In 2025, scientific journal publications increasingly reflect key global challenges and trends emerging at the intersection of technology, ethics, education, and sustainable development. Topics related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the ethics of artificial intelligence, the digitalization of medicine, green technologies, and innovations in education are becoming central to research.
The purpose of this article is to identify and describe the key trends that we believe will be the most popular in the field of science and scientific publications in 2025, as well as have a high level of citation due to their relevance, in particular in databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. We have predicted the topics that will become the basis of scientific discussions and influence the development of interdisciplinary research in the future.
1. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
— is a set of 17 global goals adopted in 2015 aimed at addressing the most important social, economic and environmental challenges. They include aspects such as overcoming poverty, combating climate change, ensuring quality education and much more. The full list of goals can be viewed on the official UN website (sdgs.un.org).
In 2024, the scientific community, which, in particular, published in such scientometric databases as Scopus and Web of Science, paid special attention to such goals as:
- Combating climate change and its effects (Goal 13);
- Ensuring a healthy lifestyle and well-being for all at every age (Goal 3);
- Ensuring access to sustainable and modern energy (Goal 7);
- Inclusive and high-quality education throughout life (Goal 4);
- Developing sustainable infrastructure and innovation (Goal 9).
Why is this relevant now?
- Global challenges: Deteriorating climate conditions, pandemics, and other global crises have heightened awareness of the need for sustainable development;
- Institutional support: Many influential platforms and databases, such as Scopus, have begun to actively feature information about the Sustainable Development Goals (https://blog.scopus.com/posts/sustainable-development-goals-now-on-scopus-author-profiles);
- Expanding publishing capabilities: There is a growing number of scientific journals dedicated to sustainable development, which encourages researchers to publish their work in these areas. For example, publishers such as Springer Nature actively support programs aimed at achieving the SDGs.
Why we think this will be popular in 2025
- Global challenges. Climate change, energy crises, public health issues, and the need to ensure sustainable development amid political instability make these topics urgent priorities for scientific research;
- Citation and popularity of publications. The number of articles on the SDGs increased by 22–25% in 2024, and the citation count for such works rose by 33%. We predict that this trend will continue in 2025, and the number of publications may increase by another 20–25%;
- Implementation of new technologies. The use of artificial intelligence, Big Data, renewable energy, and other innovations to achieve the SDGs is becoming one of the most important topics in modern science.
2. Microlearning and Lifelong learning
Why is this relevant now?
- Pandemic challenges: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many educational institutions and businesses to switch to remote formats. This spurred a rise in interest in microlearning as an effective learning method; specifically, in 2024, the number of publications on this topic in Scopus increased by 28%;
- The need for personalized learning: Today's students and workers are increasingly seeking knowledge tailored to their individual needs and learning styles;
- Expanding the educational technology market: In 2023–2024, there was a significant increase in investment in startups specializing in educational technology. This opens up new opportunities for research and innovation in the field of education, encouraging active participation by researchers in studying the effectiveness of new approaches to education;
- Increasing the value of continuing education: Changes in the economy and the labor market require professionals to continuously learn. In 2024, we saw the rise of lifelong learning as a foundation for professional development, opening up new horizons for scientific research in this field.
Why we think this will be popular in scientific publications in 2025:
- Growing interest in flexible learning formats: More and more professionals are looking for ways to tailor educational processes to their individual needs. Microlearning and lifelong learning address these needs by providing effective learning solutions;
- The relevance of new educational technologies: There has been a significant increase in research on the effectiveness of new educational methods, which is stimulating academic discussions and publications on this topic. This opens up new opportunities for research examining the impact of technology on learning;
- The relationship between education and professional development: Rapid changes in the labor market require new approaches to training. Research analyzing the effectiveness of microlearning and lifelong learning will help develop strategies that meet modern requirements.
3. Economy: Socially Responsible Business (ESG) and the Knowledge Economy
Why is this relevant now?
