Announcements

Welcome from the webinar Chair:

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the editorial team of Processes and MDPI, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to our webinar, dedicated to the successful Special Issue “Graphene Oxide: From Synthesis to Applications”.

Graphene oxide is an essentially all-surface material whose remarkable physico-chemical, mechanical, and optical properties have unlocked a versatile application platform ranging from biomedical devices to energy storage and environmental remediation. This Special Issue has gathered several contributions covering the entire value chain of GO—from innovative synthesis routes to cutting-edge applications in energy storage and conversion, environmental remediation, membrane technologies, etc.

The webinar gathers researchers who have contributed to this collection. We will delve into key topics highlighted in the issue, such as the following:

• The role of GO in enhancing electrochemical properties of ZnO for water splitting and sensing.
• The surface chemistry of GO nanocomposites.
• How the surface chemistry of GO nanocomposites is linked to advancement of charge storage applications.

Our goal is to provide insights into synergy-driven enhancement of material properties and we hope that this webinar will spark lively discussion, new ideas, and future partnerships.

We invite you to join us and take part in a moderated discussion with our speakers.

Welcome, and enjoy the webinar!

Kind regards,
Sonja Jovanović
Principal Research Fellow

Date: 23 June 2026 at 11 a.m. CEST | 5 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 841 1869 7829
Webinar webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/Processes-26?subscribe

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 Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Sonja Jovanović, University of Belgrade, Serbia;
• Dr. Smilja Marković, Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA, Serbia;
• Dr. Željko Mravik, University of Belgrade, Serbia;
• Dr. Zoran Jovanović, University of Belgrade, Serbia;
• Marko Todorovic, MDPI.

Relevant Special Issue:
“Graphene Oxide: From Synthesis to Applications”
Guest Editors: Sonja Jovanović, Zoran Jovanović and Zeljko Mravik

Conference: The 41st ICROS Annual Conference
Date: 1–3 July 2026
Location: EXCO, Daegu, Republic of Korea

MDPI will be participating in the 41st ICROS Annual Conference, which will take place from 1 to 3 July 2026 in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Hosted by the Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems (ICROS), the Korean representative body of IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control), will be held under the theme “Control, Robots, and Systems Leading the AI 2.0 Era”. This event offers attendees a premier platform for sharing future technologies across various engineering fields, including electrical, electronic, mechanical, aerospace, and chemical engineering.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Inventions;
• Symmetry;
• AI;
• Applied Sciences;
• Automation;
• Electronics;
• Mathematics;
• MTI;
• Processes;
• Robotics;
• Vehicles;
• Actuators;
• Algorithms;
• Logistics;
• Sensors.

We warmly invite you to visit our booth to share your valued research experience. We look forward to meeting you in person and assisting with any questions that you may have. For more information regarding this conference, please visit the official website.

To further enhance the quality of Processes (ISSN: 2227-9717) and the papers published in the “Automation Control Systems” Section, under the guidance of our Section Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Zhiwei Gao, the journal has updated and revised the Section information.

The original and the updated versions are listed below:

Section information (new version):
The "Automation Control Systems" Section of Processes serves as a dedicated venue for high-quality original research, reviews, and communications at the frontiers of automation, control engineering, and intelligent computing, as applied to engineering processes and systems. Consistent with the journal's process- and system-oriented scope—spanning the fields of chemistry, biology, energy, manufacturing, and pharmaceutics, as well as allied fields—the Section welcomes contributions that advance the design, analysis, and implementation of control and automation solutions in complex, real-world process environments.

Scope and Topics of Interest
This Section covers a broad and evolving range of research topics, organized across the following areas:

Control Theory and Methods—Advanced control techniques incluidng improved PID control, model predictive control (MPC), adaptive control, robust control, nonlinear control, optimal control, sliding mode control, H∞ control, feedback linearization, backstepping, fractional-order control, event-triggered control, sampled data control, time-delay systems, iterative learning control, and resilient control.

Intelligent and Learning-Based Control—Reinforcement learning, deep reinforcement learning, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic control, neuro-fuzzy systems, genetic algorithms, evolutionary computation, swarm intelligence, multi-agent systems, hierarchical control, autonomous control, self-tuning systems, explainable AI for control, and human-in-the-loop control.

Process Automation and Monitoring—Industrial and manufacturing process automation, SCADA systems, distributed control systems (DCS), programmable logic controllers (PLC), supervisory control, real-time control, batch and continuous process control, smart sensors and actuators, human–machine interface (HMI) design, control loop tuning, instrumentation, and open process automation.

