Announcements

In the vibrant landscape of global materials science research, our company stands proud to announce our participation in the esteemed 2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit. This pinnacle international gathering, held annually, returns to the culturally vibrant city of Boston, Massachusetts, from 1 to 6 December 2024, at the iconic Hynes Convention Center and its adjacent Sheraton Boston Hotel. 

Marking the fifth collaboration between MDPI and the MRS Society, we bring forth a formidable team led by Dr. Andy Tran and Ms. Rebekah Paget. Together, they will be at Booth #200, showcasing the pinnacle of the latest publications in the field and the insights of open access publishing.

Beyond the exhibition, we are eager to engage in collaborative dialogues with fellow researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers. Through panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions, we aim to foster cross-disciplinary partnerships that can accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and technological innovation.

As we prepare to embark on this exciting journey, we are humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the global discourse on materials science and its impact on society. We believe that by sharing our knowledge, expertise, and passion, we can inspire others to join us in shaping a brighter, more sustainable future.

Join us in Boston as we embark on this journey of discovery and innovation together.

As a leader in open access publishing, MDPI is eager to explore new collaboration opportunities, including the launch of new journals and the transfer of existing ones. At present, MDPI publishes over 400 journals, more than 160 of which have established partnerships with academic organizations. Additionally, we publish 19 association journals.

In order to enhance exchange and cooperation with scientific researchers and share the results of open science, MDPI invites experts and scholars from various fields to submit proposals for new journal collaboration opportunities. If your proposal is approved, you could take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, or Editorial Board Member of the journal. This position allows you to manage the manuscript review process alongside our editorial department, participate in calls for papers, strengthen your network with scholars in the field, expand scientific research cooperation, enhance your personal and academic influence internationally, and play a leading role in academia.

Once the new journal is online, MDPI will provide a variety of promotional channels to market the journal internationally.

MDPI will offer various promotional channels to enhance its visibility and promote it internationally.

How can you determine the theme of a new journal?

• Assess research hotspots/academic frontiers;
• Assess pioneers in the field/key research directions of universities;
• Determine whether MDPI has already established a journal in the field.

You can browse MDPI’s existing journals at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

Advantages of collaborating with MDPI:

• MDPI is a global leader in open-access publishing with extensive academic resources.
• MDPI offers a professional publishing team that provides comprehensive support throughout the publishing process.
• MDPI’s diverse promotional platforms and channels help journals quickly increase their international visibility and influence.

We invite you to submit new journal proposal here, and contribute to academic development! In addition, if your institution (university, institute, college, national key laboratory, society, etc.) intends to establish a journal, you can also submit a draft to MDPI on its behalf.

MDPI journals frequently grant travel awards to empower junior researchers to showcase their latest research at academic conferences, thereby amplifying their impact within their research fields.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 103 recipients of MDPI's 2023 Travel Awards from different countries and territories for their exceptional presentations. These outstanding individuals were selected by the journal editors based on the strength of their research proposals and the anticipated impact of their presentations at academic conferences. We commend their exceptional contributions and wish them continued success in their academic endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about the list of awardees, please visit the following pages:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Public Health and Healthcare;
• Others.

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are granted to promising young scholars whose PhD theses are deemed exceptional within their respective research fields. These awards aim to encourage young scholars to continue their outstanding accomplishments and further contribute to their field.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

We are pleased to invite you to read the selected papers in Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) in the Section “Polymer Processing and Engineering”. The paper list is as follows:

1. “Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Aramid/PETG 3D-Printed Composites with High Fiber Loading through Fused Filament Fabrication”
by Sander Rijckaert, Lode Daelemans, Ludwig Cardon, Matthieu Boone, Wim Van Paepegem and Karen De Clerck
Polymers 2022, 14(2), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14020298
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/2/298

2. “Influence of Fused Deposition Modelling Nozzle Temperature on the Rheology and Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed β-Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP)/Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composite”
by Karim Elhattab, Sarit B. Bhaduri and Prabaha Sikder
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061222
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/6/1222

3. “A Review of Polymer-Based Materials for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF): Focus on Sustainability and Recycled Materials”
by Daniela Fico, Daniela Rizzo, Raffaele Casciaro and Carola Esposito Corcione
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030465
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/3/465

4. “Plasma Surface Engineering of Natural and Sustainable Polymeric Derivatives and Their Potential Applications”
by Renjith Rajan Pillai and Vinoy Thomas
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020400
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/400

5. “Application of New Conformal Cooling Layouts to the Green Injection Molding of Complex Slender Polymeric Parts with High Dimensional Specifications”
by Abelardo Torres-Alba, Jorge Manuel Mercado-Colmenero, Juan de Dios Caballero-Garcia and Cristina Martin-Doñate
Polymers 2023, 15(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/3/558

6. “Functionality Versus Sustainability for PLA in MEX 3D Printing: The Impact of Generic Process Control Factors on Flexural Response and Energy Efficiency”
by Markos Petousis, Nectarios Vidakis, Nikolaos Mountakis, Emmanuel Karapidakis and Amalia Moutsopoulou
Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051232
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/5/1232

7. “Advancements in Functionally Graded Polyether Ether Ketone Components: Design, Manufacturing, and Characterisation Using a Modified 3D Printer”
by Eric McNiffe, Tobias Ritter, Tom Higgins, Omid Sam-Daliri, Tomas Flanagan, Michael Walls, Pouyan Ghabezi, William Finnegan, Sinéad Mitchell and Noel M. Harrison
Polymers 2023, 15(14), 2992; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15142992
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/14/2992

8. “Customizing Starch Properties: A Review of Starch Modifications and Their Applications”
by Julia Compart, Aakanksha Singh, Joerg Fettke and Ardha Apriyanto
Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3491; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163491
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/16/3491

9. “Effect of Additives and Print Orientation on the Properties of Laser Sintering-Printed Polyamide 12 Components”
by Lucie Zárybnická, Jana Petrů, Pavel Krpec and Marek Pagáč
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1172; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/6/1172

10. “Design for 3D Printed Tools: Mechanical Material Properties for Direct Polymer Additive Tooling”
by Peter Frohn-Sörensen, Michael Geueke, Bernd Engel, Bernd Löffler, Philipp Bickendorf, Arian Asimi, Georg Bergweiler and Günther Schuh
Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091694
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1694

Conference: The 33rd Annual Conference Biomaterials in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Date: 10–13 October 2024
Location: Rytro, Poland
Conference homepage: https://www.biomat.agh.edu.pl/

The annual conferences on Biomaterials in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine organized by the Polish Society for Biomaterials address both the fundamentals and clinical applications of carbon, metals, polymers, ceramics and composite biomaterials. Their aim is to present the latest results of scientific research and to provide a platform for the exchanging of ideas, knowledge and experiences with scientists, researchers and clinicians in the field of biomaterials.

