Announcements

We would like to invite you to attend the 12th World Sustainability Forum, organized by MDPI’s Sustainability journal (ISSN: 2071-1050, IF 3.3), which will take place from 21 to 24 August 2026, in Hong Kong, China.

Conference Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Vivien Lu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
• Prof. Dr. Weiqi Zhou, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
• Prof. Dr. Mark A. Bonn, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.

Honorary Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Max Bergman, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Topics of interest:
S1. Emerging Technologies and Integrated Solutions for Sustainable, Resilient Cities and Planet;
S2. Resilient Urban Energy Infrastructure;
S3. Sustainability Education and Innovative Approaches;
S4. Climate Change and Socio-Ecological Systems;
S5. Sustainable Urban Landscapes and Low-Carbon Mobility;
S6. Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency;
S7. Renewable Energy and Smart Grids;
S8. Policy Frameworks for Equitable Green Transitions;
S9. Sustainable Economic Models and Green Finance;
S10. Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Hospitality: Global Strategies for a Sustainable Future;
S11. Inclusive Strategies for Water Quality Improvement, Ecological Restoration and Water Resource Management.

Important dates:
Abstract submission deadline: 29 May 2026;
Abstract acceptance notification: 16 June 2026.

Guide for authors:
To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1460.

To register for the event, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/WSF-12?section=#registration

For details regarding the submission of abstracts, posters, and slides and publication opportunities, you may refer to the “Instructions for Authors” section: https://sciforum.net/event/WSF-12?subscribe&section=#instructions.

For any enquiries regarding this event, please contact: wsf12@mdpi.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the 12th World Sustainability Forum.

World Environment Day is celebrated annually in June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. To contribute to the fight against climate change, MDPI will be holding a webinar in conjunction, in line with 2026’s theme, “A Global Call for Climate Action”, whereby the United Nations Environment Program’s global campaign calls on all of us to step in #NowForClimate and steer a world already in motion.

Register now and join us!

Date: 5 June 2026
Time: 12:00 p.m. CEST | 6:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 857 7303 7011
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com

Register now for free!

Program:

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

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

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Chiara Martino, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Italy;
• Prof. Dr. Bruce Glavovic, Resource and Environmental Planning Programme, Massey University, New Zealand.

Related Special Issues:
“Drought Risk and Human Vulnerability Under Climate Change: Assessment Frameworks for Water Security and SDGs”
Guest Editors: Dr. João Filipe Santos and Dr. Miguel Potes
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2026

“Renewable Energy and Nearly-Zero Emissions Energy Systems”
Guest Editors: Dr. Nikolaos Sifakis, Dr. Nikolaos Savvakis and Dr. George Arampatzis
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2026

“Air Pollution and Sustainability”
Guest Editor: Dr. Pallav Purohit
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 8 September 2026

“Sustainable Development Pathways and Climate Actions”
Guest Editor: Dr. Md Saidul Islam
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026

Related Journal Cluster:
MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Environmental Sciences
MDPI journals offer a wide range of open access platforms for environmental science researchers to reach their target audience. From broad, wide-reaching mega-journals like Sustainability to more specific, targeted journals like Waste and Aerobiology, we strive to cater to the publishing needs of scientists working across different environmental disciplines.

The webinar “Pathways to a Plastic-Smart and Sustainable Future: Innovations in Monitoring, Mitigation, and Resource Recovery” aims to strengthen scientific understanding and promote practical strategies that reduce microplastic contamination and its impact on marine environments. This webinar will feature two presentations that highlight both environmental implications of plastics and emerging resource recovery solutions.

We warmly encourage scientists and researchers to attend this event to enhance discussion, exchange ideas, and raise questions that can help shape the direction of research related on plastics. Your engagement is essential in driving collaborative, interdisciplinary solutions toward a plastic-smart future.

Date: 17 June 2026 at 11 a.m. CEST | 5 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 892 2604 3802

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. Layla Hazeem, University of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain;
• Prof. Richard Lampitt, National Oceanography Centre, UK;
• Prof. Rabah Boukherroub, Université Lille, France.

