Announcements

MDPI is honored to announce the recipients of the 2025 Best Paper Awards, celebrating exceptional research for its scientific merit and broad impact. After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by Academic Editors, this year’s awards showcase papers that stand out for their innovation, relevance, and high-quality presentation.

Out of a highly competitive pool, 396 winning papers have been recognized for their exceptional contributions. We congratulate these authors for pushing the boundaries of their respective disciplines.

At MDPI, we are dedicated to broadening the reach of innovative science. To learn more about the award-winning papers and explore research projects in your field of study, please visit the following links:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Business and Economics;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Computer Sciences and Mathematics;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities;
• Physical Sciences;
• Public Health and Healthcare.

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the global research community and enhance academic dialogue, MDPI journals regularly host award programs across diverse scientific disciplines. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and whose work drives the advancement of their fields.

Explore the Best Paper Awards open for participation, please click here.

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.

This conference is the first of its kind and is organized by the Professional Committee on Resource Activation and Urban Renewal, China Society of Natural Resources; Professional Committee on Population and Resources, China Society of Natural Resources; and Editorial Work Committee, China Society of Natural Resources. This conference brings together universities colloquially known in China as the “Old Eight Universities” of Urban Planning and Architecture—including Peking University, Nanjing University, South China Normal University, Hunan University and so on. These institutions are not only top-tier “Project 985” universities but also pioneers at the forefront of the latest advancements in the fields of urban studies and architecture. Collaborating with professors from these universities will not only expand the regional influence of journals in MDPI but also enhance the journal's domestic reputation, thereby attracting a greater volume of submissions and facilitating the development of more Special Issues.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Urban Science;
• World;
• Architecture;
• Land;
• Administrative Sciences.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us online. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at the conference and answering any questions that you have. For more information about this event, please visit the following website: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4ZwHwjITWMERk_XqnntMdg?scene=1.

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).

We are delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 Tu Youyou Award. Named after Nobel Laureate Tu Youyou, whose discovery of artemisinin has saved millions of lives, this award recognizes researchers whose work advances the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, while also contributing to human health.

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 recognized scientists 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 nominations online via the following link: https://tuyouyouprize.org/nomination

Important Dates

– Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026
– Winner Announcement: March 2027

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/). For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.

As a pioneer in open access publishing, MDPI maintains rigorous publication standards. This mission relies on the dedication and expertise of our reviewers, who invest their time and knowledge to ensure the quality and integrity of the research we publish.

In 2025, over 209,000 reviewers contributed to the peer-review process at MDPI, providing more than 1.3 million review reports for our journals. To express our gratitude, MDPI’s Reviewer Recognition Program highlights reviewers across over 400 journals, featuring those who have assessed at least one manuscript and agreed to be acknowledged.

In addition, MDPI has identified its Top 1000 Reviewers of 2024 to recognize those whose expertise, dedication, and thoughtful evaluations were particularly outstanding.

Many journals have also established Outstanding Reviewer Awards to honor our reviewers’ commitment to publication excellence. Together with the Exceptional Reviewer List, we showcase the importance of reviewers’ work and their time and dedication.

These initiatives serve to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude towards the whole reviewer community. In recognition of their contributions, we also welcome new researchers to join this community. If you would like to contribute to open access publishing, learn more about the reviewers’ benefits and sign up to join us.

Observed annually on 23 March, World Meteorological Day highlights the vital role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in safeguarding lives, supporting sustainable development, and enhancing societal resilience to weather-, climate-, and water-related hazards. The 2026 theme, “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow”, underscores the importance of advancing observation systems and scientific knowledge to better anticipate risks and protect future generations.

Reflecting this mission, established MDPI journals in Environmental and Earth Sciences serve as platforms for scholarly exchange and collaboration, advancing research on climate processes, atmospheric and hydrological dynamics, environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction, and the role of emerging technologies in Earth system observation and analysis. Through these efforts, MDPI supports meaningful dialogue and research addressing both current and emerging challenges in weather, climate, and environmental science.

Prof. Dr. John Boland, Adelaide University, Australia	Dr. Edoardo Bucchignani, CIRA – Italian Aerospace Research Center, Italy
Dr. Dimitris Kaskaoutis, University of Western Macedonia, Greece	Dr. Kostas Eleftheratos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Register for this webinar for free here!