This year, the conference will be held from 10 to 13 October 2024 in Rytro, Poland. Excellent plenary speakers have been invited, such as Prof. Małgorzata Włodarczyk-Biegun, Prof. Sachiro Kakinoki, and Prof. Miguel Oliveira, to share their passion and knowledge with conference participants. Podium and poster presentations will allow our presenters to showcase their latest research. Also, Best Poster and Rapid-Fire Presentation Competitions are planned for early career scientists. Finally, in addition to the high-quality scientific elements, a rich cultural and social program is offered for attendees to enjoy throughout the conference (all included in the fee).

Abstracts for late posters can be still submitted from 26–31 August 2024.

We are pleased to invite you to read the selected papers in Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) in the Section “Polymer Physics and Theory”. The paper list is as follows:

1. “A Review on Modeling Cure Kinetics and Mechanisms of Photopolymerization”
by Margit Lang, Stefan Hirner, Frank Wiesbrock and Peter Fuchs
Polymers 2022, 14(10), 2074; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14102074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/10/2074

2. “Machine Learning Approach to Predict Physical Properties of Polypropylene Composites: Application of MLR, DNN, and Random Forest to Industrial Data”
by Chonghyo Joo, Hyundo Park, Hyukwon Kwon, Jongkoo Lim, Eunchul Shin, Hyungtae Cho and Junghwan Kim
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3500; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173500
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/17/3500

3. “Aero Grade Epoxy Vitrimer towards Commercialization”
by Alaitz Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Nerea Markaide, Asier M. Salaberria, Itxaso Azcune, Alaitz Rekondo and Hans Jürgen Grande
Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153180
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/15/3180

4. “Modelling of Environmental Ageing of Polymers and Polymer Composites—Modular and Multiscale Methods”
by Andrey E. Krauklis, Christian W. Karl, Iuri B. C. M. Rocha, Juris Burlakovs, Ruta Ozola-Davidane, Abedin I. Gagani and Olesja Starkova
Polymers 2022, 14(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14010216
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/1/216

5. “DPD Modelling of the Self- and Co-Assembly of Polymers and Polyelectrolytes in Aqueous Media: Impact on Polymer Science”
by Karel Procházka, Zuzana Limpouchová, Miroslav Štěpánek, Karel Šindelka and Martin Lísal
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030404
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/3/404

6. “Hybrid Epoxy Nanocomposites: Improvement in Mechanical Properties and Toughening Mechanisms—A Review”
by Anita Białkowska, Mohamed Bakar, Wojciech Kucharczyk and Iwona Zarzyka
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1398; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061398
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1398

7. “Material-Dependent Effect of Common Printing Parameters on Residual Stress and Warpage Deformation in 3D Printing: A Comprehensive Finite Element Analysis Study”
by Hussein Alzyod and Peter Ficzere
Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2893; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132893
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/13/2893

8. “Effects of Laser Power and Hatch Orientation on Final Properties of PA12 Parts Produced by Selective Laser Sintering”
by Anouar El Magri, Salah Eddine Bencaid, Hamid Reza Vanaei and Sébastien Vaudreuil
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3674; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173674
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/17/3674

MDPI will be attending the 2024 National Symposium on Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, which will be held from 15 to 19 October 2024 in Yangzhou, China.

The 2024 National Symposium on Polymer Materials Science and Engineering is a grand event, centered around polymer material science and engineering, with a total of 10 academic sub-venues covering many cutting-edge areas in this field. The conference’s organizing committee has invited renowned experts and scholars from various fields to give innovative academic presentations, whilst providing opportunities for participants to present their achievements orally.

The following topics will be covered:

• Synthesis and Characterization of Polymer Materials;
• Structure and Properties of Polymer Materials;
• Polymer Material Forming, Processing, and 3D/4D Printing;
• Polymer Composite Materials and Nanocomposites;
• Functional and Self-assembled Polymer Materials;
• Biomedical and Environmentally Friendly Polymer Materials;
• Industrialization of Polymer Materials and New Instruments and Equipment;
• Polymer Materials under the Dual-Carbon Strategy;
• China US Polymer Forum;
• Feng Xinde Polymer Award Presentation.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the symposium:

• Materials;
• Polymers;
• Marine Drugs;
• Polysaccharides;
• Gels;
• Sustainability;
• Electrochem;
• Micromachines;
• Membranes;
• Construction Materials.

If you are planning to attend the above 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 at
https://www.bagevent.com/event/mat2024/p/535459.

Polymers 2024, a conference held in Athens, Greece, from 28 to 31 May 2024, featured an event entitled “Polymers for a Safe and Sustainable Future”. Polymers 2024 is an international conference covering the latest progress and innovations in the fields of polymers for the production of new materials and additives for a safe and sustainable world. The conference aimed to explore the latest findings in the scientific field of polymers, with a particular emphasis on the synthesis of safe polymers with unique properties for human health and environmental sustainability. Additionally, the goal was to focus on green polymer chemistry and industrial approaches using bioresources to synthesize biobased and biodegradable polymers in addition to exploring safe and sustainable-by-design polymers using modeling, theory, and simulation, simultaneously investigating their chemical and physical properties for different applications. Clean, green, and efficient production processes were presented, while life cycle assessments, exposure, risk assessment, decontamination, and environmental remediation were also discussed. The conference also aimed to propose novel techniques for polymer recycling and reuse. The event provided a unique opportunity for polymer scientists from around the world to present their works, findings, and innovations in polymer chemistry and technology with regard to sustainable development and with respect to human life and the environment.  

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bikiaris, Section Editor-in-Chief of the journal Polymers and one of the chairs of the conference, made a speech for opening ceremony. 

Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bikiaris is a Chemist and Professor at the Chemistry Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. His scientific work includes more than 530 published papers, with over 23.600 citations and an h-index of 81 (Scopus). He is also the author of four chapters in international scientific books, and he holds 15 international and two Greek patents. He has participated in more than 64 research projects (national and international).

There were more than 300 attendees from 36 countries gathering at this conference. The conference provided a great opportunity for all attendees to interact with each other and to exchange academic ideas.

Poster Session

The two poster sessions took place on the second and third day of the conference. During coffee breaks, many attendees took this opportunity to exhibit their reseach achievements with poster presentations. It was a perfect occasion for Ph.D. students and young researchers to exchange academic ideas and broaden their scientific horizons.

Poster Session Award Ceremony

One of highlights of the conference was that two awards, Best Oral Presentation Award and Best Poster Award, were presented. The winners for these two awards were announced to recognize the most outstanding works presented during the event. 

