Announcements

2 April 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #21 - Annual Report, Swiss Consortium, IWD, ICARS, Serbia

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

MDPI Releases 2024 Annual Achievements Report

I’m pleased to share the release of MDPI’s 2024 Annual Achievements Report, which reflects our commitment to efficiency, transparency, and excellence in scholarly communication. The report showcases key themes related to our growth (highlighting our workforce expansion, new offices, journal milestones), excellence (editorial and publishing advancements), people (talent development and training), and community (partnerships, conferences, and outreach).

MDPI continues to build connections and drive scientific progress

Our mission remains clear: to support researchers worldwide by delivering an efficient, high-quality publishing experience while strengthening the global Open Access (OA) movement.

Advancing Open Access: A Global Knowledge Hub

In 2024, we published 238,000 peer-reviewed OA articles, reaching over 25 million downloads. This reinforces MDPI’s role as a global knowledge hub, breaking down barriers to access and ensuring that high-quality research is freely available to everyone. As part of the OA movement, we are actively democratizing knowledge, making scientific advancements accessible to researchers, policymakers, educators, and the public, without the restrictions of traditional paywalls.

Expanding our Workforce and Strengthening Research Integrity

Our global presence grew in 2024 with the opening of a new Seoul office, and our workforce expanded to 6,650 staff across 21 offices. This reflects our continued growth mindset and investment in global accessibility. We also continued to take a proactive stance on our commitment to research integrity, tripling our team in this area and joining STM’s Integrity Hub and United2Act. This means more rigorous quality control, stronger safeguards, and collaboration with global initiatives to detect and combat unethical publishing practices at an industry level. Our growth is about reinforcing our role as a trusted, ethical, and accessible publishing platform for researchers worldwide.

Growing Partnerships and Impact in Scholarly Communication

MDPI’s partnerships continue to thrive, with over 900 institutional collaborations, including a landmark agreement with ZB MED in Germany, covering more than 100 universities. Additionally, more than 90% of evaluated MDPI journals have been accepted into Web of Science, including 60 new acceptances in 2024, with nearly 300 journals expected to receive a Journal Impact Factor in 2025. In the same period, 37 MDPI journals were accepted into Scopus, bringing our total indexed titles to 306. Most importantly, 95% of authors rate their experience with MDPI as excellent or good – an achievement that underscores our dedication to serving the research community.

I encourage you to read through our Annual Report, which highlights these milestones and our vision for the future. Thank you for being part of MDPI’s journey in advancing open science.

Impactful Research

MDPI Renews Partnership with CSAL to Support Swiss Universities

I am pleased to announce the renewal of our partnership with the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries (CSAL) for 2025. This extension reinforces MDPI's dedication to advancing open science through transparency, efficiency, and collaboration.

Our renewed agreement with CSAL strengthens support for Swiss universities, ensuring that gold open access publishing remains both accessible and affordable for researchers across Switzerland. Among the institutions participating in this agreement are ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, along with 20 other leading institutions, further expanding the reach and impact of our collaborative efforts.

To date, over 3.9 million researchers have published their findings in MDPI journals, a testament to our role in enhancing Switzerland's position as a hub for university education and research.

Inside MDPI

Celebrating International Women's Day: Accelerating Action

In honour of International Women's Day, MDPI embraced the theme “Accelerate Action,” a global call to advance women's progress by implementing effective strategies and resources. As part of our commitment, we highlighted how open access publishing empowers female voices in research and academia.

Throughout March, we featured original blogs authored by MDPI’s female contributors, showcasing the successes of our journals and employees, and addressing pressing topics such as women's health.

“Open Access supports women in education”

Women Accelerating Action Outside of MDPI

MDPI employee Ana Zdravkovic is accelerating action outside of her MDPI role as a Production Assistant. Working with like-minded women at the award-winning Belgrade-based organization UZOR OsnaŽene (meaning ‘empowered women’), they identify serious flaws in cybersecurity, and help protect women and children against online predators by providing evidence to improve legislation and laws around cyber-attacks.

In this article, we interview Ana, celebrating the important and inspiring work that she and the organisation do.

How Open Access Supports Women in Education

Every day, women and girls face barriers in education or career progression. This is caused by a range of factors, including social expectations, poverty, and poor infrastructure.

Quality opportunities and participation in the education system by women is essential to achieving equality and fulfilling their human rights.

Here, we examine how Open Access supports women in education by removing barriers and ensuring that vital research is accessible.

Recent Advancements in Research on Endometriosis

March is Endometriosis Action Month. Endometriosis is a medical condition affecting women and young girls of reproductive age, often causing symptoms such as severe pelvic pain, irregular periods, and infertility.

More research on endometriosis is still urgently needed.

This research will help develop efficient diagnoses and better treatment for those struggling with the condition.