“Climatic Changes Shift Macroalgal Assemblages from Cold- to Warm-Adapted Species: The Venice Lagoon as a Study Case”
by Adriano Sfriso, Yari Tomio and Andrea Augusto Sfriso
Environments 2025, 12(5), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12050149

“Urban Microclimates in a Warming World: Land Surface Temperature (LST) Trends Across Ten Major Cities on Seven Continents”
by Yiğitalp Kara and Veli Yavuz
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(4), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9040115

“Summer Diurnal LST Variability Across Local Climate Zones Using ECOSTRESS Data in Lecce and Milan”
by Gianluca Pappaccogli, Antonio Esposito and Riccardo Buccolieri
Atmosphere 2025, 16(4), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16040377

“Assessing Drought Severity in Greece Using Geospatial Data and Environmental Indices”
by Constantina Vasilakou, Dimitrios E. Tsesmelis, Kleomenis Kalogeropoulos, Pantelis E. Barouchas, Ilias Machairas, Elissavet G. Feloni, Andreas Tsatsaris and Christos A. Karavitis
Geomatics 2025, 5(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/geomatics5010010

“A Performance Comparison Study on Climate Prediction in Weifang City Using Different Deep Learning Models”
by Qingchun Guo, Zhenfang He, Zhaosheng Wang, Shuaisen Qiao, Jingshu Zhu and Jiaxin Chen
Water 2024, 16(19), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192870

“Peruvian North Coast Climate Variability and Regional Ocean–Atmosphere Forcing”
by Mark R. Jury and Luis E. Alfaro-Garcia
Coasts 2024, 4(3), 508-534; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4030026

Special Issues:

“Applications of Multi-Instrument Remote Sensing in Climate Change and Sustainability Monitoring” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. John J. Qu, Prof. Dr. Xianjun Hao and Dr. Zhiliang Zhu Submission deadline: 31 May 2026	“Changing Coastal Ecosystems Under the Context of Climate Change, Restoration, Rehabilitation, and Urbanization” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Linda J. Walters, Dr. Lisa G. Chambers and Dr. Melinda J. Donnelly Submission deadline: 30 November 2026

“Impacts of Extreme Storms in Surface Water Resources, Systems, and Infrastructure—Evidence from Storm Daniel (2023) in Greece”
by Michalis Diakakis, Petros Andriopoulos, Andromachi Sarantopoulou, Ioannis Kapris, Christos Filis, Aliki Konsolaki, Emmanuel Vassilakis and Panagiotis Nastos
GeoHazards 2026, 7(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards7010014

“Wind Regime Variability and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Aeolian Sand Hazards Along a Gobi Desert Highway in the Ejin Banner, Northern China”
by Xixi Ma, Jianhua Xiao, Zhengyi Yao, Xuefeng Hong and Xinglu Gao
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1645; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031645

“A Case Study of a Wintertime Low-Level Jet Associated with a Downslope Wind Event at the Tiksi Observatory (Laptev Sea, Siberia)”
by Günther Heinemann
Meteorology 2025, 4(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/meteorology4010007

“Characterizing the Tropical Cyclones Activity over Arabian Sea (1982–2021)”
by Abdulhaleem H. Labban, H. M. Hasanean, Ali Almahri, Ali Salem Al-Sakkaf and Mahmoud A. A. Hussein
Oceans 2024, 5(4), 840-856; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans5040048

“A Case Study of the Possible Meteorological Causes of Unexpected Fire Behavior in the Pantanal Wetland, Brazil”
by Flavio T. Couto, Filippe L. M. Santos, Cátia Campos, Carolina Purificação, Nuno Andrade, Juan M. López-Vega and Matthieu Lacroix
Earth 2024, 5(3), 548-563; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5030028

Special Issues:

“Climate Change Scenarios and Impacts for the Mountain Regions at Middle Latitudes” Guest Editors: Dr. Teodoro Georgiadis, Dr. Massimiliano Fazzini and Dr. Letizia Cremonini Submission deadline: 31 July 2026	“Observations, Modeling, and Theory of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Yubin Li Submission deadline: 31 August 2026

“Deep Learning-Based Multi-Source Precipitation Forecasting in Arid Regions Using Different Optimizations: A Case Study from Konya, Turkey”
by Vahdettin Demir
Forecasting 2025, 7(4), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast7040060

“Climatic and Forest Drivers of Wildfires in South Korea (1980–2024): Trends, Predictions, and the Role of the Wildland–Urban Interface”
by Jinchan Park, Jihoon Suh and Minho Baek
Forests 2025, 16(9), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16091476

“Systematic Biases in Tropical Drought Monitoring: Rethinking SPI Application in Mesoamerica’s Humid Regions”
by David Romero and Eric J. Alfaro
Meteorology 2025, 4(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/meteorology4030018

