only on a job title, it may not lead to a very happy life. What really counts is what you do on a day-to-day basis, not what’s written on your office door or desk.

Your passions do not always have to be tied to your career. For example, I have always been devoted to music. I am a woodwind player and have taken years of lessons, and especially in retirement, I have played a lot. The closest I have come to being a professional musician is probably having neighbors who would pay me to stop practicing so much. And that is fine with me—I am glad I never had to rely on music to make a living, since most music or art jobs are not very appealing and are often difficult to sustain. Instead, I had a job I enjoyed, working 40 years in the same place with colleagues I liked.

If you pursue what truly interests you, it might not always be clear where it will lead, but it is likely to take you to a good place. If you pursue something out of ego or vanity, it is less likely to bring fulfillment. My parents, for example, encouraged my brother and me to get an education but never imposed what we should study or become. That freedom was invaluable.

Ultimately, education is less about pouring information into your head and more about giving you time and space to discover your path. It is not a bad thing to be young and undecided—often, that is exactly how you find the direction that is right for you.

6. Minerals is an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts readers and authors?

These days, I try to publish only in open-access journals. I strongly oppose the paywall structure, where access to research is restricted unless you pay a significant fee. Personally, my university library covers access costs for me, but for anyone without that advantage, it creates a huge barrier. To me, making scientific research a profitable enterprise for publishers is problematic. That is why I value MDPI journals for their commitment to Open Access and Creative Commons licensing.

I also see online publishing as the future. Hard copy journals are rarely used now; most people prefer PDFs. I used to publish in the Geological Society of America Bulletin, a leading U.S. geology journal. While technically nonprofit, they still relied heavily on paywalls and were so page-limited that every issue was committed more than a year in advance. That made it nearly impossible to get an article accepted. Online publishing eliminates those barriers, allowing unlimited articles, color illustrations, and interactive links.

More information about journal awards can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals/awards.

1 October 2025
2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers


We are honored to recognize the 2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers—scholars whose exemplary commitment to rigorous and constructive peer review is vital in upholding the highest standards of academic publishing.

Selected from a distinguished pool of 215,000 reviewers from 65 countries and regions worldwide, these honorees stand out for their exceptional expertise, diligence, and dedication to advancing research through timely and thoughtful reviews. Their constructive and impartial feedback ensures the publication of high-quality, impactful research, while their timely reviews facilitate swift revisions and faster publication of innovative work.

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. With gratitude and respect, we celebrate these 1000 scholars who made that foundation stronger in 2024. We respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