In this article, we explore what endometriosis is and discuss the latest research advancements on the disease.

We also curated a selection of MDPI journals, articles, and Special Issues focusing on gender equity, women in the workplace, and women’s health.​ Find out more about these by visiting our IWD – Accelerate Action landing page.

As I reflect on the month of March and International Women’s Day, I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank all of the incredible women at MDPI for your dedication to democratizing knowledge and shaping open access. Your contributions are invaluable, and they continue to shape the future of MDPI.

Coming Together for Science

The International Conference on Advanced Remote Sensing (ICARS 2025)

The International Conference on Advanced Remote Sensing (ICARS 2025) took place from 26–28 March 2025, in Barcelona, Spain. It was chaired by Prof. Dr. Fabio Tosti from the Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing (UK), Prof. Dr. Andrea Benedetto from University Roma Tre (Italy), and Prof. Dr. Luis Ángel Ruiz from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV, Spain).

Over three days, the conference explored innovations in Earth and environmental sciences, engineering advancements, and practical applications in biological and agricultural fields.

I am pleased to share that the 1st edition of ICARS 2025 was a great success, with 133 attendees out of 146 registrations. The event featured 43 short talks, 64 posters, and 103 accepted abstracts, along with nine keynote speakers and a major panel with five expert panellists.

Over 60 attendees joined the conference dinner, and the event received outstanding feedback.

The main goal of ICARS2025 was to cover how advanced remote sensing technologies are transforming our approach to global challenges.

Awards

Four awards were presented at the conclusion of the conference, sponsored by the journal Remote Sensing: Best Poster Award (€400), Best Oral Presentation Award (€400), and two Early Career Researcher Awards (1st prize: €600 and 2nd prize: €200).

Thank you to our Partnering Societies

We are grateful for the support of our four partnering societies and nine media partners, who played an important role in promoting the conference. Special thanks to our partnering societies: the European Federation of Geologists (EFG), Geoscience Energy Society of Great Britain (GESGB), Asociación Española de Teledetección (AET) – the Spanish Association of Remote Sensing, and the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE).

Upcoming In-Person Event

31 March–2 April 2025
Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security
Location: Barcelona, Spain

This event will gather plant scientists to discuss the latest research on how to feed a growing population while maintaining a sustainable agro-ecosystem.

Find more upcoming MDPI events here.

Closing Thoughts

MDPI Serbia Salon 2025: A Gathering of Academic Excellence

On Tuesday, 18 March, we successfully concluded our first MDPI Serbia Salon in Belgrade. This event provided a great opportunity to showcase MDPI’s achievements, strengthen connections with the Serbian academic community, and highlight our role as the largest publisher in Serbia. We were honoured to welcome Prof. Dr. Sergej M. Ostojić, Editor-in-Chief of MDPI journal Clinical Bioenergetics, as a guest speaker.

Over the past five years, MDPI has experienced continuous growth in Serbia, with an increasing number of publications, an expansion of Editorial Board memberships, and a greater number of active peer reviewers. The Salon allowed us to express our thanks to the Serbian research community while gathering feedback from attendees representing several major universities.

Discussion topics

As part of the event, I delivered an opening speech highlighting MDPI’s achievements and direction.

The event featured presentations from MDPI colleagues, including discussions on open science, publishing ethics, and our achievements in Serbia.

A special thank-you to all our MDPI presenters, panellists, and organizers who made his event a success. I hope the MDPI Serbia Salon becomes a tradition for years to come, creating connections within the Serbian research community.

Visit to the Science Fund of Serbia and The Ministry of Science

During my visit to Belgrade, I had the opportunity to join my colleagues Emir Ramadani (Operations Manager) and Nevena Blagojev (Journal Relations Manager) in meetings with the Science Fund of Serbia and the Ministry of Science, where we received strong support for our work in Serbia.

Both organizations highly value our presence in and commitment to Serbia, where we employ over 640 staff across our two offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad. We take great pride in creating job opportunities and supporting the community in Serbia.

“There’s a lot of exciting activity happening in MDPI Serbia”

Speaking with our Serbian Colleagues

Finally, I had the opportunity to speak with our Serbian colleagues about our initiatives to expand and to improve our marketing & communication and public relations activities.

It was great to have an open discussion with colleagues – both in person and with the hundreds who joined online.

This visit to Belgrade had been a long time coming for me. Serbia is our largest operation in Europe and there’s a lot of exciting activity happening in MDPI Serbia, including the launch of a new office floor in Novi Sad and the growth and expansion of our teams.