“Impact of Climate Conditions on the Sensitivity of Long-Term Annual River Flow in a Cascade-Dammed River System: The Brda River Case Study (Poland)”
by Dawid Szatten, Edward Zbigniew Łaszyca, Alberto Bosino, Mattia De Amicis and Oleksandr Obodovskyi
Geosciences 2025, 15(6), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15060197

“Challenges of Artificial Intelligence Development in the Context of Energy Consumption and Impact on Climate Change”
by Sergiusz Pimenow, Olena Pimenowa and Piotr Prus
Energies 2024, 17(23), 5965; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235965

“The Importance and Scientific Value of Long Weather and Climate Records; Examples of Historical Marine Data Efforts across the Globe”
by Jürg Luterbacher, Rob Allan, Clive Wilkinson, Ed Hawkins, Praveen Teleti, Andrew Lorrey, Stefan Brönnimann, Peer Hechler, Kondylia Velikou and Elena Xoplaki
Climate 2024, 12(3), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12030039

“A Novel Fusion-Based Methodology for Drought Forecasting”
by Huihui Zhang, Hugo A. Loaiciga and Tobias Sauter
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(5), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16050828

Special Issues:

“Sustainable Management of Energy Resources, Energy Strategies and Climate Change: 3rd Edition” Guest Editors: Dr. Christos Vlachokostas and Dr. Charisios Achillas Submission deadline: 24 April 2026	“Wildfire Hazards in a Changing Climate: Risks, Impacts, and Adaptation” Guest Editors: Dr. Rabindra Parajuli, Dr. Scott H. Markwith and Dr. Asha Paudel Submission deadline: 31 December 2026

The 7th International Electronic Conference on Atmospheric Sciences Organizers: MDPI and Atmosphere Volume Editor: Anthony R. Lupo Highlights Insights into Air Quality Index (AQI) Variability with Explainable Machine Learning Techniques by Claudio Andenna and Roberta Valentina Gagliardi Warming Projections of Eastern Mediterranean in CMIP6 Simulations According to SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 Scenarios by Ioannis Logothetis, Kleareti Tourpali and Dimitrios Melas Click here to read the full list of papers.

To commemorate World Meteorological Day 2026, MDPI is honored to host a special webinar highlighting the vital role of weather, climate, and water sciences in safeguarding our shared future.

Under the theme “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow,” World Meteorological Day 2026 underscores the importance of advancing observation systems, scientific innovation, and data-driven decision-making in the face of a changing climate. As environmental challenges grow increasingly complex, collaboration across disciplines and borders is more crucial than ever.

Through this webinar, we aim to contribute to the global dialogue by bringing together researchers, experts, and practitioners to explore emerging insights, technological advancements, and transformative research shaping the future of meteorological science.

Join us as we celebrate World Meteorological Day 2026, a moment to reflect on progress, exchange knowledge, and strengthen our collective commitment to protecting people and planet for generations to come.

Session 1:
Keywords: meteorology; weather science; climate monitoring; atmospheric processes; forecast modelling; precipitation; temperature; satellites
Date: 23 March 2026
Time: Session 1: 10:00 a.m. CET |8:00 p.m. AEST | 5:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 849 8585 6650
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/WMD

Register now for free!

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. Dr. John Boland, School of Mathematical Sciences, Adelaide University, Australia;
• Dr. Edoardo Bucchignani, CIRA – Italian Aerospace Research Center, Italy;
• Dr. Dimitris Kaskaoutis, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Western Macedonia, Greece;
• Dr. Kostas Eleftheratos, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

Conference: IALE-North America Annual Meeting 2026
Conference date: 26–30 April 2026
Location: Athens, USA

MDPI will participate as an exhibitor at the IALE-North America Annual Meeting 2026. We welcome researchers and professionals to visit our booth and engage with our team.

The IALE-North America Annual Meeting 2026 will be held under the theme “Landscape Ecology: Learning from the Past, Shaping Resilient Futures”. This event brings together experts and students from various disciplines, including ecology, geology, and urban planning. Highlights include hands-on workshops, plenary sessions, special symposia, oral presentations, and scientific excursions. It also offers numerous networking opportunities.

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

• Land;
• Conservation;
• Challenges;
• Urban Science;
• Journal of Parks;
• Environmental Remediation;
• IJGI;
• Geographies;
• Biosphere;
• Earth;
• Climate;
• World.

If you are planning to attend the above event, please feel free to start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information, please visit https://www.ialena.org/annual-meeting.html.