Cody Hyndman is a Full Professor and Acting Department Chair at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Concordia University, with a focus on Mathematical Finance, Machine Learning, and Stochastic Analysis. He has held significant administrative roles including Department Chair (2017–2023) and Acting Graduate Programs Director (2025–2025). Education: PhD, University of Waterloo (2005) MSc, University of Alberta BCom, University of Alberta His research spans Mathematical Finance , Stochastic Differential Equations , and Machine Learning , with notable contributions to arbitrage-free modeling, neural networks, and computational methods. Recent publications emphasize geometric deep learning and regularization techniques in finance. Scientific Awards: 2023: Concordia Academic Leadership Award Hyndman supervises graduate students in Mathematics and Statistics and co-founded the NSERC CREATE Program on Machine Learning in Quantitative Finance and Business Analytics (FIN-ML) , fostering industrial internships and interdisciplinary training.
Alison L Bain is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Geography at York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. She specializes in feminist urban social geography, focusing on LGBTQ2S suburban place-making, artistic labor, and queer geographies. Her research spans Canada and Germany, examining cultural production, spatial politics, and municipal policies in urban and suburban contexts. Education: PhD Geography, University of Cambridge MA Geography, University of Toronto BA (Honours) Geography, Queen’s University Her work interrogates queer suburban identities, LGBTQ2S service needs, and contested governance dynamics in arts districts. Notable projects include a SSHRC-funded study on LGBTQ2S suburban lives in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. She teaches courses on urban cultures, public space, and geographies of gender/sexuality. Research Trends: Recent articles emphasize queer spatial practices, suburban LGBTQ+ activisms, and the infrastructural politics of inclusion. Key themes include queer suburbanisms, cultural policy interventions, and the interplay of art, urban planning, and municipal governance. Awards: Joint sabbatical leave fellowship (YUFA/York University) International travel conference awards (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) Advising & Grants: Principal Investigator for the SSHRC-funded 'Queering Canadian suburbs' project (2016–2021). Mentors students in feminist methodologies and queer spatial theory. Courses include GEOG 5314 (Cultures of Cities), GEOG 2220 (Urban Geography), and GEOG 3400 (Geographies of Genders/Sexualities). Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary urban geographers and LGBTQ2S advocacy groups to advance inclusive urban policy frameworks and queer spatial praxis.
Professor Roy Pea is the David Jacks Professor of Education & Learning Sciences at Stanford University, with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science. He served as Director of the H-STAR Institute (2007-2021) and founded Stanford’s PhD program in Learning Sciences and Technology Design. His research focuses on technology-enhanced learning, social foundations of human learning, and interdisciplinary applications of digital tools. Stanford University, School of Education Graduate School of Education Department Courtesy appointment in Computer Science His work spans complex domains like concussion education, climate change learning, and AI-driven mental health interventions. He co-authored the 2010 National Education Technology Plan and co-edited key texts including Video Research in the Learning Sciences and AI in Education . His NSF-funded LIFE Center (2004-2014) advanced learning science theories. Recent publications address: (1) linguistic framing of concussions and reporting behavior, (2) AI chatbots for mental health, (3) "engineering fiction" to reduce climate change abstractness, and (4) immersive AR/LLM learning experiences. His research integrates data science, psychology, and educational technology. Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019) Inaugural Fellow, International Society of the Learning Sciences (2018) Honorary Doctorate, The Open University (2018) Best Bridging Paper, EDM 2014 LAK13 Best Paper Award (2013) Roy mentors doctoral and master’s students in learning sciences, advising on topics related to technology, cognition, and equity. He contributes to digital education policy through roles on advisory boards for organizations like NSF, NIH, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. His patents include methods for digital video analysis and collaborative learning systems.