I look forward to returning soon and continuing to support our colleagues across our Serbian offices.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

28 March 2025
World Autism Awareness Day—“Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, 2 April 2025


Autistic individuals contribute uniquely to society, bringing diverse perspectives, creativity, and innovation. Recognizing and valuing neurodiversity fosters more inclusive communities where individuals with autism can thrive. However, many face challenges in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and social support due to systemic barriers and misconceptions. By strengthening inclusive policies, support networks, and awareness efforts, we can create environments that empower autistic individuals to reach their full potential while ensuring their rights, dignity, and well-being. 

In recognition of the International Day of Autism Awareness, observed annually on 2 April, we celebrate the contributions of autistic individuals and reaffirm our commitment to promoting inclusion and acceptance. The theme for this year’s World Autism Awareness Day, Advancing Neurodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, emphasizes the importance of integrating neurodiversity into global development efforts, ensuring that autistic individuals are included in the pursuit of the SDGs. We highlight a selection of relevant articles, Special Issues, and journals spanning disciplines such as psychology, education, public health, and social sciences. Through the dissemination of research, we aim to deepen understanding, promote acceptance, and encourage practical solutions that enhance the lives of autistic individuals. By fostering awareness and advocacy, we can work toward a more inclusive, supportive, and neurodiverse society.

Public Health & Healthcare Biology & Life Sciences

 

Medicine & Pharmacology

Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities

 

 Invited speakers:

Prof. Dr. Marios Adamou, University of Huddersfield, UK
Presentation: “Enhancing Adult Autism Diagnostic Pathways: The Role of Clinical Triage in Efficient Service Provision”

Dr. Andrey Vyshedskiy, Boston University, USA
Presentaion: “Fostering Syntactic Language Acquisition in Children with Autism”

Dr. Roberto Canitano, Univeristy of L’Aquila, Italy
Presentation: “Experimental Treatments in ASD”

Feel free to register for this webinar here. 

Cognitive and Emotional Resilience in Parents with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder During COVID-19: The Role of Promoting Variables
by Aziz Sarhani-Robles, Maria Guillot-Valdes, Maria Auxiliadora Robles-Bello and David Sanchez-Teruel
J. Intell. 2025, 13(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence13010006 

International Perspectives on Assistive Technologies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: Findings from a Delphi Study
by Paulina Tsvetkova, Carla Sousa, Daniel Beiderbeck, Aneta M. Kochanowciz, Branislav Gerazov, May Agius, Tomasz Przybyla, Merita Hoxha and Alan H. Tkacyz
Disabilities 2024, 4(4), 1138-1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities4040071 

Validity of the Greek Knowledge About Childhood Autism Among Health Workers (KCAHW) Questionnaire
by Vasiliki Zarokanellou, Alexandros Gyparis, Evridiki Papagiannopoulou and Vassiliki Siafaka
Psychiatry. Int. 2024, 5(4), 962-974; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint5040066 

The Feasibility of Whole-Body Vibration Training as an Approach to Improve Health in Autistic Adults
by Amy Allnutt, Sara Pappa and Michael Nordvall
Disabilities 2024, 4(3), 429-443; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities4030027 

The Association between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Precocious Puberty: Considering Effect Modification by Sex and Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities
by Yi-Chun Liu, Yin-To Liao, Mei-Hong Wan, Vincent Chin-Huang Chen and Yi-Lung Chen
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(6), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14060632 

Epidemiological Study of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Greece for 2021: Nationwide Prevalence in 2–17-Year-Old Children and Regional Disparities
by Raissa Kouznetsov, Panagiotis Angelopoulos, Spyridon Moulinos, Ioannis Dimakos, Philippos Gourzis and Eleni Jelastopuly
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(7), 2510; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072510

 

“Mental Health, Innovative Therapies and Assessment in Adolescents and Young Adults and Related Contexts
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. David Sánchez-Teruel and Prof. Dr. Mª Auxiliadora Robles-Bello
Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

13 March 2025
Journal of Intelligence | Highly Cited Papers from 2023


All of the articles published in the Journal of Intelligence (J. Intell., ISSN: 2079-3200) are of an open access format, where you have free and unlimited access to the full texts. We invite you to read the most highly cited papers from 2023 published in our journal, which are listed below, and hope they will bring you a cutting-edge perspective in this field and be helpful to your research.

