Announcements

The nomination deadline for the Tu Youyou Award is approaching. Researchers are encouraged to submit nominations by 31 October 2026 (UTC-12).

The Tu Youyou Award recognizes outstanding researchers whose work has made significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, advancing scientific innovation and human health. It is named after Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin has saved millions of lives. 

The current award committee is chaired by Prof. Dr. William Gerwick, a Distinguished Professor at the University of California San Diego, USA, and a renowned expert in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology. Under his leadership, the committee will evaluate nominations and recognize impactful research achievements in the related fields. 

Prize:

• CHF 100,000
• A medal
• A certificate

The monetary prize will be shared equally should there be multiple recipients.

Who may be nominated?

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

Nominees must be individuals; team or group nominations are not permitted. Nominations are valid only for the current award cycle. 

Who may submit a nomination?

• The director of the nominee’s host research institution or a recognized scientist within the field.

Self-nominations will not be considered. 

Nomination materials:

• A biographical sketch
• A detailed description of the nominee’s contributions
• 5–10 representative academic publications
• A list of academic honors, awards, and funded projects
• A nomination letter signed by two nominators 

How to submit?
Submit your nomination by 31 October 2026 via: https://tuyouyouprize.org/nomination/form. 

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website. For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.

We are delighted to announce the 1st International Online Conference on Sustainable Construction: Globalize, Organize, Build, Unite, Innovate, Lead, Develop, chaired by Dr. Igor Martek, Deakin University, Australia and Dr. Mehdi Amirkhani, Adelaide University, Australia, which will take place from 18 to 20 November 2026.

GO BUILD 2026 units researchers, educators, students, industry professionals, and policymakers to highlight the vital role of sustainable building in achieving global sustainability goals. Focusing on innovation, collaboration, leadership, and education, the conference showcases cutting-edge solutions and strategies to create resilient, inclusive, and future-ready built environments, driving transformative progress in sustainable construction worldwide.

Topics of interest:
1. G – Global: Sustainable Development in the Global South: Challenges and Opportunities;
2. O – Organize: Workforce Development and Skills in the Construction Sector;
3. B – Build: Sustainable Building Practices;
4. U – Unit: Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Management;
5. I – Innovate: Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Construction;
6. L – Lead: Building Regulations versus Technology Innovations;
7. D – Develop: Innovation and Lifelong Learning in Built Environment Education;
8. Cross-Cutting Theme: Building Science and Performance Innovations.

Important deadlines:
Abstract Submission Deadline: 18 June 2026;
Abstract Acceptance Notification Deadline: 19 August 2026;
Early Bird Registration Deadline: 22 August 2026;
Registration Deadline: 13 November 2026.

Guide for authors:
To submit your abstract, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/user/submission/create/1495.

To register for this event, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/GOBUILD2026?section=#registration.

For more information, please visit: https://sciforum.net/event/GOBUILD2026.

Best Oral Presentation Award and Best Poster Award:

• Total of 4 winners will be selected for the two award types;
• Each winner will receive a certificate and CHF 200.

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact us at gobuild2026@mdpi.com. We look forward to seeing you at the 1st International Online Conference on Sustainable Construction.

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.

Architecture plays a fundamental role in shaping the places in which we live, work, and connect, influencing our quality of life, well-being, and access to essential resources. Celebrated on the first Monday in October, World Architecture Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of creating inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

This year’s theme, “Housing is a Human Right. Build It”, highlights the need for adequate, accessible, and affordable housing. Through innovation, interdisciplinary research, and sustainable design, architecture can help address evolving housing challenges and contribute to more equitable living environments.

To commemorate World Architecture Day 2026, we present a curated collection of research papers published across various MDPI journals. This collection brings together diverse perspectives and research findings that explore the relationship between architecture, housing, and sustainable urban development. Discover insights into emerging challenges, innovative solutions, and opportunities for building environments that support the needs and aspirations of communities worldwide.

