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Aleksandra Kekkonen is a Senior Research Fellow at the Estonian Business School's Center for Management Studies, specializing in sustainable development and green transition. She holds a PhD in Economics from the Russian Academy of Sciences (2013) and has over 11 years of experience in human capital, labor market, and education system research at national/international levels. Current roles: Research Fellow (EBS), Project Lead in sustainability initiatives Prior institutions: Petrozavodsk State University (Senior Researcher, 2014–2019) Research focus: Circular economy, green economy innovation, sustainability policy, and labor market dynamics Teaching includes courses like 'Green Economy', 'Circular Economy', and 'Sustainability Crisis Management' Research Highlights: Her work bridges sustainability theory and practice, with recent studies on corporate green transition barriers, community-driven financial ecosystems, and multi-level stakeholder frameworks for regional transitions. Key publications include Social Inclusion and Community Participation in Driving Sustainable Financial Ecosystems (2025) and Operationalizing Doughnut Economics (2024). Awards: EBS Green Ambassador (2022), 'UMNIK' Youth Innovation Competition Winner (2015), and multiple research recognitions for labor market studies in Karelia. Projects: Leads initiatives such as the COST Action 'Transformations for Sustainable Futures' and an AI-driven green entrepreneurship course. Previously managed EU-funded projects like the Innovative Finance Inclusion initiative. Labs/Teams: Coordinates the Sustainable Circular Economy research group at EBS, focusing on transdisciplinary solutions for green innovation and stakeholder engagement.

• Sustainable Development
• Green Transition
• Circular Economy
• +4 more

Lauri Lihtmaa is a Researcher at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture , University of Tallinn College of Engineering . His work spans energy efficiency in building stock renovation , urban sustainability , and policy-driven environmental economics , with a focus on Estonian housing dynamics and modernist district revitalization . Education : Research Master's in Maakorraldus (2004) from Estonian University of Life Sciences; PhD studies in Renovation Patterns (ongoing at Tallinn University of Technology, and Sustainability Assessment (interrupted at Estonian University of Life Sciences). His research interests center on: Energy-efficient building renovation (particularly multifamily structures) Climate-resilient urban development for post-WWII districts Policy analysis of subsidy distribution in environmental economics Strategic environmental assessment in local governance Current projects include leading roles in: European Commission-funded Collaborative Pre-Fabricated District Reinvention (2024-2027) CINEA-supported Heritage Home Renovation Services (2023-2026) Ministry of Education-backed Energy Efficiency Center of Excellence (2024-2030)

• Environmental Policy
• Construction and Municipal Engineering
• Political Science and Administration
• +4 more

Siiri Silm is an Associate Professor in Human Geography at the University of Tartu's Department of Geography, part of the Faculty of Science and Technology. Her research focuses on spatial mobility patterns, ethnic segregation, and the application of mobile positioning data in analyzing urban and social phenomena. She has explored topics such as bike-sharing usage, transnational mobility, and the impact of digital technologies on social behavior. Silm's work integrates advanced data analytics with geographic methodologies, contributing to urban planning, crisis management, and cross-border studies. Her research has been applied in contexts ranging from tourism analysis to pandemic-related mobility tracking. Education: PhD in Human Geography (2009), supervised by Rein Ahas at the University of Tartu, with earlier research on Tallinn's urban functions and seasonal social phenomena. Her academic contributions include over 30 peer-reviewed articles and methodological frameworks for mobile data analysis. She has collaborated on projects addressing transnational migration, urban segregation dynamics, and the role of ICT in maintaining diasporic connections. Silm's work bridges social and technical sciences, emphasizing data-driven insights into human spatial behavior. Key Projects: Mobile positioning-based tourism statistics, cross-border mobility analysis, and digital tools for urban policy. Methodological Expertise: Mobile phone data integration, spatial-temporal modeling, and GIS applications. Teaching: Focuses on human geography, urban studies, and quantitative spatial analysis methodologies. Her research highlights include pioneering studies on Estonia's seasonal population shifts and the use of smartphone data to map ethnic interaction patterns. Silm's work is characterized by interdisciplinary approaches, often combining geographic, sociological, and technological perspectives to address complex urban and transnational challenges.