Relevant Special Issue:
“Advancing Marine Ecosystem Sustainability Through Microplastic Pollution Mitigation”
Guest Editors: Layla Hazeem, Abdulkarim Hasan Rashed and Suad Ahmed Rashdan
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 6 January 2027

https://sciforum.net/event/Sustainability-24?subscribe

1. Congratulations on winning the Sustainability 2026 Travel Award! Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain your research to someone with a limited scientific background?
Thank you very much! I am truly honoured and happy to receive this award.
My name is Cariny, I am from Brazil, and I have a background in chemical engineering. I am a Research Associate at the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London under the supervision of Prof. Jason Hallett. My research focuses on recovering high-value compounds from different types of biomass and industrial waste and using these compounds to develop biomaterials for different types of applications, including biomedical applications, wastewater treatment and food packaging. To make these processes more sustainable, I work with ionic liquids, which are alternative and greener solvents that can be designed for specific applications by selecting different cations and anions, resulting in different properties and costs. These solvents have low volatility and, at the end of the process, can be recovered and reused, making the overall process more cost-effective and sustainable. 

2. When and how did you first learn about the journal Sustainability? What was your motivation to apply for our 2026 Travel Award?
I have read some papers related to my research area published in the journal, and while exploring the journal’s website, I found out about the Travel Award. I became interested because this award is a good opportunity to support young researchers in attending international conferences. And to be honest, I had applied previously, so this year I decided to apply again. My main motivation was the opportunity to share my research with the scientific community, establish new collaborations, and keep learning. 

3. What was the biggest challenge you encountered during your research? How did you overcome it?
I believe the biggest challenge during my research was developing a multidisciplinary PhD thesis. During my PhD, I was introduced to ionic liquids and their use for protein recovery, which was initially very connected to chemical engineering and separation processes. Then, after optimising the process and characterising the recovered protein, I started developing different biomaterials for several applications, with a special focus on biomedical applications.  At that point, my research expanded far beyond my original background and moved more into materials science and biotechnology. I needed to learn new concepts and processes, and started collaborating with different research groups, especially to perform biological tests on the biomaterials. In the beginning, this made me quite anxious because there was so much to learn. However, looking back now, I can say it was one of the best things that happened to me in my academic journey. I accepted the challenge, trusted the process, and developed an interest in each area I worked in. More importantly, I learned how valuable collaboration is and how to work with people from different backgrounds and countries. 

4. Which conference do you plan to attend with this funding, and what aspect of your research are you most looking forward to sharing at the conference?
With this funding, I will attend the RRB 2026 in Belgium next month, where I will present two research projects that are very important to my academic journey. The first project is related to my current work at Imperial College. In this work, I have used ionic liquids to valorise lignocellulosic biomass, obtaining high-purity cellulose pulp and lignin without volatile organic solvents, thereby contributing to the development of a simpler and more sustainable process for scale-up and subsequent processing. The second project is related to my PhD and focuses on the use of ionic liquids for dissolving chicken feathers and developing 3D-printed keratin-based scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. 

5. Which emerging trends or key research topics in your field do you believe will be of most interest to your research community in the coming years?
I believe that one of the most important research topics in my field will be the development and scale-up of sustainable and circular biorefinery processes for biomass and waste valorisation. This is becoming increasingly important due to the environmental challenges associated with fossil resources and the global need to reduce dependence on petroleum-based processes, chemicals and materials. 

6. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?
My main advice would be to stay curious and to not be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone. During my academic journey, I moved from Brazil to Portugal, worked as a Visiting PhD student in Italy and the UK, and now I have been working in the UK since February 2025. These experiences helped me grow both personally and professionally, teaching me how to adapt, collaborate with different people from different cultures, communicate in different languages, and see research from new perspectives. I also moved into multidisciplinary research areas that were completely new to me, and those challenges became some of the most important experiences in my development as a researcher. So, I believe young researchers should be brave, persistent, and enjoy the journey! 

Conference: 31st International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP)
Date: 21–25 July 2026
Location: Florence, Italy

MDPI will be attending the 31st International Congress of Applied Psychology as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

ICAP is the flagship congress of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), an association born more than 100 years ago. As our world becomes increasingly connected and complex, the need for international psychology grows. IAAP serves as a professional home for applied psychologists wishing to expand their international knowledge base and network. IAAP’s mission is to promote the science and practice of applied psychology and to facilitate interaction and communication among applied psychologists around the world. ICAP plays a key role in this mission.

