Roshanak Nateghi is an Associate Professor in the College of Engineering at Purdue University, specializing in Industrial and Environmental Ecology Engineering. Her research focuses on climate change resilience, infrastructure systems, and data-driven modeling of urban energy-water interactions. Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure Resilience Urban Systems Analysis Machine Learning Applications Her recent work explores post-disaster urban recovery, cooling demand optimization in heatwaves, and climate-induced shifts in energy-water nexus dynamics. She employs interdisciplinary methods combining statistical learning and physics-based models. Scientific awards and recognitions are not explicitly listed in the provided text, but her leadership in critical infrastructure resilience research is evident through numerous publications and grants. She serves as an academic advisor and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on climate risk analytics.
Associate Professor Mitchell Harley is a leading expert in coastal erosion and hazards at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) , specifically within the Faculty of Engineering and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering . His work combines innovative technologies like CoastSnap (a global citizen science initiative) and CoastSat (satellite imagery analysis) to advance coastal monitoring and forecasting. Education: BEng (Environmental) and BSc (Oceanography/Meteorology) from UNSW (2004), PhD in Civil Engineering (2009) Supervision: Currently mentoring 7 PhD/MPhil students in areas like AI for rip current detection and satellite shoreline modeling Research Focus: Coastal erosion mechanisms, real-time hazard forecasting, and climate change impacts on shorelines. Key technologies include smartphone-based monitoring , satellite remote sensing , and machine learning . Recent Publications (2022-2025) demonstrate expertise in: Multi-decadal shoreline prediction Wave climate downscaling Citizen science applications AI for coastal safety ENSO-driven erosion patterns High-resolution satellite monitoring Scientific Recognition: CoastSnap: UN Ocean Decade Action Scientia Associate Professorship Collaborations: Leads initiatives like the Narrabeen-Collaroy Beach Survey Program (50-year dataset) and Coastal Imaging Research Network . Advises on national Coastal Storm Hazard Warning Systems .
Andrea Maranzoni is an Associate Professor of Hydraulics at the Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, Italy, where he has been serving since February 2019. He previously held assistant professor positions at the University of Parma and the University of Brescia, and has been actively involved in teaching and research in hydraulic and environmental engineering. Education: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Hydraulic Engineering), University of Parma, 2004 Degree in Civil Engineering (cum laude), University of Parma, 2000 His research focuses on the numerical and physical modeling of unsteady free surface flows, flood hazard assessment due to dam-breaks and levee breaches, probabilistic flood mapping, shallow water equations, and finite volume methods. He also investigates hydrodynamic actions on structures, mixed flow modeling, and imaging techniques for water surface measurement. His work bridges theoretical hydraulics with practical flood risk mitigation strategies. The recent publications (2023–2024) reflect a strong trend in dam-break modeling, flood hazard quantification, and theoretical advances in fluid mechanics. Key themes include probabilistic risk assessment, extension of classical equations like Bernoulli’s under non-inertial frames, and experimental analysis of hydrophobic sphere impacts. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on improving flood prediction accuracy and safety through advanced numerical and experimental methods. Scientific Awards: None listed in the provided text. Maranzoni has advised one Ph.D. student, Susanna Dazzi, and has supervised approximately 30 Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. He has received research funding from MIUR’s FFABR program (€3,000) and is a participant in the RELAID project (€600,000 total, 2020–2022). He also serves as Vice Coordinator of the Ph.D. Programme in Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Parma. He is involved in the research community through editorial roles, notably as Guest Editor for a special issue in Water (MDPI) on dam-break modeling, and as a reviewer for leading journals such as Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (ASCE) and Advances in Water Resources . He is a member of the Italian Hydraulic Group (GII), the Faculty Board of the Ph.D. program, and the CIDEA Interdepartmental Center for Energy and the Environment.
