Christos Faloutsos is the Fredkin Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, with a courtesy appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He holds a B.Sc. from the National Technical University of Athens and M.Sc./Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. His research focuses on data mining, graph analysis, fractals, and database systems. Notable contributions include foundational work on R-trees, graph mining laws (e.g., Kronecker graphs), and applications in medical imaging, network security, and fraud detection. Key projects include PEGASUS (petascale graph mining), fraud detection in online auctions (NetProbe), and tools for human trafficking analysis (TrafficVis). He has led NSF-funded projects on tensor mining, network anomaly detection, and bioinformatics. Over 300 refereed publications highlight his contributions across databases, data mining, and networks. Awards include the KDD Best Paper (2005, 2016), SIGMOD Test-of-Time Award, and recognition as a top nurturer in IT. His lab collaborations span the Parallel Data Lab (PDL), Machine Learning Department, and Computational Biology.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Brinkhoff is Chair of the Institute Board and Chair of Geoinformatics at Oldenburg University of Applied Sciences. He leads the Institute for Applied Photogrammetry and Geoinformatics (IAPG) and contributes to institutions like the Association for the Promotion of Geoinformatics in Northern Germany (GiN e.V.) and the Oldenburg Research and Development Institute for Computer Science (OFFIS e.V.). Education: Diploma in Computer Science (Informatik), Universität Bremen (1990) Doctorate in Computer Science (Dr. rer. nat.), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (1994) Brinkhoff's research spans geodatabase systems, spatiotemporal data processing, geosensor analytics, and location-based services. His work addresses Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), web-based geospatial visualization, and mobile data integration, with applications in traffic management and forensic science. Recent projects include ProSaDi (Digital Provenance and Collection Research) and contributions to the Laboratory for optical 3D metrology . He has served on program committees for ACM SIGSPATIAL (2002-2019), AGILE conferences (2010-2025), and editorial boards of journals like GeoInformatica and TGIS. Notable Lectures: 2024: Forensic applications of tachograph data 2023: Geoinformatics in homicide investigations 2022: Spatiotemporal analysis for sustainability projects 2015: Open geodata standards at FOSSGIS 2014: Mobile sensor data processing
Abhijit Banerjee is the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at MIT and Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). A 2019 Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, his research focuses on development economics, political economy, and poverty alleviation. He co-authored influential books like Poor Economics and Good Economics for Hard Times , emphasizing evidence-based policies and randomized controlled trials. Banerjee’s work addresses global challenges such as education, health, and social welfare, with notable contributions to microfinance, public health interventions, and anti-poverty programs. He holds leadership roles in global initiatives like the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel and has advised governments worldwide. His research spans topics from police resource allocation in India to the impact of information during crises like demonetization and the pandemic. Education: Bachelor’s in Statistics, Presidency College, Kolkata M.A. in Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University PhD in Economics, Harvard University Key Contributions: Co-founder of J-PAL, promoting evidence-based poverty reduction strategies. Pioneer in using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for policy evaluation. Research on microfinance, education reforms, and health interventions in developing countries. Awards: Nobel Prize in Economics (2019), Infosys Prize in Social Sciences (2009), Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2020). Grants/Advisory Roles: Collaborations with institutions like the World Bank, UN, and governments on poverty, health, and education policies. Labs/Teams: J-PAL global network, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab.
David B. MacDonald is a full Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph's Department of Political Science, housed within the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences. He holds an honorary academic position at the University of Auckland and previously taught at the University of Otago and ESCP Business School in Paris. His research focuses on Indigenous-settler relations, genocide studies, decolonization, and comparative politics in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. He has held significant grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), including principal investigator roles on projects like 'Complex Sovereignties' and 'Bi-Nationalism as Reconciliation.' Education: PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics (2001). Key publications include The Sleeping Giant Awakens (2019) and co-authored textbooks like Comparative Politics (2020). He is North American series editor for Palgrave Macmillan's Global Political Sociology. Research interests emphasize settler colonialism, Indigenous sovereignty, and truth and reconciliation processes. He has contributed to policy discussions, including advising the Canadian Senate on the National Council for Reconciliation. His work bridges academic scholarship with activism, aiming to address systemic inequalities and promote Indigenous rights. SSHRC Grants: Over $200k in grants since 2008, focusing on Indigenous self-determination and colonialism. Publications: 4 sole-authored books; 31 refereed articles; numerous edited volumes. Awards: Shortlisted for the John McMenemy Prize (2013, 2017).
