Announcements

This Academic Publishing Workshop will be led by MDPI Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Dr. Sally Wu, on “Author Training”. Participants will receive practical advice on essential aspects of writing academic articles. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the academic publishing landscape and how to successfully contribute to it.

Date: 25 February 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. EST

Schedule:

Speakers:

MDPI has surpassed the milestone of 1,000 partners within the Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP). The agreements span 59 countries, covering North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Last year alone, more than 150 new libraries and academic institutions joined MDPI’s IOAP. With the expansion of an existing consortium deal in Sweden we welcomed a further 75 partners to the program in January 2026, enabling us to surpass the 1,000-partners milestone.

The IOAP supports affiliated researchers by streamlining submission processes, reducing administrative burdens, and offering discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs). Through IOAP membership, more than 61,300 research articles received APC discounts in 2025, driving greater visibility and accessibility for partner institutions and global research communities alike.

"This milestone marks a significant step towards expanding MDPI’s global impact," said Stefan Tochev, MDPI's CEO. "Reaching 1,000 IOAP partnerships is a true testament to the growing trust and collaboration we’ve built with universities, libraries, and research organizations worldwide. We are proud to lead the way in Open Access publishing, ensuring researchers have the support they need to reach global audiences." "The success of our program is reflected in the growing global demand for Open Science and quality publishing services," said Becky Castellon, MDPI institutional partnerships manager. "Equally, institutions are increasingly seeking Open Access publishing options that support funder and national mandates. Joining the IOAP makes compliance simple."

1. What has your experience been of reviewing for the journal Water?
   My overall experience with the review process has been generally positive. I found the submission and review workflow to be straightforward and easy to follow. Academic workloads fluctuate throughout the year, and teaching responsibilities, administrative duties, supervising PhD students, as well as exam periods, frequently make it difficult to allocate dedicated time for reviews. Due to my heavy workload, I typically complete reviews during my personal or free time rather than within regular working hours. A 15-day review period could be sufficient in most cases, but flexibility regarding the review timeline is key, and extensions are welcome.
2. Ideally, how many times do you review each month?
   The acceptable number of reviews per month for me depends heavily on my academic workload. During quieter summer months, I can generally handle one or two manuscripts per month. However, during exam periods, completing reviews becomes significantly more challenging.
3. Are you ever willing to reassess a manuscript that you initially rejected?
   It depends on the other side. If a manuscript is initially rejected due to substantial issues, but the authors subsequently address all concerns thoroughly—providing well-considered revisions and clear responses to each point—then it may certainly be worthy of reconsideration. However, if the revised version returns with only superficial changes and fails to engage meaningfully with the feedback, it can feel like a repeated use of time.
4. What do you think about AI being used in reviews or manuscript writing?
   AI tools are acceptable and even helpful for tasks like language editing, grammar correction, and improving textual clarity—especially for researchers who are non-native English speakers. However, I believe that the core scientific reasoning and interpretation should remain the responsibility of the researcher.
5. What do you think about plagiarism and similarity in manuscripts?
   Similarity scores can be misleading, especially when authors appropriately reference their own prior work due to methodological continuity. This type of overlap does not necessarily indicate plagiarism. In my view, relying solely on similarity percentages without a thorough assessment can create unnecessary challenges, forcing authors to alter text that may in fact be legitimately reused.
6. What do you think about open access publishing?
   I do prefer open access publishing. In my view, it makes research more widely accessible and may also contribute to higher citation potential.
7. What do you think about the reviewer contribution recognition in MDPI journals?
   Reviewer vouchers and general certificates provided by MDPI are good ways of recognizing reviewer contributions and work. However, in the case of certificates, I suggest that offering more details on them—specifying the manuscript title, journal, and the reviewer’s specific contribution—would be even more valuable for academic career progression and institutional recognition.
   Additionally, I believe that long-term, active reviewers and authors could occasionally be rewarded with the opportunity to publish for free. This could be particularly helpful during periods of limited research funding and may encourage sustained engagement in the peer-review process.

The editorial office of Water would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all reviewers who contributed to the improvement of the journal quality by providing their expert opinion and evaluation of the submitted research.

We appreciate that thorough peer review demands considerable time and intellectual investment from our reviewers. In 2025, Water received 17,508 review reports from contributors across 119 countries and territories, demonstrating the breadth of international expertise and scholarly engagement that has strengthened our publication standards.

The reviewers who agreed to have their names published this year are listed below in alphabetical order by first name. The editorial team acknowledges with gratitude all reviewers, named and anonymous alike, for their vital role in maintaining the scholarly standards of Water.