“Texts, Architecture, and Ritual in the Iron II Levant”
by Timothy Hogue
Religions 2025, 16(9), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16091178

“Comparison of Pulse-Echo Tomography and Through-Transmission Ultrasonic Test for UPV Characterization of Building Materials”
by Emilia Vasanelli, Davide Di Gennaro, Matteo Sticchi, Gianni Blasi and Luigi Capozzoli
Infrastructures 2025, 10(7), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10070162

“Cultural Heritage Architecture and Climate Adaptation: A Socio-Environmental Analysis of Sustainable Building Techniques”
by Victoria Sanagustín-Fons, Polina Stavrou, José Antonio Moseñe-Fierro, Francisco Escario Sierra, Guido Castrolla, Cândida Rocha and Ester Bazco Nogueras
Land 2025, 14(5), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051022

“Research Progress on Machine Learning Prediction of Compressive Strength of Nano-Modified Concrete”
by Ruyan Fan, Ankang Tian, Yikun Li, Yue Gu and Zhenhua Wei
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4733; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094733

“The Evolution of Digital Building Logbook: Exploring Building Information Gathering Systems to Boost Building Maintenance and Renovation”
by Martina Signorini, Mario Claudio Dejaco and Sonia Lupica Spagnolo
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(2), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15020771

“CARES Framework: A Circularity Assessment Method for Residential Building Structures”
by Alicia Vásquez-Cabrera, Maria Victoria Montes and Carmen Llatas
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020443

“Seismic and Post-Seismic Ductility and Forces of Mid-Story Pin Moment-Resisting Frames Based on Scale of Local Deformation of I-Beam’s Segments”
by Atsushi Suzuki, Ruiyu Che and Yoshihiro Kimura
Appl. Mech. 2024, 5(4), 938-963; https://doi.org/10.3390/applmech5040052

“Status of Livability in Indonesian Affordable Housing”
by Laksana Gema Perdamaian and Zhiqiang (John) Zhai
Architecture 2024, 4(2), 281-302; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4020017

“Integrating Urban Design and Landscape Architecture (Second Edition)” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Michael Hensel, Dr. Defne Sunguroglu Hensel and Prof. Dr. Alessandra Battisti Submission deadline: 31 October 2026	“2026 Early Career Scientists' Contributions to Applied Mechanics (ECS 2026)” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Magd Abdel Wahab Submission deadline: 31 December 2026
“New Perspectives on East Asian Buddhist Architecture” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Puay Peng Ho Submission deadline: 31 January 2027	“Innovations in Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering” Guest Editor: Dr. Yuantian Sun Submission deadline: 20 March 2027
“Housing Reimagined: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Innovation in Contemporary Residential Design” Guest Editors: Dr. Sana Malik, Dr. Adiba Shafique and Dr. Muhammad Tariq Shafiq Submission deadline: 30 April 2027	“Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Management of the Built Environment: From Buildings and Cultural Heritage to Public Asset Portfolios and Territorial Scale” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Marco Casini and Dr. Sofia Agostinelli Submission deadline: 31 August 2027

MDPI warmly invites you to the 2026 MDPI Topic Editor Club webinar series. This global platform connects worldwide Topic Editors, featuring emerging research themes, practical editorial experience sharing and academic communication. MDPI Topics are interdisciplinary thematic paper collections published across multiple MDPI journals. Led by professional Topic Editor teams and supported by MDPI’s efficient open access publishing workflow, they facilitate academic collaboration and help research reach broader global audiences.

Focusing on engineering, this session brings together Topic Editors to showcase editorial work, discuss the successes and challenges of Topic development, and share innovative strategies for building high-impact Topics. It offers a great chance for peer learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance open access research in this field. 

We welcome your participation in the 2026 MDPI Topic Editor Club, and look forward to your insights and questions during the live Q&A session.

Date: 15 October 2026 at 13:00 CEST | 7:00 EDT | 19:00 CST Asia
Webinar ID: 815 5310 9262 
Landing page: https://sciforum.net/event/MTEC2026-ENG

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’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Speakers:

• Dr. Mehdi Amirkhani, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia;
• Dr. Igor Martek, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia;
• Prof. Azidine Guezzaz, Cadi Ayyad University, Essaouira, Morocco;
• Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Asif, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman;
• Mr. Marko Stojadinov, MDPI.