Fahui Wang is the Cyril & Tutta Vetter Alumni Professor in the Department of Geography & Anthropology at Louisiana State University (LSU). He holds a B.S. in Geography from Peking University (1988), an M.A. in Economics (1993), and a Ph.D. in City & Regional Planning (1995), both from The Ohio State University. His research focuses on spatially-integrated social sciences, public policy, and GIS applications in healthcare, urban planning, and public safety. He has authored/co-authored multiple influential books and peer-reviewed articles, including works on computational methods in GIS and healthcare accessibility analysis. Professor Wang’s work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Justice. His accolades include LSU’s Distinguished Research Master Award (2023) and CPGIS Distinguished Scholar (2023). He teaches advanced courses in GIS, urban geography, and quantitative methods, and leads research initiatives in the LSU Geoscience department. His lab focuses on geospatial technologies for addressing societal challenges in healthcare access, urban planning, and crime analysis.
Dr. Mo Adda is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth's School of Computing, part of the Faculty of Technology. He holds a PhD in Distributed Systems and Parallel Processing from the University of Surrey. His research focuses on network security, distributed systems, wireless networks, and cybercrime prevention. He leads projects in the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, exploring fault management in networks, blockchain applications, and IoT forensics. With 16 supervised theses, he advises on topics like energy-efficient cloud systems and machine learning for environmental modeling. His work bridges academia and industry, addressing challenges in software-defined networks, traffic control, and secure data sharing in social networks. Education: PhD in Distributed Systems (University of Surrey) Affiliations: Centre of Excellence in Defence, Risk & Resilience; Portsmouth Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Research Interests Dr. Adda's research spans: Network security and fault detection mechanisms Blockchain applications in IoT and forensics Energy-efficient cloud data center optimization Machine learning for climate modeling Self-organizing network protocols Grants & Collaborations His projects include collaborations with industry partners on secure data leakage detection in cloud systems and resilient wireless protocols for harsh environments. He has pioneered fault classification systems using clustering algorithms and fuzzy logic. Labs & Teams He contributes to the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, focusing on digital forensics and network intrusion analysis. His team develops frameworks for privacy management in social networks and proactive routing in software-defined networks.
Dr Haitao Shi is a Researcher affiliated with the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on criminal justice systems, drug policing in China, and the intersection of technology with crime. He employs advanced research methods including quantitative tools (R, Python, SPSS), qualitative software (Nvivo, MAXQDA), and data visualization techniques (Gephi, QGIS). His current projects include studying Chinese students' experiences at the University of Edinburgh and analyzing rhizomatic networks in online drug trade funded by the Polish Ministry of Science. Haitao's work emphasizes cross-cultural comparisons, particularly in drug trade dynamics across Finnish, Polish, and English-speaking contexts. He explores topics like police professionalization in China, guanxi networks, and quota-driven policing strategies. His methodologies span cloud computing (Azure, AWS), database systems (MySQL), and version control (Git), reflecting a technologically adept approach to criminology research. Notable research themes include the role of marketing in darknet drug trade, generational conflicts in police culture, and community-based drug rehabilitation policies. He collaborates with international teams and utilizes platforms like Microsoft Azure for large-scale data analysis.
