Announcements

At MDPI, we recognize that peer review is the foundation of scientific progress. The integrity, transparency, and quality of our journals depend on the careful evaluations provided by our reviewers. In 2024 alone, more than 215,000 reviewers contributed over 1.2 million reports to MDPI journals. This achievement reflects the strength of our community, and it is through the expertise and dedication of reviewers like you that scholarly communication continues to advance worldwide.

The MDPI Reviewer Club series was created to acknowledge this important role and to provide a vibrant forum for sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and building meaningful connections across disciplines.

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming webinar: “MDPI Reviewer Club Webinar 2026 |  Engineering Session 2”.

This session is designed as a dedicated space for reviewers in the Engineering discipline to connect, exchange insights, and celebrate the vital role they play in advancing scholarly publishing.

With the consent of our speakers, presentations will be recorded and shared on MDPI platforms, accompanied by introductions and discussion threads to continue the exchange long after the event.

If you are not yet part of our reviewer community, we warmly invite you to apply to join us as a reviewer. For further details about reviewing with MDPI, please also visit our page here, where you will find information on reviewer responsibilities, ethics, and the peer review process.

We warmly welcome you to join us for this inspiring exchange at the MDPI Reviewer Club 2026 | Engineering Session 2.

Keywords: peer review; reviewer guidelines; reviewer experience; ethics in peer review

Date: 5 February 2026 | 2:00 p.m. CET | 9:00 p.m. CST Asia | 7:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 814 6288 4944
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MRC2026-ES2

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.

Webinar Speakers:

• Dr. Giacomo Peruzzi, Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy;
• Dr. Georgi Gary Rozenman, Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.

We have expanded our open access portfolio with eight new journals publishing their inaugural issues in December 2025, as well as three journal transfers. These additions span physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, environmental and Earth sciences, medicine and pharmacology, and public health and healthcare. We extend our sincere thanks to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who are shaping these journals’ direction. All journals uphold 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.

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).

Conference: EGU General Assembly 2026
Date: 3–8 May 2026
Location: Vienna, Austria 

MDPI will attend the EGU General Assembly 2026 as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Vienna, Austria, from 3 to 8 May 2026 in a hybrid format.

The EGU General Assembly 2026 is organized by the European Geosciences Union (EGU), aiming to bring together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. 

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Atmosphere, Climate, and Space Sciences;
• Hydrology and Environmental Earth Systems;
• Solid Earth, Hazards and Measurement Technologies. 

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Remote Sensing;
• Water;
• Atmosphere;
• Geosciences;
• Earth;
• Hydrology;
• Journal of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT);
• Nitrogen;
• Climate;
• Geomatics;
• ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (IJGI) ;
• Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (JMSE);
• Resources;
• Limnological Review;
• Aerobiology;
• Meteorology;
• GeoHazards;
• Forests;
• Soil Systems;
• Land;
• Applied Sciences;
• Quaternary;
• Glacies;
• Oceans;
• Gases;
• Geographies;
• Coasts. 

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #19 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.egu26.eu/.

Conference: TRB Annual Meeting 2026
Organization: TRB’s volunteer technical committees
Date: 11–15 January 2026
Location: Washington, D.C., USA

TRB is a leading organization in transportation research and provides valuable resources and expertise to transportation professionals and policymakers worldwide. As part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) mobilizes expertise, experience, and knowledge to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges.

TRB’s Annual Meeting attracts thousands of transportation professionals from around the world. The program covers all transportation modes, with sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Infrastructures;
• WEVJ;
• Vehicles;
• Future Transportation;
• Applied Sciences;
• CivilEng;
• Technologies;
• Eng;
• Smart Cities;
• Safety;
• Standards;
• NDT.

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://trb-annual-meeting.nationalacademies.org/home.

To further enhance the quality of NDT—Journal of Non-Destructive Testing and the papers published in it, under the guidance of our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti, the journal has updated and revised its aims. The original aims and the updated version are listed below:

For more detailed information, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ndt/about.

NDT—Journal of Non-Destructive Testing Editorial Office

Welcome message from the Chair:

Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation (NDT&E) is essential for inspecting materials without compromising their serviceability. Among the wide range of NDT&E methods, Infrared Thermography (IRT) has gained prominence for its non-contact operation and rapid inspection capabilities. Passive thermography, though simple and fast, is limited in detecting small, deep sub-surface features. To address this challenge, active thermography applies a controlled thermal stimulus to probe sub-surface anomalies quantitatively. However, conventional pulse-based and lock-in methods still face limitations such as shallow penetration, high power demands, and repetitive testing requirements.

In this webinar, Prof. Dr. Ravibabu Mulaveesala will introduce innovative insights into Frequency Modulated Thermal Wave Imaging (FMTWI) and its integration with correlation-based post-processing for enhanced sub-surface defect detection and interface bond quality evaluation in metals and sandwich structures. The presentation will explore how thermal responses, captured using infrared thermography, are analysed through frequency-domain, time-domain, and Cross-Correlation Coefficient (CCC) methods—where CCC quantifies the similarity between thermal responses to enhance defect detection.