Abbas Yazdinejad

Hanane Boutaj

Oscar De Lucio

Abdessamad Belhaj

Hany H. Arab

Otilia Manta

Abdolreza Jamilian

Hao Zang

Panagiotis D. Michailidis

Abdul Waheed

Hatem Amin

Panagiotis Simitzis

Abiel Aguilar-González

Henry Alba

Paola Prete

Adina Santana

Hiroyuki Noda

Paolo Trucillo

Aditya Velidandi

Hitoshi Tanaka

Patricia Kara De Maeijer

Adrian Stancu

Horst Lenske

Patrícia Pires

Adriana Borodzhieva

Hossein Azadi

Paulo Schwingel

Adriana Cristina Urcan

Houlin Yu

Pavel Loskot

Adriano Bressane

Huaifu Deng

Pedro García-Ramírez

Agbotiname Imoize

Huamin Jie

Pedro Pablo Zamora

Agustin L. Herrera-May

Hugo Lisboa

Pedro Pereira

Ahmed Arafa

Igor L. Zakharov

Pei-Hsun Wang

Ahmet Cagdas Seckin

Igor Litvinchev

Pellegrino La Manna

Ailton Cesar Lemes

Igor Vujović

Petar Ozretić

Akash Kumar

Ildiko Horvath

Petko Petkov

Akihiko Murayama

Ilya A. Khodov

Petr Komínek

Alain E. Le Faou

Ilya Zavidovskiy

Petras Prakas

Alain Massart

Imran Ali Lakhiar

Petro Pukach

Alejandro Plascencia

Ines Aguinaga-Ontoso

Petru Alexandru Vlaicu

Aleksandar Ašonja

Ioan Hutu

Phil Chilibeck

Aleksandra Głowacka

Ioan Petean

Pia Lopez-Jornet

Aleksandra Nesić

Irena M. Ilic

Pietro Geri

Alessio Ardizzone

Isaac Lifshitz

Pingfan Hu

Alessio Faccia

Ismael Cristofer Baierle

Piotr Cyklis

Alexander E. Berezin

I-Ta Lee

Piotr Gauden

Alexander Lykov

Itzhak Aviv

Piotr Gawda

Alexander Robitzsch

Iustinian Bejan

Pradeep Kumar Panda

Alexandre Landry

Ivan Matveev

Pradeep Varadwaj

Alexey Chubarov

Ivan Pavlenko

Presentación Caballero

Alexey Morgounov

Ivana Mitrović

Pu Xie

Alexis Rodríguez

Iyyakkannu Sivanesan

Qingchao Li

Alfredo Silveira De Borba

Jacek Abramczyk

Qinghua Qiu

Ali Hashemizdeh

Jacques Cabaret

Qingwei Chen

Alison De Oliveira Moraes

Jaime A. Mella-Raipán

Radoslaw Jasinski

Aliyu Aliyu

Jaime Taha-Tijerina

Radu Racovita

Alok Dhaundiyal

James Chun Lam Chow

Rafael Galvão De Almeida

Álvaro Antón-Sancho

James Chung-Wai Cheung

Rafael Melo

Amit Ranjan

James O. Finckenauer

Rafal Kukawka

Amritlal Mandal

Jan Cieśliński

Rafał Watrowski

Ana Isabel Roca-Fernández

Ján Moravec

Raffaele Pellegrino

Ana Tomić

Jarbas Miguel

Rajender Boddula

Anas Alsobeh

Jaroslav Dvorak

Ralf Hofmann

Anastasios Karayiannakis

Jarosław Przybył

Ran Wang

Andre Luiz Costa

Jasenka Gajdoš Kljusurić

Ranko S. Romanić

Andrea Bianconi

Jasmina Lukinac

Ratna Kishore Velamati

Andrea Sonaglioni

Jawad Tanveer

Rebecca Creamer

Andrea Tomassi

Jean Carlos Bettoni

Reggie Surya

Andrés Fernando Barajas Solano

Jennie Golding

Rehan Siddiqui

Andrés Novoa

Jerzy Chudek

Renato Maaliw

Andreu Comas-Garcia

Jhih-Rong Liao

Reuven Yosef

Andrew Lane

Jiachen Li

Ricardo García-León

Andrew Lothian

Jianzhu Liu

Richard Murray

Andrew Sortwell

Jiaquan Yu

Robert Boyd

Andrius Katkevičius

Jibing Chen

Robert H. Eibl

Andromachi Nanou

Jie Gao

Robert James Crammond

Andrzej Kielian

Jie Hua

Robert Oleniacz

Andrzej Kozłowski

Jill Channing

Roberto Passera

Andrzej Zolnowski

Jinfeng Li

Rodolpho Fernando Vaz

Ángel Josabad Alonso-Castro

Jinle Xiang

Rodrigo Galo

Ángel Llamas

Jinliu Chen

Roger E. Thomas

Angelo Ferlazzo

Jinyao Lin

Roger W. Bachmann

Angelo Marcelo Tusset

Jinyu Hu

Rogério  Leone Buchaim

Anil K. Meher

Jiří Remr

Roman Trach

Animesh Kumar Basak

Jiying Liu

Roman Trochimczuk

Anita Silvana Ilak Peršurić

João Everthon Da Silva Ribeiro

Romil Parikh

Anna Kharkova

Joao Pessoa

Romina Fucà

Anna Lenart-Boroń

Joaquim Carreras

Ronald Nelson

Anna Piotrowska

John Adams Sebastian

Rosie Yagmur Yegin

Anne Anderson

John Van Boxel

Roxana Lucaciu

Antiopi-Malvina Stamatellou

Jonathan Puente-Rivera

Rui Sales Júnior

Antonia Kondou

Jordi-Roger Riba

Rui Vitorino

Antonio Miguel Ruiz Armenteros

Jorge De Andres-Sanchez

Ruo Wang

Anusorn Cherdthong

Jorge Guillermo Diaz Rodriguez

Ryoma Michishita

Aram Cornaggia

Jorge Luis Zambrano-Martinez

Sabina Necula

Ariana Saraiva

José F. Fontanari

Sabina Umirzakova

Ariel Soares Teles

José Felipe Orzuna-Orzuna

Said EL-Ashker

Aristeidis Karras

José Francisco Segura Plaza

Saïf Ed-Dı̂n Fertahi

Arnaud Dragicevic

José Luis Díaz

Salvatore Romano

Artem Obukhov

José Luis Rivera-Armenta

Sándor Beszédes

Arvind Kumar Shukla

Jose M. Miranda

Santiago Lain

Arvind Negi

Jose M. Mulet

Sara Black Brown

Athanasios A. Panagiotopoulos

Jose Navarro-Pedreño

Sarat Chandra Mohapatra

Augustine Edegbene

José Pedro Cerdeira

Sarunas Grigaliunas

Aunchalee Aussanasuwannakul

Jouni Räisänen

Saša Milojević

Aurel Maxim

Jui-Yang Lai

Sawsan A. Zaitone

Barbara Symanowicz

Juliana Fernandes

Scott E. Hendrix

Bartosz Płachno

Julio Plaza Díaz

Seong-Gon Kim

Bela Kocsis

Juliusz Huber

Sergii Babichev

Benedetto Schiavo

Jun Liu

Sergio Da Silva

Bernhard Koelmel

Junyu Chen

Sérgio Felipe

Bhupendra Prajapati

Karan Nayak

Sergio Guzmán-Pino

Bierng-Chearl Ahn

Karel Allegaert

Seyed Kourosh Mahjour

Bo Zhou

Katarina Aškerc Zadravec

Seyed Masoud Parsa

Bohong Zhang

Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka

Shedrach Benjamin Pewan

Bonface Ombasa Manono

Katarzyna Peta

Shehwaz Anwar

Bozhidar Stefanov

Katarzyna Tandecka

Shengwen Tang

Brach Poston

Katherine Bussey

Shih-Lin Lin

Byeong Yong Kong

Katsuya Ichinose

Shilong Li

Caio Sampaio

Kazuharu Bamba

Shing-Hwa Liu

Caius Panoiu

Kazuhiko Kotani

Shu Yuan

Caiyun Wang

Kazuhiko Nakadate

Shuohong Wang

Calin Mircea Gherman

Keigi Fujiwara

Shuolin Xiao

Camelia Delcea

Keith Rochfort

Shuping Wu

Cardellicchio Angelo

Kenneth Waters

Sihui Dong

Carlos Alberto Ligarda Samanez

Keren Dopelt

Sławomir Rabczak

Carlos Almeida

Kira E. Vostrikova

Sojung Kim

Carlos Balsas

Kit Leong Cheong

Songli Zhu

Carlos López-de-Celis

Konstantinos Vergos

Soonhee Hwang

Carlos Marcuello

Koyeli Girigoswami

Soo-Whang Baek

Carlos Pascual-Morena

Krzysztof R. Karsznia

Soufiane Haddout

Carlos Torres-Torres

Krzysztof Szwajka

Sousana Papadopoulou

Casey Watters

Krzysztof Wołk

Spiros Paramithiotis

Castillo Castillo

Kumar Ganesan

Spyridon Kaltsas

Changmin Shi

Lan Lin

Srecko Stopic

Chao Chen

László Radócz

Srinivasan Sathiyaraj

Chao Gu

Laurent Donzé

Stefano Mancin

Chao Zhang (China)

Lei He

Subhadeep Das

Chao Zhang (Singapore)

