Announcements
1 October 2025
2024 MDPI Top 1000 Reviewers
30 September 2025
Nobel Prize — The Science Behind the Prize
Nobel Prizes are the world’s most prestigious recognition of scientific breakthroughs, honoring discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge and reshape entire fields. They bring into the public eye researchers whose work might otherwise remain known only within specialized circles.
For many, winning a Nobel Prize is a surreal experience. Laureates often describe a mix of joy, humility, reflection, and gratitude for the teams and collaborators whose contributions made the achievement possible. Behind every Nobel-winning idea lies years of careful, incremental work—a process that often goes unseen.
When Prof. Steven Weinberg won the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 1979, his wife Louise, a legal scholar, reminded him to keep doing the ordinary hard work of science, joking: “Now you have to write some unimportant papers.” True to form, Weinberg continued to push the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe, showing that curiosity and dedication extend far beyond the moment of recognition (Hofmann 2025: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/17/6/840).
Discover the science behind the world’s most transformative ideas
Over the years, dozens of Nobel laureates have published their work with MDPI, entrusting our open access journals to disseminate their findings to a global audience. As of 2024, more than 40 laureates have contributed over 115 articles across 35 journals, ranging from pioneering research on microRNAs and mRNA therapeutics, to fundamental insights in theoretical physics, and advances in structural biology.
We regularly spotlight how Nobel Prize–winning research intersects with the contributions of our authors. This not only celebrates the achievements of the laureates, but also underscores the role of open access in ensuring that transformative science reaches the widest possible audience.
On this page, we invite you to explore selected works by Nobel laureates within the MDPI portfolio, and to join us in celebrating the global impact of their ideas.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 will be announced on October 6 at 11:30 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physiology or Medicine Roundtable
6 October 2025, 03:30 pm (CEST)
Free to register for this webinar here!
The Nobel Prize in Physics 2025 will be announced on October 7 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
The Science Behind the Prize: 2025 Nobel Physics Roundtable
7 October 2025, 02:30 pm (CEST)
Free to register for this webinar here!
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 will be announced on October 8 at 11:45 am CEST (at the earliest), awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden. MDPI sincerely invites you to explore research in a related field.
26 September 2025
World Tourism Day—“Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, 27 September 2025
In conjunction with the theme of the 2025 World Tourism Day, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, this feature explores how the tourism industry is evolving in response to global sustainability demands. From regenerative practices and eco-innovation to inclusive community-led development, tourism is no longer just about destinations—it is about impact.
As climate pressures, policy shifts, and traveler values reshape the way we move and explore, this article unpacks the critical role tourism plays in supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With real-world examples, expert insights, and future-facing ideas, we invite you to rethink tourism not just as an experience — but as a force for transformation.
To support this global effort, MDPI is proud to spotlight research and articles from the Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Societies, Sustainability and Tourism and Hospitality, among others, that contribute to sustainable and inclusive tourism development. Through our open access publications and editorial collaborations, we aim to amplify innovative perspectives that can help shape a more equitable and responsible future for travel.