This session will highlight the significance of combining FMTWI with CCC post-processing to achieve superior sensitivity in identifying delamination and sub-surface anomalies.

Date: 12 December 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CET | 9:00 a.m. EST | 10:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 849 9164 2981

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti, ¹ School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, Room BY.03.19, St. Mary’s Rd., Ealing, London W5 5RF, UK; ² The Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing, University of West London, Room BY.GF.015, St. Mary’s Rd., Ealing, London W5 5RF, UK;
• Prof. Dr. Ravibabu Mulaveesala, Centre for Sensors, iNstrumentation and cyber-physical Systems Engineering (SeNSE), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India.

Relevant Special Issue/Topics [Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation]

We are pleased to announce updates to our article template, aimed at improving the readability and visual appeal of our publications. The following updates will be applied to articles published in volumes in 2026, starting from 19 December 2025.

Left information bar:

• Updated the logo and URL for “Check for updates”;
• Removed the “Citation” section (Note: Citation details remain accessible via “Cite” in the online article version);
• Changed the link in “Copyright” to a hyperlink format.

Footer:

• Added a DOI link at the bottom-right corner of each page.

The updated template is now available for download from the Instructions for Authors page of each journal.

We hope that the new version of the template will provide users with better experience and make the process more convenient.

For any questions or suggestions, please contact our production team at production@mdpi.com.

We recently had the opportunity to interview Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti, founding Editor-in-Chief of NDT–Journal of Non-Destructive Testing (ISSN: 2813-477X), at the London MDPI UK Summit 2025.

Prof. Dr. Tosti is a professor of civil engineering at the School of Computing and Engineering at the University of West London, UK; Director of The Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing; and a registered chartered engineer. He received his PhD in civil engineering in 2014 from Roma Tre University, Italy, and has been an academic at the University of West London since 2016.

Prof. Dr. Tosti’s research focuses on the development of new algorithms, methodologies, and models for geoscience applications, as well as on the application of emerging technologies – including non-destructive testing (NDT), remote sensing, and immersive tech – for the assessment, repair, and maintenance of civil and green infrastructure, and the conservation of heritage assets. He has participated in national (Italy and UK) and European projects as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, or team member. He has authored or co-authored over 250 research publications in international journals, conferences, and books and delivered numerous keynotes and invited lectures worldwide. He has been an associate editor for various international peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of Pavement Engineering (IJPE).

Prof. Dr. Tosti has also received numerous awards, such as the Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award from the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in 2017 and Best Paper Awards at various international conferences, including the GIRST 2023, IEEE AGERS 2021, and IEEE TSP 2020.

In 2023, Prof. Dr. Tosti founded NDT, an open access journal within MDPI, providing a new scientific framework for the dissemination of international peer-reviewed research on non-destructive testing science and technology, and their applications.

In our interview with Prof. Tosti, we spoke about his presentation during the London Summit 2025, which focused on his experiences founding and promoting NDT–Journal of Non-Destructive Testing, his role as Editor-in-Chief, his plans for the journal going forward, and his perspective on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on peer review.

Since our interview, MDPI UK has maintained a close working relationship with the University of West London. Our Office Manager Jaime Anderson and CEO Stefan Tochev visited Prof. Dr. Tosti at the Faringdon Research Centre recently in order to discuss the ongoing and future collaborations between MDPI and the University of West London.

The visit was incredibly productive, and we look forward to our future collaborations with both the university and Prof. Dr. Tosti.

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti:

1. What was your experience like founding NDT and what was your inspiration for its creation?
The main inspiration and reasons for founding NDT were primarily to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and to help grow the culture of non-destructive testing science, technology and their applications among both the scientific and professional communities. It also stemmed from the observation that, in existing literature, there was a clear need for more interdisciplinary research to advance the NDT field.
There was also a personal motivation in founding NDT: as an academic, I have always been deeply interested in editorial work.  I think it started off as any standard involvement in editorial work, starting with Special Issues, serving as Guest Editor and then taking on Associate Editor roles. Through these experiences, I could appreciate the full editorial pathway in academia, and I found it deeply fulfilling. I believe this remains one of the most stimulating areas in which I continue to invest my academic interest and efforts.
Becoming an Editor-in-Chief felt like a natural next step. It was an opportunity to help shape the field and pursue academic publishing and leadership, areas I consider both meaningful and impactful.

2. How has your experience as Editor-in-Chief been in comparison to your experience as a Guest Editor and Associate Editor?
It is very different. Having been the founding Editor-in-Chief, I started with no prior structure or reference point, which meant I had to take responsibility for setting up a vision for the journal, identifying areas of growth and expansion, and building the overall structure and project from the ground up.
Now, I can more clearly identify the core of the journal’s mission with myself. As Editor-in-Chief, that sense of ownership and accountability is much stronger. Although the responsibilities are greater, so is the satisfaction in seeing the journal evolve and progress. Before, it was gratifying to contribute as a Guest or Associate Editor; now, it’s truly rewarding to help guide its direction.
That said, one of the strongest aspects of this transition is the editorial support that MDPI provides. From the Managing Editor to the Assistant Editors, everyone contributes to an efficient and smooth process. Thanks to this support, an Editor-in-Chief can focus primarily on the scientific and academic aspects of the journal, with minimal distractions from administrative tasks.