Lei Huang

Sumedha Nitin Prabhu

Chellapandian Maheswaran

Leonard-Ionut Atanase

Sushant K. Rawal

Cheonshik Kim

Leonardo Henrique Dalcheco Messias

Svetoslav Todorov

Chia Hung Kao

Leonie Brummer

Szymon Janczar

Chiachung Chen

Levon Gevorkov

Tadeusz Kowalski

Chiara Cinquini

Li Fu

Tadeusz Sierotowicz

Chieh-Chih Tsai

Lidija Hauptman

Taha Koray Sahin

Christian Rojas

Lin-Fu Liang

Tahir Cetin Akinci

Chu Zhang

Ling Yang

Takuo Sakon

Chuanyu Sun

Lingli Deng

Tamara Lazarević-Pašti

Chun-Wei Yang

Ljubica Kazi

Tao Zhang

Claudia Bita-Nicolae

Lotfi Boudjema

Taras P. Pasternak

Constant Mews

Louis Moustakas

Tarek Eldomiaty

Cristian Vacacela Gomez

Luca Ulrich

Taro Urase

Cristiano Matos

Luis Adrian De Jesús-González

Tenzer Robert

Cristian-Valeriu Stanciu

Luis Alfonso Díaz-Secades

Thawatchai Phaechamud

Cristóbal Macías Villalobos

Luis Filipe Almeida Bernardo

Thomas Michael

Dalia Calneryte

Luis Nestor Apaza Ticona

Tiberiu Harko

Daniel Hernandez-Patlan

Luis Puente-Díaz

Timea Claudia Ghitea

Daniele Ritelli

Luiz Antonio Alcântara Pereira

Timothy John Mahony

Daniel-Ioan Curiac

Łukasz Rakoczy

Timothy Omara

Daniil Olennikov

Łukasz Szeleszczuk

Tomasz Hikawczuk

Daodao Hu

Maciej Kruszyna

Tomasz M. Karpiński

Daqin Guan

Magdalena Jaciow

Tomasz Trzepiecinski

Daria Chudakova

Maha Nasr

Triantafyllos Didangelos

Daria Mottareale-Calvanese

Maharshi Bhaswant

Tsvetelin Zaevski

Dariusz Dziki

Maksim Zavalishin

Ulrich J. Pont

Dariusz Gozdowski

Małgorzata Jeleń

Vadim Kramar

David Kieda

Man Fai Leung

Vagner Lunge

David Luviano-Cruz

Manickam Minakshi

Valério Monteiro-Neto

Da-Zhi Sun

Marcel Sari

Van Giap Do

Debra Wetcher-Hendricks

Marcello Iasiello

Van-An Duong

Demin Cai

Marco Limongiello

Vanni Nicoletti

Dennis Dieks

Marco Zucca

Vasilios Liordos

Deokho Lee

Marconi Batista Teixeira

Vedran Mrzljak

Deyu Li

Marcos Vinícius Da Silva

Vicente Romo Pérez

Diego Romano Perinelli

Marek Cała

Victor-Alexandru Briciu

Dimitris Tatsis

Maria G. Ioannides

Viktor V. Brygadyrenko

Dirceu Ramos

Maria João Lima

Vinícius Silva Belo

Dmitrii Pankin

Maria Kantzanou

Violeta Popovici

Dmitriy Yambulatov

Maria Leonor Abrantes Pires

Viorel Dragos Radu

Dmitry Kultin

Mariana Buranelo Egea

Viswas Raja Solomon

Dongwei Di

Mariana Magalhães

Viviani Oliveira

Dorota Formanowicz

Marija Strojnik

Vlad Rotaru

Dragan Marinkovic

Marijn Speeckaert

Vladica Stojanović

Drazenko Glavic

Marina G. Holyavka

Volodymyr Hrytsyk

Duguleana Mihai

Marina Gravit

Volodymyr Ponomaryov

Dušan S. Dimić

Mario Cerezo Pizarro

Waldemar Studziński

E Terasa Chen

Mario Ganau

Wanming Lin

Edoardo Bucchignani

Mariusz Ptak

Waseem Jerjes

Eduard Zadobrischi

Marlen Vitales-Noyola

Wei-Chieh Lee

Edwin Villagran

Marta Forte

Weiming Fang

Eitan Simon

Martha Rocío Moreno-Jimenez

Weiren Luo

Elena Chitoran

Marwan El Ghoch

Weiwei Jiang

Elena Marrocchino

Marzena Włodarczyk-Stasiak

Wenan Yuan

Elisabeta Negrău

Massimiliano Schiavo

Wenguang Yang

Elisavet Bouloumpasi

Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali

Wenluan Zhang

Elochukwu Ukwandu

Mateusz Rozmiarek

Wiesław Przygoda

Emil Smyk

Matt Smith

Wilian Paul Arévalo Cordero

Emilio Bucio

Matteo Riccò

Wilian Pech-Rodríguez

Emmanouil Karampinis

Matthias Müller

Wislei R. Osório

Ericsson D. Coy-Barrera

Mauro Lombardo

Wi-Young So

Eugeniusz Koda

Md. Ataur Rahman

Wojciech Sałabun

Ewa Chomać-Pierzecka

Md. Biddut Hossain

Wojciech Zabierowski

Ewa Tomaszewska

Meisam Abdollahi

Xiaofei Du

Ezhaveni Sathiyamoorthi

Meng-Hwan Lee

Xiaolong Ji

Fabio Corti

Meng-Yao Li

Xiaomin Xu

Fahmi Zairi

Meysam Keshavarz

Xiaoshuang Ma

Fanzhi Kong

Michael Eisenhut

Xiaoying Liu

Fasih Ullah Haider

Michael Gerlich

Xiao-Yong Wang

Fayez Tarsha-Kurdi

Mihaela Brindusa Tudose

Xinming Zhang

Fekete Mónika

Mihaela Niculae

Xinqiao Liu

Felipe Jiménez

Mihaela Tinca Udristioiu

Xinqing Xiao

Feng Wen

Mihaela Toderaş

Xuechen Zheng

Ferdinando Di Martino

Mihai Crenganis

Xueming Zhang

Fernanda Tonelli

Mika Simonen

Xuezhen Wang

Fernando Lessa Tofoli

Milan Toma

Xuguang Cai

Fernando Viadero-Monasterio

Miloš Lichner

Yair Wiseman

Fethi Ouallouche

Milos Seda

Yang Xu

Flavio Arroyo

MIloš Zrnić

Yangwon Lee

Flor H. Pujol

Min Xia

Yanhong Peng

Florin Dumitru Bora

Mina Tadros

Yao Ni

Florin Nechita

Mingren Shen

Yaoxiang Li

Francesco Di Bello

Mircea Neagoe

Yasushige Shingu

Francesco Galluzzo

Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov

Yaswanth Kuthati

Francisco Haces Fernandez

Mirjana Ljubojević

Yaxin Liu

Francisco Rego

Mirko Stanimirović

Ygor Jessé Ramos

Francisco Solano

Mirza Pojskić

Yi Xu

