Announcements
17 December 2025
Meet Us at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting 2026, 11–15 January 2026, Washington, D.C., USA
11 December 2025
Article Layout and Template Revised for Future Volumes
21 November 2025
Smart Cities | Scope and Section Update
10 November 2025
World Science Day for Peace and Development, 10 November 2025
Celebrated every 10 November, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to involve the wider public in emerging scientific debates. As such, it provides an opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of science in everyday life and encourage public dialogue. This effort also offers a unique perspective in the global pursuit of peace and sustainable development.
In recognition of World Science Day for Peace and Development, MDPI supports the global effort to promote open, inclusive, and impactful scientific exchange. Through open access publishing, we invite readers to explore selected articles, Special Issues, and journals that contribute to advancing science for a more sustainable and peaceful future.
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“Designing Trustworthy AI Systems for PTSD Follow-Up”
by María Cazares, Jorge Miño-Ayala, Iván Ortiz and Roberto Andrade
Technologies 2025, 13(8), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13080361
“Advances and Challenges in Deep Learning for Acoustic Pathology Detection: A Review”
by Florin Bogdan and Mihaela-Ruxandra Lascu
Technologies 2025, 13(8), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13080329
“Enhancing Smart Home Security: Blockchain-Enabled Federated Learning with Knowledge Distillation for Intrusion Detection”
by Mohammed Shalan, Md Rakibul Hasan, Yan Bai and Juan Li
Smart Cities 2025, 8(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8010035
“AI Agent-Based Intelligent Urban Digital Twin (I-UDT): Concept, Methodology, and Case Studies”
by Sebin Choi and Sungmin Yoon
Smart Cities 2025, 8(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8010028
“Smartphone-Based Citizen Science Tool for Plant Disease and Insect Pest Detection Using Artificial Intelligence”
by Panagiotis Christakakis, Garyfallia Papadopoulou, Georgios Mikos, Nikolaos Kalogiannidis, Dimosthenis Ioannidis, Dimitrios Tzovaras and Eleftheria Maria Pechlivani
Technologies 2024, 12(7), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12070101
“Integrating Artificial Intelligence to Biomedical Science: New Applications for Innovative Stem Cell Research and Drug Development”
by Minjae Kim and Sunghoi Hong
Technologies 2024, 12(7), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12070095
“A Review of IoT-Based Smart City Development and Management”
by Mostafa Zaman, Nathan Puryear, Sherif Abdelwahed and Nasibeh Zohrabi
Smart Cities 2024, 7(3), 1462–1501; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7030061
“Smart Cities for All? Bridging Digital Divides for Socially Sustainable and Inclusive Cities”
by Johan Colding, Caroline Nilsson and Stefan Sjöberg
Smart Cities 2024, 7(3), 1044-1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7030044
“The Cybersecurity Applied by Online Travel Agencies and Hotels to Protect Users’ Private Data in Smart Cities”
by Lázaro Florido-Benítez
Smart Cities 2024, 7(1), 475-495; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7010019
“An Advanced Decision Tree-Based Deep Neural Network in Nonlinear Data Classification”
by Mohammad Arifuzzaman, Md. Rakibul Hasan, Tasnia Jahan Toma, Samia Binta Hassan and Anup Kumar Paul
Technologies 2023, 11(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies11010024
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“Breakthroughs in Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering” |
“Innovative IoT Solutions for Sustainable Smart Cities” |
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“The Applications and Challenges of Cybersecurity in Science, Healthcare and Medicine II” |
“Leveraging AI and Deep Learning for Smart Cities: Challenges, Opportunities, and Applications to Sustainable Development” |
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6 November 2025
MDPI Launches the Michele Parrinello Award for Pioneering Contributions in Computational Physical Science
MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.
The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.
About Professor Michele Parrinello
"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”
——Professor Michele Parrinello
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Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies. |
For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.
Award Committee
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The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award. |
"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."
——Professor Xin-Gao Gong
The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.
About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards 
The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields.
In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.
Find more information on awards here.
4 November 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #28 - WSF11, Nobel Laureates, Proofig AI, Romania Summit, STM and FBF
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona
I’m pleased to share some highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF 11), held in Barcelona on 2–3 October 2025 under the theme Sustainable and Resilient Cities.
