Prof. Walter Leal Filho is a distinguished academic and researcher holding professorial positions at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). He is the founding director of the European School of Sustainability Science and Research (ESSSR) and the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP). With over 30 years of editorial experience, he has authored over 500 publications, focusing on sustainability, climate change, and environmental management. His research interests span Climate Change, Urban Resilience, Natural Resource Management, and Sustainability Education. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address global challenges, such as space debris mitigation and bio-based materials for sustainable packaging. His work bridges policy, education, and practical solutions for sustainable development. Prof. Leal Filho’s recent articles highlight trends in sustainable urban planning, space sustainability, and ecosystem conservation in the Amazon. He has been recognized as a Top Cited Scholar 2024, reflecting his impactful contributions. With 1,200+ co-authors and a global network, he collaborates widely, fostering international research and education initiatives. As director of ESSSR and IUSDRP, he leads programs advancing sustainability science and interdisciplinary research. His academic leadership and prolific publications underscore his role as a pivotal figure in global sustainability efforts.
Beng Chin Ooi is a Lee Kong Chian Centennial Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), School of Computing (SoC). He holds a B.Sc. (1st Class Honors) and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Monash University. His research focuses on database systems, large-scale analytics, and distributed computing. He has held leadership roles including Dean of School of Computing (2007–2013) and Director of Smart Systems Institute (2011–2021). Key achievements include the Singapore President’s Science Award (2011), ACM Fellow (2011), IEEE Fellow (2009), and multiple best paper awards. His work emphasizes scalable data management, blockchain systems, and healthcare data analytics. Education: Monash University (B.Sc., Ph.D.) Leadership: Dean (SoC), Director (Smart Systems Institute) Awards: Over 15 major honors including ACM SIGMOD E.F. Codd Innovations Award (2020) His research spans distributed databases, big data systems, and innovative applications of blockchain technology. Recent work includes NASI (neural architecture search) and Rafiki (ML-as-a-service).
Dr. Fei Teng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London and Director of Education at the Energy Futures Lab, a pan-university hub for interdisciplinary energy research. He holds visiting positions at MINES ParisTech, PolyU Hong Kong, and KTH Sweden. His research focuses on software-defined power networks, stability-constrained optimization, cyber-resilient decision-making, and privacy-preserving data exchange in low-inertia grids. Dr. Teng has authored over 100 publications in top-tier journals and conferences, with funding from EPSRC, Innovate UK, the Royal Society, and industry partners like Hitachi and National Grid ESO. His work addresses critical challenges in grid stability, cybersecurity, and renewable energy integration. He has received prestigious awards, including the IEEE Early Career Award and Royal Society Kan Tong Po Fellowship. Research interests include high-penetration power electronics, uncertainty modeling in power systems, and data privacy in smart grids. His interdisciplinary approach integrates machine learning, quantum computing, and cyber-physical systems to enhance grid resilience and efficiency. Key contributions include frameworks for stability-constrained optimization, cyber-resilient control, and synthetic inertia from electric vehicles. He advocates for software-defined grids to revolutionize decision-making frameworks for NetZero systems.
Prof. Gabriela Hug is a Full Professor at ETH Zurich's Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, serving as Deputy Head of the Department and Deputy Head of the Power Systems and High Voltage Lab. She leads the Energy Science Center (ESC) and holds adjunct roles at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on modeling, control, and optimization of electric power systems for sustainable energy transitions. Education: PhD in Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (2004–2008) MSc in Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich (1999–2004) Research Interests: Her work addresses challenges in smart grid integration, renewable energy systems, and advanced control strategies. Key areas include vehicle-to-grid technologies, distribution network optimization, and energy storage system planning. She emphasizes data-driven approaches and collaborative frameworks for grid resilience and flexibility. Key Achievements: Recipient of the 2019 ALEA Award (ETH Zurich) NSF Career Award (2013) IEEE Outstanding Young Engineer Award (2013) Leadership & Roles: Co-Director, NCCR Automation (Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research) Board Chair, Energy Science Center (ESC) Adjunct Faculty, Carnegie Mellon University Labs & Teams: Power Systems Laboratory (ETH Zurich) Energy Science Center (multi-disciplinary research hub)