Frédéric Muttin

Modesto Pérez-Sánchez

Yifan Zhao

Fredrick Eze

Mohammad Ali Sahraei

Yih Jeng

Gabriel Milan

Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki

Yiyang Chen

Gabriel Zazeri

Mohammad Qneibi

Yoichi Shiraishi

Galina Ilieva

Mohammed Gamal

Yong Hwan Kim

Gary Van Vuuren

Mohammed Sayed

Yongqi Yin

Gennadiy Kolesnikov

Mounia Tahri

Young-joo Ahn

George E. Mustoe

Muhammad Ahsan Asghar 

Yousi Fu

George Lazaroiu

Muhammad N. Mahmood

Yuan Meng

George Xiroudakis

Muhammad Syafrudin

Yuefei Zhuo

Georgiy Gamov

Muhammed Yildirim

Yugang He

Gerald Cleaver

Murilo E. C. Bento

Yuliia Trach

Ghassan Ghssein

Muthuraj Arunpandian

Yuliya Semenova

Gian Mario Migliaccio

Narcis Eduard Mitu

Yuri Jorge Peña-Ramirez

Giancarlo Trimarchi

Naser Alsharairi

Yuri Konstantinov

Gianmarco Ferrara

Natale Calomino

Yusheng Xiang

Giovanni Tesoriere

Natanael Karjanto

Yutaka Ohsedo

Giuseppe Brunetti

Nataša Nastić

Zaihua Duan

Giuseppe Di Martino

Naveed Ahmad

Zelaya-Molina Lily Xochilt

Giuseppe Losurdo

Nebojsa Pavlovic

Zenon Pogorelić

Giuseppina Uva

Neli Milenova Vilhelmova

Zhang Ying

Glauber Cruz

Nguyen Dinh-Hung

Zhanni Luo

Glenn Morrison

Nguyen Quoc Khuong

Zhao Ding

Gloria Cerasela Crisan

Nicola Magnavita

Zhengmao Li

Gordana Wozniak-Knopp

Nicoleta Dospinescu

Zhengwei Huang

Gordon Alderink

Nicoletta Cera

Zhidong Zhou

Grazia Giuseppina Politano

Nidhi Puranik

Zhijun Li

Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos

Nikita Osintsev

Zhixiong Lu

Grzegorz Woroniak

Nikita V. Martyushev

Zhizhong Zhang

Grzegorz Zieliński

Nikola Stanisic

Zhong-Gao Jiao

Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas

Nilakshi Barua

Zia Muhammad

Guangnian Xiao

Nobuo Funabiki

Žiga Laznik

Guanxi Yan

Octavian Vasiliu

Zigmantas Gudžinskas

Guoyou Zhang

Oguzhan Der

Zishan Ahmad

Gustavo Henrique Nalon

Oimahmad Rahmonov

Zivan Gojkovic

Hai-yu Ji

Olga Morozova

Zoran Mijić

Hamza Faraji

Onur Dogan

Zsuzsanna Bacsi

Hamza Sohail

Ophir Freund

20 August 2025
Minerals Best Paper Award—Winners Announced


Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) is pleased to announce the winners of the Minerals Best Paper Award. We selected two research articles and one review among all the peer-reviewed papers published in our journal in 2023. The papers were chosen after a thorough evaluation conducted by the journal’s Award Committee led by the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Leonid Dubrovinsky. 

We would like to congratulate the following winners: 

The announcement of the winners can be found on the following website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals/awards/3569.

Minerals Editorial Office

14 May 2025
Interview with Dr. Elisa Laita and Dr. Chongchong Qi—Winners of the Minerals 2025 Travel Award


We are pleased to announce Dr. Elisa Laita and Dr. Chongchong Qi as the winners of the Minerals 2025 Travel Award. The Minerals Travel Award was launched in 2016, and it is awarded every year to encourage young scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in the fields of mineralogy, mineral geochemistry and geochronology, economic mineral resources, mineral exploration, innovative mining techniques, and advances in mineral processing. The winners of this award will receive CHF 800 each and a certificate. The winners were chosen by the journal’s award committee—Prof. Dr. Leonid Dubrovinsky, Prof. Hyunjung Kim, Dr. Alexandra Guedes, Dr. Jianxi Zhu, Dr. Alexander R Cruden, and Dr. Paul Alexandre.

Dr. Elisa Laita received a bachelor’s degree in geology in 2015 at the University of Zaragoza (Spain), where she also completed an M.Sc. in geology and an M.Sc. in Secondary Education in 2016 and 2017, respectively. She defended her Ph.D. at the same university in 2022, and she was awarded the extraordinary Ph.D. award. Her research has focused on the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of clay-rich materials, both from paleoclimatic and industrial perspectives. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Geology Department of the University of Jaén (Spain). She has published 16 scientific articles in JCR-indexed journals, participated in five research projects, and completed both predoctoral and postdoctoral research stays at the Institute of Analytical and Physical Chemistry for the Environment and Materials (Pau, France). She has presented her work at seven international conferences and more than ten national ones and has taken part in numerous seminars and webinars. In addition, she actively collaborates in science outreach activities related to geology, aiming to make earth sciences more accessible to the public.