Why WSF matters
The WSF series is a flagship initiative for MDPI and is supported by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. It serves as a transdisciplinary platform for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to engage on sustainability challenges. WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse.
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This year’s Barcelona edition focused on urban resilience, landscape design, and social community impact in the sustainability space. Over 48 hours of sessions, we brought together leading minds across disciplines to translate vision into practice. With participants from 53 countries across all continents, WSF 11 was truly global in scope.
“WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse”
What made WSF 11 especially successful (from my vantage point) was the level of positive engagement with our participants. Chief editors, researchers, and attendees repeatedly told me how professionally executed the event was, highlighting the high energy, logistical smoothness and quality of MDPI’s event management. That kind of recognition from peers really builds our reputation as more than just a publisher, but as a convener of meaningful scientific dialogue.
Our conferences are a form of experiential marketing as they create memorable and immersive connections between a brand and attendees. These positive associations build promotion and brand loyalty, ultimately impacting the MDPI’s trust and reputation for the better.
WSF 11: By the numbers
Here’s a quick snapshot of WSF 11’s scale and reach:
- 181 registrations across global participants.
- 8 keynote speakers and 5 invited speakers.
- 144 abstracts accepted (over 355 submitted), resulting in 75 short talks and 69 posters.
- 53 countries were represented across all continents, making it a truly international event.
- First time that we ran parallel sessions for WSF (an ambitious program).
- A dedicated awards ceremony to honour outstanding sustainability research: World Sustainability Award (WSA) x 2 winners, and Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) x 3 winners.
Interviews with our World Sustainability Award Winners
One of the most rewarding parts of WSF is recognizing researchers whose work advances sustainability in powerful ways. In our Blog series, Daniella Maritan-Thomson (Content Specialist, MDPI) interviewed the two winners of the World Sustainability Award, Professor Dr. Stuart Pimm and Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, who offered insights to the human side of sustainability research, the people behind the data, and the stories behind the science.
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Prof. Stuart Pimm, whose decades of conservation work make him a leader in biodiversity preservation, reflected on his WSF Award experience and research in this interview: [Interview: Prof Stuart Pimm] |
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Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, an expert in crop improvement and winner of the WSF Award, shares his journey and perspectives here: [Interview: Dr Abdelbagi M. Ismail] |
“Our conferences create memorable and immersive connections”
Emerging Sustainability Leader Award winners
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz (left to right).
We also recognized three recipients of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award: Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz, for their contributions as early-career researchers advancing sustainability through innovation, impact, and academic excellence across the field.
What this means for MDPI
- Building our global identity in events
WSF is a marquee MDPI event, not just a gathering, but a statement of how we wish to position ourselves in the global sustainability ecosystem. The positive feedback helps us build on our approach for future editions, so that we remain a reference point for quality, relevance, and engagement. - Expanding capacity across offices
The success of WSF 11 in Barcelona’s would not have happened without great teamwork from Basel, Barcelona, Romania, the UK, and the APAC Conference team. Thanks to everyone for their work to bring this ambitious event to life. - Supporting MDPI’s mission
At this event, I had the opportunity to present on MDPI's role in Open Access, sustainability publishing, and the intersection of science and policy. WSF is not only about the science; it’s also a platform for us to position MDPI as a thought leader and a collaborator in shaping the future of sustainable research.
I look forward to the WSF momentum as we work towards WSF 12 in Hong Kong, which is scheduled for August 2026.
MDPI Colleagues at the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona, Spain, 2–3 October 2025.
Impactful Research
Celebrating 2025 Nobel Laureates who have published with MDPI
October is always an inspiring month in science. It’s when the world turns its attention to the Nobel Prize announcements, recognizing discoveries that have changed how we understand the world.
Over the years, many distinguished researchers who have received the Nobel Prize have chosen to publish their work with MDPI. These are scientists whose breakthroughs have shaped entire fields of research, and who have entrusted our Open Access journals to share their findings with the world.
“The work we support can be world-class and world-changing”
Congratulations to the 2025 Laureates
Dozens of Nobel Laureates have published in our journals: as at 2024, more than 40 laureates had contributed over 115 articles across more than 35 MDPI journals. Congratulations to the three 2025 Nobel prize-winners who have published with MDPI during their careers. Below are links to their MDPI publications and announcements for further reading:
- Omar M. Yaghi (Chemistry)
- Awarded for his pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MDPI published his article “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Organic Chemistry Beyond the Molecule” in Molecules (2017).