Dr. K. Max Zhang is a Professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. He is the director of the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and a fellow at the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His research is deeply interdisciplinary, focusing on sustainable energy systems, air quality, and environmental justice, with significant impacts on policy and community development in New York and beyond. Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Davis, 2004 B.S., Thermal Engineering, Tianjin University, 1998 B.A., English Language, Tianjin University, 1998 Dr. Zhang’s research centers on the integration of energy and environmental systems. He investigates air pollution dynamics using advanced numerical models like CTAG, with applications in near-source pollution, indoor air quality, and environmental justice. His work on renewable energy systems includes designing sustainable solar farms and managing distributed energy resources such as heat pumps to enhance grid flexibility. He also leads a pioneering initiative to create the first statewide public IoT network in the U.S., enabling hyperlocal weather forecasting and microclimate monitoring. His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward agrivoltaics, peer-to-peer energy markets, and IoT-based environmental monitoring. These works demonstrate a consistent focus on data-driven modeling, community-scale energy solutions, and the integration of social considerations into technical systems. The keywords across his articles highlight expertise in sustainability, machine learning, air quality, and energy transition. Cornell Town-Gown Achievement Award (2022) Engaged Scholar Prize, Cornell University (2017) People's Choice Sign of Sustainability Award, Sustainable Tompkins (2016) Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, Environmental Protection Agency (2015) Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Dr. Zhang is actively involved in mentoring students and securing research grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). His projects often involve interdisciplinary collaboration across eight Cornell colleges and 16 academic departments. He has led initiatives such as the Cornell Atkinson Academic Venture Fund projects and the development of a county-level energy roadmap for Tompkins County. He also teaches courses in engineering thermodynamics, future energy systems, and air quality, emphasizing experiential and community-based learning. Dr. Zhang leads the Energy and the Environment Research Laboratory (EERL) and collaborates with the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future. His lab functions as a hub for innovation in sustainable communities, combining advanced modeling with real-world applications. Through partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and industry, his team develops science-driven solutions to urban and rural sustainability challenges.
Malcolm McCulloch serves as Professor of Energy Systems and Group Leader of the Energy and Power Group within the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. He also holds the position of Co-Director for the Oxford Martin Programme on Integrating Renewable Energy and maintains affiliation with Christ Church college. His research spans four primary domains: domestic energy systems, electric vehicle technology, renewable generation, and energy solutions for developing regions. McCulloch's research focuses on practical energy transition challenges. His domestic energy work develops user-centric demand side management technologies and behavior change interventions, leading to the spin-out Intelligent Sustainable Energy (now Navetas Energy Management). In transportation, he pioneered the Morgan LifeCar hydrogen sports car project, resulting in high-efficiency motors and the Oxford Yasa Motors spin-out. His renewable generation research includes lightweight tidal turbines through Kepler Energy, while his Energy for Development work creates nano/micro grid solutions for distributed electrification. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on integrating variable renewables through innovative market mechanisms, grid flexibility solutions, and electric vehicle integration. His work consistently addresses the technical and economic barriers to decarbonization, with increasing focus on peer-to-peer energy trading, thermal storage, and climate-resilient cooling solutions since 2020. McCulloch previously served as Co-Director of the Institute for Carbon and Energy Reduction in Transport (2008-2013) under the Oxford Martin School. His leadership extends to creating the Integrated Transport Network for Oxford and developing practical applications through multiple successful spin-out companies that bridge academic research and commercial implementation.
Teo Chung Piaw is the Stephen Riady Professor and Executive Director of the Institute of Operations Research and Analytics (IORA) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds a PhD in Operations Research from MIT (1996) and has held academic positions including Head of Department and Acting Deputy Dean at NUS Business School. His research focuses on optimization under uncertainty, supply chain management, and combinatorial optimization. He serves as a department editor for Management Science and has led strategic initiatives in Singapore's Smart Nation Program. Teo's educational journey includes a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Mathematics from NUS (1990). His corporate experience spans roles at Unilever, Hewlett Packard, and PSA International. He has received prestigious awards including the NUS Faculty Outstanding Researcher Award (2003, 2006) and has been a Fellow of the Singapore-MIT Alliance Program. His research addresses operational challenges in smart cities, healthcare scheduling, and supply chain resilience. Notable contributions include work on appointment scheduling under patient no-show behavior, disruption risk mitigation in supply chains, and flexible production network design. He has authored over 100 publications and serves on editorial boards of leading journals like Operations Research and Management Science .