Kelly Klima is a Senior Engineer and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. She specializes in decision analysis related to energy systems, climate resilience, and infrastructure. Her work focuses on energy transitions, natural gas decommissioning, AI's energy demands, and urban heat mitigation strategies. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University and is an adjunct assistant professor there. Klima's research spans global applications, including projects in California, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and New York City. She has contributed to Congressionally mandated studies and leads the SUCCEED summer program for K-12 educators on climate and energy decision-making. Her expertise includes policy analysis, modeling, and resilience strategies for critical infrastructure. Education: Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Holds certifications as CFM (Association of State Floodplain Managers) and CCEA (International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association). Research Interests: Energy transitions, infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, AI's energy impacts, and equity in disaster response. She employs modeling and simulation to address challenges in energy systems, urban heat islands, and policy design. Key Contributions: Co-authored reports on natural gas decommissioning in California, AI power demand projections, and cooling strategies for Los Angeles renters. Her work emphasizes actionable solutions aligned with long-term climate goals. She mentors summer associates and supports policy initiatives through RAND's research programs. Labs/Teams: Leads the SUCCEED program, fostering STEM education and climate literacy among students and educators. Collaborates with federal agencies and international organizations on resilience and adaptation projects.
Dr. Jenna Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography and Environmental Science at Leeds Beckett University, School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. She is a key member of the Geography, Planning and Housing team, contributing to the development of new BSc programs in Geography and Environmental Science. Her academic journey began with a BSc in Physical Geography from the University of Sheffield, followed by an MSc in Quaternary Science at Royal Holloway, University of London, and a PhD in glacial geomorphology from the University of Leeds. Education: BSc (University of Sheffield), MSc (Royal Holloway, University of London), PhD (University of Leeds) Her research focuses on reconstructing past glaciers and understanding Quaternary environmental changes, particularly in polar and alpine regions. She combines fieldwork, computer-based spatial analysis, and numerical modeling to study sediment-landform relationships and glacier dynamics. Jenna has conducted research in the Southern Alps of New Zealand and Svalbard, investigating proglacial lakes and their influence on glacier behavior, including hazards like glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement, co-teaching in Landscape Architecture and leading sustainability initiatives. Jenna is passionate about translating environmental knowledge into real-world impact. She founded the Green Impact Team at Leeds Beckett, which achieved a Platinum award for sustainability efforts, including a campus biodiversity garden and charity events. Her teaching includes modules such as Introduction to Physical Geography and Development of the Landscape. She advocates for greater political attention to climate change and sustainability, stressing the importance of integrating science with social action. Scientific Awards: Platinum Award, Green Impact Scheme (NUS) Jenna actively mentors students and fosters a culture of sustainability through cross-course student-staff collaboration. Her work bridges physical geography with societal challenges, aiming to create a more sustainable future. She has no listed publications in the provided text, but her research trajectory emphasizes emerging proglacial landscapes and climate change impacts.
Ilaria Prosdocimi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Statistics at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She holds a PhD in Statistics from KU Leuven and has expertise in extreme value statistics and generalized additive models applied to environmental and hydrological problems. Her teaching spans courses in Data Analytics, Predictive Analysis, and Statistical Models across undergraduate and graduate programs, including the Science and Management of Climate Change and Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on extreme value theory in hydrology, with a particular interest in flood frequency analysis, rainfall extremes, and climate change impacts. She has contributed to projects like RISE (Rethinking and Innovating Statistics for Extremes), funded by MIUR, and serves on editorial boards for journals like Hydrological Sciences Journal and Advances in Water Resources . Prosdocimi’s recent work analyzes air quality policies in Venice, trends in hydrological extremes across Europe, and the statistical attribution of environmental changes. She collaborates internationally, including with UK institutions, and has published extensively on methodologies for coherent estimation of rainfall and flood risks. Grants & Projects RISE: Rethinking and Innovating Statistics for Extremes (MIUR-PRIN, 2023–2026) Labs/Teams Active in the Environmental Statistics research group at Ca' Foscari, collaborating with Isadora Antoniano Villalobos and international hydrological networks.