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13455
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry – The Science Behind the Prize
- Shimon Sakaguchi (Medicine)
- Recognized for discoveries in immune-system self-tolerance and regulatory T-cells. Published in Cancers (2021).
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13443
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – The Science Behind the Prize
- John M. Martinis (Physics)
- Recognized for quantum tunnelling in electrical circuits. MDPI’s Journal of Nuclear Engineering (2025) includes his co-authored work.
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13450
- Nobel Prize in Physics – The Science Behind the Prize
These connections strengthen our mission to make research freely available and ensure that transformative ideas reach the widest possible audience.
Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge
The privilege of hosting such contributors resonates deeply with our editorial teams. It shows that top-tier scientific work has a home at MDPI, which builds our visibility in the research community. It signals that our publishing model, our editorial workflows, and our commitment to Open Access are respected at the very highest levels of science. It also gives our authors, reviewers, editors and staff the message that the work we support can be world-class and world-changing.
Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge isn’t just about individual papers – it’s about the ecosystem of support, transparency, and accessibility that makes discovery possible. Let’s continue to build a publishing platform and provide a service that attracts and enables both everyday research and the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Inside MDPI
Strengthening Research Integrity: MDPI partners with Proofig AI
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has entered a multi-year partnership with Proofig AI, a leader in AI-driven proofing and integrity software for scientific publishing. This follows the success of our pilot program, in which Proofig AI proved highly effective in detecting duplicated, altered, and manipulated images across biomedical submissions.
Safeguarding the credibility of the research we publish
Research integrity is at the core of MDPI’s mission. The life sciences, in particular, face increasing risks of image-related issues due to advanced editing tools and generative AI. By integrating Proofig AI into our workflows, we improve our ability to detect issues early, reduce post-publication corrections, and safeguard the credibility of the research we publish.
Pilot outcomes
- Successful detection of duplicated confocal and histology images, even when altered to disguise similarities.
- Early results showed a significant drop in post-publication image manipulation flags year-on-year.
- Positive feedback from editors and staff highlighted the tool’s ease of use and reliability.
Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal (co-founder and CEO of Proofig AI) said:
“The MDPI team conducted a highly professional and carefully monitored pilot, achieving excellent results in detecting problematic images.
Their fast and effective integration process was impressive, and we are excited to contribute to this important collaboration.”
Sanita Meijere (IT Product and Project Manager, MDPI), shared:
“For more than a year, we’ve tested all the available image manipulation detection tools. Proofig AI’s quality and ease of use, alongside positive feedback from our internal users, made their software a clear stand-out.
We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this partnership, ensuring we do our utmost to protect MDPI’s biomedical journals. Using this advanced image proofing software reaffirms MDPI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in research integrity.”
Raising the bar for integrity
This partnership sets a new benchmark for quality control in biomedical publishing.
As Tim Tait-Jamieson (Head of Publication Ethics, MDPI), explains:
“The life sciences are disproportionately affected by research integrity issues, making vigilance in this field especially critical. This is driven, in part, by the increasing sophistication of image editing software and generative AI.
Whether accidental or deliberate, image manipulation can have a lasting impact on credibility. By integrating Proofig AI into our editorial workflows, we strengthen our ability to detect scientific misconduct early and reduce post-publication amendments.”
Faster and more accurate quality control
Proofig will automatically flag potentially problematic images during submission checks, giving our editors more confidence in the integrity of manuscripts and freeing up time to focus on editorial decisions. The tool will also reduce the burden of manual checks, while supporting faster and more accurate quality control. This partnership reinforces MDPI's reputation as a publisher that takes integrity seriously and continues to invest in tools to support authors, editors, and reviewers alike.
A big thank-you to all colleagues who supported the pilot and rollout. You can read more in our MDPI Blog post.
Coming Together for Science
The MDPI Romania Summit 2025
On 21–22 October, I had the pleasure of joining our colleagues in Bucharest for the MDPI Romania Summit 2025. The event was organized by our Romania Marketing team, with support from colleagues across our Romanian offices. It brought together academics, policymakers, and collaborators to discuss the country’s evolving research landscape.
Over two days, we welcomed more than 30 participants, including Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and policy-makers from the Romanian research and education sectors, including representatives from the Romanian Academy and the National Commission for the Accreditation of Academic Titles (CNATDCU).