Dr. Chongchong Qi received a B.Sc. in mining engineering from the China University of Mining and Technology (2016) and a Ph.D. in mining engineering from The University of Western Australia (2019), where his thesis, “Machine-Learning Aided Design for Cemented Paste Backfill”, pioneered innovative approaches to mineral-based materials. Since 2019, he has led transformative research in cemented paste backfill (CPB), green mining, and heavy metal remediation—areas central to mineral sciences. He has also published several papers in Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X), with one of them being recognized as the Most Cited & Viewed Paper in Minerals in 2020. Dr. Qi also actively participates in the editorial process of Minerals, having joined the Editorial Board of Minerals and led several Special Issues.

We were honored to interview Dr. Elisa Laita and Dr. Chongchong Qi. The interview is summarized below:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your field of research?
Dr. Elisa Laita: My name is Elisa Laita, and I am currently a postdoc researcher at the Geology Department of the University of Jaén (Spain). My main research line is focused on the mineralogical and geochemical analysis of clay minerals included in palaeosols and clay-rich rocks with both palaeoclimatic and industrial perspectives. 
Dr. Chongchong Qi: My name is Chongchong Qi, and I am an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. My work focuses on mitigating the environmental impacts of mineral extraction and use, including tailings recycling via cemented paste backfill technology, identification of mining-induced heavy metal pollution, pollution remediation, etc.

2. In your previous collaborations with MDPI, what impressed you the most?
Dr. Elisa Laita: In my previous collaborations with MDPI (as an author, reviewer, and currently as a Guest Editor), I have been most impressed by the efficiency of the editorial process, and I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the scientific community.
Dr. Chongchong Qi: One of MDPI’s major advantages is its fast peer-review process, made possible by the dedication of both the Editorial Office and the reviewers. When timely publication is crucial—such as supporting students’ graduations—MDPI is among the top choices.

3. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Dr. Elisa Laita: I think that mineralogy will continue to be central for addressing global challenges in the coming years. The role of certain critical raw materials in green technologies will gain importance. I also think that advances in analytical techniques will open new avenues for exploring minerals at micro- and nanoscale levels.
Dr. Chongchong Qi: Today, AI is revolutionizing every stage of research—from idea generation and experimental design to data analysis and manuscript writing. I am confident the minerals community will experience the same transformation, with AI-supported minerals exploration, extraction, utilization, and recycling.

4. As the winner of this award, would you like to take a moment to share your thoughts with our readers or express gratitude to those who have played a significant role in your research accomplishments?
Dr. Elisa Laita: I am very grateful for this award, and I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have supported me through my academic journey. Thank you to my colleagues and mentors at the University of Zaragoza (Spain), as well as to my colleagues from the University of Jaén (Spain) and IPREM (Pau, France) for their guidance, dedication, and support.
Dr. Chongchong Qi: This award means a lot to me, as it offers an invaluable opportunity to present my research at such a prestigious conference. I am deeply grateful to the many wonderful people who have supported me along the way—especially my wife and sons, my supervisors at the University of Western Australia and Central South University, and my friends for their encouragement and assistance.

15 October 2025
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in September 2025


Nine new journals covering a range of subjects launched their inaugural issues in September 2025. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We extend our sincere thanks to all Editorial Board Members for their commitment and expertise. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal

Founding Editor-in-Chief

Journal Topics (Selected)

Prof. Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz,

San José State University, USA

Editorial | view inaugural issue

family formation and dynamics; family relationships; family diversity and structure; family processes; family challenges; global perspectives of family |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee,

National University of Singapore, Singapore

Editorial | view inaugural issue

AIoT sensing technologies; distributed AI and federated learning; AI-enhanced edge analytics; sensor fusion in edge computing; low-power AI sensing; security and privacy in edge-AI systems; AI-driven optimization of IoT networks |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Steven Paul Nistico,

Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

aesthetics; reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery; dermatology; oral and maxillofacial surgery; surgical procedures; non-surgical procedures |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli,

University of Pisa, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

plasma physics and technology; atomic and molecular physics; nuclear physics; quantum physics and technology; dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics; semiconductor physics and devices; engineering physics; material physics; biophysics|

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Sergej M. Ostojic,

University of Agder, Norway;
University of Pécs, Hungary

Editorial | view inaugural issue

biochemical research methods; biochemistry and molecular biology; cell biology; clinical and medicinal chemistry; clinical neurology; endocrinology and metabolism; medicine, general and internal; nutrition and dietetics; toxicology |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Michele Nappi,

University of Salerno, Italy

Editorial | view inaugural issue

foundations and advancements in multimedia technologies; computational social media analytics; human–AI interaction in social contexts; multimedia understanding and generation for social insight; ethics, fairness, and privacy in multimedia systems |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Philippe Gorce,

Toulon University, France

Editorial | view inaugural issue

ergonomic design and evaluation of workspaces, tools, and equipment; biomechanical analysis and ergonomic interventions for musculoskeletal health; cognitive workload assessment and management; human-computer interaction (HCI) and user experience (UX) research; ergonomic wearables; AI-driven ergonomic assessment tools; neuroergonomics |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. Ronald Charles Sims,

Utah State University, USA

Editorial | view inaugural issue

bioresources; bioproducts; bioenergy and biofuels; environmental protection; public health protection; biological waste treatment; biomass transformation; circular bioeconomy; bio-based materials and chemicals; bioresidues |

view journal scope | submit an article

Prof. Dr. M. Jamal Deen,

McMaster University, Canada

Editorial | view inaugural issue

device design and engineering; circuit design and system integration; applications and emerging technologies; materials and fabrication innovations; testing, reliability, and standards |

view journal scope | submit an article

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

13 October 2025
Meet Us at the 56th International October Conference on Mining and Metallurgy, 22–25 October 2025, Bor, Serbia


Conference: 56th International October Conference on Mining and Metallurgy
Date: 22–25 October 2025
Location: Bor, Serbia

MDPI will be attending the 56th International October Conference on Mining and Metallurgy, which will be held from 22 to 25 October 2025 in Bor, Serbia.