Sacha Pérocheau Arnaud was awarded the Best Oral Presentation Award for his talk on “Understanding additive degradation pathways and formation of Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) in polystyrene: impact on chemical structure and thermo-mechanical properties” (awarded EUR 600). Nidhi Gupta received the Best Poster Award for her work entitled “Stimulus-Responsive Bicompartmental Microcarriers For Dual Drug Delivery” (awarded EUR 500). These awards not only celebrate the achievements of the winners but also serve as inspiration and motivation for the rest of the attendees in regard to scientific excellence.

Editorial Board Members Meeting at the Conference

During the conference, the journal team invited Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Bikiaris, the chair of the conference as well as Section Editor-in-Chief of the journal Polymers, for an EBM meeting. Taking this opportunity, the journal team also invited 12 other EBMs who attended this conference as well.

Our Journal Relations Specialist made a presentation regarding journal history, journal achievements, and journal development.

It was a unique opportunity for the journal team to have a face-to-face discussion with so many EBMs who consistently support the journal’s development. The EBMs expressed their positive experience in regard to working with the journal and highly complimented the journal’s core service of fast publication. The fact that articles are published quickly under strict quality control has been recognized. Regarding journal development in the future, the EBMs provided several valuable suggestions:

• Exclusively promoting high-quality papers in different ways;
• Doing a deep analysis of hot topics that are of interest to researchers and building collaborations with them;
• Continuing to enhance quality control of each submission by collaborating with reviewers with high reputation.

Polymers will maintain its close collaboration with the Editorial Board Members and further engage with scholars across various disciplines to enhance the journal's visibility. Beyond maintaining our commitment to swift yet rigorous publication processes, we aim to diversify our collaboration efforts in various innovative formats.

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising early career scientists, acknowledge their contributions, and foster collaboration within the scientific community. We are proud to announce the recipients for 2023, who were carefully selected by the journals’ esteemed Award Evaluation Committee.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 79 winners of MDPI’s 2023 Young Investigator Awards for their excellent contributions in their research field. We look forward to seeing these rising stars continue to contribute to the advancement of science.

MDPI will continue to support and recognize the academic community. To explore details about the awardees by field, please visit the individual pages listed below:

Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional contributions and dedication to advancing scientific research.

About MDPI Awards:
To support the academic community, particularly young researchers, and to enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help to elevate the profiles of talented individuals who have made outstanding achievements and are making significant contributions to advancements in their respective fields.

To find out more about MDPI awards, please click here.

The 2nd International Symposium on Cellulose and Renewable Materials will be held from 20 to 23 September 2024, in Chengdu, China. The conference is organized by Division of Cellulose and Renewable Materials of the Chinese Chemical Society, Sichuan University, and the State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering.

Main Conference Themes:

• Structure, modeling, and analytics of cellulose-based materials;
• Processing, application, and function of cellulose-based materials;
• Development and utilization of other biomass resources;
• Forum of young scientists in the fields of cellulose and renewable materials.

The following MDPI journals will be represented in the conference:

• Polymers;
• Polysaccharides;
• Textiles;
• Fibers;
• Macromol;
• Marine Drugs;
• J. Compos. Sci.;
• Molecules;
• Sustainability;
• Surfaces.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us by contacting us online. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at a booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: http://www.iscrm2024.com/En/Default.

We are pleased to invite you to read the selected papers of Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) from the Section “Polymer Fibers”. The selected papers are as follows.

1. “Gelatin Blends Enhance Performance of Electrospun Polymeric Scaffolds in Comparison to Coating Protocols”
by Maria Bikuna-Izagirre, Javier Aldazabal and Jacobo Paredes
Polymers 2022, 14(7), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14071311
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/7/1311

2. “Facile One-Step Electrospinning Process to Prepare AgNPs-Loaded PLA and PLA/PEO Mats with Antibacterial Activity”
by Valeria Allizond, Giuliana Banche, Matteo Salvoni, Mery Malandrino, Claudio Cecone, Anna Maria Cuffini and Pierangiola Bracco
Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1470; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061470
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1470

3. “Enhancing Thermal Conductivity of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Composites by Carbon Fiber: Length Effect of the Filler”
by Guoqing Yi, Jingliang Li, Luke C. Henderson, Weiwei Lei, Lian Du and Shuaifei Zhao
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4599; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214599
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/21/4599

4. “A Multiscale Study of CFRP Based on Asymptotic Homogenization with Application to Mechanical Analysis of Composite Pressure Vessels”
by Nan Zhang, Shuai Gao, Meili Song, Yang Chen, Xiaodong Zhao, Jianguo Liang and Jun Feng
Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14142817
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/14/2817

5. “The Effect of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Synthetic Fabrics on the Release of Microplastics during Washing and Drying”
by Sola Choi, Juhea Kim and Miyeon Kwon
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 3384; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163384
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/16/3384

6. “Inkjet Printing of Electrodes on Electrospun Micro- and Nanofiber Hydrophobic Membranes for Flexible and Smart Textile Applications”
by Zuzanna J. Krysiak, Hamed Abdolmaleki, Shweta Agarwala and Urszula Stachewicz
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 5043; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225043
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/22/5043

7. “Core-Sheath Electrospun Nanofibers Based on Chitosan and Cyclodextrin Polymer for the Prolonged Release of Triclosan”
by Safa Ouerghemmi, Stéphanie Degoutin, Mickael Maton, Nicolas Tabary, Frédéric Cazaux, Christel Neut, Nicolas Blanchemain and Bernard Martel
Polymers 2022, 14(10), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14101955
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/10/1955

8. “Parametric Design Studies of Mass-Related Global Warming Potential and Construction Costs of FRP-Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure”
by Philipp Preinstorfer, Tobias Huber, Sara Reichenbach, Janet M. Lees and Benjamin Kromoser
Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122383
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/12/2383

9. “Thermoplastic Pultrusion Process of Polypropylene/Glass Tapes”
by Fausto Tucci, Felice Rubino, Germana Pasquino and Pierpaolo Carlone
Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2374; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102374
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/10/2374

10. “Comparative Study of Metal Substrates for Improved Carbonization of Electrospun PAN Nanofibers”
by Jan Lukas Storck, Martin Wortmann, Bennet Brockhagen, Natalie Frese, Elise Diestelhorst, Timo Grothe, Christian Hellert and Andrea Ehrmann
Polymers 2022, 14(4), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14040721
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/4/721

MDPI will be attending the Materials Science and Engineering Congress 2024, which will be held from 24 to 26 September 2024 in Darmstadt, Germany. This event is organized by the German Society for Materials Science (DGM), which is the largest scientific and technical society in the field of materials science and engineering in Germany.

The areas of focus for the conference include the following:

• Biomaterials;
• Characterization;
• Digital transformation;
• Functional materials, surfaces and devices;
• Circular materials;
• Modeling and simulation;
• Processing and synthesis;
• Structural materials.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Materials;
• Molecules;
• Polymers;
• Inorganics;
• Symmetry;
• Membranes;
• Crystals;
• Bioengineering;
• Surfaces;
• JFB;
• Metals;
• Micromachines;
• Polysaccharides;
• Chemistry;
• Compounds;
• Organics;
• Macromol;
• Solids;
• Catalysts.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://dgm.de/mse/2024/.