Zoe Jaques is a University Reader in Children’s Literature and Dean of Homerton College at the University of Cambridge. Her work bridges literary theory, philosophy, and children’s literature, with focuses on animal studies, ecocriticism, and posthumanism. She has held fellowships at Harvard, the University of Texas, and Kent State University, and her research has been supported by the British Academy and Sasakawa Foundation. Education: BA (Hons) English Literature, MA English Studies, PhD in English Literature, PGCert in Higher Education. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of multiple literary societies including the Children’s Literature Association and International Board on Books for Young People. Research interests span intersections of children’s literature with animal ethics, environmental critique, film (especially Disney), and the history of the book. Recent articles explore poetry memorization in schools, posthumanism in Philip Pullman’s works, and ecological themes in fantasy. Current projects include the Cambridge History of Children's Literature in English and studies on entomology in Victorian childhood narratives. She supervises diverse PhD topics ranging from disability representation to posthumanist ontology in children’s texts. Awards include the 2017 Louise Betchel Visiting Professorship and 2013 Katharine F. Pantzer Jr. Fellowship. Active in academic leadership, she previously taught at Anglia Ruskin University and Birkbeck College, London.
Pardis Pishdad is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the School of Building Construction at Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Design. She directs the Smart Built Environment Eco-System (Smart Bees) Laboratory, focusing on integrating cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and innovative project delivery methods (e.g., IPD, Flash Tracking) for sustainable built environments. Her research bridges technology adoption, trust-building in construction contracts, and supply chain optimization. Education: PhD, Environmental Design and Planning (Virginia Tech) Master’s Degrees: Civil Engineering (Virginia Tech), Design Studies in Project Management (Harvard), Architecture (University of Tehran) Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering (Azad University of Shiraz) Research Interests: Her work emphasizes sustainable construction practices using IoT, BIM, and blockchain. Key areas include lifecycle cost analysis, lean construction, and smart building technologies. She explores trust dynamics and collaboration in construction projects through game theory and process optimization. Recognition: 2018 ENR Top 20 Under 40 Professionals 2016 CII National Outstanding Researcher Award 2020-2022 Georgia Tech Provost Teaching Learning Fellow Advisory Roles: Academic Advisor for CII’s Supply Chain Management Community, Vice Chair of BuildingSMART’s BIM Forum 5D Taskforce. Formerly advised the Construction Management Association of America’s Board (2016–2018). Industry Collaboration: Partnerships with Turner Construction, GDOT, and VDOT. Research on Flash Tracking and blockchain has been integrated into industry practices. Labs & Teams: The Smart Bees Lab pioneers cyber-physical systems for smart buildings, exploring AI-driven solutions and sustainable construction frameworks.
Prof. Iris F.A. Vis is a Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Economics and Business. She specializes in logistics and operations management, focusing on optimizing processes through quantitative and qualitative methods. Her work intersects logistics with sectors like healthcare, education, and energy. She leads major projects such as SMiLES (sustainable mobility-logistics integration) and designs logistics solutions for personalized learning systems in schools. She has advised over a dozen PhD students and collaborates with industry partners globally. Awards include Fellowship in the Netherlands Academy of Engineering. Education: M.Sc. Mathematics (Leiden University), PhD in Operations Management (Erasmus University Rotterdam) Roles: Captain of Science for Topsector Logistics, Member of multiple national advisory boards Research interests span sustainable transportation networks, port optimization, healthcare logistics, and educational logistics. Key projects include LNG supply chain design, offshore wind farm maintenance planning, and synchromodal transport networks. Over 45 peer-reviewed publications and 18 media engagements highlight her impactful contributions. Teaching includes courses on supply chain network design, technology-enabled innovation, and operations management at all academic levels. She advises on industrial partnerships and digital transformation initiatives in the Northern Netherlands region.