3. How do you prioritize authors during the submission and peer review process?
The journal is still in the early stages of its development, meaning that, in essence, I am able to still be closely involved with submissions and the peer-review process.
Of course, as submission numbers grow, maintaining this level of oversight will become more challenging. My role is to ensure that high standards are maintained and that authors receive constructive feedback throughout.
Looking ahead, the focus will shift towards building a strong and accountable editorial board that can maintain these standards, ensuring the journal continues to develop a solid reputation.

4. How do you plan on maintaining a quality editorial board as your journal grows?
My plan is to encourage engagement with knowledgeable, well prepared and enthusiastic editorial board candidates.
Currently, when we receive a new candidate, I ask the journal relations specialist and the managing editor to meet with them. The purpose is not to judge, but to foster mutual understanding and ensure alignment with the journal’s vision and goals.

5. Why do you think it is important for an Editor-in-Chief to be involved in the marketing and promotion of their journal?
Promoting the journal, especially in its early stages, is a crucial responsibility for the Editor-in-Chief. Raising awareness of the journal’s mission and development within the scientific community–through conferences, workshops and outreach events–is instrumental for the journal’s growth and a key factor in its long-term success.
This also helps to promote a culture of engagement and shared commitment within the editorial board. By being actively involved in outreach and promotion, an Editor-in-Chief can support and encourage the board and the community in contributing to the journal’s development.

6. Why do you think it’s important to have events such as the MDPI UK Summit?
Events like the annual MDPI UK Summit are essential for capacity and community building among peer Editors-in-Chief.
At the most basic level, these events provide a platform for the sharing of experiences and best practices, helping individuals feel connected and supported. Being part of such a community naturally enhances the likelihood of performing effectively in one’s role.
Of course, there are practical constraints to meeting face-to-face; you need time to commute and funding etc. But when the publisher recognises the value of these activities and supports them, it creates a unique opportunity for the community to grow, collaborate and strengthen the overall quality of the journals.

7. What have you found most useful from the sessions in the UK Summit?
The UK Summit was extremely valuable for all of us in editorial and leadership roles.
It provided excellent opportunities to exchange experiences, reflect on different approaches, and learn from one another. Even for those of us with extensive experience in journal publishing, it is always beneficial to gain fresh perspectives and insights into how others tackle similar challenges.

8. What is the value of peer review in scholarly and especially open access publishing?
Peer review is the cornerstone of quality assurance in scholarly communication. It validates scientific integrity and builds trust in the research we publish, serving as a foundational asset for the entire publication process. At the same time, the peer-review system is under significant strain. The rapid growth in submissions and the increasing demands on reviewers make it more challenging to maintain the same level of rigor and engagement.
Looking ahead, peer review must evolve to become more sustainable for both individual reviewers and institutions. But this must be done without compromising on the quality of reviews and the integrity of the process.  

9. Do you think the future of peer review revolves around AI?
AI is likely to play an important role in the future of peer review. Of course, when it comes to AI and the use of AI for peer review, we must not forget the importance of the human element. The judgment, experience, and critical thinking that reviewers bring to the process simply can’t be replaced by algorithms.
That said, AI can be a valuable support tool if used responsibly. For example, it could help reviewers identify relevant background literature, check references, or assist with technical verifications, making the process more efficient and consistent. The key to its adoption is an ethical and transparent use, what I would call “Responsible AI”. AI should assist, not replace, human evaluation, and contribute to enhance it, by helping reviewers to focus their time and expertise where it matters most.

10. Are there any aspects of the peer review process you think AI cannot, or should not, replace?
Absolutely. The human element is indispensable in the peer review process. I think one of the main challenges in the future will be establishing rules and frameworks that position AI as a supportive tool, rather than a threat.
There should always be a final human final check. A more responsible approach could be to use AI in a limited, complementary way — for example, to help reviewers quickly locate references, check data consistency, or summarising background material. But the core of the review, the judgment, interpretation, and critical assessment, must always come from a human expert. That’s the essence of peer review, and it should remain unchanged.

11. How do you think MDPI helps to maintain excellence in the peer review process?
MDPI’s peer review process is clear, effective, efficient, and user-friendly. It allows Editors-in-Chief and academic editors to focus primarily on evaluating the scientific quality of submissions, rather than being distracted by administrative or procedural matters that can shift attention away from the research itself. In the peer review process, as the Editor-in-Chief of NDT, I ensure that I take the necessary time to make fair and well-considered decisions. Efficiency should never come at the cost of quality or fairness. 
Based on my experience, MDPI has developed a model that I am confident in and comfortable working with.

We wanted to thank Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti for his time and we look forward to his contributions to the continued success of NDT.

MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.

About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.

Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.

About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.