1. ”Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration: Assessment, Certification, and Promotion of 21st Century Skills for the Future of Work and Education”
by Branden Thornhill-Miller, Anaëlle Camarda, Maxence Mercier, Jean-Marie Burkhardt, Tiffany Morisseau, Samira Bourgeois-Bougrine, Florent Vinchon, Stephanie El Hayek, Myriam Augereau-Landais, Florence Mourey et al.
J. Intell. 2023, 11(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030054
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/3/54

2. ”Reconciling Hard Skills and Soft Skills in a Common Framework: The Generic Skills Component Approach”
by Jeremy Lamri and Todd Lubart
J. Intell. 2023, 11(6), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11060107
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/6/107

3. ”Actively Open-Minded Thinking and Its Measurement”
by Keith E. Stanovich and Maggie E. Toplak
J. Intell. 2023, 11(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11020027
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/2/27

4. “Time Use and Cognitive Achievement among Adolescents in China: Depression Symptoms as Mediators“
by Xiaojie Cao and Xinqiao Liu
J. Intell. 2023, 11(5), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11050088
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/5/88

5. “A Psychometric Network Analysis of CHC Intelligence Measures: Implications for Research, Theory, and Interpretation of Broad CHC Scores ‘Beyond g’”
by Kevin S. McGrew, W. Joel Schneider, Scott L. Decker and Okan Bulut
J. Intell. 2023, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11010019
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/1/19

6. “Metacognitive Feelings as a Source of Information for the Creative Process: A Conceptual Exploration”
by Rogelio Puente-Díaz
J. Intell. 2023, 11(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030049
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/3/49

7. “Academic Buoyancy: Overcoming Test Anxiety and Setbacks”
by David William Putwain, Joost Jansen in de Wal and Thijmen van Alphen
J. Intell. 2023, 11(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030042
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/3/42

8. “An Evaluative Review of Barriers to Critical Thinking in Educational and Real-World Settings”
by Christopher P. Dwyer
J. Intell. 2023, 11(6), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11060105
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/6/105

9. “The Use of Cognitive Tests in the Assessment of Dyslexia”
by Nancy Mather and Deborah Schneider
J. Intell. 2023, 11(5), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11050079
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/5/79

10. “Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills: Age and Gender Differences at 12 to 19 Years Old”
by Tommaso Feraco and Chiara Meneghetti
J. Intell. 2023, 11(6), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11060118
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/6/118

11. “A Positive Association between Working Memory Capacity and Human Creativity: A Meta-Analytic Evidence”
by Zheng Gong, Kuan Miao, Xuerong Liu, Mengjie Luo, Yang Yu and Zhiyi Chen
J. Intell. 2023, 11(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11010015
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/1/15

12. “Adapt, Explore, or Keep Going? The Role of Adaptability, Curiosity, and Perseverance in a Network of Study-Related Factors and Scholastic Success”
by Tommaso Feraco, Enrico Sella, Chiara Meneghetti and Giorgia Cona
J. Intell. 2023, 11(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11020034
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/2/34

13. “The Role of Semantic Associations as a Metacognitive Cue in Creative Idea Generation”
by Yoed N. Kenett, Noam Gooz and Rakefet Ackerman
J. Intell. 2023, 11(4), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11040059
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/4/59

14. “Critical Thinking: Creating Job-Proof Skills for the Future of Work”
by Daniela Dumitru and Diane F. Halpern
J. Intell. 2023, 11(10), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11100194
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/10/194

15. “Emotional Intelligence and Creative Self-Efficacy among Gifted Children: Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Moderating Effect of Gender”
by Xiaoyu Chen and Li Cheng
J. Intell. 2023, 11(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11010017
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/1/17

16. “Fear of Missing Out, Emotional Intelligence and Attachment in Older Adults in Argentina”
by Marian Durao, Edgardo Etchezahar, Miguel Ángel Albalá Genol and Mariela Muller
J. Intell. 2023, 11(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11020022
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/2/22

17. “Carroll’s Three-Stratum (3S) Cognitive Ability Theory at 30 Years: Impact, 3S-CHC Theory Clarification, Structural Replication, and Cognitive–Achievement Psychometric Network Analysis Extension”
by Kevin S. McGrew
J. Intell. 2023, 11(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11020032
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/2/32

18. “Boosting Creativity through Users’ Avatars and Contexts in Virtual Environments—A Systematic Review of Recent Research”
by Jiayin Liu, Jean-Marie Burkhardt and Todd Lubart
J. Intell. 2023, 11(7), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11070144
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/7/144

19. “Preschool Children’s Loose Parts Play and the Relationship to Cognitive Development: A Review of the Literature”
by Ozlem Cankaya, Natalia Rohatyn-Martin, Jamie Leach, Keirsten Taylor and Okan Bulut
J. Intell. 2023, 11(8), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11080151
Full text available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/8/151

12 March 2025
Meet Us at the 2025 APS Annual Convention, 22–25 May 2025, Washington, D.C., USA


MDPI will be attending the 2025 Association for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convention held in Washington, D.C., from 22 to 25 of May 2025. The conference is being organized by the Association for Psychological Science, which is a scientific home to thousands of leading psychological science researchers, practitioners, teachers, and students from around the world dedicated to advancing scientific psychology across disciplinary and geographic borders.