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“Geographic Scale Matters in Analyzing the Effects of the Built Environment on Choice of Travel Modes: A Case Study of Grocery Shopping Trips in Salt Lake County, USA”
by Ensheng Dong, Felix Haifeng Liao and Hejun Kang
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(8), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9080307
“Urban Branding through Cultural-Creative Tourism: A Review of Youth Engagement for Sustainable Development”
by Kittichai Kasemsarn, Antika Sawadsri, Amorn Kritsanaphan and Farnaz Nickpour
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(6), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9060204
“The Future is in Sustainable Urban Tourism: Technological Innovations, Emerging Mobility Systems and Their Role in Shaping Smart Cities”
by Aleksandra Vujko, Miroslav Knežević and Martina Arsić
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(5), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050169
“Leveraging Virtual Reality Experiences to Shape Tourists’ Behavioral Intentions: The Mediating Roles of Enjoyment and Immersion”
by Sinh Hoang Nguyen
J. Zool. Bot. Gard. 2025, 6(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg6020024
“Urban Networks and Tourism Development: Analyzing the Relationship between Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Rankings and Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI)”
by Petra Vašaničová
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9030083
“Empowering Urban Tourism Resilience Through Online Heritage Visibility: Bucharest Case Study”
by Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dincă, Aurel Gheorghilaş and Elena-Alina Tudor
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9030063
“UNESCO Global Geoparks vs. Generative AI: Challenges for Best Practices in Sustainability and Education”
by Jesús Enrique Martínez-Martín, Emmaline M. Rosado-González, Beatriz Martínez-Martín and Artur A. Sá
Geosciences 2024, 14(10), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14100275
“Sustainable Geotourism in the Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps): A Tool for Enhancing Alpine Geoheritage in the Context of Climate Change”
by Arianna Negri, Elena Storta, Rasool Bux Khoso, Agnese Maria Colizzi, Fiorella Acquaotta, Mauro Palomba and Marco Giardino
Geosciences 2024, 14(7), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070175
“Climate Change and Cultural Heritage: A Global Mapping of the UNESCO Thematic Indicators in Conjunction with Advanced Technologies for Cultural Sustainability”
by Mohsen Aboulnaga, Ahmed Abouaiana, Paola Puma, Maryam Elsharkawy, Mohamed Farid, Sarah Gamal and Elena Lucchi
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4650; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114650
“Digital Promotion of Geoheritage along a Tourist Route in M’Goun UNESCO Geopark (Central High Atlas, Morocco) and Visitor Typology Analysis”
by Nisrine Kchikach, Hassan Ibouh, Abderrahim Benali, Anas Charbaoui and Abdelhafid El Alaoui El Fels
Geosciences 2024, 14(6), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14060141
“Emerging Sustainability Trends in Tourist Facilities: A Comparative Assessment of Multiple Hotels and Resorts”
by Erasmia Papallou, Martha Katafygiotou and Thomas Dimopoulos
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093536
“Trade Fairs, Host Cities and Tourism Development: The Case of Thessaloniki, Greece”
by Dimitris Kourkouridis, Yannis Frangopoulos and Asimenia Salepaki
Tour. Hosp. 2024, 5(2), 333-353; https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp5020022
“Selected Geoheritage Resources of “Atlantic Geopark” Project (Central Portugal)”
by Salomé C. Custódio, Maria Helena Henriques, Emmaline M. Rosado-González, Nuno M. Vaz and Artur A. Sá
Geosciences 2024, 14(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030081
“Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Proposal for a Comparative Indicator-Based Framework in European Destinations”
by Mikel Zubiaga, Amaia Sopelana, Alessandra Gandini, Héctor M. Aliaga and Tarmo Kalvet
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052062
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“Rethinking Future Studies in Tourism and Hospitality: Critical Insights and Paradigm Shifts for a New Era” |
“Customer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality“ |
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“Advancements and Innovation in Tourism Management and Strategic Management: Sustainable Development Perspective” |
“New Scrutiny in Tourism Destination Management” |
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“Human–Environmental Relations: Ecotourism and Sustainability” |
“Urban Trends: Cities, Housing Markets, Regional Dynamics and Tourism” |
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19 September 2025
Meet Us at the 8th Academic Symposium on Food Culture Production, 20–22 November 2025, Yunnan, China
3 September 2025
Join Us at the MDPI at the University of Toronto Career Fair, 23 September 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada
1 September 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #26 – CUJS, Head of Ethics, Open Peer Review, AIS 2025, Reviewer Recognition
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
Society of China University Journals (CUJS) visit to MDPI Basel
In August, we had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Society of China University Journals (CUJS) to our Basel headquarters. The visit was part of CUJS’s broader European tour, which included meetings with several major publishing organizations.