In May, MDPI Romania held three author training sessions – one endorsing an external event and two stand-alone sessions.

The National Session of Scientific Student Communications took place at Technical University Cluj on 17 and 18 May 2024. MDPI Romania sponsored this event and contributed an author training session on the production of research papers and case study analyses. JRS Norbert Kiss gave a presentation called The World of Open Access to explain different open access publishing models and the benefits of open access publishing. His presentation highlighted the impact of open access publishing on scientific progress and innovation.

On 29 May 2024, MDPI Romania hosted an author training session for Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and professors at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In collaboration with Prof. Andreea Arsene, JRS Ioana Paunescu prepared two presentations: The Steps of the Publishing Process and Elaboration of a Peer Review Report. In her first presentation, she delved into MDPI’s history and mission, MDPI’s editorial process, and MDPI journals of various scopes that are accepting submissions. Her second presentation outlined the types of peer review, the contents of a peer review report by an MDPI reviewer, and the responsibilities of an MDPI reviewer.

MDPI Romania also hosted an author training session at the Iasi University of Life Sciences on 29 May 2024. JRSs Laurentiu Preda and Cosmin Artan gave four presentations: Efficient Writing of an ISI-Indexed Scientific Article, Benefits of Publishing in the Open Access Model, Various Methods of Open Access Publishing, and MDPI Guide for the Article Review Process. The first three presentations offered guidance on how to improve academic writing, the fourth focused on how to write peer review reports. A highly interactive discussion followed the presentations, during which the JRSs provided extensive answers to attendees’ questions.

MDPI is grateful for all the attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

Prof. Dr. Yen Wei, Chair Professor of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, China, and a nationally renowned expert, hails from Linchuan, Jiangxi Province, China. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Peking University (1977–1981), followed by a Ph.D. from the City University of New York (1986). He then pursued postdoctoral studies at MIT (1986–1987) and became an Assistant Professor at Drexel University (1987). Throughout his career, he progressed to become a DuPont Associate Professor (1991), Full Professor (1995), and Wagner Endowed Chair Professor (2004). Prof. Dr. Yen Wei has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (1998), the Outstanding Overseas Scholar of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2003), and the Changjiang Scholar Chair Professor of the Ministry of Education (2005). In 2009, he joined Tsinghua University as a full-time faculty member as part of the country's top-tier talent recruitment program. His research focuses on nanopolymers and their applications in biomedicine, energy, water treatment, hydrogels, smart devices, and 3D printing technologies. Prof. Dr. Wei has published an impressive 1,339 papers, which have been cited over 69,100 times in SCI journals, with an H-index of 130. From 2014 to 2023, he was consistently ranked among the world's most highly cited scientists. Currently, he serves as the Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology” in the Polymers journal.

The following is a Q&A with Prof. Dr. Yen Wei, who shared his vision for the journal with us, as well as his views on the research area: 

1. What kind of experience is it for you to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology”? What are your expectations and goals for this role?

With our joint efforts, I hope that the Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology” can drive scientific progress and technological innovation in this field. We aim to facilitate academic exchange among scholars, attract high-quality research papers from around the world, and support diversity by including young scientists and researchers from different regions, providing a platform for authors from diverse backgrounds to make their voices heard. By publishing research outcomes with far-reaching impacts, we strive to elevate the academic status and influence of the journal. We will strictly adhere to scientific and technical standards in reviewing articles, ensuring the quality and innovation of research through the peer-review process. Ultimately, we aspire to bring this column to a new level, comparable to world-renowned journals. 

2. What is your stance on the open access publishing model?

The Open Access (OA) publishing model is a highly significant reform that enables scientific research knowledge and achievements to be publicly disseminated via the internet, allowing peers and the general public to freely read, download, copy, disseminate, and use these outcomes. The core advantage of this model lies in its ability to facilitate the dissemination and utilization of knowledge while respecting the rights of authors. The OA model provides a broader platform for the dissemination of scientific research achievements, yet it also means that the challenge of balancing the financial burden placed on authors with ensuring publication quality must be addressed. 

3. What are your aspirations for the future growth of Polymers and driving advancements in related disciplines?

Regarding the future development of the Polymers journal, I have the following aspirations:

• Continuously enhance academic quality by maintaining a rigorous peer-review system to ensure that the published research outcomes are of high quality and innovative. Simultaneously, expand international collaboration by partnering with more international academic organizations and research institutions to deepen global exchange and cooperation in polymer science;
• Support young scientists by establishing awards and providing funding, among other measures, to open up a green channel for the publication of their original research work in the field of polymers;
• Foster interdisciplinary research by encouraging scientists from diverse disciplines to collaborate and explore the applications of polymer science in new materials, energy, biomedicine, and other fields;
• Strengthen knowledge dissemination by leveraging the advantages of open access to improve the accessibility and visibility of research outcomes, thereby promoting the popularization of scientific knowledge. 

Through these efforts, I believe that the Polymers journal will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing polymer science and related fields, providing researchers with a rapid and high-quality platform to showcase their research achievements and exchange ideas. 

4. The Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology” will be positioned to focus on emerging and cutting-edge research directions within the field. In your opinion, what research topics do you think will garner particular interest from the academic community in the coming years?

The development of the Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology” should closely align with the forefront of scientific research and cater to the needs of humanity and nations. This includes topics such as new theories and methods for polymer synthesis; sodium/lithium-ion and all-solid-state batteries; anion exchange membranes and fuel cells; seawater desalination and wastewater treatment; water splitting catalysts; implantable bioelectrodes; disease diagnosis, medical imaging, and therapy; and flexible or wearable smart devices. These research topics not only involve the synthesis and performance optimization of materials, but also deeply integrate considerations regarding energy sustainability and environmental friendliness, fully leveraging the significant role of polymer science and technology across multiple domains. 

5. Could you briefly introduce your, or your team’s, current research direction and main contents？

Our team’s research interests are vast and diverse, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies and developments. Our current primary research directions encompass, but are not limited to, the following:

• Synthesis methods of polymers and relationships between structure and properties;
• Development of conductive polymers and their applications in electronics and photothermal conversion;
• Preparation of composite materials with specific functions through integration of organic and inorganic materials;
• Synthesis of microporous and mesoporous materials and their applications in catalysis and separation;
• Development of novel dental and orthopedic restoration materials;
• Self-assembly behavior of dendritic and chiral compounds and properties of their supramolecular structures;
• Development of novel biosensors for detecting and monitoring biological processes. 

6. We have noticed that your research experience is quite extensive. Could you share with us some of the key turning points that influenced your decision to work in different research institutions and countries?