The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community and its active engagement in Open Access publishing.
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“The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community”
Romania’s role in Open Access
Romania loves Open Access and has emerged as one of MDPI’s most engaged national research communities. The numbers speak for themselves:
- 67% of all publications in Romania were Open Access in 2024.
- MDPI accounts for 39% of the country’s total OA publications (14,779 in 2024).
- Over the last five years (2020–2024), Romanian institutions published over 33,000 papers with MDPI.
- There are 460 active Editorial Board Members from Romania, including 8 Chief Editors.
- 29 institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), with 8 new members joining in 2025.
These numbers reflect the trust and reliable partnership we have built with the Romanian academic community.
Highlights from the Summit
The program covered a wide range of topics from MDPI’s achievements and updates to our editorial processes, peer-review quality, AI in publishing, IOAP and Open Access funding models, and publication ethics.
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Agenda Highlights:
- MDPI Introduction, Performance & Achievements, and Collaboration with Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).
- Trust the Process: Editorial Workflow and Quality in Publishing – Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Scientific Review Group).
- Publication Ethics at MDPI: Safeguarding the Integrity of the Published Scholarly Record – Diana Cristina Apodaritei (Research Integrity Specialist).
- Institutional Partnerships – Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager, MDPI).
- AI in Publishing and MDPI's Actions – Sanita Meijere (AI Product Manager).
- Closing Remarks – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).
Participants shared feedback and ideas for future collaborations, including organizing author workshops, possible conference collaborations, and strengthening our engagement with national institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Council of Romanian Rectors.
As Acad. Dr. Nicolae-Victor Zamfir, Vice President of the Romanian Academy, noted during the discussions:
“The organization of the event is very timely, because MDPI is a publishing house in full development and expansion. The opinion of researchers is important for increasing the quality of published works.”
A collaborative future
Events like this remind us how essential it is to engage locally and listen directly to the voices of our editors, authors, and institutional partners. They help us build relationships, improve our understanding of the local market, and align our shared goals in advancing Open Access and research quality.
Thank you to everyone involved, especially our Romania Marketing team, who organized the event, and to all colleagues who continue to build relationships with our academic communities around the world.
Thank you!
A special thank-you to the Romanian Marketing team and all colleagues behind the scenes who made this Summit such a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We look forward to building on this momentum with future Summits in Europe and beyond.
Closing Thoughts
STM and FBF 2025: Connecting Through Science and Publishing
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing, MDPI) at STM Conference, Frankfurt, 14 October 2025.
On 13–14 October, I attended the STM Frankfurt Conference 2025, my fourth visit to the Frankfurt event, and it continues to be one of the most valuable gatherings in our industry.
The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders to speak on current trends and challenges shaping our industry.
This year’s theme – “Science Diplomacy: What is it and How Does it Work?” – unpacked the growing intersection of science, policy, and publishing.
Discussion topics ranged from what is science diplomacy and how publishers can contribute to global collaboration to how science communication can help maintain trust during an era of disruption.
I was joined by Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, our Head of Indexing, who met with representatives from Scopus, Web of Science, Digital Science, ProQuest, and other partners. These meetings give us a chance to share feedback on our collaborations, learn about new updates being developed, and build our relationships with indexing bodies.
“The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders”
STM also provides a space to connect with industry peers, as I did with colleagues from Elsevier, Frontiers, Clarivate, Sage, and STM itself, reinforcing MDPI’s engagement within the broader publishing community. It was also nice to bump into some former colleagues and see them continuing to grow in their publishing careers.
At the Frankfurt Book Fair
The MDPI booth at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair.
Following STM, I spent the next day at the Frankfurt Book Fair (15–19 October) – one of the largest and most influential events in the publishing world.
It’s always inspiring to see the scale and energy of this global gathering, which spans everything from books and education to digital innovation and academic publishing.
We set up an MDPI booth to host discussions with partners, vendors, and researchers.
The Fair ran into the weekend, with colleagues from several MDPI departments attending to represent the company and connect with the scholarly community.