- Impact of the pandemic: COVID-19 has heightened the focus on the importance of sustainable development and social responsibility. In 2023, we observed a 45% increase in citations of Scopus and Web of Science research papers on ESG, as companies sought new ways to adapt to a changing environment;
- Technological changes: Advances in technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence facilitate the collection and analysis of data needed to assess corporate social responsibility. This has opened up new opportunities for research that combines technology and social responsibility, and this trend is projected to intensify by 2025;
- Knowledge economy and human resource shortage: Many industries have faced difficulties in finding professionals capable of mastering new technologies and methods. This has underscored the importance of investing in employee training and retraining, since without qualified workers, companies cannot remain competitive;
- Relevance for business: Socially responsible business is becoming critical to attracting investors and improving the reputation of companies. Publications on ESG help companies adapt their strategies to new consumer and market demands, which stimulates academic discussions and increases the citation rate of such articles.
Why we think this will be popular in scientific publications in 2025:
- The growing need for social responsibility: Businesses are facing increasing demands from investors and consumers to adhere to socially responsible practices. Publications in Scopus and Web of Science on this topic will help researchers and practitioners understand how to effectively implement ESG strategies;
- The impact of ESG on financial results: Studies show that companies with high ESG ratings often have better financial performance;
- Political and regulatory changes: Given the tightening of ESG regulatory requirements in many countries, there is a need for academic publications that analyze how these changes affect business and the economy;
- Social changes and consumer benefits: The number of consumers who prefer products and services from companies that adhere to ESG principles is growing. This prompts an examination of their impact on the market and competitiveness;
- Cooperation with educational institutions: Businesses have begun to collaborate more with universities and research institutions to provide access to the latest knowledge and technologies. This has become the basis for new research in the field of the knowledge economy, as such partnerships promote innovation and development.
4. Medicine: Telemedicine and remote treatment, Medical ethics and Big Data
Why is this relevant now?
- Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: The pandemic served as a catalyst for the rapid adoption of telemedicine, as healthcare facilities sought ways to ensure patient safety while avoiding in-person contact. This contributed to the growing popularity of remote consultations and treatment;
- Growing demand for mental health: The unstable global political situation, social stress, and economic hardships have led to an increase in the demand for psychological services. telemedicine and remote psychological treatment are expected to see growth in 2023 and 2024, as patients actively seek convenient ways to receive medical care;
- Data volume growth: In the healthcare sector, the volume of data collected from various sources—such as electronic health records, devices, and social media—increased significantly in 2024. This opens up new opportunities for analyzing and improving healthcare services;
- Collaboration between technology and ethics: The increasing integration of Big Data into medical practices is challenging traditional approaches to treatment and decision-making. In 2024, we saw an increase in the number of publications in leading scientific journals on this topic by approximately 22%, and citations of such works increased by 33%. This opens up new research opportunities that require detailed analysis of the moral aspects of introducing new technologies into medicine.
Why we think this will be popular in scientific publications in 2025:
- Continuing consequences of the pandemic: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, society has come to realize the importance of access to health care;
- Technological progress: The development of new technologies in medicine, such as artificial intelligence and automation, is driving research in the field of telemedicine. This is expected to lead to an increase in the number of publications on the implementation of new technologies in medical practice by 2025;
- Changes in legislation and regulation: In 2025, new laws and regulations may have a significant impact on the practice of telemedicine, which calls for detailed analysis and discussion in scientific articles;
- Medical Ethics and Big Data – We predict that in 2025 the number of publications will increase by 41%, as medical institutions will try to find a balance between innovation and moral standards, using new technologies to improve treatment without violating patients' rights.
5. Renewable Energy Engineering and Green Technologies and Energy Efficiency
Why is this relevant now in scientific publications:
- Political and energy situation: Global political instability caused by wars, sanctions, and growing competition for energy resources has made energy independence a priority for many countries. This is driving the development of renewable energy sources and the adoption of green technologies;
- Environmental factor: In response to climate change and countries' commitments to achieve carbon neutrality, renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies have received a significant boost for development.