Professor Sarah Bekessy is a leading interdisciplinary conservation scientist at RMIT University's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS). She leads the ICON Science research group, focusing on urban biodiversity conservation, human behavior in conservation, and nature-positive urban design. Her work integrates ecological modeling, social sciences, and policy to address biodiversity challenges. She holds an ARC Future Fellowship (2014-2020) and has secured over AUD 12 million in research funding. Her research interests include biodiversity-sensitive urban design (BSUD), conservation psychology, and spatial conservation planning. Key contributions include the BSUD protocol adopted by governments and developers worldwide, and co-developing methodologies for the UN Cities with Nature program. She advises organizations such as WWF, Bush Heritage Australia, and the Living Building Challenge. Prof. Bekessy has authored highly cited papers (H-index 50) in journals like Conservation Biology and Nature Communications. Awards include the RMIT Media Star Award (2022/23) and the City of Melbourne Design Challenge (2020). She is engaged in teaching, supervising 8 postdocs and 8 postgraduates, and actively contributes to conservation policy through roles like Lead Councillor of The Biodiversity Council. Her research spans urban ecology, threatened species management, and environmental decision-making, with a focus on bridging science and practice. Recent projects include investigating nature-based solutions for loneliness reduction and sustainable coffee systems. She emphasizes 'everyday nature' experiences in cities and advocates for measurable 'nature-positive' development frameworks.
Carlo A. Furia is an Associate Professor at the Software Institute within the Faculty of Informatics at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). He leads the ATOM research group and is actively involved in advancing formal methods in software engineering. His work bridges theoretical rigor with practical applicability, particularly in verification, automated repair, and empirical analysis of software systems. PhD in Computer Science, Politecnico di Milano Master of Science in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago Laurea in Computer Science and Engineering, Politecnico di Milano His research focuses on making formal methods practical through automation, combining diverse techniques, and conducting thorough empirical evaluations. He is particularly interested in using Bayesian data analysis to assess software engineering data. His work spans program verification (e.g., AutoProof), contract inference, API usability, and multilingual program analysis. His recent publications highlight trends in automated program repair, JVM bytecode analysis, Android security, and empirical methodologies. These works reflect a consistent emphasis on correctness, reliability, and empirical validation in software development. Scientific service includes: Associate Editor, Empirical Software Engineering (EMSE) journal Program Committee member, FM 2026, FormaliSE 2026, ASE 2025, iFM 2025 He has advised students and leads the ATOM group, which develops tools for software analysis. He teaches courses such as Software Analysis, Programming Fundamentals, and Software Design & Modeling. Current research directions include improving empirical evaluation rigor and enhancing verification at lower code levels like bytecode.
Jaremey McMullin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, where he conducts research on post-conflict reintegration, youth peacebuilding, and veterans' politics. His work spans academic research, policy advising, and documentary filmmaking, with a focus on Liberia and the United States. Education: PhD in International Relations, University of Oxford (2006) Master of Studies in Forced Migration, University of Oxford (2001) MA in Comparative Ethnic Conflict, Queen's University Belfast (2000) BA in Government (International Relations) and Italian, Georgetown University (1999) His research centers on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR), particularly how ex-combatant youth reintegrate through livelihoods like motorcycling in Liberia. He investigates veterans’ return, stigma, and peer support, employing qualitative and ethnographic methods. His 2013 monograph Ex-Combatants and the Post-Conflict State is a key contribution to the field. His recent work explores gendered dynamics in peace processes and youth-led peacebuilding narratives. McMullin’s publications span top journals such as Review of International Studies , Peacebuilding , and Conflict, Security & Development . His recent articles examine masculinities in peace processes, community dialogues in the Mano River Basin, and the role of documentary filmmaking in peace research. He integrates visual media into scholarship, producing acclaimed films like Silkies and Liberia: Legacies of Peace . Scientific Awards and Recognition: Award of Recognition, Close:Up Edinburgh Docufest (2020) Official Selection, Ethnografilm, Paris (2022) Official Selection, Film for Peace, Toronto (2020, 2021) Official Selection, MHSA Film Festival, Colorado (2021) He advises the United Nations on DDR programming, serving on the Research Working Group of the Integrated DDR Training Group. He has led multiple funded projects, including those supported by the Scottish Funding Council. He regularly delivers invited talks and participates in international policy workshops. He supervises graduate research and contributes to public discourse through media engagement and peer review. McMullin is actively involved in research networks and has contributed to public policy impacts, particularly in shaping UN approaches to ex-combatant reintegration. His work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals related to peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Christina Hertel is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Geneva Responsible Entrepreneurship Center (GREC) at the University of Geneva (UNIGE). She holds a PhD from the Technical University of Munich (TUM School of Management) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Her research focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and collective action, particularly exploring community-based approaches for sustainable local development and impact measurement for responsible businesses. Christina leads a Swiss National Science Foundation-funded research project on community entrepreneurship and civic wealth creation. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications, collaborating with startups, incubators, and policymakers to design strategies that enhance economic, social, and environmental impact. She aims to establish Geneva and UNIGE as global hubs for responsible entrepreneurship. In teaching, she emphasizes experiential learning, designing courses that empower students to tackle real-world challenges. She organizes GREC events to foster student engagement in responsible entrepreneurship. Her research has been published in top journals like the Journal of Business Venturing and Academy of Management Discoveries, and she actively presents at international conferences such as the Academy of Management Annual Meeting and Social Entrepreneurship Conference. Key initiatives include developing frameworks for community resourcefulness in new ventures and advancing standards for responsible entrepreneurship. Her contributions span academic publications, policy engagement, and educational programs, all aligned with fostering sustainable and impactful business practices.
Tuğba Dalyan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Yıldız Technical University (2014), an MSc from Kocaeli University (2007), and dual BSc degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science and Business Administration (Minor) from Istanbul Bilgi University (2003). She has been a faculty member since 2016 and previously served as a Teaching Staff member and Research Assistant at the same institution. Her research focuses on Natural Language Processing , Machine Learning , Deep Learning , Text Mining , Data Science , and Big Data Analytics . Her work spans computational linguistics, sentiment analysis, author profiling, machine translation, and smart systems. She has led and contributed to numerous research projects, particularly in AI-driven urban solutions and health technologies. The most recent publications show a strong trend in Turkish NLP, zero-shot classification, multimodal AI (image captioning), emotional robotics, and decision support systems using fuzzy logic. Her work combines theoretical rigor with practical applications in smart cities, education, and healthcare. Best Paper Award , CICLing 2012 TÜBİTAK 2209-A student project awards (2022–2024) Horizon2020 Eşik Üstü Ödülü , MIMOSCSA 2024 TÜBİTAK 2242 competition: 2nd and 3rd place (2016, 2018) She has advised numerous student research projects, many of which have received national recognition. She has directed multiple TÜBİTAK and institutional research grants, including projects on smart homes, blockchain crowdfunding, mental health, and AI for social polarization. Her leadership roles include Head of Department, Vice Dean, and Director of Graduate Programs. Tuğba Dalyan leads research in AI and NLP with a strong emphasis on Turkish language technologies. She is involved in interdisciplinary teams working on emotional robots, smart city platforms, and citizen science ecosystems. Her lab activities focus on neural networks, text analysis, and intelligent systems development.
Robert G. Bland is a Professor at Cornell University's School of Operations Research and Information Engineering (ORIE). He joined Cornell in 1978 after roles at SUNY Binghamton and research fellowships in Belgium. He is affiliated with the Center for Applied Mathematics and specializes in linear programming, combinatorial optimization, and network flow theory. His research emphasizes algorithmic efficiency, duality theory, and applications in scheduling and resource allocation. Education: B.S. (1969), Cornell University M.S. (1972), Cornell University Ph.D. (1974), Cornell University Research Interests: Focuses on linear programming duality, combinatorial abstractions, computational methods for optimization, and applications in logistics, scheduling, and scientific computing. Notable work includes the development of new pivoting rules for the simplex method and empirical studies of network flow algorithms. Publications Insight: His work spans foundational LP theory, combinatorial optimization, and algorithmic analysis. Key themes include duality frameworks, Camion bases, and large-scale TSP applications in crystallography. Recent publications address abstract dualities and historical perspectives on pioneers like D. Ray Fulkerson. Awards: Recipient of Cornell's prestigious Merrill Outstanding Educator Award (3 times) and twice recognized as ORIE's best teacher. Member of the Mathematical Optimization Society and American Society for Engineering Education. Grants & Projects: Conducted service projects on vehicle routing and examination scheduling. Collaborated on computational studies of min cost flow algorithms and network flow performance. Labs/Teams: Active in ORIE's research groups, particularly those focused on optimization theory and computational methods.