Associate Professor Kiat Boon, Daniel SENG is a leading academic at the National University of Singapore (NUS), specializing in technology law and infocommunications law. He currently serves as Director of the LLM (Intellectual Property & Technology Law) program and IT Coordinator. Previously, he held roles as Director of Research at the Singapore Academy of Law (2001–2003), partner and head of technology practice at Rajah & Tann, and non-residential fellow at Stanford Law School’s Center for Legal Informatics (CodeX). His education includes a JSD and JSM from Stanford University, BCL (Oxford, Rupert Cross Prize recipient, 1994), and LLB (NUS with first-class honors). His research employs machine learning, NLP, and big data to analyze digital law challenges, particularly in copyright takedown notices and AI governance. Research interests span information technology law, empirical legal studies, quantitative research, and AI’s intersection with legal reasoning. He contributes to global legal reform via advisory roles at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), focusing on copyright exceptions, music licensing, and intermediary liability. Key awards include the 1994 Rupert Cross Prize. His work bridges law and technology through publications on digital evidence, metaverse legal frameworks, and AI’s impact on private law. He is actively involved in shaping Singapore’s legal infrastructure through government committees and academic initiatives.
Yannis Paschalidis is a Distinguished Professor at Boston University with appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Computing & Data Sciences. He serves as Director of the Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. He holds a PhD (1996) and MS (1993) in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, and a Diploma (1991) from the National Technical University of Athens. His interdisciplinary research spans optimization, control systems, machine learning, and data science with applications in healthcare, autonomous systems, and networks. Key focus areas include developing algorithms for autonomous navigation, healthcare analytics for clinical decision support, energy demand optimization, and computational biology for protein interaction modeling. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on AI robustness (adversarial defenses, distributional robustness), healthcare applications (cognitive impairment detection, epidemic control), and sustainable systems (power networks, ecological forecasting). Methodological innovations center on reinforcement learning, distributionally robust optimization, and geometric analysis of classical algorithms. CAREER Award (NSF) IEEE Fellow (2014) IFAC Fellow (2022) IBM/IEEE Smarter Planet Award IEEE Computer Society Crowd Sourcing Prize IMIA Best Paper Award Charles DeLisi Award (2020) Distinguished Professor of Engineering As primary advisor to 35 PhD graduates, he leads the Network Optimization & Control (NOC) Lab. His research is funded by NSF, NIH, DoD, ARPA-E, and industry partners, including major grants on Neuro-Autonomy (ONR MURI), pandemic preparedness (ARPA-E NewRAMP), and healthcare AI (NIH QuBBD). He directs the Network Optimization & Control Lab focusing on optimization, learning, and control for autonomous systems, healthcare, and networks. The lab develops fundamental methodologies with applications in robotics, computational medicine, and infrastructure systems.
Steven I-Jy Chien serves as Professor and Director of the Transportation Program within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). His career spans academia, government, and industry with significant contributions to transportation engineering research and practice. His educational credentials include: Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Maryland-College Park (1995) M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University of Maryland-College Park (1991) B.S. in Civil Engineering from Tamkang University (1983) Professor Chien's research focuses on transportation system resilience, sustainable transit operations, and advanced traffic modeling. His work addresses critical challenges in urban rail networks, demand-responsive transit services, and energy-efficient transportation systems. He employs sophisticated computational methods including genetic algorithms, machine learning, and Bayesian approaches to solve complex transportation problems involving network vulnerability, passenger behavior, and infrastructure optimization under uncertainty. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on transportation resilience against cascading failures, sustainable operations for electric transit systems, and pandemic-responsive aviation scheduling. His research spans diverse geographic contexts including major Chinese metropolitan areas and U.S. transportation networks, demonstrating global applicability of his methodologies. His professional recognition includes: 2024 Keynote Speaker at Union-Tech Lecture, National Taiwan Ocean University 2022 Keynote Speaker at International Conference of Chinese Institute of Transportation 2022 Best Poster Award from New Jersey Department of Transportation Professor Chien has secured research funding from federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) where he contributed to CORSIM traffic simulation software development. His industry experience with China Engineering Consultants Inc. and Information Dynamic Inc. informs his practical approach to transportation challenges. As Transportation Program Director, he oversees curriculum development and industry partnerships that prepare students for transportation sector careers. He maintains active collaboration with transportation agencies globally, particularly through his leadership in the Transportation Program at NJIT which serves as a hub for innovation in urban mobility solutions.
Eduardo Araral is an Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. With over 30 years of experience in academia and government, he holds a PhD in Public Policy from Indiana University-Bloomington under Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom. His research focuses on collective action, institutions, and water governance, with publications in Nature Human Behaviour , Public Administration Review , and World Development . He has held fellowships at Stanford University and centers associated with Coase, Ostrom, and Stigler. Research Interests : Collective action, institutional analysis, water governance, digital technologies in public policy, political economy, and socio-ecological systems. Scientific Awards : Ostrom Prize for the Governance of the Commons, Fulbright PhD Scholarship, and Presidential Award for Outstanding Overseas Filipinos. Leadership Roles : Vice Dean for Research, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Co-Director of the Institute of Water Policy (2016-2022) at LKYSPP. Global Engagement : Advised 20+ international organizations including ADB, World Bank, UNDP, and Fortune 500 companies, while lecturing to 7,000+ government officials across 50+ countries.