The 56th International Conference on Mining and Metallurgy (IOC 2025), jointly organized by the Technical College of Belgrade University (Bor) and the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (Bor), is the oldest and largest academic conference in the field of mining and metallurgy in Southeast Europe. Since its establishment, this conference has always been committed to providing a high-level communication platform for global scholars, engineers, and industry leaders, as well as promoting innovation and development in mining extraction, metal smelting, and resource recycling technologies. This year's conference, with the theme of "Sustainable Mining and Green Metallurgy", focuses on the technological changes and industrial upgrading paths in the industry under the goal of carbon neutrality.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://ioc.tfbor.bg.ac.rs/.

7 October 2025
MDPI Open Science Insights: MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop at the XXV Conference of PhD Students and Young Scientists (Jubilee Edition), 14 October 2025


In collaboration with the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Minerals (ISSN: 2075-163X) is hosting an author training session designed to educate attendees on MDPI's paper publication process and the ecosystem surrounding open access publishing. The session will cover an introduction to not only Minerals but also MDPI journals as a collective, delving into the editorial process to provide valuable insights and instilling essential skills for structuring papers and replying to reviewers effectively. Additionally, participants will be instructed on methods to improve their scientific writing, with our expert speakers leading the way to ensure a thorough understanding of how attendees can improve their publishing potential.

Date: 14 October 2025
Time: 8:00–10:00
Venue: Room 2.10, Building L2, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 13 Na Grobli Street, 50-421 Wrocław
Registration linkhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcrbUaui0g0cwbWMAdV818Fes7GytmCHFM2lQVfk4GT8
oHPw/viewform

Schedule:

Speakers

Programme and Content

Time

Mgr inż. Marek Sompolski

Official Opening

8:00–8:05

Dr. Agnieszka Rydz

Writing Academic Articles

8:05–9:00

Ms. Anna Krakowka

MDPI Peer Review Guidelines & Process

9:00–9:30

Ms. Anna Krakowka

Overview of MDPI Journals and Services

9:30–9:35

Dr. Agnieszka Rydz and Ms. Anna Krakowka

Q&A Session

9:35–9:55

Mgr inż. Marek Sompolski

Closing Remarks

9:55–10:00

Speakers:

Mgr inż. Marek Sompolski is a PhD candidate at Wrocław University of science and technology. After graduating from WroTech, he focused on InSAR applications in polar regions, with a specific interest in calving front position detection. He was an organizing committee member of past editions of the conference of PhD students and young scientists before becoming a conference coordinator.

 

Dr. Agnieszka Rydz holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD in chemistry from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, with a specialization in the crystallography of small molecules. She joined MDPI in March 2021 as an Assistant Editor for Crystals, later advancing to Section Managing Editor. She currently serves as a Journal Relations Specialist for the Minerals, Mining, and Vibration journals. In this role, she focuses on maintaining strong communication with Editorial Board Members and supporting journal development by identifying new collaboration opportunities. Dr. Rydz has organized over 100 scholar visits and has represented MDPI journals at seven scientific events.

Ms. Anna Krakowka holds a master’s degree in materials engineering from the Czestochowa University of Technology in Poland. She joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor in January 2021 and was promoted to Section Managing Editor later that year, also serving as Group Leader for two sections in Krakow office. Additionally, she worked as the publishing manager for Materials, gaining valuable experience in representing the journal and the company at both in-person and online academic events and meetings. She currently serves as the Journal Relations Specialist for the Materials and Construction Materials journals.

2 October 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #27 - OASPA 2025, COUNTER 5.1, UK Summit in London, MDPI at the Italian Senate

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

MDPI at OASPA 2025: Embracing the Complexity of Open Access

From 22 to 24 September, I joined the OASPA 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium, where the theme, “Embracing the Complexity – How do we get to 100% Open Access?” tackled the hard questions about the future of scholarly communication.

With MDPI a longstanding member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) and Platinum sponsor of the conference, I was invited to present and participate in important discussions on how we can continue to move the needle in Open Access (OA) publishing.

From 50% to 100% Open Access

Last year’s OASPA conference celebrated a major milestone – reaching 50% of global research outputs published as OA. But, as noted during the conference, this was the “easy” part. The challenge ahead is much tougher: how do we take OA from 50% to 100%? For many academics and institutions, OA is still relatively new, and thus it is essential for us to continue educating people as to what OA is, how it works, and why it matters.


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) presenting at OASPA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium.

MDPI’s perspective

At MDPI, we are fully committed to this. As a 100% OA publisher, our growth is inseparable from the success of OA itself. In many ways, MDPI is a byproduct of the global adoption of OA, and we play an important role in helping to advance it further.

I had the opportunity to share MDPI’s perspective in the panel discussion entitled: "Hello from the other side: views from fully Open Access journals using APCs," alongside industry colleagues from PLOS, eLife, AOSIS, and Frontiers.

Instead of giving a standard presentation, I highlighted aspects of MDPI that the audience might not be aware of. I also presented on the opportunities and challenges facing publishers that are already fully OA, the importance of diverse models in achieving 100% OA, and why OA is the baseline while Open Science is the future.

 Recognizing Gold OA

As part of the panel, I had undertaken to make some bold and provocative statements. I therefore emphasized a point that is sometimes overlooked: we didn’t reach 50% OA without Gold OA – it accounts for more than half of all OA publications today. And we certainly won’t reach 100% OA without it.

“By educating the community and working together, we can continue to take Open Science to the next level”


“When people speak about Gold OA and MDPI, they should ‘put some respek on our name.”

MDPI is a leader in Gold OA and has been a driver of this progress at scale.

While Gold OA and MDPI are sometimes slighted, both deserve recognition for their contributions to advancing Open Science globally.

I closed my presentation with a reminder that the good we do is sometimes overlooked, and that when people speak about Gold OA and MDPI, they should "put some respek on our name."

I’m pleased to have seen attendees sharing positive experiences with MDPI, reminding us that we bring real value to the OA movement and deserve a stronger reputation. We also engaged in constructive conversations about various topics, including cost transparency.