Luís B. Elvas is an Assistant Professor at ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon's Department of Social and Business Sciences (SINTRA) and a Research Assistant at ISTAR-Iscte Research Center. He holds qualifications including a Technical Specialization in TensorFlow for AI (Coursera, 2021) and certifications in IoT/Blockchain from ISCTE and cybersecurity from Palo Alto Networks. His research spans artificial intelligence, healthcare informatics, smart cities, and blockchain, with applied work in medical imaging, data sharing, and urban analytics. Research interests include: Healthcare AI : Developing deep learning models for cardiac diagnostics, medical imaging analysis, and blockchain-based health data systems Smart Cities : Implementing IoT solutions for urban mobility optimization, disaster management, and sustainable transportation Data Science : Creating predictive analytics frameworks for clinical decision support and urban planning His publications demonstrate a strong focus on AI-driven healthcare solutions (67% of recent works) and smart city technologies (33%), with emerging interests in blockchain and NLP. Research consistently targets real-world applications in clinical settings and urban environments. Awards: Award for best internship, Order of Engineers (2022) Distinction for best internship, Order of Engineers (2021) He leads/contributes to multiple EU research consortia including AMR-EDUCare (antimicrobial resistance education), NEEM (e-health in Nepal), and Blockchain.PT. Coordinates the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Student Branch Chapter at ISCTE and developed the ManagiDiTH master's program in digital health transformation.
Lynda Gratton is a Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour at London Business School. She directs the globally renowned program 'Human Resource Strategy in Transforming Companies' and teaches a highly popular elective on the Future of Work, for which she received the 'Excellence in Teaching' award in 2016. She has led the Future of Work Consortium for over a decade, facilitating collaboration among executives from 60+ companies via a bespoke platform. Her research explores the intersection of people and organizations, with key interests in: Corporate culture and organizational learning Strategic management and HR strategy Organisational change dynamics Future of work innovation and hybrid models Longevity's societal impacts Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on workplace evolution, particularly analyzing hybrid work models, AI's human implications, and leadership during disruption. Articles frequently address resilience, technological adaptation, and redefining organizational structures for an uncertain future. Awards & Honors: Thinkers 50 Top 15 Global Thinker Warren Bennis Best Article (2022) CMI Management Book of the Year (2015) FT Business Book shortlist (2017) Tata Prize (India), NAHR Fellowship (US), HR Prize (Australia) She advises global institutions including the World Economic Forum (where she co-chaired the Council on Work, Wages and Job Creation) and served on Japanese Prime Minister Abe's advisory board. She currently contributes to MIT Sloan Management Review and The Times of London. Through the Future of Work Consortium, she leads a major initiative connecting executives worldwide to address workforce transformation challenges, emphasizing collaborative innovation.
Professor Jorge E. Viñuales is the Harold Samuel Chair of Law and Environmental Policy at the University of Cambridge. He founded the Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) and holds affiliations with the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute . His academic roles include directing PhD programs, three MPhil programs, and serving as head of research. His research focuses on international environmental law , energy law , and investment law . Recent work explores climate policy , energy transition economics , and resource governance through complex systems modeling. His interdisciplinary research with C-EENRG colleagues has been published in Nature Climate Change , Global Environmental Change , and Climate Policy . Notable scientific recognition includes the Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2021 for his co-edited volume on the UN Friendly Relations Declaration. He serves as Chairman of the Compliance Committee of the UN-ECE/WHO-Europe Protocol on Water and Health, and as co-General Editor of the ICSID Reports (CUP) and Cambridge Studies on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (CUP).