Purpose of the visit
The delegation’s stop in Basel involved an introductory meeting and knowledge-sharing with a view to identifying potential collaboration opportunities with MDPI. The CUJS team shared an overview of the Chinese scientific publishing landscape, including recent policy developments, and gave us insights into the journals and services they operate across China’s academic institutions.
MDPI presentations
We used the opportunity to introduce CUJS to MDPI’s mission, structure, and recent achievements. I presented on the latest developments at MDPI and our role in supporting global open access, addressing many follow-up questions from the delegation. Warm thanks are due to the following colleagues for their contributions to the session:
- Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer, Scientific Officer and Sustainability Specialist) shared an overview of our editorial process, including the quality indicators we use to track peer-review performance.
- Renato Merki (Publication Ethics Assistant) presented on behalf of our Research Integrity and Ethics team, emphasizing our commitment to responsible publishing.
- Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager) introduced the JAMS platform, highlighting how it supports efficient journal management for editors and publishers alike.
- Aimar Xiong (Publisher, Section Managing Editor) and Giuliano Braccini (Office Manager) facilitated the meeting, offering clarity in response to specific questions, building the relationship during and beyond the meeting itself.
“Building relationships with organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation”
Why is this important?
China is one of the world’s largest producers of scientific research, with its universities and research institutes playing a key role in global scholarly publishing. Building strong relationships with influential organizations such as CUJS allows us to increase our visibility and reputation vis-à-vis the Chinese academic community, share best practices, learn from differing publishing models, and explore collaborations that have the potential to enhance the quality, reach, and diversity of our journals.
Looking ahead
It was a productive and friendly exchange that reflected our shared commitment to advancing scholarly communication and improving journal publishing practices. We value these visits, which allow us to create collaborations with stakeholders in the global academic community.
Our Basel office is a hub for hosting international delegations, partners, and collaborators. We look forward to creating more global connections that support our mission.
Impactful Research
Appointment of Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics
As part of our ongoing commitment to research integrity and publishing excellence, I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Dr. Tim Tait-Jamieson as Head of Publication Ethics.
In this role, Tim will lead the development of our ethics strategy and oversee the continued growth of the Publication Ethics Department, which is based across our offices in Basel, Manchester, Belgrade/Novi Sad, and Cluj. Guided by the principles of effective prevention and efficient resolution, the department plays an essential role in ensuring the highest standards of integrity throughout our editorial processes.
Department focus
Working closely with internal teams and external partners, the Publication Ethics Department focuses on refining our policies, aligning our operations with international best practices, and addressing complex cases with fairness and transparency. This work is critical in supporting our editors, reviewers, and authors, reinforcing MDPI’s contribution to the global dialogue on research integrity.
“Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI”
About Tim
Tim joined MDPI in 2021 and has held several roles within the Publication Ethics Department, most recently serving as Research Integrity Lead. Based in our Basel office, he brings a strong academic background, with a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and a proven track record of leadership in research integrity.
Research integrity is something to which we all contribute through our daily work at MDPI. I look forward to Tim’s leadership as we continue investing in the people, processes, and partnerships that uphold the trust and credibility of scholarly publishing.
Read more:
Inside MDPI
How and why MDPI offers Open Peer Review
At MDPI, we are committed to advancing openness and transparency in scholarly publishing. One area where we’ve taken a leadership role is peer review. Since 2014, MDPI has offered authors the option of open peer review, giving them the opportunity to publish reviewer comments alongside their papers. Each year, more authors are choosing this path, helping to build trust in the editorial process and provide valuable context for the research we publish.
Jack McKenna (Senior Content Specialist, MDPI) recently wrote an informative piece looking at the impact and importance of open peer review at MDPI. He highlights how this approach not only benefits readers but also gives well-deserved recognition to our reviewers, who generously dedicate their time and expertise to the academic community.
I encourage you to read this blogpost to see how MDPI is helping set standards for transparency in scholarly publishing.