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

• Behavioral Sciences;
• Disabilities;
• Adolescents;
• Psychology International;
• J. Intell.;
• Youth;
• Sustainability;
• JMMS;
• Social Sciences;
• IJERPH;
• EJIHPE.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to contact 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.icap2026.org/.

The International Day for Biological Diversity, a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, is celebrated on 22 May. The theme of the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity is “Acting Locally for Global Impact”. Biodiversity is critical to life—healthy ecosystems provide food, clean water, climate regulation, and disease control, supporting all forms of existence on Earth. Local actions such as restoring habitats, protecting endangered species, and promoting sustainable agriculture collectively generate global benefits for nature and people. However, rapid biodiversity loss continues to undermine these vital contributions, with profound impacts on human well-being and planetary stability. Echoing the mission of protecting biodiversity for a resilient future, established MDPI journals in the Biology&Life Sciences subject serve as platforms for scientific communication, fostering collaboration and innovation in biodiversity conservation to tackle the global nature crisis.

Invited speakers:

Register for this webinar for free here!

“Distribution Patterns and Habitat Preferences of Five Globally Threatened and Endemic Montane Orthoptera (Parnassiana and Oropodisma)”
by Apostolis Stefanidis, Konstantinos Kougioumoutzis, Konstantina Zografou, Georgios Fotiadis, Luc Willemse, Olga Tzortzakaki and Vassiliki Kati
Ecologies 2025, 6(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6010005

“Spatial Cumulative Assessment of Impact Risk-Implementing Ecosystem-Based Management for Enhanced Sustainability and Biodiversity in the Black Sea”
by Elena Bisinicu, Valeria Abaza, Laura Boicenco, Filimon Adrian, George-Emanuel Harcota, Oana Marin, Andra Oros, Elena Pantea, Alina Spinu, Florin Timofte et al.
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114449

“Using Citizen Science to Document Biodiversity on a University Campus: A Year-Long Case Study”
by Peter M. Baker, Brendon Samuels and Timothy J. A. Hain
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 533-546; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030032

“Illegal Activities for Survival: Understanding the Influence of Household Livelihood Security on Biodiversity Conservation in Tanzania”
by Gasto Jerome Lyakurwa, Edwin Sabuhoro and Mercy Chepkemoi Chepkwony
Conservation 2024, 4(3), 339-356; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4030022

“Algal Biodiversity of Nine Megaliths in South-East Bulgaria”
by Maya Stoyneva-Gärtner, Miroslav Androv, Blagoy Uzunov, Kristian Ivanov and Georg Gärtner
Life 2024, 14(8), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14080948

“Shifts in Microbial Community Structure and Co-occurrence Network along a Wide Soil Salinity Gradient”
by Yan Li, Juan Wang, Eryang Li, Xiaodong Yang and Jianjun Yang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071268

“Exploring mtDNA Databases to Evaluate the Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Tursiops truncatus in the Atlantic Ocean: Implications for the Conservation of a Small, Offshore Populatio”
by Gasto Jerome Lyakurwa, Edwin Sabuhoro and Mercy Chepkemoi Chepkwony
Ecologies 2024, 5(2), 170-187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5020011

“Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium Improve Nutrient Uptake and Microbial Diversity Relative to Dryland Site-Specific Soil Conditions”
by Rosalie B. Calderon and Sadikshya R. Dangi
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040667

“Diversity of Parasitoid Wasps and Comparison of Sampling Strategies in Rice Fields Using Metabarcoding”
by Liyang Wang, Hongxuan Wu, Wei He, Guihong Lai, Junxi Li, Siling Liu and Qiang Zhou
Insects 2024, 15(4), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15040228

“Weed Species’ Diversity and Composition as Shaped by the Interaction of Management, Site, and Soil Variables in Olive Groves of Southern Greece”
by Petros Vahamidis, Demosthenis Chachalis, Antigoni Akrivou, Evangelos Karanasios, Maria Ganopoulou, Apostolia Argiri, Athanasia Mandoulaki, Evangelos Hatzigiannakis, Georgios Arampatzis, Andreas Panagopoulos et al.
Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030640

“Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation via Urban Ecosystem Regeneration”
by Gad Perry and Robert D. Cox
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030131

“Global Subterranean Biodiversity: A Unique Pattern”
by Louis Deharveng, Anne Bedos, Tanja Pipan and David C. Culver
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030157

