Announcements

Following from our two previous successful editions, we invite you to submit your abstracts and participate in the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers, taking place from 2 to 7 August 2026 in Jeju, South Korea.

Organized by MDPI and the open access journals Sensors, Micromachines, AI Sensors, Micro and Remote Sensing, this in-person conference will once again bring together experts and participating researchers who will share insights and innovations in sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.

Start preparing your abstracts:
Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work to peers and leading experts in AI-enhanced sensing systems and transducers. We will be announcing the session topics at AIS 2026 soon.

Find out more about the instructions for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#instructions.

Find out more about the publication opportunities available for authors: https://sciforum.net/event/AIS2026?section=#Publicationopportunities.
Please feel free to share the information about this conference to your colleagues and students.

We look forward to welcoming you in Jeju!

The organizing committee of the 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2026).

1. “Comprehensive Analysis of Random Forest and XGBoost Performance with SMOTE, ADASYN, and GNUS Under Varying Imbalance Levels”
by Mehdi Imani, Ali Beikmohammadi and Hamid Reza Arabnia
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030088
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/88

2. “A Survey of Efficient Lightweight Cryptography for Power-Constrained Microcontrollers”
by Jesús Soto-Cruz, Erica Ruiz-Ibarra, Javier Vázquez-Castillo, Adolfo Espinoza-Ruiz, Alejandro Castillo-Atoche and Joaquin Mass-Sanchez
Technologies 2025, 13(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13010003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/1/3

3. “Using Serious Games and Digital Games to Improve Students’ Computational Thinking and Programming Skills in K-12 Education: A Systematic Literature Review”
by Sindre Wennevold Gundersen and Georgios Lampropoulos
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030113
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/113

4. “Design of Multi-Sourced MIMO Multiband Hybrid Wireless RF-Perovskite Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting Subsystems for IoTs Applications in Smart Cities”
by Fanuel Elias, Sunday Ekpo, Stephen Alabi, Mfonobong Uko, Sunday Enahoro, Muhammad Ijaz, Helen Ji, Rahul Unnikrishnan and Nurudeen Olasunkanmi
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030092
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/92

5. “Real-Time Deployment of Ultrasound Image Interpretation AI Models for Emergency Medicine Triage Using a Swine Model”
by Sofia I. Hernandez Torres, Lawrence Holland, Theodore Winter, Ryan Ortiz, Krysta-Lynn Amezcua, Austin Ruiz, Catherine R. Thorpe and Eric J. Snider
Technologies 2025, 13(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13010029
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/1/29

6. “Advancements in Semantic Segmentation of 3D Point Clouds for Scene Understanding Using Deep Learning”
by Hafsa Benallal, Nadine Abdallah Saab, Hamid Tairi, Ayman Alfalou and Jamal Riffi
Technologies 2025, 13(8), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13080322
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/8/322

7. “Recent Development of Corrosion Inhibitors: Types, Mechanisms, Electrochemical Behavior, Efficiency, and Environmental Impact”
by Denisa-Ioana (Gheorghe) Răuță, Ecaterina Matei and Sorin-Marius Avramescu
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030103
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/3/103

8. “ZnO Nanoparticles by Hydrothermal Method: Synthesis and Characterization”
by Juan Carlos Anaya-Zavaleta, Antonio Serguei Ledezma-Pérez, Carlos Gallardo-Vega, Joelis Rodríguez-Hernández, Carmen Natividad Alvarado-Canché, Perla Elvia García-Casillas, Arxel de León and Agustín Leobardo Herrera-May
Technologies 2025, 13(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13010018
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/1/18

9. “A Systematic Review of Locomotion Assistance Exoskeletons: Prototype Development and Technical Challenges”
by Weiqi Lin, Hui Dong, Yongzhuo Gao, Wenda Wang, Yi Long, Long He, Xiwang Mao, Dongmei Wu and Wei Dong
Technologies 2025, 13(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13020069
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/2/69

10. “Robotic Systems for Hand Rehabilitation—Past, Present and Future”
by Bogdan Gherman, Ionut Zima, Calin Vaida, Paul Tucan, Adrian Pisla, Iosif Birlescu, Jose Machado and Doina Pisla
Technologies 2025, 13(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13010037
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/1/37

A message from the webinar Chair:

Robotics innovation is rapidly transforming modern manufacturing and human–machine interaction, driven by advances in precision engineering, automation, and intelligent control systems. From prosthetics and wearable robotic devices that enhance human capability to highly accurate industrial robots optimized through advanced measurement technologies, these developments are redefining efficiency, adaptability, and performance. As part of the broader shift toward smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0, such innovations highlight the growing integration of mechanical design, sensing, and control in next-generation robotic systems. These advances are shaping a more responsive, precise, and human-centered technological future.

Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Time: 9:00 to 10:35 PDT | 17:00 to 18:35 BST
Webinar ID: 856 8247 3197
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Cluster-11?subscribe

Register now for free!

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

Unable to attend? Feel free to register anyway, and we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Peter L. Bishay, Director of Design SMART Lab (Design of Smart Mechanical and Reconfigurable Technologies); Andrew J. Anagnost College of Engineering and Computer Science (ACECS); California State University, Northridge (CSUN), USA;
• Dr. Mojtaba Ahmadieh Khanesar, The Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham, UK;
• Dr. Lavinia Buta, MDPI Romania.

MDPI will be attending the 2026 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS 2026, from 15 to 18 June 2026 in Corfu, Greece. We welcome researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit our booth and share their latest ideas with us.

Organized by the ICUAS Association, Inc., ICUAS 2026 will offer unique opportunities to meet, interact, and shape the future of unmanned aviation worldwide, bringing together technical, regulatory, and legal communities.

ICUAS 2026 centers around a wide spectrum of topics, with emphasis given to:

• Soft aerial robots;
• Cooperative aerial manipulation;
• Bio-inspired aerial robots;
• Aerial robot aerodynamics;
• Multi-mode unmanned platforms;
• Reconfigurable UAVs;
• Multi-mode unmanned platforms;
• Learning-based perception;
• Navigation and control;
• Online autonomy;
• Real-time applications;
• Human factors and ethical AI for aerial robots;
• Regulations, policies, and safety.

In addition to the technical sessions, a twofold objective is:

• Industry and company participation for attendees to find out about the current state of technology and of commercially available products for civil and public domain applications;
• Understanding technical requirements and standards that are prerequisites to UAS full utilization and integration into the national airspace.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Drones;
• Aerospace;
• Standards;
• Telecom;
• Robotics;
• Safety;
• Electronics;
• Biomimetics;
• Applied Mechanics;
• Journal of Imaging;
• Actuators;
• Signals;
• Sensors;
• Inventions;
• Automation;
• Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks;
• Technologies;
• IoT.

We welcome you to visit the MDPI booth in Corfu at the Divani Corfu Palace. Our representatives are excited to meet you in person and will address any questions you may have. For further details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://uasconferences.com/2026_icuas/.

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

MDPI is pleased to announce our participation in the World Congress on Condition Monitoring (WCCM 2026), held from 25 to 27 August in Milan, Italy.

WCCM 2026 stands as a premier worldwide platform for scientists and professionals from both academia and industry to share knowledge and insights in the field of condition monitoring. The congress is dedicated to facilitating the global exchange of research and applications, with a strong emphasis on international cooperation and technological advancements.

The conference covers a wide spectrum of key areas, including condition monitoring technologies, sensors and data acquisition, signal processing and machine learning, fault diagnosis and prognostics, and maintenance and reliability. Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore industrial applications, standards, and transformative case studies that are shaping the future of asset management.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Sensors;
• Machines;
• NDT;
• ASI;
• Applied Mechanics;
• Vibration;
• JETA;
• Lubricants;
• Technologies;
• Standards;
• Logistics.

MDPI will be attending the 9th International Conference on Electronics Technology (ICET 2026), which will be held in Chengdu, China, from 29 to 31 May 2026.

ICET 2026 is co-sponsored by the IEEE Chengdu Section and the Sichuan Institute of Electronics, and is hosted by the Youth Talent Work Committee of Sichuan Institute of Electronics, with the support of the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Xi’an University of Technology, Singapore Institute of Electronics, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu University of Information Technology, etc.

ICET conference's core objective is to establish an academic forum for scientists worldwide, both senior and emerging, to share research insights, knowledge, and advancements in electronics, micro/nanoelectronics, and electronic packaging. The conference also connects university academics, industry professionals, and the technical community, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange on the latest technological advancements.