Peter Nilsson is a Professor of Economics at the Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) , Stockholm University. He also holds a guest professorship at Linnaeus University and serves as a research fellow at IFAU , Uppsala Center for Labor Studies , CESifo , and CEPR . Previously, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and obtained his PhD from Uppsala University (2010). Research Focus: His work bridges Labor Economics , Health Economics , and Environmental Economics , analyzing how early-life exposures (alcohol, lead), workplace dynamics, and policy interventions (unemployment insurance, congestion pricing) shape long-term socioeconomic outcomes. Key themes include Environmental Health Impacts on Cognition and Crime Labor Market Responses to Insurance Policies Peer Effects in Workplace Behavior Policy Design for Social Equity Scientific Awards: Nilsson has been recognized through research fellowships at leading institutions and editorial roles, including Associate Editor at The Economic Journal since 2021. His work has been featured in American Economic Review , Journal of Political Economy , and NBER platforms. Key Contributions: He provided testimony for Connecticut’s HB-5045 to reduce childhood lead exposure and contributed to Sweden’s Corona Commission report on pandemic responses. His empirical methods combine natural experiments with administrative datasets to identify causal relationships in health, labor, and environmental economics.
Professor Scott Sisson is Director of the UNSW Data Science Hub (uDASH) and Professor of Statistics and Data Science at the University of New South Wales, School of Mathematics and Statistics. His research focuses on computational statistics, particularly solving 'intractable' statistical problems through Bayesian methods, big data techniques, simulation algorithms, and extreme value theory with environmental applications. Education includes a PhD in Statistics from Bristol University (2002), MSc in Environmental Statistics from Lancaster University (1997), and BSc in Mathematics and Statistics from Lancaster University (1996). Research interests span: Bayesian statistics and uncertainty quantification Big data analytics and scalable algorithms Machine learning integration with statistical methods Extreme value modeling for climate/environment Computational techniques for intractable problems Recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on Bayesian computation, spatiotemporal modeling, and interdisciplinary applications in materials science, oncology, quantum computing, transportation policy, and ecology. Methodological innovations include likelihood-free inference, modular Bayesian analyses, and symbolic data modeling. Awards and honors: 2020 Service Award (Statistical Society of Australia) 2017 ARC Future Fellowship 2015 G. N. Alexander Medal (Engineers Australia) 2011 Moran Medal (Australian Academy of Science) 2010 J.G. Russell Award (Australian Academy of Science) 2010 Queen Elizabeth II Research Fellowship As Director of uDASH, he leads data science initiatives across UNSW. He maintains sustained ARC funding and supervises students in computational statistics, Bayesian methods, extreme value theory, and machine learning. Professional service includes editorial roles for Statistics and Computing and past presidency of Statistical Society of Australia.
Professor Ernest Foo is a distinguished academic at Griffith University's School of Information and Communication Technology, specializing in cybersecurity with a focus on industrial control systems and cryptographic protocols. With over 15 years of experience in computer networking, he has established himself as a leading expert in SCADA security and smart grid cybersecurity. His research has significant practical applications in critical infrastructure protection, and he has developed hands-on security training programs that have trained professionals from major Australian utilities and government agencies. Professor Foo's educational background includes: Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Electronic and Computer Engineering from University of Queensland Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology Professor Foo's research interests center around secure cryptographic protocols with specific applications in industrial control system security and cyber physical systems. His work spans SCADA security, smart grid protection, wireless sensor network security, and post-quantum cryptography. He has made significant contributions to understanding vulnerabilities in industrial protocols like Modbus and DNP3, and has pioneered the application of process mining and data mining techniques for attack detection in critical infrastructure systems. His research bridges theoretical security concepts with practical implementations in real-world industrial environments. Professor Foo's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated security frameworks for critical infrastructure. His work shows a progression from foundational SCADA security research to advanced applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and formal methods in cybersecurity. A notable trend is the integration of zero trust principles with industrial control systems, alongside growing emphasis on post-quantum cryptographic solutions. His publications span high-impact journals and conferences in cybersecurity, with increasing focus on anomaly detection in cyber-physical systems and the application of graph-based machine learning techniques to network security challenges. Professor Foo's notable scientific achievements include: Best paper award at the 2nd International Cyber Resilience Conference for "Gap analysis of Intrusion Detection in Smart Grids" Professor Foo has secured significant research funding including an ARC Linkage grant with Powerlink Queensland focused on cyber security for electricity sub-stations. He currently leads multiple research projects including Westpac Micro-Credentials in Financial Crime Investigation, Digital Banking Micro-credentials with ANZ, and research on quantum-safe cryptography. As a dedicated educator, he serves as Program Director for multiple cybersecurity programs including the Master of Cyber Security, and has supervised numerous doctoral and masters students. His Cyber Security: Industrial Control System course, conducted annually from 2013-2018, featured innovative hands-on training with real-world participants from major Australian utilities. Professor Foo has been instrumental in establishing the SCADA security research laboratory with multiple vendor system miniatures running industrial PLCs. His work bridges theoretical security concepts with practical implementations, making significant contributions to the security of industrial control systems and critical infrastructure worldwide.