A few themes that I took away from the conference:

  • Quality and integrity matter as much as access. OA publishers must not lose sight of research integrity, inclusivity, and sustainability while pursuing 100% OA.
  • Global collaboration is essential. Policies, funding models, and infrastructure differ around the world, and we will need cross-border collaboration to make OA a truly global reality.
  • Open Science is the bigger story. OA is just the first step – the future lies in open data, open peer review, research reproducibility, etc.

“MDPI’s scale allows us to better support authors, reinvest in communities, and push Open Science forward”

How we communicate MDPI’s role

For us at MDPI, this is also a reminder of how we communicate externally. When we tell our story, we shouldn’t forget to start with the bigger picture – Open Science and Open Access. Then we connect it to MDPI, our journals, services, and initiatives, exemplifying the fact that we are part of a mission larger than ourselves.


MDPI colleagues Clàudia Aunós (Society Partnerships), Marta Colomer (External Affairs), Stefan Tochev (CEO), and Nikola Paunovic (Scilit), at OASPA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Leuven, Belgium.

The journey to 100% OA will not be simple. But by educating the community and working together, we can continue to take Open Science to the next level.

Impactful Research

MDPI becomes COUNTER 5.1 compliant across 480+ Journals

I’m pleased to share that MDPI has officially become COUNTER 5.1 compliant and has joined the COUNTER Registry.

For those who might not be familiar with it, COUNTER provides international standards for tracking and reporting how research is being used. By becoming COUNTER 5.1 compliant, MDPI can now deliver credible, comparable, and transparent usage reports across our entire journal portfolio.

“MDPI is showing that they want to be measured against the same yardstick as other publishers”

Why is this important?

Because usage statistics aren’t just numbers: they’re powerful tools that help our authors, institutions, and consortia understand the real impact of their research. With COUNTER compliant reports, our institutional partners can now make more informed decisions about publishing agreements, funding allocations, and the long-term value of Open Access.

In practical terms, MDPI will now provide Platform, Title, and Item Reports, with standardized usage views available at the institute and consortium level. These reports cover usage from January 2024 onwards and will be updated monthly. Institutions will be able to access them via SuSy, or automatically through the COUNTER API.

I’d like to highlight and thank Becky Castellon, our Institutional Partnerships Manager, who has played a key role in driving this project forward. Becky captured it perfectly when she said: "Through these usage reports, our global research community can access trustworthy data about how their work is being used and accessed

This information is often vital for reviewing publishing partnership agreements and for making informed decisions about future funding allocations."

We also received encouraging feedback from Tasha Mellins-Cohen, Executive Director at COUNTER Metrics:

"We’re delighted to see born-OA publishers engaging with COUNTER. Our normalised usage metrics are relied on as the basis for credible return-on-investment calculations by libraries worldwide. By adopting the COUNTER standard, MDPI is showing that they want to be measured against the same yardstick as other publishers."

For MDPI, this milestone is another step in our commitment to transparency, trust, and impact. By adopting COUNTER’s standards, we’re not just aligning with best practice; we’re ensuring that Open Access publishing is measured on the same terms as traditional publishing, proving its value in concrete and globally recognized ways.

This is an important milestone for MDPI, but more importantly for the researchers, librarians, and institutions we serve. Transparency builds trust, and COUNTER compliance helps us show the global reach and influence of Open Access publishing in the clearest way possible.


Inside Research


Lin Li (Publisher, MDPI), Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI, Prof. Chengkuo Lee (Editor-in-Chief, AI Sensors), and Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing) at restaurant in Basel, Switzerland.

Welcoming Prof. Lee (EiC of AI Sensors) to Basel

On 11 September, we welcomed Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee, Editor-in-Chief of our new journal AI Sensors, to our Basel office. Prof. Lee is a high profiled researcher (h-index 104, 37,000+ citations), a longtime collaborator with MDPI (25 published articles), and has already chaired several AI Sensors (AIS)-related conferences with us, including the recent event in Kuala Lumpur, where AI Sensors held its first editorial board meeting.


Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) showing Special Issue reprint books as part of a tour of MDPI’s Basel office.

Every journal has a story

During his visit, we exchanged ideas on how to build the journal’s identity and impact. A key takeaway that I shared was that every journal has a story: its vision, its purpose, and the community it brings together.

That story is what connects with readers and authors, beyond metrics alone.

I encouraged everyone working on journals to reflect: What is the story of your journal? And how can you bring that story to the forefront in how you communicate about it?

How MDPI supports new journals


Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing, MDPI) presenting on the MDPI indexing process at the company’s headquarters in Basel.

We also shared with Prof. Lee how MDPI supports journals through our Institutional Open Access Program, indexing expertise, and the work of our Journal Relationship Specialists.

Launching a new journal is ambitious, but with our strong track record (93% Scopus and 87% Web of Science acceptance rates in 2024), Prof. Lee felt confident that AI Sensors will find its place in the scholarly landscape.

Having spent some hours together, it’s clear that Prof. Lee is not only an Editor-in-Chief but also an ambassador for MDPI. His leadership and collaboration reflect the mission MDPI by which MDPI lives: accelerating Open Access and advancing Open Science.

Special thanks to Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing), Ting Leng (JRS, Managing Editor, AI Sensors), Lin Li (Publisher, AI Sensors), Aimar Xiong (Publisher), and Christian Eberhard (Office Administrator, Basel), for organizing and hosting the meeting.

Coming Together for Science

Highlights from the MDPI UK Summit in London

I was pleased to be back in the UK in September, supporting our Manchester team in hosting their first MDPI Summit in London. This day-and-a-half private event brought together 25 Chief Editors and Associate Editors to exchange knowledge, learn about latest developments at MDPI, and engage in discussions on advancing Open Science. The program included MDPI and guest presentations, and Q&A sessions.

Why these summits matter

Our Summits provide a platform to:

  • Share updates on the latest developments at MDPI, our editorial processes, research integrity practices, and indexing.
  • Highlight collaborations with institutions and societies in the region.
  • Offer external perspectives from guest speakers.
  • Create space for Chief Editors to share their insights, ask questions, network, and help shape MDPI’s path forward.