Events like STM and FBF are a nice reminder of how dynamic and interconnected our industry is, and how important it is for MDPI to continue taking part in global conversations about science, communication, and the future of publishing.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 October 2025
World Cities Day—“People-Centred Smart Cities”, 31 October 2025
World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. It aims to raise international awareness of urbanization trends, challenges, and visions for sustainable urban development, promote international cooperation, and contribute to global efforts to build equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities that provide their communities with better living environments and quality of life.
This year's theme, People-Centred Smart Cities”, reflects the growing recognition that the transformative power of digital technologies is reshaping urban life globally, offering profound opportunities to enhance how cities and human settlements are designed, planned, managed, and governed. The aim of this year's theme is to promote people-centred smart cities and demonstrate how crucial it is for smart cities to prioritize human needs, inclusivity, and accessibility. By increasing global awareness about the role of technology and innovation in advancing improved access to adequate housing and achieving urban development, the goal is to foster and encourage international cooperation and collaboration among all societal sectors on People-Centred Smart Cities.
Echoing the mission of building equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities and sustainable development goals, MDPI’s established journals in the urban planning and development field serve as leading platforms for scientific communication. By sharing cutting-edge research and practical solutions, MDPI contributes to addressing urbanization challenges and promoting sustainable urban development, helping to create better living environments and quality of life for urban communities worldwide.
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Date: 31 October 2025, 8:00 a.m. (CET) |
Date: 31 October 2025, 2:00 p.m. (CET) |
“Beyond Automation: The Emergence of Agentic Urban AI”
by Alok Tiwari
Automation 2025, 6(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6030029
“Road Weather Forecasts in Norway with the METRo Model”
by Fabio A. A. Andrade, Torge Lorenz, Marcos Moura, Thomas Spengler, Manoel Feliciano and Stephanie Mayer
Meteorology 2025, 4(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/meteorology4020016
“Enhancing Urban Intersection Efficiency: Utilizing Visible Light Communication and Learning-Driven Control for Improved Traffic Signal Performance”
by Manuela Vieira, Manuel Augusto Vieira, Gonçalo Galvão, Paula Louro, Mário Véstias and Pedro Vieira
Vehicles 2024, 6(2), 666-692; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6020031
“A Telemetric Framework for Assessing Vehicle Emissions Based on Driving Behavior Using Unsupervised Learning”
by Auwal Sagir Muhammad, Cheng Wang and Longbiao Chen
Vehicles 2024, 6(4), 2170-2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6040106
“Urban Air Mobility for Last-Mile Transportation: A Review”
by Nima Moradi, Chun Wang and Fereshteh Mafakheri
Vehicles 2024, 6(3), 1383-1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6030066
“Advancing Urban Life: A Systematic Review of Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Urban Design and Planning”
by Wei He and Mingze Chen
Buildings 2024, 14(3), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030835
“Integrated Node Infrastructure for Future Smart City Sensing and Response”
by Dong Chen, Xiang Zhang, Wei Zhang and Xing Yin
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(14), 3699; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15143699
Call for papers:
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“Intelligent Automation: Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Automation” |
“3D City Modelling and Remote Sensing: Advances, Challenges, and New Technologies (Second Edition)” |
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“Optimization and Management of Urban Rail Transit Network” |
“Practice and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Built Environment” |
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“3D Computer Vision and Smart Building and City, 3rd Edition” |
“Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence for Advancing Smart Green Building and City Resilience” |
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“Using Continuous Flight Auger Pile Execution Energy to Enhance Reliability and Reduce Costs in Foundation Construction”
by Darym Júnior Ferrari de Campos, José Camapum de Carvalho, Paulo Ivo Braga de Queiroz, Luan Carlos Sena Monteiro Ozelim, José Antonio Schiavon, Dimas Betioli Ribeiro and Vinicius Resende Domingues
Automation 2025, 6(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6020024
“Study on Energy Efficiency of Retrofitting Existing Residential Buildings Based on System Dynamics Modeling”
by Siqi Lang, Lihong Li, Haifang Liu and Ranran Shang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 6072; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116072
“A Comprehensive Analysis of the Integration of Deep Learning Models in Concrete Research from a Structural Health Perspective”
by Ayesha Munira Chowdhury and Rashed Kaiser