Relevant Topics:

“Sustainable Building Development and Promotion”
Edited by Igor Martek and Mehdi Amirkhani
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 December 2026

“Cybersecurity Symmetry: Encryption, AI, and Attack Patterns”
Edited by Mobyen Uddin Ahmed and Azidine Guezzaz
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 March 2027

“Revitalizing Buildings and Our Urban Heritage”
Edited by Igor Martek, Mehdi Amirkhani and Chayakan Siamphukdee
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 May 2027

“Blockchain for Sustainability: Applications in Energy, Supply Chain, and Green Finance”
Edited by Firdous Kausar, Hafiz Muhammad Asif and Mian Muhammad Waseem Iqbal
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 May 2027

“Sustainable Construction: Globalize, Organize, Build, Unite, Innovate, Lead, Develop”
Edited by Igor Martek and Mehdi Amirkhani
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 July 2028

Each October, the Nobel Prizes turn the world’s attention toward the discoveries that have redrawn the boundaries of science. They are science’s most prestigious recognition, and increasingly its most interdisciplinary. Recent laureates have been honored for work spanning quantum dots, machine learning, and molecular medicine, fields that rarely stay within a single discipline’s borders for long.

Open access has a growing role in that story. To date, more than 40 Nobel laureates have published their research in MDPI journals—a body of work spanning genetics, physics, chemistry, and medicine. Publishing openly means a laureate’s findings reach not only fellow scientists, but the students, clinicians, policymakers, and curious readers who would otherwise meet that work only secondhand, if at all. Open access doesn’t just carry Nobel-level research, it amplifies the voice behind it, letting the discovery speak directly to everyone it stands to affect.

This is also where MDPI’s breadth becomes an advantage. With over 500 journals covering the full spectrum of scientific inquiry, our platform mirrors the reality of modern discovery—where breakthroughs increasingly emerge at the intersection of fields, not within the walls of one. It’s this structure that lets us support interdisciplinary work from first submission to global publication, connecting researchers across borders and disciplines alike.

As this year’s laureates are announced, we’ll continue spotlighting where Nobel Prize–winning research intersects with the work of our authors, editors, and reviewers—celebrating both the achievements being recognized and the open access model that helps ensure they reach the widest possible audience.

Explore selected works by Nobel laureates within the MDPI portfolio below, and join us in celebrating the global impact of their ideas.

Put your scientific intuition to the test and join MDPI’s 2026 Nobel Prize Prediction Challenge! As we honor three decades of open research, we invite you to cast your votes for the next trailblazing laureates in chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine. Predict the pioneer minds shaping tomorrow’s scientific legacy for a chance to win 100 CHF voucher of MDPI Video Service.

Deadline: 4 October 2026 | 18:00 CEST
Winner announcement: 16 October 2026

Discover high-impact research driving tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Browse our open access selections in Chemistry & Materials Science, Medicine & Pharmacology, and Physical Sciences, featuring key studies aligned with this year’s top Nobel prize-contending topics.

Join our distinguished Editors-in-Chief and Section Editors-in-Chief for an exclusive live discussion on this year’s Nobel Prize announcements. Our expert panel will break down the winning breakthroughs, explore their global impact, and discuss the future trajectories of open science across Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leading voices in research.

MDPI remains committed to ensuring that the breakthroughs of today—and tomorrow—are shared, debated, and built upon by the global research community. Explore science, join the conversation, and be part of the next chapter.

https://sciforum.net/event/WSF-13

We are pleased to announce the 13th World Sustainability Forum (WSF-13), taking place in Nice, France, from 8 to 11 June 2027. The World Sustainability Forum has grown into one of the longest-running international gatherings dedicated to sustainability research, bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners from around the world since 2011. WSF-13 is organized by Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050, IF: 4.1) in partnership with Université Côte d'Azur.

Conference Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Adel Ben Youssef, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.