World Wetlands Day, observed annually on 2 February, highlights the vital role wetlands play in supporting biodiversity, regulating water systems, and sustaining human well-being. As some of the world’s most productive ecosystems, wetlands provide essential services such as flood control, water purification, carbon storage, and habitat for diverse species, yet they remain under increasing threat.

The 2026 theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” spotlights the deep-rooted connections between wetland ecosystems and the cultural practices, wisdom, and stewardship of communities around the world. By drawing on traditional knowledge alongside scientific insight, this theme emphasizes how cultural heritage contributes to sustaining and restoring these dynamic landscapes.

MDPI supports this global observance by showcasing research that advances wetland science, conservation, and sustainable management, helping to safeguard these critical ecosystems for future generations.

“Effects of Pollutants in Urban Wastewater on Rhizoplane Microbial Communities in Constructed Wetlands: Resistance and Resilience of Macrophyte-Associated Microbiomes”
by Paolo Piccolo, Annamaria Gentile, Angela Cicatelli, Francesco Guarino and Stefano Castiglione
Environments 2025, 12(11), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12110414

“Generation of Nitrous Oxide by Aerobic Denitrifiers Isolated from an Urban Wetland in Bogotá, Colombia”
by Maribeb Castro-González and Verónica Molina
Limnol. Rev. 2025, 25(3), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev25030032

“Stable Water Isotopes Across Marsh, River, and Lake Environments in the Zoige Alpine Wetland on the Tibetan Plateau”
by Yangying Zhan, Chunyi Li, Yu Ning, Guichun Rong, You Zhou, Kexin Liu, Junxuan Li and Haoyang Wang
Water 2025, 17(6), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17060820

“Removal of Heavy Metals and Bulk Organics towards Application in Modified Constructed Wetlands Using Activated Carbon and Zeolites”
by Luca M. Ofiera, Purnendu Bose and Christian Kazner
Water 2024, 16(3), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030511

“Advancing Knowledge of Wetland Vegetation for Plant Diversity Conservation: The Case of Small Lakes, Ponds, and Pools in Maremma (Southern Tuscany, Central Italy)”
by Lorenzo Lastrucci, Federico Selvi, Enrico Bajona, Andrea Sforzi, Eugenia Siccardi and Daniele Viciani
Land 2025, 14(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020218

“Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Streamflow and Baseflow in the Karnali River Basin, Nepal: A CMIP6 Multi-Model Ensemble Approach Using SWAT and Web-Based Hydrograph Analysis Tool”
by Manoj Lamichhane, Sajal Phuyal, Rajnish Mahato, Anuska Shrestha, Usam Pudasaini, Sudeshma Dikshen Lama, Abin Raj Chapagain, Sushant Mehan and Dhurba Neupane
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3262; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083262

“Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems: Challenges and Perspectives, 2nd Edition” Guest Editors: Dr. Charles Rolsky, Dr. Darhan R. Khan, Dr. Ana I. Catarino and Dr. Varun Kelkar Deadline for submissions: 15 March 2026	“Sustainable Water and Nutrients Resources Management: Natural and Constructed Wetlands” Guest Editors: Dr. José Luis Marín-Muñiz and Dr. Irma Zitácuaro Contreras Deadline for submissions: 31 December 2026

From 15 to 19 December 2025, MDPI participated in the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2025 held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA at booth #922  in the Entrance Hall. The conference attracted over 25,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, with academic participants from universities accounting for 70.5% of the total.

Academic Engagement: Dialogue and Collaboration

Meet the Editors
We hosted several insightful sessions with editorial leaders from top journals:

• Prof. Dr. Magaly Koch (Section Editor-in-Chief of Remote Sensing);
• Prof. Dr. Xi Chen (Editorial Board Member of Water);
• Dr. Elizabeth Silber (Guest Editor of Atmosphere);
• Dr. Andrea Zerboni (Guest Editor of Water).

These discussions fostered meaningful connections between attendees and editors, strengthening our commitment to supporting scholarly exchange.