Prof. dr. Nico Van de Weghe is a full Professor of GIScience at the University of Ghent (UGent), affiliated with the CartoGIS research unit. His work bridges computer science, social science, and natural science through geospatial information studies, focusing on enabling machines to reason spatially (GeoAI). Since 2004, he has specialized in knowledge-based AI, particularly spatiotemporal reasoning and moving object analysis, with applications in animal behavior, criminology, healthcare, mobility, and sports. Van de Weghe's research emphasizes hybrid GeoAI systems combining knowledge-driven and data-driven approaches. Keywords include GeoAI, GIScience, Spatiotemporal Analysis, Moving Objects, and Data Mining. Recent publications highlight urban road network analysis, hybrid trajectory modeling, BIM semantic enrichment, and cycling safety studies using virtual reality.
Professor Rainer Böhme is a prominent academic in the field of IT security and privacy at the University of Münster's School of Business and Economics, Department of Information Systems. He also holds a professorship for Security and Privacy at the University of Innsbruck's Institute of Computer Science. His research spans multiple dimensions of digital security, with particular expertise in steganography, digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, and the economic aspects of cybersecurity. Dr. Böhme earned his Doctoral Degree from TU Dresden's Faculty of Computer Science in 2008, following studies in Communications, Economics and Computer Science at Technische Universität Dresden and Université Paris XII. His academic journey includes positions as Assistant Professor at the University of Münster (2010-2015), Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley (2009-2010), and Scientific Staff at TU Dresden's Chair of Privacy and Data Security. His research interests focus on steganography and steganalysis, digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, security and usability, economic and behavioral aspects of information privacy, virtual currencies, and the economics of information security. His work bridges technical security mechanisms with economic and behavioral considerations, creating a unique interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity challenges. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward the economics of security, particularly regarding blockchain technologies, cryptocurrency, and privacy valuation. His work increasingly examines the intersection of technical security mechanisms with market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and user behavior. The research spans theoretical game-theoretic models, empirical studies of user behavior, and practical applications in digital forensics and privacy protection. Program Co-Chair, Financial Cryptography and Data Security (2015) Program Co-Chair, New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW) (2015) General Chair, 8th International Conference on IT Security Incident Management & IT Forensics (2014) Organizer and Program Co-Chair, 1st Workshop on Bitcoin Research (2014) Associate Editor, Electronic Commerce Research (since 2013) Associate Editor, EURASIP Journal on Information Security (since 2013) Professor Böhme has supervised multiple Master's theses in Information Systems, including work on static code analysis for smart contracts, remote maintenance protocol security, and application protection requirements in retail banking. His research is supported by significant grants from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the DFG, and the EU FP7 program, with projects focusing on digital forensics, privacy-enhancing technologies, and cryptocurrency crime prevention. He leads the IT Security Research Group at the University of Münster, which investigates theoretical and applied aspects of information security with particular emphasis on the economic dimensions of security decisions.