Fault Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis—Fault detection and diagnosis (FDD), condition monitoring, anomaly detection, remaining useful life (RUL) prediction, predictive maintenance (PdM), vibration analysis, model-based, signal-based, and knowledge-based fault diagnosis, large language model-based fault diagnosis, , residual generation, prognostics and health management (PHM), alarm management, degradation modeling, and sensor fusion for diagnostics.

Data-Driven Methods and Machine Learning—Machine learning for process control, deep learning, convolutional and recurrent neural networks, LSTM networks, transformer models, transfer learning, federated learning, semi-supervised and unsupervised learning, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS), Gaussian process regression, soft sensors, feature extraction and fusion, time-series analysis, and industrial big data analytics.

Optimization and Decision-Making—Metaheuristic and evolutionary optimization, particle swarm optimization (PSO), multi-objective optimization, real-time and stochastic optimization, convex optimization, dynamic programming, Bayesian optimization, economic MPC, energy management optimization, resource allocation, process scheduling, and process intensification.

Digital Twins and Simulation—Digital twins for process and automation systems, virtual commissioning, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation, dynamic process modeling, physics-informed neural networks, hybrid and grey box modeling, system identification, reduced-order modeling, and simulation-based process optimization.

Robotics, Mechatronics, and Drive Systems—Robot control, industrial and collaborative robots (cobots), autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for industrial logistics, trajectory planning and motion control, servo and electrical drive control, permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control, variable frequency drives (VFDs), mechatronic system design, drone and UAV control for process inspection and monitoring, human–robot interaction, rehabilitation and assistive robotics, parallel and cable-driven mechanisms, soft robotics, and gripper and end-effector design.

Energy Process Control and Renewable Energy Systems—Wind turbine and solar PV control, energy storage management, microgrid and smart grid automation, power converter control, maximum power point tracking (MPPT), grid-forming inverters, fuel cell systems, hydrogen production process control, demand response, battery management systems (BMS), and, offshore energy systems, hybrid energy systems.

Industrial Process Applications—Automation and control in chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, water treatment, agricultural, mining, aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, and bioprocess industries; smart and additive manufacturing; VSC-HVAC control; nuclear process control; and logistics automation.

Micro, Nano, and Precision Systems—Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-positioning control, atomic force microscopy, precision motion control, microfluidic and lab-on-chip automation, piezoelectric actuator control, micro-robotics, and nano-sensor integration.

Process Safety, Reliability, and Resilience—Functional safety (IEC 61508/61511), safety instrumented systems (SISs), risk assessment, hazard analysis (HAZOP), reliability engineering, system resilience, fault-tolerant systems, safety-critical control, alarm rationalization, and cyber resilience in process environments.

Industry 4.0/5.0 and Emerging Technologies—Smart factory, cyber–physical production systems, human-centric automation, cognitive manufacturing, augmented and mixed reality HMI, explainable AI (XAI), trustworthy AI in automation, sustainable and green process automation, interoperability standards (OPC-UA, RAMI 4.0), digital thread, and self-organizing production systems.

Section information (old version):

Keywords

• process automation and monitoring
• artificial neural networks
• fault detection and diagnosis
• intelligent control systems
• learning systems
• micro- and nano-systems
• system condition monitoring
• optimization algorithms
• control theory
• networked systems

MDPI was pleased to partner with Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) in Chiang Rai on 18 May 2026 for an incredibly productive workshop dedicated to advancing academic publishing and scholarly communication. The event brought together experts and members of the academic community to explore cutting-edge trends and developments across a range of scientific fields. Through lively discussions and hands-on knowledge exchange, participants gained valuable practical skills in scientific writing, data visualization, and layout, responding to peer-reviewer comments, and navigating the MDPI editorial process. The audience comprised participants from various academic levels—including professors, undergraduate students, and postgraduate researchers—with strong engagement maintained throughout the day.

We were honored to have Prof. Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President of Mae Fah Luang University, open the floor for the Academic Publishing Workshop in collaboration with MDPI. In her opening remarks, she emphasized that the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen the publication environment within the faculty and encouraged all faculty members to actively develop their research and publishing skills. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that research publications maintain high quality, academic integrity, and meaningful impact in society and the research community.