Environmental and Earth Sciences Journal Editorial Board Meeting

Leaders from MDPI’s environmental and earth sciences journals and editorial board members gathered for an in-person Editorial Board Meeting held on 16 December at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans during the conference to exchange updates and discuss editorial practices, peer review developments, and key challenges in the field. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared efforts to maintain high scientific and publishing standards. The meeting was attended by Dr. David L. Feldman, Prof. Dr. Zong-Liang Yang, Dr. Paul Kucera, Dr. Pavel Grosiman, Prof. Dr. Carlo De Michele, Prof. Dr. Xi Chen, Dr. May Wu, Prof. Sayed M. Bateni, Prof. Dr. Assefa M. Melesse, Prof. Pietro Milillo, Prof. Peng Fu, Dr. Dongdong Wang, Prof. Dr. Hatim Sharif, Prof. Dr. Jie Shan, Prof. Dr. Soe Win Myint, and Prof. Dr. Brian Horton.

Looking Ahead: Advancing Open Science

Participating in the AGU Annual Meeting was a profoundly enriching experience. We engaged in profound dialogue not only with authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Boards associated with MDPI, but also had the invaluable opportunity to disseminate our institutional mission to emerging scholars.

As an entity steadfastly committed to fostering open scientific exchange across all academic disciplines, MDPI reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing global scholarship. We earnestly look forward to connecting with researchers from around the world, collaborating in unison to expand the frontiers of knowledge and advocate for open science.

Dr. Simone Pagliara is currently a post-doctoral researcher at VAW, ETH Zürich, Switzerland, where his research focuses on the safe design of low-level outlets of large dams. We would like to congratulate Dr. Simone Pagliara on winning the Water 2026 Travel Award.

The following is an interview with Dr. Pagliara:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your area of research?

My name is Simone Pagliara, and I am a Civil Engineer specialized in hydraulic engineering and hydrology. I obtained a BSc in civil engineering from the University of Pisa (Italy) in 2018. Through a double degree program, I subsequently earned an MSc in hydraulic engineering from the University of Bologna (Italy) and an MSc in hydrology and water resources management from Imperial College London (UK) in 2020. I completed my PhD at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) in 2025, where my research focused on the experimental investigation of high-velocity air–water flows in low-level outlets. I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zürich, investigating high-energy air–water flows in hydraulic structures. In parallel, I work as a project engineer at Lombardi Engineering (Switzerland), with a focus on hydraulic and hydroelectric projects. My research interests include hydraulic structures, fluid mechanics, and river engineering.

2. Where did you obtain information about the journal award? In your previous collaborations with MDPI, what impressed you the most?

I got the information about the journal award from an email newsletter I received. In my previous collaborations with MDPI as a co-author of several journal papers (https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060771, https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030718, https://doi.org/10.3390/w13070971, https://doi.org/10.3390/w13152118), I was impressed by the speed and efficiency of the peer review process, as well as the responsiveness of the Editorial Office.

3. As the winner of this award, is there anything you would like to share or express?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the MDPI Water Editorial Office for this award, which will significantly support my participation in the International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures 2026 in Chengdu, China. This opportunity will enable me to present the latest findings of my research on prototype-scale high-velocity air–water flows to leading researchers and practitioners engaged in the field of hydraulic structures worldwide.

4. As you are aware, Water is an open access journal. What is your opinion on the open access model of publication?

Overall, I view the open access publication model positively, as it promotes the broad dissemination of scientific knowledge and facilitates access for researchers, practitioners, and institutions with limited subscription resources. This is particularly valuable in applied fields such as hydraulic engineering, where research outcomes can directly inform professional practice and decision-making. Nevertheless, it is essential to maintain rigorous peer review standards and high editorial quality to ensure scientific integrity, regardless of the publication model.

5. What advice do you have for researchers who are pursuing this path?

My suggestion to young researchers is to remain curious and actively engage with established researchers. The hydraulic structures community is composed of very talented people who, based on my experience, are always willing to support early-career researchers in developing their ideas and advancing their work. A valuable starting point is the IAHR Committee on Hydraulic Structures (https://www.iahr.org/index/committe/5), of which I am a member, and where I have consistently found the exchanges to be constructive, supportive, and intellectually stimulating.

6. Can you briefly introduce which conference you plan to attend with this award? What is the significance of attending such conferences in expanding your international cooperation or enhancing your academic influence?

This award will support my participation in the 11th International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures, to be held in June 2026 in Chengdu, China. At this conference, I will present the first results from a pioneering experimental campaign conducted at the low-level outlet of the recently constructed Spitallamm Dam in Switzerland. During the reservoir impounding phase in summer 2025, I carried out systematic measurements of air demand and air–water flow properties using state-of-the-art instrumentation and advanced measurement techniques. Given the scarcity of prototype-scale data on high-velocity air–water flows, these results will contribute to the quantification of scale effects and the validation of laboratory-based predictive equations, ultimately supporting the safe design of low-level outlets of large dams. The symposium brings together leading researchers and practitioners worldwide in the field of hydraulic structures, providing a unique platform for scientific exchange, critical discussion, and strengthening existing collaborations, as well as the establishment of new international research partnerships.