Constr. Mater. 2024, 4(1), 72-90; https://doi.org/10.3390/constrmater4010005
Call for papers:
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“Innovations in Sustainable Construction and Road Engineering Materials” |
“Development and Engineering Application of Green and Low-Carbon Infrastructure Construction Materials” |
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“Neighborhood Connectivity and Social Sustainability: A Study of Hyderabad’s Residential Areas”
by Hina Marvi, Reena Majid Memon, Rabia Soomro, Irfan Ahmed Memon and Aneel Kumar
World 2025, 6(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6020042
“Innovations in Non-Motorized Transportation (NMT) Knowledge Creation and Diffusion”
by Carlos J. L. Balsas
World 2025, 6(4), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6040136
“Sustainable Urban Mobility: Corridor Optimization to Promote Modal Choice, Reduce Congestion, and Enhance Livability in Hyderabad, Pakistan”
by Mehnaz Soomro, Irfan Ahmed Memon, Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio, Saima Kalwar, Hina Marvi, Aneel Kumar and Afraz Ahmed Memon
World 2025, 6(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6010012
“Generative AI for Architectural Façade Design: Measuring Perceptual Alignment Across Geographical, Objective, and Affective Descriptors”
by Stephen Law, Cleo Valentine, Yuval Kahlon, Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe, Jason Tang, Michal Gath Morad and Haruyuki Fujii
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3212; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173212
“Smart Cities for All? Bridging Digital Divides for Socially Sustainable and Inclusive Cities”
by Johan Colding, Caroline Nilsson and Stefan Sjöberg
Smart Cities 2024, 7(3), 1044-1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7030044
“Smart Cities, Digital Inequalities, and the Challenge of Inclusion”
by Olga Kolotouchkina, Laura Ripoll González and Warda Belabas
Smart Cities 2024, 7(6), 3355-3370; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7060130
Call for papers:
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“Enhancing Community Wellbeing: Innovations in Sustainable Urban Planning and Built Environments” |
“Smart City and Sustainability: Advanced Technologies and Future Challenges” |
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29 October 2025
MDPI Webinar | World Cities Day, 31 October 2025
To commemorate World Cities Day 2025, MDPI is pleased to host a special webinar dedicated to exploring the theme “People-Centered Smart Cities”. This year’s observance highlights how digital technologies, data-driven decision making, and AI are reshaping the way cities are designed, managed, and experienced—placing people at the heart of urban innovation.
Through insightful discussions with global experts, researchers, and practitioners, our webinar will showcase best practices and strategies that demonstrate how smart city initiatives can foster inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. It will also explore how technology can enhance quality of life, improve urban services, and address key challenges such as housing, accessibility, and equitable growth.
Join us as we celebrate World Cities Day 2025, exchange ideas, and envision a future where technology and human needs work hand in hand to build smarter, more inclusive, and sustainable cities for all.
Session 1a and 1b:
Keywords: urbanization; sustainability; innovation; data-driven; smart cities; transformation
Date: 31 October 2025
Time:
- Session 1a: 8:00 a.m. CET | 5:00 p.m. AEST | 3:00 p.m. CST Asia
- Session 1b: 10:00 a.m. CET | 7:00 p.m. AEST | 5:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 811 9009 1243
Website: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4617603373062/WN__7o_kvdrRm-oggJlW5DT7A
Register now for free!
| Speaker/Presentation | Time in CET | Time in CST Asia |
| MDPI Introduction | 8:00–8:10 a.m. | 3:00–3:10 p.m. |
| Prof. Esteve Almirall Disrupting Cities |
8:10–8:30 a.m. | 3:10–3:30 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Igor Calzada People-Centered Smart Cities from Action Research: New Research Avenues in the Age of Urban AI |
8:30–8:50 a.m. | 3:30–3:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Antonio Jara Leveraging Local Digital Twins, Real-Time IoT and Citiverse for Sustainable Growth |
8:50–9:10 a.m. | 3:50–4:10 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 9:10–9:25 a.m. | 4:10–4:25 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 9:25–9:30 a.m. | 4:25–4:30 p.m. |
| 30 min Break | 9:30–10:00 a.m. | 4:30–5:00 p.m. |
| MDPI Introduction | 10:00–10:10 a.m. | 5:00–5:10 p.m. |
| Prof. Filipe Moura Designing Streets for People: Data-Driven Tools for Human-Centred Urban Transformation |
10:10–10:30 a.m. | 5:10–5:30 p.m. |
| Dr. Vasiliki Assimakopoulos FAIRCITY: The Innovative Smart City Air Quality Monitoring Network Employing The Info Kiosks |
10:30–10:50 a.m. | 5:30–5:50 p.m. |
| Dr. Sara Shirowzhan Geospatial thinking for Sustainable Development Goal 11 |
10:50–11:10 a.m. |
5:50–6:10 p.m. |
| Dr. Vinoj. Velu Urbanization and Climate Change over Rapidly Growing Indian Cities: Implications for Climate Resilience |
11:10–11:30 a.m. | 6:10–6:30 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 11:30–11:45 a.m. | 6:30–6:45 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 11:45–11:50 a.m. | 6:45–6:50 p.m. |
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? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.