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

• Technologies;
• Electronics;
• Information;
• IoT;
• JLPEA;
• Microwave;
• Telecom;
• Electricity;
• Hardware;
• JETA;
• JSAN;
• Chips;
• WEVJ.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to stop by our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about this conference, please visit the following website: https://icet.net/index.html.

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In the first quarter of 2026, nine new journals released their inaugural issues and three transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of clinical medicine, chemistry, computer science & mathematics, engineering, environment & ecology, and social sciences & psychology.

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these brand-new journals. 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.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

International Day of Human Space Flight, observed annually on 12 April, commemorates the beginning of the space era for humankind.

On this day, in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. This achievement marked a turning point in human history, opening the door to space exploration for the progress of humanity. The United Nations General Assembly officially declared this day in 2011 to honor the shared interest of humankind in exploring and using outer space for peaceful purposes.

In support of the International Day of Human Space Flight, MDPI journals aim to foster dialog and research on the scientific and engineering dimensions of space exploration. Through Special Issues and research articles, MDPI hopes to provide a platform to explore topics such as aerospace systems and innovations in spacecraft engineering technology.

“Astronaut Selection: Implications for the New Era of Spaceflight”
by Simon Evetts, Beth Healey, Tessa Morris-Paterson and Vladimir Pletser
Astronautics 2026, 1(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/astronautics1010007  

“Optimal Control and Neural Porkchop Analysis for Low-Thrust Asteroid Rendezvous Mission”
by Zhong Zhang, Niccolò Michelotti, Gonçalo Oliveira Pinho, Yilin Zou and Francesco Topputo
Astronautics 2026, 1(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/astronautics1010006

“Conditioned Sequence Models for Warm-Starting Sequential Convex Trajectory Optimization in Space Robots”
by Matteo D’Ambrosio, Stefano Silvestrini and Michèle Lavagna
Aerospace 2026, 13(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13020137  

“A Systematic Literature Review on PHM Strategies for (Hydraulic) Primary Flight Control Actuation Systems”
by Leonardo Baldo, Andrea De Martin, Giovanni Jacazio and Massimo Sorli
Actuators 2025, 14(8), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/act14080382  

“Does the Choice of Topic Modeling Technique Impact the Interpretation of Aviation Incident Reports? A Methodological Assessment”
by Aziida Nanyonga, Keith Joiner, Ugur Turhan and Graham Wild
Technologies 2025, 13(5), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13050209  

“Neural Network-Aided Optical Navigation for Precise Lunar Descent Operations”
by Simone Andolfo, Antonio Genova, Fabio Valerio Buonomo, Anna Maria Gargiulo, Mohamed El Awag, Pierluigi Federici, Riccardo Teodori, Riccardo La Grassa, Cristina Re and Gabriele Cremonese
Aerospace 2025, 12(3), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12030195

“Assessment of Noise of MEMS IMU Sensors of Different Grades for GNSS/IMU Navigation”
by Vladimir Suvorkin, Miquel Garcia-Fernandez, Guillermo González-Casado, Mowen Li and Adria Rovira-Garcia
Sensors 2024, 24(6), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061953

“The Impact of Smart Structures in Contemporary and Future Aerospace Scenarios” Guest Editors: Dr. Matteo Davide Lorenzo Dalla Vedova, Dr. Carlo Giovanni Ferro and Dr. Stefano Valvano Submission deadline: 30 June 2026	“Detector Systems for Space and Astronomy Applications” Guest Editors: Dr. Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway and Prof. Dr. Mark J. Bentum Submission deadline: 31 August 2026
“Aviation Science and Technology Applications” Guest Editor: Dr. Graham Wild Submission deadline: 31 August 2026	“Advanced and Intelligent Attitude Control for Spacecraft” Guest Editor: Dr. Fabio Celani Submission deadline: 30 September 2026
“Sensors and Sensing Technologies for Structural Health Monitoring in Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Engineering” Guest Editors: Dr. Francesco Nicassio, Prof. Dr. Gennaro Scarselli and Dr. Anastasios C. Mpalaskas Submission deadline: 31 October 2026	“Advances in Lunar Exploration (2nd Edition)” Guest Editors: Dr. Marco Sabatini and Dr. Leonard Felicetti Submission deadline: 31 December 2026