The APS Annual Convention is an international psychological science conference which is held once a year, and the 2025 meeting will feature plenary sessions, symposia, flash talks, submitted talks, posters, educational sessions, receptions, special events, and more.

Topics:

  • Biological/Neuroscience; 
  • Cognitive;
  • Industrial/Organizational;
  • Methodology;
  • Social;
  • Clinical Science;
  • Developmental;
  • General;
  • Personality/Emotion;
  • Teaching.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

  • Behavioral Sciences;
  • Adolescents;
  • J. Intell;
  • Sexes;
  • IJERPH;
  • Education Sciences;
  • Disabilities;
  • Psychology International;
  • Social Sciences;
  • EJIHPE.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please visit our booth #308. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/conventions/2025-aps-annual-convention.

27 February 2025
More than 300 MDPI Journals Indexed in Web of Science

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

19 February 2025
Meet Us at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting, 23–27 April 2025, Denver, CO, USA


Conference: 2025 AERA Annual Meeting
Organization: American Educational Research Association
Date: 23–27 April 2025
Place: Denver, CO, USA
Booth: #332

The AERA Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of education researchers and an opportunity to showcase groundbreaking, innovative studies covering a wide array of elements in the field, ranging from early education through higher education, from digital learning to second language literacy. It is a venue where the ideas and data that will shape tomorrow’s education practices and policies will be encountered, allowing attendees to connect with leading thinkers from around the world.

The theme of 2025 AERA Annual Meeting is “Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal”. With more than 2,500 sessions to choose from, the meeting provides a dynamic experience with opportunities to learn from prominent scholars, discover the latest research, engage in stimulating conversations, and foster professional relationships.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

If you plan on attending this conference, please feel free to stop by our booth (#332). Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.aera.net/Events-Meetings/AERA-2025-Annual-Meeting.

17 February 2025
MDPI Celebrates Excellence in Medical Research with Early Career Researcher Awards


MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

  • Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
  • Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
  • Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

  • Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;
  • Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
  • Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.

5 February 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #20 - Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok, JAMS, Jisc

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

2024 Annual Meeting – Beijing (15 January 2025)

You haven’t truly experienced a New Year’s celebration until you’ve attended one of MDPI’s Chinese Annual Meeting festivities. This year I visited our annual meeting in Beijing, held on the 15th of January.

Imagine this: stepping into a banquet hall filled with 140 tables and about 1,400 colleagues from our Beijing offices, all gathered to share in a six-hour event. The agenda included year-end speeches and presentations, a variety of performances by our colleagues, a selection of awards honouring local employees for their work, group photos for the memories, and a dinner.

This may have been one of the largest events I have attended. For those unaccustomed to such an event, it might seem overwhelming, but it was quite the opposite. The atmosphere was one of celebration as everyone came together to support their peers and celebrate the achievements of 2024.

I was honoured to deliver the opening speech and a presentation highlighting our growth and investment in MDPI’s most valuable asset: our people.

“Our editorial teams represent MDPI at its finest”

I want to give special recognition to the editorial department, across all of our offices, which forms the heart of our business. These teams are the frontline communicators with our authors, reviewers, and guest editors, creating a smooth experience of processing our manuscripts. Their professionalism and kindness are often highlighted as key drivers of satisfaction with MDPI. For this, I extend my deepest gratitude to all our editorial staff, across every office. They truly represent MDPI at its finest.

Beijing is home to two of our offices, with just over 800 employees in Tongzhou and over 600 in Haidian. Thank you to our administrative teams and everyone involved in organizing these New Year’s celebrations across all offices. These events provide a moment to reflect on our shared accomplishments and appreciate the positive impact each of you has on our culture.

MDPI Offices in China

While the history of MDPI begins in Basel, Switzerland, the story of MDPI is very much rooted in China. Below is a list of MDPI’s current offices in China and their respective dates of inauguration:

  • 2008: Beijing (Tongzhou, Haidian)
  • 2013: Wuhan (Hankou, Guanggu)
  • 2019: Tianjin
  • 2021: Dalian
  • 2021: Nanjing

To date, over 381,000 MDPI research articles have been published by authors affiliated with Chinese institutions, making China our largest market. This is reflected not only in the volume of publications but also in the scale of our workforce supporting local operations and contributing to global success.

While no new offices in China were launched between 2022 and 2024 due to the pandemic and strategic planning, we remain committed to future growth here. Our plans include expanding operations as we continue to build our global workforce.

We look forward to a year filled with continued collaboration, growth, and shared success.

“We remain committed to future growth in China”

Impactful Research

MDPI and Jisc Consortium Extend Open Access Agreement for 2025

I’m pleased to share that MDPI has extended its agreement with the Jisc consortium in the UK for 2025. This renewal strengthens our partnership with UK institutions and reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing open access publishing.