Webinar Keynote Speakers:
- Prof. Esteve Almirall, Center for Innovation in Cities, Esade Business School, Spain;
- Prof. Dr. Igor Calzada, Interdisciplinary AI Economics, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of the Basque/Ikerbasque, Spain;
- Dr. Antonio Jara, IoT, AI and Environmental Digital Twins, Libelium, Spain;
- Prof. Filipe Moura, Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability (CERIS), Institution Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal;
- Dr. Vasiliki Assimakopoulos, Urban Air Quality, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Greece;
- Dr. Sara Shirowzhan, School of Built Environment, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia;
- Dr. Vinoj Velu, School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India.
Session 2a and 2b:
Keywords: urbanization; sustainability; innovation; data-driven; smart cities; transformation
Date: 31 October 2025
Time:
- Session 2a: 2:00 p.m. CET | 8:00 a.m. EDT | 9:00 p.m. CST Asia
- Session 2b: 4:00 p.m. CET | 11:00 a.m. EDT | 11:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 893 4362 4672
Website: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9817606686771/WN_rzy6pKRmS-GwhaOp1QunzA
Register now for free!
| Speaker/ Presentation | Time in CET | Time in CST Asia |
| MDPI Introduction | 2:00–2:05 p.m. | 9:00–9:05 p.m. |
| Dr. Chenghao Wang Resolving Complexity in Urban Climate Modeling: Challenges and Opportunities |
2:05–2:25 p.m. | 9:05–9:25 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Xavier Fernando Vehicular Communication for Smart Transportation |
2:25–2:45 p.m. | 9:25–9:45 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Patrick Hung Meditating With Machines: When Spiritual Symbols Meet Augmented Reality |
2:45–3:05 p.m. | 9:45 p.m.- 10:05 p.m. |
| Prof. Soe Myint Examining racial and socioeconomic disparities in connection to environmental inequalities in the US Southwest |
3:05–3:25 p.m. | 10:05–10:25 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 3:25–3:50 p.m. | 10:25–10:50 p.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 3:50–3:55 p.m. | 10:50–10:55 p.m. |
| 25 min Break | 3:55–4:00 p.m. | 10:55–11:00 p.m. |
| MDPI Introduction | 4:00–4:05 p.m. | 11:00–11:05 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam Harvesting the Value of Water: Empowering Local Action for Sustainable and Resilient Communities |
4:05–4:25 p.m. | 11:05–11:25 p.m. |
| Dr. Alexandros A Lavdas The Geometry of Nature: Beyond Style |
4:25–4:45 p.m. | 11:25–11:45 p.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Noor Zaman The Secure Smart City: Balancing Innovation, Privacy, and Human Dignity in the Digital Age |
4:45–5:05 p.m. | 11:45 p.m.–12:05 a.m. |
| Q&A Session | 5:05–5:25 p.m. | 12:05–12:25 a.m. |
| Closing of Webinar | 5:25–5:30 p.m. | 12:25–12:30 a.m. |
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? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available for viewing.
Webinar Keynote Speakers:
- Dr. Chenghao Wang, School of Meteorology and Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, United States;
- Prof. Dr. Xavier Fernando, Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada;
- Prof. Dr. Patrick Hung, Faculty of Business and IT, Ontario Tech University, Canada;
- Prof. Dr. Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam, School of Engineering, Taylor's University, Malaysia;
- Dr. Alexandros Lavdas, Tenured Senior Researcher, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy;
- Prof. Dr. Noor Zaman Jhanjhi, School of Computer Science, Taylor's University, Malaysia.
23 October 2025
World Development Information Day, 24 October 2025
World Development Information Day, observed annually on 24 October, serves as a global platform to mobilize public awareness and engagement in development issues. Established by the United Nations in 1972, this day highlights the critical importance of information dissemination and public opinion in shaping effective development policies and fostering international cooperation.