• Human Geography
• Spatial Analysis
• Urban Studies
• +3 more

Mitchelle Laboy is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at Northeastern University, with affiliate appointments in Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. Her research focuses on transdisciplinary methods to advance resilience and sustainability across scales, emphasizing socio-ecological integration in design. She is licensed as a civil engineer (Puerto Rico) and holds professional certifications in safety assessment and architectural practice. Education: Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Planning, University of Michigan, 2005 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, 2001 Research Interests: Michelle Laboy’s work explores the intersection of architecture, engineering, and urban planning to create regenerative, socially just environments. Key themes include: Building and site systems integration Resilience in urban and infrastructural systems Green infrastructure and decentralized stormwater solutions Material circularity and persistent design Transdisciplinary education and collaborative practice Awards: 2022 and 2017 Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows) 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award (CAMD) 2004 AIA Henry Adams Medal Grants & Projects: Laboy has led/co-led projects funded by ARPA-E, NSF, DOE, and Autodesk. Notable initiatives include: Boston LightWells (Boston Groundwater Trust/Autodesk Grant) Community Resilience in Extreme Temperatures (Northeastern University) Future-Use Architecture (AIA College of Fellows) Professional Experience: Co-founder of FieLDworkshop, a research-based design practice. Previously worked at Maryann Thompson Architects and Skidmore Owings & Merrill. Active in teaching courses like Integrated Building Systems and Graduate Topics in Architecture.

• Building and site systems integration
• Urban resilience
• Green infrastructure
• +4 more

Ulla Tapaninen is a Professor at the Estonian Maritime Academy, Tallinn University of Technology, focusing on maritime policy and sustainability. Her blog explores topics such as shipping, ports, and urban competitiveness, particularly between Helsinki and Tallinn. Role: Full-time Professor at Estonian Maritime Academy Research Themes: Climate change, green transition, maritime emissions Her work emphasizes the shipping industry's role in decarbonization , comparing emission levels between maritime and air travel. She analyzes policy shifts like the Paris Agreement and the ICJ's 2025 advisory opinion , highlighting legal obligations for climate action. The 8 articles listed (2021–2025) focus on maritime emissions, legal frameworks, urban planning challenges, and supply chain resilience during conflicts. Keywords span Environmental Law , Transportation Sustainability , and Urban Development , with sub-fields like Passenger-Cargo Emission Allocation and Supply Chain Risk Mitigation .

• Maritime Studies
• Environmental Science
• Sustainable Transportation
• +4 more

Ülo Niinemets is Professor and Head of Department of Crop Science and Plant Biology at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. A distinguished plant ecophysiologist with over 30 years of academic experience, he has held professorships at Estonian University of Life Sciences since 2009, served as Extraordinary Professor at Utrecht University (2007-2012), and held positions at University of Tartu and University of Hawaii. His educational background includes: Doctor Philosophiae in Ecophysiology from University of Tartu (1996) Master of Science in Biology-Ecophysiology from University of Tartu (1993) Diploma of Biology (Ecophysiology) from University of Tartu, graduated Cum Laude (1992) Niinemets specializes in plant ecophysiology with focus on volatile organic compound emission physiology, plant stress biology, and functional relations between plant structure and physiology. His research explores how plants acclimate and adapt to environmental changes, particularly in the context of global change biology. He has made significant contributions to understanding plant responses to light, temperature, and CO 2 variations, with applications in forestry and agriculture. His work bridges fundamental plant physiology with practical environmental and agricultural challenges, examining topics from cellular mechanisms to ecosystem-level processes. His recent publications demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach spanning plant stress physiology, urban ecology, agricultural science, and climate change impacts. Many studies focus on isoprene emissions, plant responses to climate change variables, and crop physiology under marginal conditions, reflecting his commitment to addressing both theoretical questions and practical applications in a changing world. Among his notable recognitions: National Science Prize in Bio- and geosciences (2018, 2000) White Star Order, IV class by the President of Estonia (2012) Best paper award from the Japanese Ecological Society (2011) National Science Prize in Chemistry and molecular biology (2006) Professor Niinemets has actively contributed to scientific discourse through editorial leadership, serving as editor for Oecologia since 2012, Frontiers in Plant Science since 2010, and as editor of the Tree Physiology book series since 2008. He has reviewed grant applications for multiple international funding agencies and served on the Science Policy Commission of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (2012-2017), helping shape national research priorities. His research group at the Estonian University of Life Sciences investigates plant responses to environmental stressors, with particular emphasis on volatile organic compounds and their ecological significance. The team employs a multi-scale approach, examining plant physiology from cellular mechanisms to ecosystem-level processes, with implications for understanding climate-vegetation interactions and developing climate-resilient agricultural practices.