The Academic Publishing Workshop was opened by Professor Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President of MFU. She delivered the opening remarks and emphasized that all scholars and researchers should value their own research with utmost care. Selecting a suitable journal to submit your paper requires a comprehensive understanding of the scholar’s purposes, along with the criteria and requirements that the university has provided. Professor Dr. Saroat Rawdkuen, a distinguished Thai food scientist and academic leader (recognized as one of the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2022–2025 by Stanford University in Food Science), followed up to provide appreciation for the workshop that MDPI has offered.

The first session was presented by Dr. Krit Inthajak, Regional Engagement Editor of the MDPI Bangkok office, with an introduction to MDPI, sharing insights on the trends of open access journals and MFU’s current status. He also introduced the earliest journal of MDPI, Molecules, as a valuable option for researchers who are interested in submitting or reading publications related to chemistry. The session was followed up by a talk with Ms. Janine Li, Publisher of Processes, who introduced the journal, which welcomes process/systems-related research across multiple categories.

The second session was a panel talk by Prof. Dr. Saroat Rawdkeun on the topic of “The Importance of Publishing Manuscripts for the University”. Various topics, including an overview of postgraduate students, their research mission, and academic promotion, were discussed to ensure scholars could submit and publish their manuscripts in an area that fits the criteria of every department.

Dr. Krit returned to provide the third session on “How to Write Scientific Papers”. This session comprised how to prepare literature reviews before deciding to write a manuscript and the contents of the front matter, main text, and back matter. Authors should emphasize the importance of their experimental results and provide clear implications and connections through their introduction and literature review.

In the fourth session, Ms. Pratthana Kruekantha presented on “Data Visualization and Layout Guidelines for Scientific Papers”. In order to help participants acquire the skills necessary to write papers that are both readable and appropriate for publication, she offered helpful guidance on how to clearly present research data using well-designed figures, tables, and graphical abstracts. The session led to a communicative Q&A, where participants asked about usage of AI tools and whether disclosure is required, recommended tools and possible discounts for graphical abstract design, and journal requirements regarding the number of pages, references, figures, and tables. The session’s intense interest in AI-related subjects indicated that this is a significant issue for attendees and a good area to concentrate on in future workshops.

The fifth session was led by Dr. Siriporn Tantiwatcharothai, Regional Engagement Editor at the MDPI Bangkok office, who delivered a presentation on the MDPI editorial process, covering the importance of the review system, the pre-check stage, the peer-review stage, and the final editorial decision process. She emphasized that MDPI not only focuses on maintaining the quality and standards of each publication but also prioritizes transparency, ethicality, and reliability throughout the publishing process. She further highlighted that all manuscripts submitted to MDPI journals must undergo a rigorous and strict peer-review process conducted by qualified academic experts before acceptance for publication. 

The sixth session, titled “How to Respond to Peer Reviewers”, was delivered by Ms. Hathaipat Kittirojana, Regional Journal Relations Specialist at MDPI. She provided an overview of the peer-review process at MDPI before guiding participants through how to revise a manuscript professionally and effectively. The session also covered key tips for revision preparation and practical strategies for organizing a clear and well-structured response to reviewer comments. In closing, Ms. Hathaipat encouraged all attendees to approach the revision process with a positive mindset, remaining open-minded and professional when replying to reviewers.

The last session, titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scientific Publishing”, was delivered by Ms. Ploy Assavajamroon, Regional Engagement Editor at MDPI’s Bangkok office. The session opened with an overview of AI technologies and their growing role in academic research and scholarly publishing. During the presentation, she discussed both the capabilities and limitations of generative AI, with particular focus on widely used large language models. Although these tools can efficiently assist with a range of research-related tasks, she stressed that researchers should refrain from depending solely on AI-generated information without adequate assessment. In line with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the session also introduced MDPI’s policies on the responsible use of AI by authors and reviewers, highlighting the importance of transparency and appropriate disclosure practices. The session concluded with an introduction to several AI-powered tools developed by MDPI, designed to streamline editorial workflows and enhance the publishing experience for both authors and editors.

The workshop concluded with a closing talk and certificate awarding ceremony, celebrating the achievements of all participants who had engaged throughout the day. This collaboration underscores the shared commitment of MDPI and Mae Fah Luang University to fostering interdisciplinary research and promoting global excellence in academic output. The event not only strengthened the partnership between MDPI and the university but also laid a solid foundation for continued collaboration and future academic advancement.