Trends in scientometrics:
- Rapid growth in the number of publications in Scopus and Web of Science: Since 2022, there has been a sharp increase in the number of articles on energy, particularly renewable energy sources, with growth in this area in leading engineering journals exceeding 40%;
- Mass citation: Research in this field is rapidly becoming the foundation for new technologies and policies, making it one of the most cited areas in engineering;
- Popularity of interdisciplinary research: Articles that combine engineering, ecology, economics, and energy receive the most attention among researchers.
Why we think this will be popular in scientific publications in 2025:
- Increased interest due to global challenges: We anticipate further growth in the number of publications in this field, as governments and corporations are actively investing in renewable energy;
- Massive grant support: Funding for renewable energy research has increased significantly and, according to our forecasts, will continue to grow, which will stimulate publications.
6. Computer Technology - Computer Ethics and Ethical AI:
Why is this relevant now?
- The rapid development of artificial intelligence has raised serious ethical questions, particularly regarding the transparency of algorithms, data use, and decision-making;
- The explosive growth of AI systems (e.g., generative AI) in 2023-2024 has forced the scientific community to focus on the risks of bias, privacy, and social implications.
Trends in scientific publications:
Computer Ethics and Moral AI:
- The number of articles in Scopus on AI ethics has increased by more than 85% since 2023, particularly in leading journals in computer science and the social sciences;
- The most cited works in the science network are those related to the development of standards for moral AI and their implementation in global companies.
Why we think this will be popular in scientific publications in 2025:
- We expect the number of publications on 30-40% to continue to grow due to increased attention to AI regulation and its social implications;
- AI technologies in medicine, law, and education will spur the creation of new works that focus on the responsibilities of developers and users;
- Researchers will focus on interdisciplinary approaches, combining computer science, law, and philosophy to address ethical issues.
7. Linguistics
Why is this relevant now?
- The development of generative AI, particularly natural language processing (NLP) models, is driving the creation of artificial languages optimized for handling large volumes of data and improving the efficiency of communication between machines;
- In 2023–2024, there was a growing interest in interdisciplinary research that combines linguistics, programming, and cognitive science to address multilingualism challenges in AI;
- The increase in research on the ethical use of language models has been driven by instances of discrimination, bias, and inequality in the results of AI-generated text;
- Since 2022, the discussion of the social responsibility of linguistic technologies has become a key topic at international conferences.
Why this will be relevant in 2025:
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The Rise of Machine-to-Machine Communication: In 2023–2024, the number of publications on the topic of artificial language generation increased by more than 30%. This is driven by the rapid development of automated systems that require simple, efficient, and versatile languages for machine-to-machine communication. In 2025, this trend is expected to grow by 35%, as such research becomes critical for the standardization of AI infrastructures;
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Ethical Challenges of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical AI linguistics is gaining popularity due to the active adoption of language models in the fields of education, media, and law. Since 2024, there has been a significant increase in citations of articles on cultural biases in AI, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in text generation;
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Protecting Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: Artificial intelligence is having an increasing impact on the preservation or decline of less widely spoken languages. In 2025, research focused on protecting cultural and linguistic diversity through AI will be at the peak of its popularity due to the global integration of technology into social processes;
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Integrating AI into multilingual systems: The rapid development of multilingual AI systems that use artificial languages to optimize communication is stimulating activity in this field. Publications on innovative approaches to integrating and testing such systems are becoming in demand by the scientific community.
Conclusions:
In 2025, scientific publications in Scopus and Web of Science will focus on key global challenges, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, innovative educational approaches, energy efficiency, and moral artificial intelligence. The growing popularity of these topics is due to social and technological transformations, unstable political situations, energy crises, and the development of digital technologies. Special attention will be paid to ethical aspects, interdisciplinarity, and practical application of research. The rapid increase in the number of publications and their citations in 2023-2024 indicates the relevance of these areas, and their further development opens up new opportunities for science and society.
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