I can identify several pivotal moments in my scientific journey. The first was when I enrolled in the chemistry department at Peking University in 1977. Initially, my heart lay not in chemistry but in the realms of literature, history, and philosophy. However, fate led me to chemistry, and as I delved deeper, I found myself genuinely captivated by it. The second turning point came when I secured a scholarship to pursue further studies abroad, embarking on a path of academic pursuit and satisfying my insatiable curiosity. But the most significant juncture occurred in 2009. Moved by the call of my homeland for the great rejuvenation of China, I returned to China full-time to join the Chemistry Department at Tsinghua University, committing myself to contributing to the advancement of education and scientific research in China and Tsinghua for the next three decades. I am filled with confidence in the thriving scientific landscape of China. Over the years, our nation has made remarkable strides in basic sciences, technology, and education, attracting global attention. China boasts a vast pool of talented individuals, yet there remains a scope for broadening our international perspectives. One of my primary motivations for returning was to bring back cutting-edge research insights and a professional ethos from abroad, nurturing a new generation of scholars with a global mindset, fortifying our nation's talent pool, and contributing to the thriving landscape of science, technology, and education in China. 

7. Having studied and worked in various research institutions both domestically and internationally, which scientist (or mentor) has had the most profound impact on you? Why?

Since venturing into the world of scientific research, I have collaborated with an abundance of brilliant minds. Among them, several mentors have left an indelible mark on me.

Firstly, there is Prof. Xinde Feng, who mentored me during my undergraduate and master's programs. Professor Feng was deeply committed to nurturing talent, tailoring his approach to each student's strengths and aspirations. He relentlessly pushed us to venture beyond our comfort zones, fostering independent thought and encouraging us to strive for research that truly benefits society and its people.

Secondly, I have to mention Prof. G. Odian, my doctoral supervisor. His uncompromising dedication to scientific rigor, coupled with his humility and aversion to personal glory, set an admirable example for me.

Then comes Prof. G. Wnek, my postdoctoral mentor at MIT. Barely two years my senior, he has been a trusted confidant and a guiding light. With his noble character and extensive knowledge, he imparted invaluable wisdom on both personal and professional fronts.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is my honorary mentor, Professor A. MacDiarmid. It was under his guidance that I embarked on the exciting journey of conductive polymer research. A true gentleman in every sense of the word, I consider it a lifelong privilege to have collaborated with him for over two decades. 

8. What qualities do you believe researchers need to possess on their scientific journey? Could you offer some advice to young scholars?

I firmly believe that engaging in scientific research necessitates an unwavering curiosity and thirst for exploration, serving as the foundation and driving force behind scientific innovation. Over the years, while lecturing, I have consistently emphasized, “Those who pursue science solely for wealth, power, fame, or awards have chosen the wrong path.” Scientists derive joy from the process of discovery and invention, rather than solely from the personal gains and accolades that may accompany them.

Researchers must cultivate independence and critical thinking skills, questioning and validating existing knowledge and research findings. Scientific research is often an arduous, lengthy, and challenging endeavor that necessitates patience and perseverance to overcome obstacles. Young scholars must broaden their horizons, not confining themselves to a narrow range of topics, but maintaining a lifelong commitment to learning and staying abreast of the latest scientific advancements and technological developments.

Moreover, failures are inevitable in scientific research, and it is crucial to learn from them and continue moving forward. The path of scientific inquiry is fraught with challenges yet replete with opportunities. I sincerely wish every young scholar to avoid complacency and unhealthy competition, embracing the journey of scientific research with joy, continuously progressing, and achieving their own accomplishments and fulfillment. 

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Yen Wei as the Section Editor-in-Chief of the Section “Innovation of Polymer Science and Technology”, and we look forward to achieving many more milestones under his leadership.

MDPI will attend the European Regional Meeting of the Polymer Processing Society, PPS-2024, to be held at Ferrol, A Coruña, Spain, from 30 September to 3 October 2024.

The PPS Meetings are leading conferences in the field of Polymer Science and Engineering and attract internationally renowned scientists, engineers and designers. The goals of the Society, as embodied in its constitution, are to foster scientific understanding and technical innovation in polymer processing by providing a discussion forum. The thematic range of the PPS encompasses all formulation, conversion and shaping operations applied to polymeric systems and their transformation to commercial products with attractive properties.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Polymers;
• Marine Drugs;
• Fibers;
• Materials;
• Membranes;
• Coatings;
• JMMP.

If you are planning on attending this conference, please do not hesitate to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://pps2024ferrol.com/.

Five new journals covering multiple subjects have launched their inaugural issue in June 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Editorial Board Members and each journal will ensure its high-quality output using excellent editorial and rigorous peer review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

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

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Marco Ranucci, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	anaesthetic medications; blood and fluid management; pain management; critical care; critical illness | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Giovanni E. Cacciamani, University of Southern California, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr.  Gassan Hodaifa, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	laboratory management; laboratory safety; protective equipment; laboratory problems and challenges; laboratory Innovation | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, Texas A&M University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	companion animals health and disease; veterinary care and nutrition; genetics and genomics; behavior and welfare; human-animal relations | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Pierfrancesco De Paola, University of Naples Federico II, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	real estate appraisal; economic and financial valuation of real estate projects; sustainable real estate; housing and urban economics | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

We are pleased to invite you to read the selected papers in Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) in the Section “Polymer Analysis and Characterization”. The paper list is as follows:

1. “High-Performance Photoinitiating Systems for LED-Induced Photopolymerization”.
by Shaohui Liu, Timur Borjigin, Michael Schmitt, Fabrice Morlet-Savary, Pu Xiao and Jacques Lalevée
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020342
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/342

2. “Influence of Nanoparticles on the Dielectric Response of a Single Component Resin Based on Polyesterimide”
by Štefan Hardoň, Jozef Kúdelčík, Anton Baran, Ondrej Michal, Pavel Trnka and Jaroslav Hornak
Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2202; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112202
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/11/2202

3. Investigation of Polymer Aging Mechanisms Using Molecular Simulations: A Review
by Fan Zhang, Fan Zhang, Rui Yang and Diannan Lu
Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081928
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/8/1928

4. “Macromolecular Insights into the Altered Mechanical Deformation Mechanisms of Non-Polyolefin Contaminated Polyolefins”
by Ruben Demets, Marie Grodent, Karen Van Kets, Steven De Meester and Kim Ragaert
Polymers 2022, 14(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14020239
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/2/239

5. “Temperature Induced Gelation and Antimicrobial Properties of Pluronic F127 Based Systems”
by Alexandra Lupu, Irina Rosca, Vasile Robert Gradinaru and Maria Bercea
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020355
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/2/355

