Luca Pugi is an Associate Professor at the University of Florence's Department of Industrial Engineering, specializing in Mechatronics, Mobility, and Mechanical Systems Modeling. He holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Bologna and has been recognized as a top 2% scientist in Engineering by Stanford/Elsevier since 2019. His research focuses on railway systems, energy storage, and interdisciplinary engineering applications. Education: Graduated in Mechanical Engineering (1999, University of Florence), PhD in Engineering (2003, University of Bologna). Awards include the Premio Cesare Bianchi, Jf Alcock Memorial Award, and UIC-WCRR Best Oral Presentation. Research Interests: Development of HIL testbeds for WSP systems, energy-efficient railway technologies, battery-operated trains, wireless power transfer, and smart transportation systems. Collaborates internationally with institutions like Wright State University, University of Ljubljana, and UNILASALLE. Publications span over 300 indexed works, with recent focus on innovative valve designs, battery management systems, and underwater geological platforms. Leads the MCube research group (Mechatronics, Mobility, and Modeling), emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration across DIEF, DINFO, and DICEA departments. Grants and Projects: Active in EU-funded initiatives on railway electrification, sustainable energy, and autonomous systems. Co-founder of two tech spin-offs and holds patents in energy storage and mechatronics.
Professor Tsumoru Fujimoto holds a multi-departmental appointment as Professor across the Department of Fundamental Study, Department of Engineering, Environmental and Urban Program, and Center for Research and Development in Higher Engineering and Education, bridging philosophical inquiry with engineering ethics. Education PhD, Kyoto University Master's degree (unspecified institution) Doctoral coursework completed, Kyoto University Graduate School, Division of Letters (1993) Research Focus Fujimoto's scholarship centers on Engineering Ethics and Medieval Philosophy, with deep engagement in Thomas Aquinas, natural law theory, and the historical development of mechanical arts. His work examines virtue ethics within technological contexts, connecting medieval philosophical frameworks to contemporary urban engineering challenges through rigorous textual analysis of figures like Gregory of Nyssa and Anselm. Publication Trends His 2010-2024 publications reveal consistent dual expertise: 60% address Engineering Ethics (particularly tramway systems and mechanical arts), while 40% explore Medieval Philosophy. Recent 2024 works demonstrate sophisticated integration of these domains, analyzing creation ex nihilo concepts alongside modern technological ethics, with recurring emphasis on natural law applications in urban infrastructure development. Professional Engagement Medieval Philosophy Society Kansai Philosophical Society Japanese Philosophical Association Previous Appointments Research Fellow, University of Cambridge (Darwin College, 1994-1995) Research Fellow, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (1993-1996) No information was provided regarding student advising, research grants, or laboratory facilities.
Kornél Tamás Almássy is an Associate Professor at the Department of Road and Railway Construction, Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) . He serves as Deputy Head of Department and teaches courses in track management systems and road construction and maintenance. Research Interests: Transportation infrastructure development Pavement engineering and durability Cost analysis of road structures Recent Projects: Urban transit planning (Húsvölgy tram expansion) Life-cycle cost modeling of asphalt materials Fatigue resistance analysis of reinforcing grids
Dr. Janice McNab serves as Head of MA Artistic Research at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (KABK), a position she has held since 2015. She supervises all aspects of student study and is responsible for continually updating the program curriculum. As a Scottish-born painter residing in the Netherlands, Dr. McNab brings an international perspective to her academic leadership, having graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1997 and moved to Amsterdam in 2000 on a Scottish Arts Council residency. Her educational background includes graduation from Glasgow School of Art (1997), completion of her MFA, and a PhD from Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis at the University of Amsterdam (awarded December 2019). Prior to her current position, she taught at Glasgow School of Art, served as thesis supervisor at The Gerrit Rietveld Academy and Piet Zwart Institute, and edited for 'If I Can't Dance Publications'. Dr. McNab's research bridges feminist art practice with art historical critique, focusing on women's relationship to art history through spectral embodiment and alternative representations. Her work explores how patterned textiles function as vessels for feminist and ecological kinship across generations. Her PhD 'The Ghost Artist' proposes a history of women's art practice where spectral embodiment replaces naturalistic body portrayals, examining how self-portrayal exists 'on the edges of visibility' to resist objectifying surface values. Her scholarly trajectory moves from case studies of individual artists like Alice Neel to developing broader theoretical frameworks about women's relationship to art history, culminating in comparative analyses of major figures like Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian. This progression reflects her evolving approach from specific examinations to comprehensive theoretical frameworks that challenge traditional art historical narratives. Her notable achievements include: 2022-23 Fellow of the WISC, The Women's International Study Centre in Santa Fe Paul Brach Visiting Artist to Cal Arts, Los Angeles (2021-22) Visiting Artist to Die Universität Angewandte Kunst, Vienna (2022) As Head of MA Artistic Research, Dr. McNab supervises graduate students through their artistic research projects while maintaining her own internationally exhibited artistic practice. She has been vocal about cultural issues including the Zwarte Piet tradition in the Netherlands, which she describes as 'dehumanising, open racism' that 're-enacts the power relations of the plantation.' She advocates for diverse cultural perspectives in art education, noting how discussions about colonialism differ significantly between European and Japanese contexts. Dr. McNab's paintings have been exhibited internationally at venues including Tramway (Glasgow), The Essl Collection (Vienna), The Prague Biennial, Mois de la Photo (Montreal), Talbot Rice Gallery (Edinburgh), De Vleeshal (Middelburg), BAK (Utrecht), Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow), Museum am Ostwall (Dortmund), and Kunsthaus Baselland (Basel). She is represented by Galeria Fermay in Palma de Mallorca, maintaining an active presence in the contemporary art world alongside her academic responsibilities.
Dr. Eng. Janusz Zbigniew Prusak is a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cracow University of Technology. His work focuses on electrical traction systems, tramway power networks, and energy efficiency. Institution: Cracow University of Technology School: Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering Department: Department of Electrical Engineering Academic Rank: Lecturer Email: jprusak@pk.edu.pl Prusak's research centers on analyzing load variability in traction substations, optimizing rectifier unit performance, and simulating energy losses in DC railway systems. He has pioneered the use of artificial neural networks for predicting tramway substation overloads and studying voltage fluctuations in urban transport networks. His publications since 2015 demonstrate expertise in tramway power systems, traction load modeling, and infrastructure modernization. Key trends include applying machine learning to railway energy management and improving electrical conditions for ice prevention on overhead lines.
Dr. Krystian Birr serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Transportation Engineering within the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology. His academic career focuses on advancing transport systems through research in public transport optimization, accessibility, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. His research interests span Public Transport , Transport Accessibility , Intelligent Transport Systems , Urban Mobility Planning , and Transport Modeling . Dr. Birr has developed specialized methodologies for bicycle traffic modeling, public transport punctuality analysis, and accessibility management for integrated interchanges, particularly emphasizing the needs of passengers with special requirements. His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to sustainable mobility, with recent works examining cycling promotion campaigns, tram safety assessments, and metropolitan transport integration. The research shows a clear trajectory toward practical applications that directly inform transport policy and infrastructure planning in Polish urban centers. As project manager for the T-Included initiative (funded by GOSPOSTRATEG), Dr. Birr leads research analyzing transport exclusion in Poland and developing legislative recommendations for public collective transport. His collaborative work extends to EU-funded projects including ERASMUS+ initiatives focused on sustainable urban mobility education and European road safety partnerships. Dr. Birr maintains active engagement with operational transport management through the TRISTAR traffic control system, applying research findings to real-world urban mobility challenges in the Tricity area (Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot).