Prof Terrence Fernando is a leading academic and research innovator in the fields of virtual environments, urban simulation, and disaster resilience. He serves as Director of the THINKlab and has led major multi-institutional research initiatives across the UK and internationally. His work bridges engineering, urban planning, and digital collaboration, with strong affiliations to institutions such as the University of Salford, UMIST, Manchester, and Lancaster. His research focuses on developing advanced collaborative platforms for urban planning, energy efficiency, and disaster resilience. Key projects include EU-funded CoSpaces, INTUITION VR Network, Visionair, Design4Energy, PROSECO, and CROSS DRIVE. Currently, he leads the GCRF/EPSRC-funded MOBILISE and ESRC/GCRF TRANS-DRIVE projects, which aim to build resilient communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Pakistan through digital infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration. His research portfolio demonstrates a consistent trend toward integrating virtual reality, unified information modeling, and multi-agency coordination to address complex societal challenges such as flood and landslide risk, sustainable urban development, and community resilience. These efforts emphasize participatory design, risk-sensitive planning, and technology-enhanced stakeholder engagement. Scientific Director, EU CoSpaces Project Core Member, INTUITION VR Network of Excellence Partner, Visionair Project Principal Investigator, MOBILISE Project (GCRF/EPSRC) Principal Investigator, TRANS-DRIVE Project (ESRC/GCRF) Prof Fernando has secured significant research grants from EPSRC, EU, and GCRF, enabling large-scale deployments in partnership with local governments and resilience forums. His projects often involve multi-agency collaboration with city councils, NGOs, and international consortia, focusing on real-world impact in urban resilience and sustainable development. He leads the THINKlab, a research center dedicated to advanced virtual prototyping and collaborative workspaces, which has developed innovative simulation and visualization technologies for sectors including aerospace, construction, and urban planning.
Andrea Ajmar is an Associate Professor at the Politecnico di Torino, affiliated with the Interuniversity Department of Territorial Sciences, Planning and Policies (DIST). He serves as the contact person for the University Language Centre (CLA) and leads research in geomatics, spatial data science, and emergency management. His work is aligned with UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and he contributes to major EU-funded projects such as LEXIS (H2020). Scientific Disciplinary Sector: CEAR-04/A - Geomatics (Area 0008 - Civil Engineering and Architecture) Research Laboratory: SDG11Lab (DIST) ERC Sectors: PE10_14, SH2_10, PE10_4, SH2_9 Andrea Ajmar's research focuses on applying Spatial Data Science techniques to transportation, urban planning, and disaster response. His work leverages GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data infrastructures to analyze urban resilience, environmental change, and emergency workflows. He has published extensively on topics including climate adaptation in cities, glacier monitoring, flood modeling, and post-disaster assessment tools. The recent publications of Andrea Ajmar demonstrate a strong trend in integrating high-performance computing, AI, and big data with geospatial technologies for urban and environmental applications. His work spans climate resilience, disaster impact modeling, and satellite-based environmental monitoring, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to sustainable development. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: BEST POSTER PAPER AWARD, ISPRS (2008) Teaching and Advising: Andrea Ajmar is actively involved in teaching and mentoring. He supervises multiple PhD students in the Urban and Regional Development and Architectural and Landscape Heritage programs. He teaches advanced courses such as "Advanced Geospatial Data Management" and "Geomatics for Urban and Regional Planning." He has also earned teaching certifications including Learning to Teach (L2T), Mentoring Polito Project (M2P), and Learning to Teach with Innovative Teaching Project (L2T_ITP). Research Projects: He served as the Scientific Manager for the EU H2020 LEXIS project, focusing on HPC and Big Data enabled large-scale test-beds and applications in disaster management and urban planning. Professional Service: Ajmar has held leadership roles in international organizations, including Vice-President of the International Working Group on Satellite Emergency Mapping (2013–2014), Secretary of ISPRS ICWG IV/VIII (2008–2012), and member of the ASITA Scientific Committee (2008–2012). He also served as Guest Editor for the journal Remote Sensing (2019–2021) and participated in conference program committees such as GISTAM 2019 and 2020.
Francesco Laio is a Full Professor at the Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, where he also serves as Department Director and holds key roles in university governance, including membership in the Academic Senate and the University Committee for Research, Technology Transfer and Services to the Territory. Full Professor (since 2011) Director, Department of Environmental, Land and Infrastructure Engineering Member, Academic Senate, Politecnico di Torino Member, Employers' Delegation Member, Commission for Interdepartmental Centers and Platforms His research focuses on hydrology, climate change, extreme events, and the water-food-energy nexus. He has led major research projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC), FIRB, PRIN, and Interreg, with a total funding of over €1.1 million. His work bridges engineering, climatology, and environmental sustainability, with applications in flood risk, water resource management, and socio-hydrological systems. His recent publications highlight a strong trend in hydrological modeling, climate change impacts on flood frequency, atmospheric moisture tracking, and innovative citizen science initiatives such as the SIREN project for recovering historical hydrological data. These works are published in top journals like Water Resources Research , Scientific Data , and Communications Earth & Environment , reflecting interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological innovation. Torricelli Prize (2006) – Best Young Researcher in Hydraulic Disciplines (2004–2006) He has supervised 11 PhD students and currently mentors several doctoral candidates in areas such as water footprint analysis, climate resilience, and hydrological modeling. He has also secured multiple national and international research grants, demonstrating sustained leadership in research funding acquisition and project management. He is actively involved in editorial roles for leading journals including Water Resources Research , Hydrology and Earth System Sciences , and Advances in Water Resources . Francesco Laio leads the WATERVIEW laboratory at DIATI, which focuses on hydrological and environmental systems. He is also the principal investigator of several ongoing projects, including NODES (Digital Innovation Toward Sustainable Mountain) under the PNRR Mission 4, and previously led the ERC-funded CWASI project. His team integrates field data, modeling, and citizen science to advance understanding of water systems under global change.