6. “Tension and Compression Properties of 3D-Printed Composites: Print Orientation and Strain Rate Effects”
by Tom Fisher, José Humberto S. Almeida Jr, Brian G. Falzon and Zafer Kazancı
Polymers 2023, 15(7), 1708; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15071708
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/7/1708

7 .“The Effect of Physical Aging and Degradation on the Re-Use of Polyamide 12 in Powder Bed Fusion”
by Benjamin Sanders, Edward Cant, Hoda Amel and Michael Jenkins
Polymers 2022, 14(13), 2682; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14132682
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/13/2682

8. “The Influence of Colloidal Properties of Carbon Black on Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber”
by William Amoako Kyei-Manu, Charles R. Herd, Mahatab Chowdhury, James J. C. Busfield and Lewis B. Tunnicliffe
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061194
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/6/1194

9. “The Influence of the Layer Height and the Filament Color on the Dimensional Accuracy and the Tensile Strength of FDM-Printed PLA Specimens”
by Doina Frunzaverde, Vasile Cojocaru, Nicoleta Bacescu, Costel-Relu Ciubotariu, Calin-Octavian Miclosina, Raul Rusalin Turiac and Gabriela Marginean
Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2377; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102377
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/10/2377

10. “The Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites Reinforced with PA6 Electrospun Nanofibers”
by Inga Lasenko, Jaymin Vrajlal Sanchaniya, Sai Pavan Kanukuntla, Yagnik Ladani, Arta Viluma-Gudmona, Olga Kononova, Vitalijs Lusis, Igors Tipans and Turs Selga
Polymers 2023, 15(3), 673; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030673
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/3/673

11. “Thermal Stability and Flammability Studies of MXene–Organic Hybrid Polystyrene Nanocomposites”
by Zhuoran Zhang, Huaixuan Cao, Yufeng Quan, Rong Ma, Emily B. Pentzer, Micah J. Green and Qingsheng Wang
Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061213
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/6/1213

12. “Wastewater Treatment by Polymeric Microspheres: A Review”
by Jiwon Lee and Rajkumar Patel
Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1890; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091890
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1890

We are pleased to inform you that Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) has received a heightened CiteScore of 8.0.

CiteScore provides transparent metrics that enable well-informed publishing strategy, library collection development, and the benchmarking of journal performance. It is now a standard citation metric alongside SNIP and SJR that gives an up-to-date view of a journal’s impact.

The 2023 CiteScore provides an assessment of the scientific influence of journals in the 2020 to 2023 period.

This is a reflection of the excellent performance, support, and dedication of all journal editors, reviewers, authors, and readers.

Polymers’ CiteScore ranks as follows:

• Q1 (77 out of 408) in the “General Chemistry” category;
• Q1 (32 out of 161) in the “Polymers and Plastics” category.

For more journal statistics, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/Polymers/stats.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the journal.

Polymers Editorial Office

MDPI will attend the IX Symposium on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries (HYCELTEC 2024), held from 30 June to 3 July 2024 in Milazzo, Italy.

HYCELTEC 2024 will be an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of topics related to fuel cells, hydrogen and batteries, bringing together researchers from academia, technological centers and industry.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

Energies;

Hydrogen;

WEVJ;

Batteries;

Polymers.

If you plan to attend this conference, we invite you to visit our booth and converse with our delegates. We are excited to meet you in person and address any questions you may have. For further details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.hyceltec2024.it/.

MDPI is pleased to announce the inclusion of 237 journals in the 2024 release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and share the key results (see above).

This year, journals covered in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) received category ranks together with journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Overall, 139 MDPI journals indexed in ESCI are included in the new unified rankings for the first time.

Enhanced Comparability of Data

According to Clarivate, "the creation of unified category rankings [provides] a simpler and more complete category view for the evaluation of journal performance. [...] The category-first approach simplifies journal performance assessment with a holistic view of all journals in each subject category."

We are thrilled to announce that 72% of our ranked MDPI journals (171 of 237) are above average, in Q1 or Q2. Twenty-nine of our journals received their first Impact Factor this year, accounting for more than 5% of the journals accepted into the Web of Science last year.

MDPI Journals Ranked in JCR

The following data includes all MDPI journals indexed in SCIE, SSCI, ESCI and AHCI.

Source: 2023 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports ^TM (Clarivate, 2024)

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.5 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 professional, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 440 fully open access titles.

The China Materials Conference 2024 will be held from 8 to 11 July 2024 in Guangzhou, China. The conference was hosted by the Chinese Materials Research Society and co-hosted by the European Materials Research Society.

The areas of focus for the conference include the following:

• Energy materials;
• Environmental materials;
• Advanced structural materials;
• Functional materials;
• Material design, preparation and evaluation;
• Others.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Symmetry;
• Fibers;
• Coatings;
• Catalysts;
• Inorganics;
• Nanoenergy Advances;
• Membranes;
• Journal of Composites Science;
• Crystals;
• Gels;
• C;
• Metals;
• Ceramics;
• Alloys;
• Polymers.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you and answering any questions that you may have. Our booth number is #2258, located on the first floor of Baiyun International Hall Phase II.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://cmc2024.scimeeting.cn/cn/web/index/.

Conference: ACS Fall 2024
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 18–22 August 2024
Place: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
Booth ID: 1420

A variety of MDPI journals will be attending ACS Fall 2024 as exhibitors, an exciting event being held in Denver, USA, from 18 to 22 August 2024.

ACS Meetings & Expositions are where chemistry professionals meet to exchange ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of chemical professionals, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for peers to engage with each other and share their passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies and helping to advance careers in this ever-changing global economy.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Molecules;
• Nanomaterials;
• Separations;
• Organics;
• Molbank;
• AppliedChem;
• Chemistry;
• Batteries;
• Fibers;
• Crystals;
• Polymers;
• Colorants;
• Analytica;
• Coatings;
• Symmetry;
• Liquids;
• Reactions.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth #1420. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

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

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

Open Access: A Catalyst for Ocean Action

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

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

Showcasing MDPI’s Contributions to Ocean Research

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

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

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

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

Affirming MDPI’s Commitment to Ocean Science

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

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

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

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

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

MDPI's 2023 Annual Report highlights several key achievements:

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

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

Global Reach and Collaboration

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

Commitment to Partnerships

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

For more information, contact Rui Duarte at [email protected] or +41764313242.

About MDPI

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

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

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

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

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://pp2024.casconf.cn/.