On 23 May 2026, MDPI Canada hosted their third North American subject workshop entitled “Crossing Boundaries: Transdisciplinarity in the Humanities”. This event brought together nearly 30 students and experts in the field of humanities to explore innovative, cross-disciplinary research shaping the future of the field. This meeting, held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, located in downtown Toronto, provided a platform for in-depth scientific exchange.

Our workshop host, Summer Huggard, Operations Manager of MDPI Canada, opened the event with an introduction to our conference chair, Prof. Dr. Albrecht Classen of the University of Arizona. Prof. Dr. Classen welcomed our attendees to the event, outlining three subtopics of the workshop: AI and data in the humanities; environmental humanities; and humanities, literature, and identity. These topics emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the direction of the humanities in our rapidly changing world. MDPI Canada’s Operating Director, Elvis Wang, then thanked all contributors and spoke about MDPI’s core principles of transparency, trusted service, integrity, and role in promoting excellence and advancing open science.

The day’s presentations were full of exciting discussion as eleven speakers spoke about their research findings. These eleven presenters included Dr. Michael Bryson, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Elgammal, Prof. Dr. Avi Friedman, Prof. Dr. Nancy S. Steinhardt, Prof. Dr. Tom Roeper, Prof. Dr. Salikoko S. Mufwene, Dr. Lindsay Stern, Prof. Dr. Jeffrey R. Di Leo, Prof. Dr. Albrecht Classen, Dr. Ronald B. Brown, and Dr. Robert Brazeau.

The reports given covered many interesting topics, including the following: AI and data in the humanities; environmental humanities; and humanities, literature, and identity. The talks covered hot topics such as the state of the humanities with the growing prevalence of AI, architecture and urban planning as a tool to understand globalization and exercise habits, the critical role of literature studies in language development, and environmental and health studies.

The second half of the day began with presentations covering the value of the humanities from a philosophical lens, literature and health study to analyze environmental protection, and concluded with an in-depth analysis of the new interconnected approach to human health studies post-pandemic.Dr. Barnaby Crook, Regional Engagement Editor at MDPI, introduced MDPI, market dynamics, and discussed relevant publishing trends in the humanities field. His presentation allowed audience members to gain greater insight into how MDPI’s journals can support researchers whose work falls within this subject and provided transparency regarding MDPI’s practices.

During the day’s proceedings, multiple Q&A sessions were held, allowing valuable engagement between speakers and attendees to occur. During these discussions, attendees could further develop conversations around addressing the influence of culture on human health, the effect of politics on environmental care, the benefits of open access publishing, and more. These sessions were a highlight of the event and helped build a platform for meaningful scientific exchange.

Looking Ahead

The MDPI 2026 Toronto Subject Workshop Crossing Boundaries: Transdisciplinarity in the Humanities was a successful collaboration between MDPI and local academics. We are thankful to all attendees for their part in making this event possible and for contributing to its success.

We have received positive feedback regarding this event and look forward to continuing to host these subject workshops, with the next being the Montreal Subject Workshop “Microelectronics, Microsystems, Sensors, and Their Applications” in September. For more updates regarding this event and other upcoming workshops, follow MDPI Canada on LinkedIn and Facebook. 

The 2025 CiteScore metrics have been officially released by Scopus, and the results confirm what has become a consistent pattern for MDPI's journal portfolio: broad recognition across disciplines, steady improvement across the majority of ranked titles, and a growing presence at the top of subject category rankings.

CiteScore, published annually by Elsevier's Scopus database, measures the average citations received by articles published in a journal over a four-year window. As a complement to the Journal Impact Factor, which uses a two-year window based on the Web of Science database, CiteScore provides an alternative, long-term perspective on citation performance.

The 365 MDPI journals in Scopus (as of May 2026) are indexed across a wide range of subject categories, ensuring that open access research remains highly discoverable to a global readership through one of the most widely used platforms in academic publishing.

Data Summary (2025 CiteScores)

• New Additions: 41 MDPI journals received a CiteScore for the first time.
• Trending Upward: 234 of 322 previously ranked journals (73%) saw an increase in their CiteScore compared to last year.
• High Visibility: 314 journals (86%) rank in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
• Elite Performance: 42 journals rank in the top 10% of their subject categories.