Honorary Chair:

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

Session Chair:

• Prof. Dr. Vivien Lu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
• Prof. Dr. Mark Bonn, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.

More Session Chairs will be announced in due course

Topics of interest:
With sustainability now central to research, policy and industry agendas worldwide, WSF-13 will cover a diverse range of session topics:
S1. Emerging Technologies and Integrated Solutions for Sustainable and Resilient Cities;
S2. Climate Change, Adaptation and Socio-Ecological Resilience;
S3. Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency and Waste Valorisation;
S4. Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture and Soil Health;
S5. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development;
S6. Sustainable Economic Models, Investment and Green Finance;
S7. Sustainable Supply Chains, Production and Manufacturing;
S8. Sustainability Education, Skills and Capacity Building;
S9. Sustainable Urban Landscapes, Planning and Low-Carbon Mobility;
S10. Water Quality, Governance and Sustainable Water Resource Management;
S11. Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Transitions;
S12. Biodiversity Conservation, Ecosystem Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions;
S13. Net-Zero Pathways, Carbon Management and Sustainability Metrics;
S14. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Sustainability Transitions;
S15. Sustainable Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

Important dates:
Abstract submission deadline: 1 February 2027;
Abstract acceptance notification: 1 March 2027;
Early bird registration deadline: 1 February 2027;
Regular registration deadline: 25 May 2027.

Guide for authors:
Ready to share your research with this global community? Submit your abstract via the following link: https://sciforum.net/submissions/WSF-13/link/1.

To register for the event, please click on the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/WSF-13/registration.

For details regarding Abstract Submission, Poster and Slide Submission, and Publication Opportunities, please refer to the “Instructions for Authors” Section: https://sciforum.net/event/WSF-13/instructions-for-authors.

MDPI Sustainability Foundation Awards
The MDPI Sustainability Foundation will hold its annual Awards Ceremony at WSF-13, recognizing individuals whose work has shaped sustainability research and leadership. This year’s awards include the World Sustainability Award (USD 100,000) and the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (USD 20,000).

Submit your nominations on our official website: https://mdpi-foundation.org/awards.

Nomination deadline: 30 November 2026

For any enquiries regarding the event, please contact wsf@mdpi.com.

We look forward to welcoming researchers, policymakers and practitioners from across the globe to Nice for this important chapter in the WSF series.

Conference Name: 2026 National Conference on Physical Geography
Date: 22–24 October 2026
Location: Nanjing, China

MDPI will be attending the 2026 National Conference on Physical Geography. The conference will take place in Nanjing, from Thursday 22 to Saturday 24 October 2026.

This conference is organized by the Geographical Society of China and hosted by the School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, together with the Physical Geography Commission of the Geographical Society of China.

Centered on the theme of “Frontiers and Social Services of Physical Geography”, the conference will systematically review and summarize the theoretical advances and practical explorations of physical geography in China over the past decade, fully showcase the latest achievements of physical geography in basic research, methodological innovation, and applied services, and conduct in-depth discussions on emerging issues and challenges facing physical geography in the era of digital intelligence in fields including ecological environment, resource utilization, and sustainable development.

The following journals will be represented at the event:

• Land;
• Sustainability;
• Climate;
• Forests;
• Atmosphere;
• Quaternary;
• Biosphere;
• Earth.

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

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.gsc.org.cn/gsc/xueshuDetail.html?id=54&contentId=2344.

MDPI is pleased to collaborate with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the Editorial Office of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050) for an upcoming Academic Publishing Workshop on 17 September 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. SGT.

The workshop will provide researchers with practical insights into the academic publishing process, covering manuscript preparation, publication ethics, and how to respond effectively to peer reviewers.

Participants will also learn more about MDPI, Open Access publishing, and Sustainability, an international, peer-reviewed journal focusing on entropy and information studies, with relevance across interdisciplinary research fields.

Date: 17 September 2026
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m. SGT
Location: Singapore University of Social Sciences

Program:

We hope this engaging session will help researchers better understand the publishing process and make informed decisions throughout their research journey, while gaining practical insights into manuscript preparation, publication ethics, and peer review.