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

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

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

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

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

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

We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2024. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Polymers (ISSN: 2073-4360) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to recent surveys conducted in 2023, 91% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Polymers’ peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2024. Each quarter, we will select a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Q1:

Name: Prof. Dr. Leno Mascia
Affiliation: Materials Department, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
“During my many years of research work on polymer materials, starting in industry and continued in academia till retirement, I have always displayed a greater enthusiasm for innovation than analysis. For this reason, Polymers became an attractive journal for publishing and reviewing research articles. I became increasingly more involved in the latter role after retiring, not only as a way of keeping updated with research activities in the field but also as an obligation to share my experience with the young generation. Reviewing for Polymers, and MPDI journals in general has been a pleasant and intellectually stimulating experience. I have sensed the enthusiasm of the authors for the work presented and the commitment of the editorial team to assist the reviewer and the authors. I was particularly impressed with the way authors have been given the opportunity to improve their paper even when the reviewers’ comments were not favorable. For this reason, I have always tried to be thorough in my comments and even make suggestions for an eventual resubmission.”

Name: Dr. Pouyan Ghabezi
Affiliation: School of Engineering, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
“I've reviewed more than 300 manuscripts for prestigious journals and key conferences. My work spans diverse fields, advancing research in composites, Polymers, 3D printing, and sustainability. Through these engagements, I have supported the dissemination of high-quality research, provided constructive feedback to authors, and helped uphold the standards of academic publishing. My role as a reviewer has been both challenging and rewarding, offering insights into cutting-edge developments across multiple disciplines.”

Name: Dr. Changmin Shi
Affiliation: School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
“I have been reviewing MDPI Polymers for years, and it has been a highly rewarding and enriching experience. As a reviewer, I have had the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research in polymers for batteries. My goal is to support authors in refining their work to meet the high standards of the journal and to contribute to the dissemination of high-quality scientific knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of polymer science through my role as a reviewer.”

Name: Dr. Vilma Ratautaite
Affiliation: Department of Nanotechnology, State Research Institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Vilnius, Lithuania
“Writing reviews is a way for me to express my gratitude to all the reviewers who have done a great job improving my articles.”

Name: Dr. Anna Wołowicz
Affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Maria Curie Sklodowska University, Maria Curie-Sklodowska Square 2, 20-031 Lublin, Poland

Q2:

Name: Dr. Carlos Bruno Luna
Affiliation: Academic Unit of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58429-900, Brazil
“The experience at Polymers has been beneficial because it has allowed me to read relevant manuscripts on polymer science and stay current on the recent advances, especially through reviewing several established research groups.”

Name: Dr. László Bejó
Affiliation: Institute of Applied Sciences, University of Sopron, 9400 Sopron, Hungary
“It is an honor to be included as an exceptional reviewer. Reviewing scientific articles is an often thankless but crucially important task, and I am happy to help ensure that Polymers publishes high-quality scientific studies.”

Name: Dr. Mridula Nandi
Affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States

Name: Prof. Dr. Alun Vaughan
Affiliation: The Tony Davies High Voltage Laboratory, Department of Electronics and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
“Reviewing is a critical element in the process of disseminating new knowledge and one in which I aim to help the authors improve their work. In ideal cases, I also get to learn something new.“

Name: Dr. Chenggao Li
Affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Interest: civil engineering; composite structures; fiber-reinforced polymer; material mechanics; durability; new thermoplastic resin composites; material design

We are pleased to announce MDPI’s Transfer Service.

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

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

1. Select alternative journals on submission.

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

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

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

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

Prize:

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

Who should be nominated?

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

Who can submit a nomination?

• Academic research institutes
• Universities
• Academic societies

Any personal nominations are not accepted.

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

Required nomination materials:
Nomination Form (Download)

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

Contact:
Tu Youyou Award Team ([email protected])

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

MDPI Romania sponsored four events over the month of April, contributing author training sessions to each event.

The NutriSciLabs 2024 conference was held at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy on 12 April 2024. Organized by the Association of Students from the Faculty of Pharmacy Studies, the conference aimed to enhance students’ academic writing and research skills, and bolster their confidence in participating in the academic world. Ioana Paunescu, journal relations specialist for MDPI Romania, led the training session. Paunescu first outlined MDPI’s history and core values, then explained academic writing techniques, ethics, and similarity percentages. The presentation covered the entire editorial process, highlighting the amount of attention paid to details throughout manuscript processing. Paunescu also discussed common errors that authors make while writing, and how to avoid such errors.

On 13 April 2024, the NextGEN 2.0 Student Conference took place at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. NextGen Healthcare organized this event with the university’s European Students’ Society to discuss European and international current affairs. MDPI Romania contributed an author training session called Steps of the Publication Process. Irina Codruta Zaharia, journal relations specialist, began the session with a general introduction of MDPI before diving into different article types, different layout formats, possible journals to submit to, the MDPI submission checklist, and the MDPI editorial process. By explaining the fundamentals of writing and publishing academic papers, Zaharia imparted valuable industry knowledge to the curious minds present. Participants were eager to engage with Zaharia in the subsequent Q&A session.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the International Conference “Students for Students” has long been a gathering place for undergraduate and postgraduate students of all nationalities to present their work and exchange ideas with each other. This year’s conference was held on 18 April 2024, with MDPI Romania contributing an author training session called The World of Open Access. Key speakers included Dr. Norbert Kiss from MDPI Romania and Prof. Dragos Horvath from Strasbourg University. Dr. Kiss discussed the history of open access, differences between open access publishing and traditional publishing, and implications for open access in the future. Attendees expressed keen interest in the subject, approaching Dr. Kiss with questions about academic publishing as well as his career trajectory.

Most recently, on 26 April 2024, MDPI Romania sponsored the National Symposium of Students from Geology and Geophysics Faculties. The AAPG Students Chapter at the Babes-Bolyai University organized this event as an opportunity for geology students from all Romanian universities to present their work and confer with other researchers. Dr. Kiss gave his lecture The World of Open Access at this event as well.

MDPI is thankful to all the participants, speakers, and organizers who attended these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

MDPI will attend the 34th CCS Congress, which will be held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, from 15 to 18 June 2024. Registration for the event opens on 14 June.

This annual congress is hosted by the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS). With the support and active participation of chemists across the country, the annual academic conference of the Chinese Chemical Society has continued to expand in scale and influence and has become a comprehensive academic exchange platform with the most comprehensive categories, the largest scale, and the highest level in chemistry and related fields. The theme of the 34th CCS Congress is “Toward Higher Quality Chemistry Research”. It has established 70 academic branches. The forms of academic exchange include conference plenary reports (PL), keynote reports (KN), invited reports (I), oral reports (O), flash reports (F), and poster reports (P). The annual meeting collects academic papers (abstracts) from chemists. Workers in scientific research, teaching, and industry in chemistry and related fields are welcome to submit papers and actively participate in the meeting.

A series of colorful forums, continuing education, and other activities will be held simultaneously during the annual meeting. An exhibition will also be held, inviting the support and active participation of relevant universities and research institutes, enterprises, book publishing, and academic journals.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• International Journal of Molecular Sciences;
• Polymers;
• Biomedicines;
• Inorganics;
• Processes;
• Symmetry;
• Separations;
• Membranes;
• Materials;
• Reactions;
• Chemistry;
• Compounds;
• Biomolecules;
• Sustainable Chemistry;
• Chemosensors;
• Applied Sciences.