Colin D. Rennie is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. and MASc from the University of British Columbia and a B.Sc. from the University of Guelph, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.). He is an active researcher, educator, and leader in river and environmental hydraulics. His research focuses on river morphodynamics, sediment transport, turbulence, and aquatic habitat, utilizing advanced techniques including acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs), laboratory physical models, and 3D numerical modeling. His work addresses critical issues such as river stability, flood dynamics, hydroelectric development, and ecosystem protection. The recent trends in his publications reflect a strong emphasis on high-resolution numerical modeling of local scour, sediment transport using acoustic methods, and the morphodynamic impacts of river confluences and floods. His work integrates field data with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particularly using OpenFOAM, to understand complex flow-sediment interactions. He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (ASCE) and has served on editorial boards of Journal of Geophysical Research – Earth Surface (AGU). He is a member of professional organizations including ASCE, IAHR, CSCE, and AGU, and has held leadership roles such as Secretary of the River Hydraulics Division at IAHR. Professor Rennie currently supervises multiple graduate students, including Yi Man, Xiatong Cai, Qingcheng Yu, and others, supporting research in sediment dynamics and hydraulic modeling. He has secured research funding for projects related to river flooding, ice processes, and habitat restoration. His teaching includes CVG3116 (Hydraulics), CVG4001 (Introduction to Civil Engineering Design), CVG4907 (Design Project), CVG5162 (River Hydraulics), and CVG5160 (Sediment Transport). His research has been conducted globally, with collaborations in New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, and China, where he has led field campaigns and trained researchers in spatial mapping of water and sediment fluxes. He has applied his expertise to major flood events, including the 2013 Alberta flood and the 2017–2019 Ottawa River floods.
Dr. Harry Williams is a Professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of North Texas (UNT). He is an editorial board member of the Journal of Coastal Research and conducts research at the intersection of geomorphology, natural hazards, and human-environment interactions. Research Interests Dr. Williams specializes in coastal geomorphology, with a focus on hurricane storm surge sedimentation, paleotempestology (study of ancient storms), and the impacts of urbanization on physical environments. His fieldwork-driven research spans Texas, Louisiana, Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam, using GIS, GPS, modeling, and remote sensing as key methodologies. Coastal Geomorphology : Fire Island, NY, before/after Hurricane Sandy Sedimentation Studies : Coastal marshes, floodplains, and historical storm records Climate-Hazard Interactions : Holocene climate changes and tropical cyclone variability Scientific Contributions Editorial board member of Journal of Coastal Research Published 17 peer-reviewed articles (2005-2019) on hurricane sedimentation, coastal evolution, and GIS applications Developed fieldwork-centered research frameworks for student thesis projects Academic Mentorship Dr. Williams actively mentors students through research opportunities, emphasizing professional development via conference presentations and co-authorship of journal articles. His courses include: Geology 1610: Physical Geology Geography 1710: Earth Science Geography 4350/5350: Geomorphology Foundations of Geographical Thought
Lim Mei Kuan is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Information Technology, Monash University Malaysia. She holds a PhD in Computer Vision from Universiti Malaya and has conducted post-doctoral research in Artificial Intelligence. Her career includes roles as a researcher at MIMOS Berhad (2004-2007) and visiting researcher at Kingston University (2012-2013). Education: BSc (First Class Honours) in Computer Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (2007) PhD in Computer Vision, Universiti Malaya (2015) Research Interests: Her work spans computer vision, machine learning, and their applications in smart manufacturing and digital health. Current projects include social media analytics for mental health monitoring, anomaly detection in manufacturing, and collaboration on clinical teletherapy systems. She actively explores swarm intelligence and deepfake detection technologies. Grants & Collaborations: DELTA: Inclusive Teletherapy (2022-2024) ADSM: Anomaly Detection for Smart Manufacturing (2022-2023) Sense-ED: Eating Disorder Relapse Detection (2021-2022) Awards: ITEX 2022 Silver Award for Self-Mind mental health app Labs & Teams: Active contributor to interdisciplinary projects with industry partners, focusing on AI-driven solutions for healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