These gatherings are more than updates: they improve our relationships with Chief Editors, who serve not only as leaders of their journals but also as ambassadors for MDPI within the research community. We often hear that this type of event is unique, something many other publishers do not provide. It shows that we care and are willing to go the extra mile to recognize and engage our key collaborators.

MDPI and the UK: Key facts

  • With over 80,000 publications, the UK is MDPI’s eighth-largest contributor.
  • MDPI is the fourth-largest publisher in the UK, accounting for 11% of the country’s 89,526 Open Access publications in 2024.
  • We collaborate with more than 4,000 active UK Editorial Board Members, 48% of whom have an H-index above 26. This includes 49 Editors-in-Chief and 74 Section Editors-in-Chief.
  • MDPI maintains over 1,000 IOAP agreements worldwide, with 63 from the UK.

“We are willing to go the extra mile to recognize and engage our key collaborators”

Agenda highlights:

  • MDPI Overview, Open Access, and UK Collaboration – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)
  • MDPI Editorial Process – Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead, MDPI)
  • Research Integrity and Publication Ethics – Daisy Fenton (Research Integrity Specialist, MDPI)
  • Institutional Partnerships – Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager, MDPI)
  • Promoting and Developing Your Journal – Prof. Fabio Tosti (Editor-in-Chief of NDT)
  • Indexing to Impact – Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead, MDPI)
  • Engaging our Academic Community – Jaime Anderson Anderson (UK Operations Manager, MDPI)
  • Closing Remarks – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI)


MDPI colleagues Stefan Tochev (CEO), Jaime Anderson Anderson (UK Operations Manager), Dr. Michael O’Sullivan (Scientific Quality Advisor Lead), Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager), Daisy Fenton (Research Integrity Specialist) at the MDPI UK 2025 Summit in London.

Thank you!

A special thank-you to the Manchester team and all colleagues behind the scenes who made this Summit a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We look forward to building on this momentum with future Summits in Europe and beyond.


Closing Thoughts


Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead, MDPI) and Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI) participating in a press conference at the Italiane Senate in Rome to promote the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Medicine (ICEM)

MDPI at the Italian Senate: Promoting Environmental Medicine and Open Science

On 16 September, Dr. Giulia Stefenelli (Scientific Communications Lead) and I had the honour of participating in a press conference at the Italian Senate in Rome, organized by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) to promote the upcoming 2nd International Conference on Environmental Medicine (ICEM) (20–21 November 2025).

This is an important event for MDPI, as we are the exclusive publishing partner for ICEM and have recently launched a new journal with SIMA, further building our presence both in Italy and within this important field of research.

Why this matters

  • The promotion of ICEM has received extensive national media coverage (more than 15 mentions in major Italian outlets; see links below).
  • The press conference brought together leading policymakers, academics, and Nobel Laureates to emphasize the impact of environmental exposures and epigenetics on human health.
  • We were introduced to government ministries, university rectors, and influential stakeholders, which helps us bolster MDPI’s visibility and reputation in Italy.

Highlights

Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts joined the discussion, underlining the importance of environmental medicine in shaping future health outcomes. Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Tong Zhu (Peking University) will also speak at the November conference.

Institutional representatives included the Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, the Italian Undersecretary for Health, and senior officials from the World Health Organization.

In my closing remarks, I highlighted that:

“Over the past five years, about 65% of research published in Italy has been Open Access, compared to an average of 55% worldwide.”

Italian research ranked seventh among the top 20 countries in average citations during this period, reflecting its strong international influence. Not only is Italy producing a high volume of research; it is also producing research of outstanding quality.

MDPI’s role

This event was not only about promoting ICEM but also about showcasing MDPI’s commitment to Open Access and our ability to connect scientific publishing with leading academic, medical, and policy institutions.

As Giulia Stefenelli noted:

“This event was highly relevant for MDPI, as it not only showcased our strong commitment to OA but also emphasized our role in advancing important fields such as Environmental Medicine.”

Learn more

This moment at the Italian Senate shows how MDPI can connect publishing with science, policy, and society to help advance both Open Science and environmental health research on a global stage.

In Rome with Sir Richard Roberts (photo left) and Prof. Giuseppe Novelli (EiC of MDPI journal COVID).

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

30 September 2025
Nobel Prize — The Science Behind the Prize


Nobel Prizes are the world’s most prestigious recognition of scientific breakthroughs, honoring discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge and reshape entire fields. They bring into the public eye researchers whose work might otherwise remain known only within specialized circles.

For many, winning a Nobel Prize is a surreal experience. Laureates often describe a mix of joy, humility, reflection, and gratitude for the teams and collaborators whose contributions made the achievement possible. Behind every Nobel-winning idea lies years of careful, incremental work—a process that often goes unseen.

When Prof. Steven Weinberg won the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 1979, his wife Louise, a legal scholar, reminded him to keep doing the ordinary hard work of science, joking: “Now you have to write some unimportant papers.” True to form, Weinberg continued to push the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe, showing that curiosity and dedication extend far beyond the moment of recognition (Hofmann 2025: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/17/6/840).

Discover the science behind the world’s most transformative ideas

Over the years, dozens of Nobel laureates have published their work with MDPI, entrusting our open access journals to disseminate their findings to a global audience. As of 2024, more than 40 laureates have contributed over 115 articles across 35 journals, ranging from pioneering research on microRNAs and mRNA therapeutics, to fundamental insights in theoretical physics, and advances in structural biology.

We regularly spotlight how Nobel Prize–winning research intersects with the contributions of our authors. This not only celebrates the achievements of the laureates, but also underscores the role of open access in ensuring that transformative science reaches the widest possible audience.

On this page, we invite you to explore selected works by Nobel laureates within the MDPI portfolio, and to join us in celebrating the global impact of their ideas.


The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 has been awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi for for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

 

 

The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physiology or Medicine Roundtable
6 October 2025, 03:30 pm (CEST)
You are welcome to watch the recording here!



The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 has been awarded to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

 

 

The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physics Roundtable
7 October 2025, 02:30 pm (CEST)
You are welcome to watch the recording here!




The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.

 

 

Back to TopTop