If you are planning on attending this conference, please do not hesitate to stop by our booth #B37 and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/34th/.

MDPI, the leading Open Access (OA) publisher, announced on Monday that it opened its Korean branch office on 29th April 2024. With this addition, MDPI now operates 21 offices in 12 countries worldwide. Claude Seo, with over 20 years of experience in the academic journal publishing industry, including Nature Publishing Group (NPG), has been appointed as the Office Manager of the Seoul office.

With the establishment of a Seoul office, MDPI aims to actively support Korea scientific communities to further promote the publication of OA journals in the region. As of the end of 2023, Korea ranked sixth worldwide in both submissions and publications of MDPI research papers. MDPI is the number one OA publisher in Korea.

Sungkyunkwan University Joins MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program

In addition, MDPI announced that Sungkyunkwan University joined MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). This program offers free access to MDPI online submission system for the institutions and APC discounts to affiliated authors. Thirteen major Korean universities, including Sungkyunkwan University, Kyung Hee University, Chung-Ang University and Catholic University of Korea, have adopted IOAP in Korea.

OA aims to break down barriers that have traditionally restricted access to science, ensuring that knowledge is available to all, regardless of financial situation or institutional affiliations. Authors, academia, and scientific communities are rapidly moving toward OA. MDPI has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic publishing landscape, with OA surpassing subscription-based publishing in 2020.

MDPI CEO Visits Seoul, Korea

In March, Stefan Tochev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MDPI, visited Korea and met with various stakeholders including government agencies, research and academic institutions, universities. During his visit, Stefan highlighted that MDPI continues to pave the way for a world where science is accessible to all, supporting a global community of inclusive innovation and collaborative solutions.

Stefan expressed excitement about the new venture, stating, "Today marks a significant milestone for MDPI as we celebrate the opening of our new office in Seoul, Korea. This expansion is more than just an increase in our physical footprint, it is a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to making scientific knowledge more accessible, participatory, and inclusive across the globe."

Claude Seo, reflecting on his new role, commented, "I am delighted to have been offered this position of trust within MDPI, the no. 1 scholarly OA publisher. As we establish our presence in Korea, we are dedicated to integrating into the local community and contributing to its vibrant culture. Our commitment goes beyond business growth; it is about creating a more informed and innovative society by embracing and promoting diversity within the scientific community.”

For further inquiries, please contact our Seoul office directly.

About MDPI

A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. MDPI is leading the transition to open science by making more research free and accessible to everyone. Over 3.3 million researchers have entrusted MDPI with publishing their scientific discoveries. MDPI’s editorial process is bolstered by a network of dedicated reviewers, a team of 6000 diligent, well-trained staff members, and an in-house article submission platform that was designed to ensure efficient processes within its 430 fully OA titles.

MDPI will be attending the 18th International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry (ISMSC 2024), which will be held from 6 to 10 May 2024 in Hangzhou, China.

The International Symposium on Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry is the most prestigious international conference in the area of supramolecular science. The history of ISMSC can be traced back to two originally independent symposia, the International Symposium on Macrocyclic Chemistry (ISMC) and the International Symposium on Supramolecular Chemistry (ISSC). The ISMC series was founded by Professors Reed M. Izatt and James J. Christensen and began in 1977, in Provo, Utah, USA. Three years later, the first ISSC was held in Warsaw, Poland. With the increasing overlap of research topics in macrocyclic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry, in 2006, ISMC and ISSC were merged, and the first joint conference was held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The success of this merger served to launch the ISMSC as the premier conference in the field. The ISMSC has been held annually ever since with a hiatus for the pandemic. It moves from one nation to another. The previous meeting was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2023.

ISMSC 2024 will be held at the Blossom Water Museum Hotel Hangzhou (Address: No. 118, Shuibo Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China). Hangzhou, the Capital of Zhejiang Province, is one of China’s most enduringly popular holiday spots. More than 1,000 international and domestic researchers, students, and industry representatives in the field of macrocyclic and supramolecular chemistry will attend the conference, including two Nobel Prize Laureates, one Wolf Prize winner, and over 20 academicians from China and overseas.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• Organics;
• Separations;
• Crystals;
• Polymers;
• Reactions;
• AppliedChem;
• Chemistry;
• Macromol.

If you are planning on attending this conference, please do not hesitate to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.ismsc2024.com/index.

The 2024 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) will be held from 27 to 31 May 2024, in Strasbourg, France. The conference is organized by the European Materials Research Society and Foundation Jean-Marie Lehn.

The conference will focus on the following:

• Vascular disorders;
• Decarbonized energy and sustainability;
• Materials for human well-being;
• Two-dimensional materials and surfaces: synthesis, characterization, and perspectives;
• Advanced characterization of materials;
• Materials sciences for cultural heritage;
• Electronics, magnetics, and photonics.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Symmetry;
• C;
• Textiles;
• Coatings;
• Applied Nano;
• Polymers;
• Fibers;
• Construction Materials;
• CMD;
• Crystals.

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 #27 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2024-spring-meeting.

A range of MDPI journals will be attending the TMS 2024 Annual Meeting & Exhibition from 3 to 7 March 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orlando, Florida, USA.

The TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition brings together more than 4,000 engineers, scientists, business leaders, and other professionals in the fields of minerals, metals, and materials for a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary exchange of technical knowledge.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Metals;
• Fibers;
• AppliedChem;
• Processes;
• Polymers.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to drop by our booth and start a conversation with us. We look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.tms.org/TMS2024/Home/, or contact the Materials Editorial Office at [email protected] or the Metals Editorial Office at [email protected].

Conference: ACS Spring 2024
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 17–21 March 2024
Place: Halls D & E, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
Booth: #2530

MDPI journals will be attending ACS Spring 2024—Many Flavors of Chemistry as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA, USA, from 17 to 21 March 2024.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with more than 151,000 members in 140 countries. ACS meetings and expos are held biannually. This expo is an opportunity for thousands of chemistry professionals to meet, share ideas, and advance scientific and technical knowledge. The topic in Spring 2024 is “Many Flavors of Chemistry”.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Molecules;
• DDC (Drugs and Drug Candidates);
• Batteries;
• Chemistry;
• Colorants;
• Cosmetics;
• Fibers;
• Inorganics;
• Organics;
• Polymers;
• Separations;
• Symmetry;
• Analytica;
• AppliedChem;
• CIMB (Current Issues in Molecular Biology);
• Coatings;
• Crystals;
• Energies;
• JFB (Journal of Functional Biomaterials);
• Liquids;
• Magnetochemistry;
• Membranes;
• Reactions;
• Sustainable Chemistry.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.acs.org/meetings/acs-meetings/spring.html.