Jisc is the UK’s not-for-profit digital, data, and technology agency supporting tertiary education, research, and innovation. Through initiatives such as our agreement, Jisc helps institutions access essential digital resources and infrastructure to support researchers. Currently, 62 UK institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) through this partnership.

Authors from participating institutions benefit from discounts on article processing charges (APCs), with even greater support for institutions that centrally fund APCs. This helps researchers focus on their work while simplifying the publishing process.

A full list of participating institutions can be found here.

As Becky Castellon, our Institutional Partnerships Manager, puts it: “Extending our agreement with Jisc is a reward for the strong partnership we’ve built with research institutions throughout the UK.”

At MDPI, we are dedicated to making research more accessible while reducing administrative burdens for institutions and authors. Open access publishing is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to expand its reach in the UK and beyond.

Inside MDPI

Visit to MDPI's Singapore office

During my January trip to some of our APAC offices, I also had the pleasure of visiting our Singapore office for the first time. It’s exciting to see how much the team has grown, now numbering over 55 staff members, with more joining us in February.

Welcoming and Supporting New Team Members

“Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring new hires”

I had the opportunity to connect with both experienced colleagues and new team members who are currently embarking on their careers. This visit reminded me of what it was like when I was in their shoes. I encourage all of us to engage new colleagues with empathy, as we have all been in their position. By creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we can help them settle in and learn about the corporate world, MDPI and our mission.

Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring and guiding new hires, most of whom are transitioning from academia to their first job. I’m especially grateful to colleagues such as Colin Chen, Alicia Ren, Yu Nwe Soe, Colin Wee, Amy Cham and other senior members who have contributed to shaping the culture and work environment in Singapore.

Building MDPI’s Positive Reputation

During my visit, I spoke with the office staff about the importance of their roles in building a positive reputation that helps create trust in MDPI. I shared how every interaction and communication point contributes to the marketing of MDPI and our journals. I also highlighted the career development opportunities available as MDPI continues to grow.

Connecting with the Singapore Marketing Team

I also spent time connecting directly with the Singapore Marketing team, which has quickly grown to 15 young and ambitious members. They are eager to learn and are actively contributing to our journal and corporate marketing activities. I shared insights into our corporate marketing structure and strategy and look forward to supporting them as they grow. 

During the visit, I was joined by my colleague Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing, who provided training on indexing. This training was greatly appreciated by the local staff.

Meeting with Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta

Lastly, we had the privilege of meeting Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta, Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of Technologies since 2016 and Section EiC of Metals.

Prof. Gupta is an active decision-maker for the journal and a great brand ambassador for MDPI.

Prof. Gupta has helped sustainably scale Technologies, which now has a 4.2 Impact Factor and a 6.7 CiteScore, ranking Q1 in the JCR category of Engineering and Q1 in the CiteScore category of Computer Science.

During our meeting, we discussed strategies for Institutional Open Access Partnership agreements and ways to promote MDPI journals in Singapore.

PS. During the visit, we also had the chance to participate in Lo Hei, also known as Yee Sang or the “prosperity toss.” This is a raw fish salad traditionally enjoyed during Chinese New Year and is particularly popular among Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Everyone gathers around the table as the ingredients are added one by one, and then the salad is mixed together. It was a fun experience to take part in this New Year tradition!

 

Coming Together for Science

JAMS – Journal & Article Management System

I am excited to announce the official relaunch of JAMS (Journal & Article Management System), one of MDPI’s key initiatives to support academic publishers worldwide.

With this relaunch, JAMS now offers new pricing models and flexible solutions for small-scale journals, commercial publishers, and university presses. We have also redesigned the JAMS website to enhance the user experience.

“JAMS is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process”

Explore the new website here: jams.pub

It’s also great to see the JAMS team expanding our presence at conferences and on social media to engage more effectively with the academic community.

Recently, Facundo Santomé (Senior Marketing Manager) and Alex Ramos (Senior Marketing Specialist) represented JAMS at the APE 2025 conference in Berlin, highlighting how our platform empowers small and independent publishers to streamline and scale their journal management.

JAMS was built to change that by adapting to the unique requirements of each publisher.

At MDPI, we continually invest in our growth – not only by expanding our operations and staff but also by developing innovative products that serve the academic and publishing community at large. JAMS, with its comprehensive suite of journal management tools, is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process for our partners.

Imagine a submission system that frees up your time for strategy, innovation, and impactful publishing.

Under the leadership of Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager, MDPI), the JAMS team has conducted in-depth market research to understand the challenges publishers face: endless administrative tasks, inefficient workflows, and systems that don’t always meet their needs.

If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.

What Sets JAMS Apart?