Portfolio Performance

Among the 322 journals that held a CiteScore in 2024, 234 saw an increase this year. Quartile improvements outnumbered declines across the portfolio, with 52 journals moving to a higher quartile and only 20 seeing a decline. Furthermore, no previously ranked journals were removed. The 42 journals now ranked in the top 10% of their subject categories are drawn from a strong foundation of 178 journals holding a Q1 position.

With the large majority of our indexed portfolio ranked in the top half of research fields, researchers can confidently choose MDPI to meet funder mandates for high-quality, fully compliant Open Access publishing.

Exceptional Achievements for Foods and Life

Notably, both Foods and Life achieved a 99th percentile ranking in their respective subject categories for the 2025 CiteScores. This outstanding placement positions them as leading journals in their fields and highlights the high visibility and global impact of the open access research they publish.

Journal Metrics and Beyond

Journal-level metrics describe outlets, not individual articles. An increasing number of funders and institutions—including signatories of DORA and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment—now explicitly encourage evaluation at the article level rather than by the journal in which research appears. MDPI supports this direction: we report CiteScore alongside the Journal Impact Factor, Journal Citation Indicator, and article-level usage data because no single number captures the full reach and contribution of published research.

Thank You

These results reflect the sustained effort of thousands of editors-in-chief, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors across every field MDPI serves. The metrics are the outcome; the work is yours.

Conference: 2026 KoSFoST International Symposium and Annual Meeting
Date: 1–3 July 2026
Location: Daejeon, Republic of Korea

The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology (KoSFoST), founded in 1968, is one of the leading academic societies in Korea dedicated to advancing food science and technology through research, academic exchange, and industry collaboration.

KoSFoST will hold its International Conference and Annual General Meeting from 1 to 3 July 2026 at the Daejeon Convention Center under the theme “Food Science as a Translational Hub: Bridging Bioresources, Biotechnology, and Human Health”.

MDPI will be attending the conference as an exhibitor and warmly invites researchers to visit our booth to discuss their latest research and publishing opportunities with us.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

• Fermentation;
• Foods;
• Microorganisms;
• Applied Sciences;
• Beverages;
• Molecules;
• Nutraceuticals;
• Processes.

We look forward to welcoming participants to the MDPI booth and discussing the latest research and publishing opportunities together. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website below: 2026 International Symposium and Annual Meeting.

We are pleased to announce that MDPI will be participating in the 2026 International Congress on Membranes and Membrane Processes (ICOM 2026), organized by the North American Membrane Society, taking place from 18 to 25 July 2026 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

The ICOM 2026 presents a unique opportunity for international and regional communities to collaborate together toward the aim of advancing scalable membrane engineering. Visit our booth to discover MDPI’s latest publications, Special Issues, and open access initiatives in hydrogen technologies and related fields. Our Editors will be on hand to discuss your research and answer any questions about publishing with MDPI.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at this conference:

• Membranes;
• ChemEngineering;
• Purification;
• Materials;
• Applied Sciences;
• Separations;
• Processes;
• Water;
• Clean Technologies.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please feel free to reach out online and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions you may have. For more information about this event, please click the following link: https://www.membranes.org/icom2026.

MDPI is pleased to announce the 24th Processes webinar, entitled “Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Cities and Communities: From Concept to Measurable Environmental Impact”. This webinar welcomes researchers, practitioners, and professionals interested in sustainable urban development, environmental remediation, and nature-based strategies for improving environmental resilience and community well-being.

As environmental pressures continue to intensify, including soil degradation, contamination, and increasing stress on water resources, there is a growing need for sustainable approaches that work in harmony with natural processes. This webinar will explore how nature-based solutions can support urban resilience, enhance environmental quality, and contribute to sustainable city and community development through low-impact and resource-efficient technologies.

Participants will gain valuable insights into the design, implementation, and evaluation of nature-based solutions, as well as the long-term environmental and societal impacts of these innovative strategies.

Keywords: nature-based solutions; ecosystem-based approaches; low-impact technologies; urban resilience; sustainable cities; sustainable environmental management

Date: 29 May 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. CEST
Webinar ID: 872 3378 6016

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join. Please note that participants registering with academic institutional email addresses may be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will notify you when the recording becomes available.

Webinar Chair and Speakers:

• Dr. Raluca-Maria Hlihor, Department of Exact Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, Romania;
• Prof. Dr. Alessandra Bonoli, Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Italy;
• Dr. Petronela Cozma, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, “Cristofor Simionescu” Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania;
• Dr. Isabela-Maria Simion, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, Romania.