Marc Parés is a Full Professor of Human Geography at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and Associate Professor in the Geography Department. He has held visiting positions at the University of Manchester, New York University, and KULeuven. As a leading researcher, he coordinates the Research Group on Urban Governance, Commons, Internet, and Social Innovation at IGOP. His roles include coordinating the Degree in Geography, Environment, and Territorial Planning at UAB. Education : PhD in Environmental Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona (2006) Master’s in Political Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona (2004) Undergraduate studies in Political Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona (1999–2004) Research Interests : Parés focuses on urban governance, citizen participation, environmental management, and social innovation. His work explores how marginalized communities navigate crises through collective leadership and civic capacity. Key themes include housing activism, austerity-era governance, and participatory water management under EU directives. Publications : His research spans urban sociology, policy analysis, and environmental governance. Recent work examines socially innovative housing models in Barcelona and NYC, resilience in deprived neighborhoods, and deliberative processes in water policy. He has authored/co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and books. Awards & Grants : Includes a Marie Curie Fellowship (2014–2016) and leadership in EU-funded projects like CAPFLO (flood resilience) and Yes, We Rent! (affordable housing). Labs & Teams : He heads the Urban Governance Research Group at IGOP, collaborating with international networks on participatory governance and social innovation.
Professor Daanish Mustafa is a Professor in Critical Geography at King’s College London’s Department of Geography, part of the School of Social Science and Public Policy. He holds a BA from Middlebury College, an MA from the University of Hawai’i Manoa, and a PhD from the University of Colorado. Previously, he taught at George Mason University and the University of South Florida before joining King’s, where he received the School’s teaching excellence award. His research focuses on critical water geographies, environmental hazards, climate risk, and geographies of violence and terror. He emphasizes post-structuralist approaches, particularly Hannah Arendt’s performative politics, to explore topics like gender performativity in Pakistan, urban horticulture cultural politics, and hydro-social territorialization in Jordan. His work is funded by organizations including NERC, IDRC, and the Belmont Forum. Teaching includes undergraduate and postgraduate courses on hazardscapes, terrorism geographies, and development-environment linkages in the Global South. He supervises PhD students on themes like water equity, disaster risk reduction, and spatiality of violence. His policy contributions include flood response strategies for Pakistan and work with UNDP, DFID, and USIP. Research affiliations include the King’s Water Centre, the Contested Development Group, and the Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (PEBES) initiative. Current projects explore artificial ice reservoirs in high-altitude regions and interdisciplinary resilience frameworks.
Brad G. Peter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas, specializing in environmental remote sensing and sustainable agricultural systems . As director of the Environmental GIS & Cartography Lab , his work integrates satellite/sUAS data, Google Earth Engine analytics, and geovisualization to address global challenges in agricultural land suitability, climate-smart crops, and hydrological dynamics. Ph.D. in Geography, Michigan State University B.A. in Geography, University of Texas at Austin Former postdoctoral researcher at University of Alabama FAA Certified Drone Pilot Research Foci: • Global agricultural land suitability mapping using cloud-based geospatial tools • Climate-smart crop scaling in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia • Flood mapping and hydrological analysis via sUAS and satellite systems • Ecological niche modeling for sustainable farming systems • Multi-scale precision agriculture for smallholder farms Scientific Awards & Recognitions: Robert C. and Sandra Connor Faculty Fellowship Wally Cordes Teaching Rapport Award ASPRS Robert N. Colwell Memorial Fellow Owen Gregg Climate Change Research Award USGIF Doctoral Scholarship MSU Climate-Food-Energy-Water Research Fellow Research Collaborations & Tools: • Co-PI on WaterServ hydrological cyberinfrastructure • Collaborator in NASA LCLUC-funded Southeast Asia land transition studies • Expert in Google Earth Engine analytics and sUAS data collection • Member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, AAG, ASPRS, and NACIS