“Odonata Assemblages in Urban Semi-Natural Wetlands”
by Marina Vilenica, Andreja Brigić, Ana Štih Koren, Toni Koren, Mirela Sertić Perić, Bruno Schmidt, Tomislava Bužan and Sanja Gottstein
Insects 2024, 15(3), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15030207

“The Influence of Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies on the Intensity and Species Biodiversity of Weeds”
by Barbora Kotlánová, Pavel Hledík, Stanislav Hudec, Petra Martínez Barroso, Magdalena Daria Vaverková, Martin Jiroušek and Jan Winkler
Agronomy 2024, 14(2), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14020390

Celebrated each year on 16 May and led by UNESCO, the International Day of Light recognizes the profound impact of light and light-based technologies on science, culture, education, and sustainable development.

This occasion also commemorates the first successful operation of a laser, which was carried out in 1960 and was a breakthrough that continues to shape modern innovation, from advanced research to everyday applications.

This webinar brings together experts across disciplines to explore how light is driving progress in fields such as optics, photonics, materials science, and sustainability.

We look forward to welcoming you to this webinar and hope the session will inspire new ideas, foster meaningful discussions, and encourage future collaborations.

Date: 15 May 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. CEST | 7:00 p.m. CST (Asia) | 7:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 863 0596 4340
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/IDL2026

Register now for free!

Program:

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

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

Webinar Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Dr. Aung Ko Ko Kyaw, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, China;
• Dr. Lorenzo Giuffrida, The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, ELI Beamlines Facility, Czech Republic;
• Dr. Yannis Paulus, Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute, USA.

MDPI will be attending the eSim 2026 Conference, from 17 to 19 June 2026, at the Longueuil Campus of the Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Canada.

eSim 2026 highlights the pivotal role of Building Performance Simulation (BPS) in addressing the challenges of climate change and its wide-ranging impacts. Beyond its essential applications in the design, operation, and evaluation of high-performance buildings, BPS is a key driver in the decarbonization of the building sector, while ensuring the comfort, health, and well-being of occupants. It also plays a critical role in supporting the development of effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to anticipate and respond to extreme weather events.

Following the success of eSim 2024, held at the University of Alberta—where experts gathered to share insights on sustainable building performance—it is exciting to see them carry this momentum forward at eSim 2026, the 14th Building Performance Simulation Conference organized under the auspices of IBPSA-Canada.

Over the past 25 years, eSim has brought together researchers, professionals, and innovators to share advances in simulation tools, methods, and applications that drive sustainable and climate-resilient building design.

We welcome you to visit the MDPI booth (#02) at Longueuil Campus of the Université de Sherbrooke, approximately 4 km from downtown Montreal (150, place Charles‑Le Moyne, C. P. 200, Longueuil (Québec) J4K 0A8), where you can have face-to-face exchanges with our representatives, learn more about our open access publishing services, and acquire exciting gifts.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Buildings;
• Sustainability;
• Air;
• Climate;
• Safety;
• Wind;
• Clean Technology;
• Fuels;
• Solar.

If you plan to attend this conference, we invite you to visit our booth and converse with our delegates at the conference. 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://event.fourwaves.com/esim2026/pages.

We are thrilled to invite you to this webinar featuring the authors behind the publications winning the Sustainability Best Paper Award.

The Sustainability Best Paper Award is granted annually to highlight publications of high quality, scientific significance, and extensive influence. Evaluation committee members will choose three research articles and one review of exceptional quality published in the journal the year before last, with the winners announced online by the end of February.

In this session, three of the award-winning authors will present their innovative work, which spans critical topics for our future:

• Biomass and Biofuels: Opportunities in the Energy Transition;
• Future Projections of Global Plastic Pollution: Scenario Analyses and Policy Implications;
• Digital Product Passport: From Regulation to Advanced Capabilities.

Register now for free:

Program:

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

Unable to attend? Please register as the session will be recorded, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.

Invited Speakers:

• Debora Mignogna, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy;
• Dr. Mateo Cordier, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines—Université Paris-Saclay, France;
• Dr. Foivos Psarommatis, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway;
  Zerofect GmbH.

For more information about this webinar, please visit the following website: https://sciforum.net/event/Sustainability-23.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact sustainability@mdpi.com.

Sustainability Webinar Secretariat