  • Scalability – Whether you're a niche journal or managing thousands of submissions, JAMS grows with you.
  • End-to-End Workflow – From submission to peer review and final publication, everything is in one place.
  • Automation That Works for You – Say goodbye to chasing reviewers and formatting issues, so that you can focus on quality instead.
  • Built by Publishers, for Publishers – JAMS is backed by MDPI’s expertise; we know exactly what it takes to run a journal smoothly.
  • Flexible & Fair Pricing – Supporting journals of all sizes, with special rates for non-profits and publishers in the Global South.

Partners Who Already Trust JAMS

If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.

Closing Thoughts

Visit to MDPI's Bangkok office

To conclude my APAC trip, I had the pleasure of visiting our Bangkok office from 22 to 24 January. The office has grown significantly, closing 2024 with a total of 445 colleagues across various departments, including Editorial, Production, Conference, Training, Journal Relationship Specialists (JRS), Managing Editors, and supporting teams in HR, Admin, IT, and Finance.

I would like to praise our Bangkok management team for their excellent work in supporting our growth and creating a positive work environment. Our colleagues here are humble, talented, hardworking, and appreciative of MDPI’s mission.

Thailand was among MDPI’s top 30 markets in 2024 for total publications. With our office in Bangkok, we have an opportunity to further promote open access while supporting local researchers and institutions. This includes open access discounts, author training sessions, conference sponsorships, and other initiatives. We currently have 25 Editorial Board Members (EBMs) from Thailand and will work on expanding this network.

Engaging with Group Leads

“Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment”

During my visit, I met with our group leads to highlight their crucial role in managing journal performance and mentoring new employees, especially given our increased hiring targets. Many new hires are early in their careers and require training, development, and support. Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment that fosters professional growth while maintaining MDPI’s reputation for service quality.

To wrap up the session, I added a personal touch by holding the door and giving everyone high-fives – a small gesture to show appreciation, boost morale, and strengthen team spirit. It’s important for our colleagues to feel seen, heard, and valued.

University Visit: King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB)

We also visited King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) to explore collaboration opportunities.

Our discussions focused on: Institutional Open Access Partnership (IOAP), Author training sessions, Conference sponsorships, Student employment initiatives, and more.

This visit reinforced the importance of building strong relationships with local universities, ensuring we continue to support and engage with the academic community in Thailand.

“My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring”

My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring. The senior team has done a great job in growing the office and creating a supportive, high-performing environment. I look forward to seeing continued success from our colleagues in Thailand.

Stefan Tochev
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG

26 January 2025
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Intelligence in 2024


The editorial team at Journal of Intelligence extends our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated reviewers whose expertise and commitment have been key to the journal's success in 2024. Last year, Journal of Intelligence received 782 review reports from 358 reviewers representing 42 countries and regions worldwide.

To recognize the invaluable time, effort, and attention to detail that each reviewer dedicates, Journal of Intelligence expresses its sincere gratitude through an annual acknowledgment of reviewers. As a further token of appreciation, all reviewers are eligible for the Outstanding Reviewer Award, which honors their essential role in enhancing the quality of our publications.

We are honored to recognize the reviewers who allowed us to publish their names each year. The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

Abilio Afonso Lourenço Klaus G. Melchers
Ananth Nag Ramaseri Chandra Kristin Lansing-Stoeffler
Andy Lane Kristina Küper
Angelo Fumia Krisztián Józsa
Anja Kühnel Krzysztof Wołk
Attila Pásztor Leslie Pendrill
Beverly Roskos Liviu-Adrian Cotfas
Bibhuti Kumar Sar Luísa Faria
Brendan A. Schuetze Maciej Śliż
Carlos Saiz Marco Koch
Carmen Flores-Mendoza Margareta Gregurović
Charles Scherbaum Maria Auxiliadora Robles-Bello
Chenggang Wu Maria M. Nascimento
Daiva Penkauskienė Matteo Angelo Fabris
David Daniel Preiss Matteo Perazzini
David Molero Meredith C. Frey
Daya Shankar Gupta Naoko Kojima
Diego Gavilán-Martín Nicholas Hanson
Fabrice Dosseville Patricia Morales Bueno
Felisa Latorre Patrick Mussel
Fernando Martínez-Plumed Paula Alexandra Rego
Florian Schmitz Paula C. R. Vicente
Francesca Borgnis Paulo Guirro Laurence
Hao Wu Peida Zhan
Heidi Selenius Phillip Ackerman
Inhan Kang Raegan Murphy
Irina A. Novikova Roberto Sanchez-Cabrero
Isabel Martínez Álvarez Rodrigo Arturo Zárate-Torres
Jens F. Beckmann Ronnie Figueiredo
Jakob Pietschnig Shawnee Wakeman
Javier Corbalán Shulan Lu
Jennifer L. Jolly Simone Di Plinio
Jerwen Jou Stefan Johannes Troche
Jesús Privado Suherman Suherman
Jianxin Zhang Tanja Gabriele Baudson
Ji-Eun Lee Tengfei Wang
José-María León-Rubio Thierry Lecerf
Julie Schermer Tomoe Kanaya
Katherine Leigh Mcneely-White Zoe Kanetaki
Katja Schlegel  

24 January 2025
International Day of Education—AI and Education: Human Agency in an Automated World, 24 January 2025


Education is a fundamental right and a powerful driver of equity, justice, and sustainable development. It opens pathways to opportunity, fosters critical thinking, and empowers individuals to make meaningful contributions to society.