26 January marks the International Day of Clean Energy, a global initiative that aims to drive equitable and sustainable energy transitions, leaving no one behind and protecting our planet. As emphasized by the UN, clean energy is essential for closing the energy access gap (an estimated 1.5 billion people in rural areas still use unsafe, unhealthy and inefficient cooking systems) and for combatting climate change (over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by fossil fuel energy production). Clean energy fuels socio-economic progress, empowering vulnerable communities in terms of education, healthcare and livelihoods, while also addressing the issue of polluting fuels, which are linked to 3.2 million premature deaths each year.

Join us in celebrating this International Day of Clean Energy by exploring research that turns global goals, such as Sustainable Development Goal 7, into actionable solutions. Together, these works amplify the UN’s call to action, uniting researchers, policymakers, and innovators to build a future in which clean energy benefits everyone and safeguards our planet.

“Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, and Bioenergy-Based Hybrid System for Off-Grid Remote Locations: Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis”
by Roksana Yasmin, Md. Nurun Nabi, Fazlur Rashid and Md. Alamgir Hossain
Clean Technol. 2025, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol7020036

“Quantifying Cybersecurity Impacts on Clean Energy Market Volatility: A Time-Frequency Approach”
by Catalin Gheorghe and Oana Panazan
Mathematics 2025, 13(8), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/math13081320

“Lifecycle Management of Hydrogen Pipelines: Design, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Strategies for Canada’s Clean Energy Transition”
by Myo Myo Khaing and Shunde Yin
Energies 2025, 18(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020240

“A Comprehensive Review of Green Energy Technologies: Towards Sustainable Clean Energy Transition and Global Net-Zero Carbon Emissions”
by Vinod Kumar Sharma, Giulia Monteleone, Giacobbe Braccio, Cosmas N. Anyanwu and Nneoma N. Aneke.
Processes 2025, 13(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010069

“Integration of Crops, Livestock, and Solar Panels: A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems”
by Diego Soto-Gómez
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081824

“Long-Term Energy System Modelling for a Clean Energy Transition and Improved Energy Security in Botswana’s Energy Sector Using the Open-Source Energy Modelling System”
by Ranea Saad, Fernando Plazas-Niño, Carla Cannone, Rudolf Yeganyan, Mark Howells and Hannah Luscombe
Climate 2024, 12(6), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12060088

“Long-Term Energy System Modelling for a Clean Energy Transition in Egypt’s Energy Sector”
by Anna Gibson, Zen Makuch, Rudolf Yeganyan, Naomi Tan, Carla Cannone and Mark Howells
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102397

“Magnesium-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloys: Advances, Strategies, and Future Outlook for Clean Energy Applications”
by Yaohui Xu, Yang Zhou, Yuting Li, Yechen Hao, Pingkeng Wu and Zhao Ding
Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2525; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112525

“Real-Time Monitoring of Wind Turbine Bearing Using Simple Neural Network on Raspberry Pi”
by Tianhao Wang, Hongying Meng, Rui Qin, Fan Zhang and Asoke Kumar Nandi.
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 3129; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073129

“A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy”
by Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Lady Bravo-Montero, Jhon Caicedo-Potosí and Paúl Carrión-Mero
Water 2024, 16(7), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16071017

“Energy Management Strategy for DC Micro-Grid System with the Important Penetration of Renewable Energy”
by Christian Bipongo Ndeke, Marco Adonis and Ali Almaktoof
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2659; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062659

“Energy Transition in Vietnam: A Strategic Analysis and Forecast”
by Minh Phuong Nguyen, Tatiana Ponomarenko and Nga Nguyen
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051969

“Natural Gas Matters: LNG and India’s Quest for Clean Energy”
by Subhadip Ghosh, Rajarshi Majumder and Bidisha Chatterjee
Gases 2024, 4(1), 1-17; https://doi.org/10.3390/gases4010001

“Assessment of Bioenergy Potential from Biomass Waste to Improve Access to Clean Energy for Cooking in Mali”
by Iván Segura-Rodríguez and Ramchandra Bhandari
Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010455

The following have been selected by the Editorial Board of Water (ISSN: 2073-4441) as cover articles for 2025. They focus on a variety of areas within the journal’s scope, and we hope that they can provide insights and a point of reference for scholars in related fields.