Coming Together for Science
Recap of MDPI’s AIS 2025 Conference in Kuala Lumpur
Entering the month of August, we held The 2nd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers (AIS 2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field”
The second edition of AIS brought together 335 attendees from across Asia and beyond, including participants from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The event, chaired by Prof. Dr. Toshihiro Itoh (University of Tokyo), Prof. Dr. Sang-Woo Kim (Yonsei University), and Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore), continues to grow in reputation and has become an important platform for researchers and students to present their work, exchange ideas, and build international collaborations.
AIS is quickly becoming a premier event in the field, with participants highlighting its quality of service, its expanding academic network, and the value it delivers in the context of tightening research budgets in the region.
It was also excellent to see our new MDPI journal AI Sensors, which originated from a conference topic, host a successful launch party at the event.
Highlights from participant feedback:
- Southeast University (China) sent a student delegation and considers AIS a regular fixture for Ph.D. students in need of international conference experience.
- CAS Aerospace Information Research Institute sent a 10-member delegation and plans to further promote AIS internally.
- Japanese researchers regard AIS as a must-attend event, placing it on a par with IEEE conferences and citing the benefits of networking and exchange.
- Korean academics praised the organization and noted improved perceptions of MDPI among their institutions, viewing AIS as a strategic opportunity to deepen engagement in the region.
Award winners
We recognized the recipients of the Best Presentation, Best Scientist, Best Poster, and Best Student Paper awards, whose contributions set a standard for academic excellence. The full award announcement is available here.
Looking ahead
The 3rd International Conference on AI Sensors and Transducers will be held from 5 to10 August 2026 in Jeju, Korea. The General Chairs will be Prof. Inkyu Park (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Prof. Zhou Li (Tsinghua University), Prof. Xinge Yu (City University of Hong Kong), and Prof. Chengkuo Lee (National University of Singapore). We look forward to bringing together innovators, researchers and experts who are shaping the future at the intersection of sensors, sensing technology, transducers and artificial intelligence.
Thank you
Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism and are already planning improvements to make the conference even more accessible. Special thanks to the National University of Singapore for their support, and to our entire conference team and collaborators for their dedication.
AIS is gaining momentum, and we look forward to supporting its role as a bridge between MDPI and the global academic community.
“Our conference team managed this event with great agility and professionalism”
Closing Thoughts
Recognizing our outstanding reviewers
As we close this edition of the newsletter, I would like to spotlight MDPI’s 2024 Outstanding Reviewer Awards, which showcase a group of winners whose contributions often go unseen but are essential to the integrity of scholarly publishing: our reviewers.
In 2024, more than 215,000 reviewers dedicated their time and expertise to MDPI journals. From this community, we are proud to recognize 356 recipients of the Outstanding Reviewer Awards, who went above and beyond by providing timely, thorough and constructive feedback.
These awards are not only a token of our appreciation but also a reflection of the values we stand for: rigor, fairness and collaboration in advancing science.
To explore the full list of awardees across disciplines, from life sciences to the humanities, please visit the following pages:
- Biology and Life Sciences
- Business and Economics
- Chemistry and Materials Science
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Engineering
- Environmental and Earth Sciences
- Medicine and Pharmacology
- Physical Sciences
- Public Health and Healthcare
- Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
About MDPI Awards
To recognize the academic community, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. Serving as a source of recognition and inspiration, these awards help increase the influence of scholars who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their respective fields.
To explore more opening Outstanding Reviewer Awards, please click here.
To all our reviewers: thank you for being the foundation of trust that makes open access publishing possible!
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
18 August 2025
Tourism and Hospitality | Invitation to Explore the Editor’s Choice Articles
14 August 2025
Tourism and Hospitality | Notable Papers in Climate Change and Tourism
13 August 2025
Tourism and Hospitality | Notable Papers in Artificial Intelligence and Tourism
7 August 2025
Media Partnership Between Tourism and Hospitality and the International Tourism Congress (ITC’25), 26–28 November 2025, Porto, Portugal