On International Day of Education, we reflect on the transformative power of education in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This day serves as a call to action for accessible, inclusive education for all, regardless of age, gender, and background. As we pursue global progress, it is essential to tackle the systemic barriers that prevent millions from accessing quality education—such as poverty, discrimination, and a lack of technological infrastructure. By prioritizing inclusive and innovative educational systems, we can nurture engaged, resilient, and informed communities capable of confronting urgent global issues like climate change, social inequality, and environmental sustainability.

In celebration of this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including education sciences, social sciences, and sustainability. By sharing these findings, we hope to inspire transformative educational policies, advocate for more inclusive practices, and contribute to a more sustainable and compassionate global society.

Reading Comprehension in Older Adults—Effects of Age, Educational Level, and Reading Habits
by Bernardo Riffo, Carlos Rojas, Andrea Helo, Mónica Véliz, Paula Urzúa, Gloria Gutierrez and Ernesto Guerra
J. Intell. 2025, 13(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence13010004

Generative AI in Education: Assessing Usability, Ethical Implications, and Communication Effectiveness
by Maria Matsiola, Georgios Lappas and Anastasia Yannacopoulou
Societies 2024, 14(12), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14120267

Metacognition About Collaborative Learning: Students’ Beliefs Are Inconsistent with Their Learning Preferences
by Yunfeng Wei, Nicholas C. Soderstrom, Michelle L. Meade and Brandon G. Scott
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111104

Education for Sustainable Development: What Matters?
by Rocsana Bucea-Manea-Țoniș, Dan Gheorghe Păun, Oliva M. D. Martins, Artur J. Santos and Laura Urdeș
Sustainability
2024, 16(21), 9493; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219493

“SHIELDing” Our Educators: Comprehensive Coping Strategies for Teacher Occupational Well-Being
by Joy C. Nwoko, Emma Anderson, Oyelola A. Adegboye, Aduli E. O. Malau-Aduli and Bunmi S. Malau-Aduli
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100918

Extended Reality Educational System with Virtual Teacher Interaction for Enhanced Learning
by Fotis Liarokapis, Vaclav Milata and Filip Skola
Multimodal Technol. Interact. 2024, 8(9), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/mti8090083

Exploring Social Skills in Students of Diverse Cultural Identities in Primary Education
by María Tomé-Fernández, Eva María Aranda-Vega and José Manuel Ortiz-Marcos
Societies 2024, 14(9), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090158

Metacognitive Management of Attention in Online Learning
by Matthew Jensen Hays, Scott Richard Kustes and Elizabeth Ligon Bjork
J. Intell. 2024, 12(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence12040046

Interactive Learning with iPads and Augmented Reality: A Sustainability-Oriented Approach to Teaching Plastics Chemistry
by Sabrina Syskowski, Chantal Lathwesen, Nikolai Maurer, Antje Siol, Ingo Eilks and Johannes Huwer
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3342; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083342

Inclusive Teaching in Higher Education: Challenges of Diversity in Learning Situations from the Lecturer Perspective
by Rannveig Beito Svendby
Social Sciences 2024, 13(3), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13030140

Examining the Efficacy of ChatGPT in Marking Short-Answer Assessments in an Undergraduate Medical Program
by Leo Morjaria, Levi Burns, Keyna Bracken, Anthony J. Levinson, Quang N. Ngo, Mark Lee and Matthew Sibbald
Int. Med. Educ. 2024, 3(1), 32-43; https://doi.org/10.3390/ime3010004

Education for Environmental Citizenship in Pre-Service Teachers: Potentialities and Limitations of a Pedagogical Approach Applied at a Distance
by Elisabete Linhares and Pedro Reis
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15411; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115411

Sustainability Education Across the Lifespan Innovative Theories and Practices for Designing and Evaluating Inclusive Educational Technology and Online Learning
Topics: Generative Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

Agency in Teaching and Learning with Digital Technology: Opportunities and Challenges

International Day of Education Webinar 2025

Session 1: 24 January 2025, 11:00 a.m. CET
Session 2: 24 January 2025, 3:00 p.m. CET
Free to register for both sessions.
Recordings will be available on Sciforum shortly afterwards.

Back to TopTop