• Plant Physiology
• Ecophysiology
• Volatile Organic Compound Emissions
• +5 more

Mahardika Fadmastuti is a Research Fellow at Tallinn University of Technology’s School of Business and Governance, Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance. Their current role (2024–2025) is a full-time appointment, while a prior half-time position (2020–2024) overlapped with their doctoral studies. Previously, they served as an Assistant at the University of Indonesia’s Department of Geography (2019–2020), Geospatial Research Coordinator at MIT’s Urban Risk Lab (2016–2018), and Geographic Information System Coordinator at the University of Wollongong’s SMART Infrastructure Facility (2015–2016). Research focuses on governance frameworks for smart cities, integrating geospatial technologies into digital twin city models. Their PhD project examines how these technologies enhance urban development and resilience, supervised by Erkki Karo, Joep Crompvoets, and Ralf-Martin Soe. No scientific awards are listed, and no grants or advising activities are explicitly mentioned. Their work bridges urban planning, geospatial analytics, and governance, with applications in risk management and infrastructure innovation.

• Smart City Development
• Geospatial Technology
• Urban Planning
• +3 more

Gunnar Klaus Prause is a Professor at the Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Governance at Tallinn University of Technology (since 2023). He holds a 0.25 FTE position, reflecting his active engagement in research and academic leadership. Previously, he served as a Professor at Wismar Business School (since 1994) and held administrative roles including Vice-Rector of Research at Wismar University (2007–2010) and Vice-Dean of Research and International Relations at Wismar Business School (2005–2007). His academic career spans over three decades in business administration and economics. His research focuses on logistics, sustainability, digital transformation, and maritime supply chains. Specific interests include green energy applications (e.g., ammonia as marine fuel), smart city/port integration, blockchain for supply chain resilience, and circular economy models. He leads/coordinates projects such as the Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy for Strategic Mineral and Carbon Resources (2024–2030) and generative AI-driven ESG education curricula (2025–2027). Dr. Prause has secured over €7 million in EU and international grants, including projects on Baltic Sea region competitiveness, clean shipping platforms, and SME internationalization. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in logistics, energy, and policy. He has authored/co-authored 263 publications, emphasizing peer-reviewed articles and conference papers on topics like sustainable port operations, digital transformation challenges, and ammonia safety in maritime contexts. His research outputs frequently address interdisciplinary challenges at the intersection of technology, environment, and business strategy.

• Economics
• Business Management
• Logistics
• +3 more

Enrico Tordoni is a Researcher in Macroecology at the University of Tartu's Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences since 2021. His work focuses on integrating species traits, evolutionary biology, and species interactions to analyze biodiversity loss under global change, with particular emphasis on plant communities and alien species impacts across spatial scales. He actively contributes to dark diversity research, functional trait analysis, and habitat suitability modeling. Education : PhD in Ecology (2018) from the University of Trieste under Prof. Giovanni Bacaro Current Projects : Leading BIODECODE (2025-2029) on Anthropocene biodiversity changes; Co-investigator in agroecology and global change forecasting projects. His research combines long-term ecological data with trait-based methodologies to address: Climate extremes' effects on plant communities Xylem embolism and drought-induced urban tree decline Spectral diversity for functional pattern detection Methodological improvements in species distribution modeling He supervises two doctoral candidates and collaborates extensively with researchers in biodiversity informatics and ecological network analysis.

• Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Plant Ecology
• +4 more

Jaanus Müür is a Research Fellow at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance. He holds a PhD (2022) and Master’s degree (2017) from TalTech, focusing on innovation policy and governance. His research interests include place-based innovation strategies, smart specialization, autonomous transportation systems, and public sector innovation pilots. Education: PhD in Public Administration (2017–2022), MSc in Technology Governance (2013–2017), and BA in Public Administration (2010–2013), all from TalTech. He also attended the Intensive Summer School on Small States at the University of Iceland (2017). Research focuses on bridging policy frameworks and practical implementation, particularly in urban mobility (e.g., autonomous buses) and regional innovation strategies. Key projects include leading the CITYAM initiative for sustainable urban air mobility and analyzing innovation pilots in Estonia and Helsinki-Uusimaa. Notable awards include the Mzia Mikeladze PhD Award (2024) and TalTech’s School of Business and Governance Lecturer of the Year (2023). He has been involved in over 10 funded projects totaling €3M+, including EU Horizon 2020 and national grants. Supervision includes guiding PhD candidate Mari Anne Rosalie Rohtla. Active in academic publishing, with peer-reviewed articles in journals like Innovation and Journal of the Knowledge Economy . Labs/Teams: Co-leads the Just Transition Governance research group and collaborates with international partners in mobility and innovation studies.

• Innovation Policy
• Public Sector Innovation
• Smart Specialization Strategies
• +4 more

Andres Annuk serves as a Professor in Energy Supply at the Estonian University of Life Sciences , within the Institute of Forestry and Engineering's Chair of Energy Application Engineering. His research extensively explores renewable energy integration, sustainable construction, and energy system optimization. Research interests focus on renewable energy systems (wind-solar hybrids, geothermal), energy storage technologies (battery-hydrogen solutions, phase-change materials), and data-driven approaches for energy management (machine learning for forecasting, optimization algorithms). Applications span residential microgrids, building efficiency, and waste-to-energy conversion. Recent publications (2024–2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on: 1) Machine learning applications in energy infrastructure (soil stress prediction, solar data imputation), 2) Hybrid renewable systems (wind-hydrogen microgrids, geothermal co-generation), and 3) Sustainable construction (thermal storage materials, life-cycle assessment). Technical methodologies frequently involve finite element analysis, optimization algorithms, and stochastic modeling.

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Energy Storage Optimization
• Sustainable Building Technologies
• +2 more

Ottar Tamm is an Assistant Professor of Hydroinformatics (tenure-track) at the Chair of Rural Building and Water Management , part of the Institute of Forestry and Engineering at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu, Estonia. His research integrates hydrology, climate science, and sustainable engineering, with a focus on cold-climate applications. Research Focus Dr. Tamm specializes in: Stormwater management systems and urban flood risk mitigation Climate change adaptation strategies for water infrastructure Optimization of low-impact development (LID) solutions Hydropower potential modeling using geospatial tools Methane emission controls in landfill environments His work frequently employs computational models like SWMM and SWAT to address hydrological challenges in Nordic regions. Publication Trends Recent articles (2018-2025) demonstrate: Strong emphasis on climate change impacts on water systems Development of practical tools for stormwater management optimization Interdisciplinary approaches combining environmental engineering, geoinformatics, and climate science Field validation of sustainable technologies in cold climates