Aligned with this year's theme, MDPI emphasizes the power of knowledge sharing and evidence-based discourse in addressing global challenges. In an era of rapid information exchange, researchers, policymakers, and citizens are leveraging innovative communication channels—from open access publishing to data visualization platforms—to transform complex development data into actionable public knowledge.
Join us in celebrating World Development Information Day and supporting initiatives that empower citizens through knowledge. Together, we can strengthen the global dialogue on sustainable development and build a more informed, engaged worldwide community capable of driving positive transformation.
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“Humor That Hurts: An Exploration of Jokes About Black Women with Disabilities on TikTok in South Africa”
by Fabiana Battisti and Lorenzo Dalvit
Journal. Media 2025, 6(4), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040174
“AI-Driven Sentiment Analysis for Discovering Climate Change Impacts”
by Zeinab Shahbazi, Rezvan Jalali and Zahra Shahbazi
Smart Cities 2025, 8(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8040109
“Unmasking AI’s Role in the Age of Disinformation: Friend or Foe?”
by Livia García-Faroldi, Laura Teruel and Sonia Blanco
Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010019
“Media Influence and Public Opinion on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Projects in Myanmar: A First-Level Agenda-Setting Analysis”
by Zeyar Oo and Yonghong Dai
Journal. Media 2024, 5(4), 1866-1880; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5040113
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“Global Media, Local Voices: The Dynamics of Diversity” |
“Unravelling the Media’s Role in Technological Innovation and AI's Environmental, Social, and Economic Impacts” |
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15 October 2025
MDPI’s Newly Launched Journals in September 2025
Nine new journals covering a range of subjects launched their inaugural issues in September 2025. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.
We extend our sincere thanks to all Editorial Board Members for their commitment and expertise. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, ensuring impactful open access scholarship.
Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.
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Journal |
Founding Editor-in-Chief |
Journal Topics (Selected) |
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Prof. Dr. Joseph G. Grzywacz, San José State University, USA |
family formation and dynamics; family relationships; family diversity and structure; family processes; family challenges; global perspectives of family | |
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Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee, National University of Singapore, Singapore |
AIoT sensing technologies; distributed AI and federated learning; AI-enhanced edge analytics; sensor fusion in edge computing; low-power AI sensing; security and privacy in edge-AI systems; AI-driven optimization of IoT networks | |
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Prof. Dr. Steven Paul Nistico, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy |
aesthetics; reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery; dermatology; oral and maxillofacial surgery; surgical procedures; non-surgical procedures | |
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Prof. Dr. Mauro Tonelli, University of Pisa, Italy |
plasma physics and technology; atomic and molecular physics; nuclear physics; quantum physics and technology; dielectrics, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics; semiconductor physics and devices; engineering physics; material physics; biophysics| |
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Prof. Dr. Sergej M. Ostojic, University of Agder, Norway; |
biochemical research methods; biochemistry and molecular biology; cell biology; clinical and medicinal chemistry; clinical neurology; endocrinology and metabolism; medicine, general and internal; nutrition and dietetics; toxicology | |
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Prof. Dr. Michele Nappi, University of Salerno, Italy |
foundations and advancements in multimedia technologies; computational social media analytics; human–AI interaction in social contexts; multimedia understanding and generation for social insight; ethics, fairness, and privacy in multimedia systems | |
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Prof. Dr. Philippe Gorce, Toulon University, France |
ergonomic design and evaluation of workspaces, tools, and equipment; biomechanical analysis and ergonomic interventions for musculoskeletal health; cognitive workload assessment and management; human-computer interaction (HCI) and user experience (UX) research; ergonomic wearables; AI-driven ergonomic assessment tools; neuroergonomics | |
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Prof. Dr. Ronald Charles Sims, Utah State University, USA |
bioresources; bioproducts; bioenergy and biofuels; environmental protection; public health protection; biological waste treatment; biomass transformation; circular bioeconomy; bio-based materials and chemicals; bioresidues | |
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Prof. Dr. M. Jamal Deen, McMaster University, Canada |
device design and engineering; circuit design and system integration; applications and emerging technologies; materials and fabrication innovations; testing, reliability, and standards | |
We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create more new journals, you are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).
