Dive Into Sustainability: An Exclusive Interview with Prof. Dr. Siu-Kit Lau and Dr. Zdravko Trivic from NUS Department of Architecture

MDPI Singapore had the honor of meeting with Prof. Dr. Siu-Kit Lau, Topic Editor and Editorial Board Member of Sustainability MDPI, and Dr. Zdravko Trivic, Topic Editor and Guest Editor of Sustainability MDPI. Both professors are esteemed faculty members from the NUS Department of Architecture, with Prof. Dr. Lau serving as Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Research), and Dr. Trivic as Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Urban Planning program.

Their valuable insights into open access publishing and their experiences as editors for MDPI were greatly appreciated. Prof. Dr. Lau shared how, over the years, he has become more open to the concept of open access publishing, as research groups are now encouraged to apply for grants to cover open access fees. Dr. Trivic discussed how, at National University of Singapore, there is a growing interest in open access publishing, but researchers are often influenced by factors such as academic rankings and journal reputation when deciding where to submit their work.

The conversation also explored the differences between Topic editing and Guest editing Special Issues. Prof. Dr. Lau noted that while Special Issues often require more effort to gather support from researchers, Topics allow for a broader scope and are generally easier to manage due to the involvement of more editors. This approach is consistent with MDPI’s approach to flexibility and collaborative publishing, where Topics bring together diverse expertise from around the world to address important and evolving research themes.

We are grateful for the time Prof. Dr. Lau and Dr. Trivic took to meet with us and share their perspectives. Their feedback will help us continue to improve our open access publishing model, ensuring that it remains a dynamic and inclusive platform for scholars worldwide. We look forward to future collaborations and continued success together. 🤝