• Hydroinformatics
• Stormwater Management
• Climate Change Adaptation
• +4 more

Kadri Kangro is a doctoral student at Tallinn University (School of Governance, Law and Society) researching social hackathons as tools for co-creation in public services. She holds a visiting lecturer position at the University of Tartu's Institute of Social Studies and is a project researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. Her work focuses on social innovation, rural development, and participatory governance. She also serves as Vice Mayor of Rõuge Rural Municipality for Education and Social Affairs. Education includes a Master of Medicine from the University of Tartu, and ongoing PhD studies in social work. She has led projects like the 'Co-creation of Service Innovation in Europe' and contributed to initiatives such as Estonia's 'Arvamusrännak' citizen participation experiment. Research interests center on leveraging social innovation to address rural challenges, co-creation methodologies, and enhancing democratic participation. Her projects emphasize adapting hackathon formats for public service design, particularly in underserved regions. Key projects include developing Estonia's Social Innovation Competence Center and analyzing social impact bonds. She has also engaged in EU-funded initiatives like EUARENAS, exploring deliberative democracy in urban contexts. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy implementation, focusing on inclusive governance models and community-driven solutions.

• Social Innovation
• Co-Creation
• Rural Development
• +3 more

Oleksii Demikhov is an Associate Professor at Sumy State University, Ukraine, and holds a guest researcher position at the Chair of Biosystems Engineering at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS). He specializes in public health policy, healthcare management, and strategic decision-making under epidemiological and military threats. Demikhov holds a Doctorate in Public Administration (2018), a Research Master's in Public Health Policy (2022), and a Master's in Social Sciences (2024) from Tartu University. His academic roles include editorial board memberships for journals like Health Economics and Management Review and advisory roles at Ukraine's National Agency for Quality in Higher Education. Education: Doctorate: National Academy of Public Administration under Ukraine's President (2018) Research Master's: Taras Shevchenko National University (2022) Master's in Public Health Management: Sumy State University (2021) Earlier degrees in Law, Finance, and Agrarian Economics Research Interests: Demikhov focuses on health economics, quality management in healthcare systems, and policy responses to public health crises. His work addresses strategic healthcare governance, epidemiological threat mitigation, and the integration of EU best practices into Ukrainian policies. Recent studies include analyzing post-war Ukraine's foreign investment strategies and evaluating occupational health policies in EU member states. Publications & Grants: He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including works on crisis management in agriculture and digital transformation in occupational safety systems. His research has been presented at international conferences like the 15th International Conference on Biosystems Engineering (2025). He collaborates with institutions such as the National Agency for Quality in Higher Education and chairs editorial boards in public administration. Labs/Teams: Active in the Institute of Forestry and Engineering at EULS, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on biosystems engineering and sustainable development. His work intersects healthcare, economics, and environmental science to address complex societal challenges.

• Health Economics
• Strategic Healthcare Management
• Public Health Policy
• +3 more

Kadri Leetmaa is an Associate Professor of Human Geography and Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Tartu. She holds a Doctorate in Human Geography (2008) and has been affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences. Her career includes roles as Director of the Centre for Migration and Urban Studies (2018–2022) and Coordinator of the Estonian National Contact Point for the EU URBACT Program (2017–2023). Education: PhD in Human Geography (University of Tartu, 2008), MSc in Human Geography (2005), and BSc in Geography (1997). Professional trainings include data management (2022), research ethics (2021), and teleworking leadership (2020). Research focuses on post-socialist urban dynamics, ethnic segregation, housing policy, and regional planning. Key interests include governance of spatial inequalities, urban resilience, and legacy of socialist urbanism. Recent projects include editing Urban Planning During Socialism: Views from the Periphery (2023) and directing studies on housing estates’ socio-economic trajectories. Publications span 63+ works, emphasizing urban sociology, historical geography, and policy analysis. Notable articles address minority residential mobility, Cold War impacts on peripheral towns, and post-socialist housing challenges. Awards include top prizes in Estonian national science contests for doctoral and MA research. Administrative roles include chairing staff attestation committees, leading AESOP PhD schools, and coordinating national spatial planning training. She is active in international networks like COST Action on Middle Class Housing and the Cities After Transition Network.

• Human Geography
• Urban Social Geography
• Ethnic and Socioeconomic Segregation
• +7 more