Dr. ONG Ghim Ping Raymond is an Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Research) at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS). He concurrently serves as Director (Operations) at the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore. His expertise spans sustainable pavements, multimodal transport infrastructure, and urban mobility systems. Dr. Ong holds a B.Eng (Civil) with First Class Honours and a PhD from NUS, followed by postdoctoral research at Purdue University. He has authored/co-authored over 85 peer-reviewed journal articles and 120 conference papers. His research focuses on circular economy applications in infrastructure, car-lite urban design, and mega-projects like Tuas Port and Changi Airport expansions. Dr. Ong actively engages in policy advisory roles, serving on international committees for ASCE, ASTM, and EASTS. He has received prestigious awards including the Alfred Noble Prize (ASCE) and Takeuchi Yoshio Award (OCDI). His teaching accolades include multiple NUS Faculty of Engineering commendations. He advises on critical infrastructure projects for agencies like Changi Airport Group and Defence Science and Technology Agency. Dr. Ong frequently contributes to public discourse on transport and urban planning via media interviews and policy consultations.
Marcus Smith is an Associate Professor in Law at the Charles Sturt University , where he teaches LAW222 Technology Law and directs the Bachelor of Laws program. He holds advanced degrees from the Australian National University (PhD, LLM) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil). His research spans technology law and regulation , focusing on genomic data governance biometric identification AI ethics blockchain policy cybersecurity surveillance law He leads the Contemporary Threats to Australian Security research group and serves as Chief Investigator on an NHMRC-funded project (MRF2015531) addressing genomic dataset governance. His recent work analyzes algorithmic bias in facial recognition AI in healthcare blockchain's regulatory challenges post-pandemic cybercrime surveillance ethics data security frameworks He actively supervises PhD and honours students in technology law and contributes to law reform through submissions to international bodies like the UN Human Rights Council .
Sascha van Schendel is an Assistant Professor in Data Protection & Cybersecurity at the Department of Law & Markets, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She is affiliated with the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization and contributes to the Sectorplan SSH-Breed research initiative on the influence of digitalization on work, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. Her research lies at the intersection of law, technology, and fundamental rights, with a focus on data protection, privacy, algorithmic governance, and the regulation of emerging technologies in public and environmental domains. She has published widely on topics including GDPR compliance, privacy by design, smart energy systems, AI in criminal justice, and the legal implications of predictive policing. The recent publications reflect a strong trend toward the regulation of data in public infrastructure (e.g., energy grids), algorithmic accountability in law enforcement, and the integration of legal and technical perspectives in privacy-preserving systems. Her work spans environmental law, criminal procedure, and digital constitutionalism, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: While no formal PhD or Master’s students are listed, Dr. van Schendel has been involved in significant research projects such as the NWO-funded Megamind project on smart energy grids, indicating experience with competitive grant funding. She actively collaborates with legal scholars and contributes to public policy debates, including responses to national legislation like the Dutch Cybersecurity Bill. Labs and Teams: She is a core member of the Erasmus Centre of Law and Digitalization, a research hub focusing on the legal challenges of digital transformation. Her work is embedded in interdisciplinary collaborations involving law, technology, and public policy experts.
Dr. Yawei Zhao is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Manchester. She specializes in digital technologies, urbanization, and lifestyle migration. Her research explores data centers, PropTech, and the intersection of lifestyle migration with small city urbanization. Funded by the British Academy, IJURR Foundation, and Mitacs Canada, her work appears in journals like Urban Geography and Housing Studies . Prior to Manchester, she was a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, where she earned her PhD in Geography. She holds degrees from McGill University, City University of Hong Kong, and National University of Singapore. Her research interests include urban governance, ecological civilization, and China's urban dynamics. Notable projects examine the Belt and Road Initiative's AI governance platforms and the impact of virtual tourism on cultural heritage sites. She co-leads PhD supervision on topics such as internal migration in China and animal rights in urban governance. Dr. Zhao actively contributes to interdisciplinary platforms like Digital Futures, Manchester China Institute, and Manchester Urban Institute. She organized the 2022–2023 conference ‘Making Rent: Generational Inequality and the Housing Crisis.’