Farnoush Banaei-Kashani is an Associate Professor (Tenured) in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver. She also holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. As the founder and director of the Big Data Management and Mining Lab (BDLab), she leads multiple GAANN Fellowship Programs, including BDSE (Big Data Science and Engineering), DDC (Data-Driven Cybersecurity), and II (Infrastructure Informatics). She directs the 'Data Science in Biomedicine' MS Track and focuses on data-driven decision systems (DDSs), integrating machine learning and big data analytics into healthcare, energy, transportation, and environmental applications. Education: Details not explicitly provided in the text. Her research spans data management cycles for DDSs, addressing challenges like big data volume, velocity, and variety. Key projects include iWatch (crime surveillance), POCM (mobility monitoring), and GeoSIM (urban texture documentation). She teaches courses such as Machine Learning Systems, Big Data Science, and Data Mining. Publications highlight advancements in sea ice classification, federated learning, proteomic networks, and privacy-preserving AI. Her work is funded by NSF, NIH, DOT, and industry partners like Google and IBM. She has advised numerous students and contributes to academic leadership as editor, conference chair (ACM SIGSPATIAL 2018/2019), and program committee member for venues like SIGMOD and KDD.
Professor Michael C.L. CHAU serves as Professor and Deputy Area Head of Innovation and Information Management at The University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Business and Economics. He also holds the position of Associate Director at the HKU HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, and serves on the HKU Senate and Court. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona and a B.Sc. in Computer Science (Information Systems) from the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Chau's research spans business analytics, artificial intelligence, web mining, fintech, smart health, and security informatics. His work focuses on applying data/text/web mining techniques to business, education, and social domains. He leads the Artificial Intelligence Research Group at HKU Business School, which has secured significant funding from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, Food and Health Bureau, and other agencies for projects including 'The Invisible Hand in Crowdfunding' and 'Factors Moderating the Predictive Power of Social Media Sentiment on Stock Returns'. His publication portfolio includes over 150 articles in premier journals like MIS Quarterly, JMIS, and IEEE Transactions, with recent work exploring large language models, hate speech detection, and disaster-related social media analysis. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across computer science, information systems, and business applications. INFORMS ISS Design Science Award (2020) IEEE ITSS Leadership Award in Intelligence and Security Informatics (2020) AIS Sandra Slaughter Service Award (2016) HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2014) Faculty Research Postgraduate Supervision Award (2020 & 2025) Cited over 9,400 times (h-index = 47) Dr. Chau actively mentors doctoral students and has supervised numerous PhD graduates who now hold academic positions at institutions including Fudan University, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, and the University of Maryland. His research grants portfolio demonstrates sustained funding success across diverse areas including blockchain, mental health applications, and social media analytics. The Artificial Intelligence Research Group he leads maintains strong industry connections through projects with Hong Kong Red Cross and the Hospital Authority.
Kyle Treiber is a University Professor in Neurocriminology at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge , with a focus on integrating psychological, neuroscientific, and criminological theories to explain criminal behavior. She serves as Deputy Director of the Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS+) and has developed its neurocognitive dimensions and theoretical foundation, Situational Action Theory (SAT) . Education: BS in Psychology (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2001, Phi Beta Kappa), MPhil (2003), and PhD (2008) in Criminology (University of Cambridge). Leadership: Director of Criminological Research Programmes (2016–2019), Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Criminology , and member of the European Society of Criminology Executive Board. Her research examines how neurocognitive machinery (e.g., prefrontal brain functioning, self-control) and social environments interact to shape crime propensities. She specializes in multi-method longitudinal studies, dual process models of decision-making, and cross-comparative research grounded in SAT. Key themes include: Neurocognitive and moral decision-making in criminal behavior Gene-environment interactions in crime causation Space-time budgets and criminogenic environments Policy implications of integrated biosocial frameworks Recent publications highlight SAT’s application to diverse contexts like corruption , intimate partner abuse during the pandemic , and gender gaps in juvenile crime . She emphasizes refining theoretical models through empirical testing and advancing analytical criminology. Awards: Lopez-Rey Graduate Prize (2008), Nigel Walker Prize (2008). Dr. Treiber contributes to teaching programs in criminological theory, research methods, and neurocriminology. She leads the Centre for Analytic Criminology and collaborates on international comparative studies of crime causation.
