Prof. Liqiu Meng serves as Chair of Cartography and Visual Analytics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). He specializes in advanced geospatial research, digital cartography, and human-technology collaboration frameworks. Current Faculty at TUM Chair of Cartography and Visual Analytics Research Focus: His work bridges cartographic theory with cutting-edge technology, covering topics like 3D urban modeling, AI ethics visualization, geovisual analytics, and spatiotemporal data interpretation. Urban Morphology Analysis AI Ethics Cartography Geovisual Analytics 3D City Data Integration Location-Based Service Design Publications: Recent works (2025-2024) demonstrate expertise in explainable AI for urban analysis, multi-agent systems for geospatial interaction, and advanced spatial modeling techniques. Contact: liqiu.meng@tum.de | contact.lfk@ed.tum.de
Ann Bostrom is a Professor at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for Research at Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts (1992-2007) and co-directed the National Science Foundation's Decision Risk and Management Science Program (1999-2001). Her work bridges environmental policy, risk communication, and decision-making under uncertainty. Education: Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis (Carnegie Mellon University), M.B.A. (Western Washington University), B.A. in English (University of Washington), Postdoctoral studies in Engineering and Public Policy (Carnegie Mellon) and Cognitive Survey Methodology (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Bostrom's research focuses on risk perception , environmental policy , and decision-making under uncertainty , particularly in climate change, natural disasters, and science communication. She has pioneered mental models approaches to risk assessment and contributed to understanding public attitudes toward carbon emissions, weather hazards, and astronaut health risks. Her scientific awards include the 2020 Distinguished Educator Award and 1997 Chauncey Starr Award (both from the Society for Risk Analysis), and fellowships from AAAS, WSAS, and SRA. She has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, EPA, and NIH. Bostrom leads or co-leads multiple NSF-funded initiatives, including the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub and the NSF AI Institute for Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography (AI2ES) . She serves on advisory committees for AAAS, Washington State Academy of Sciences, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and NCAR's Mesoscale & Microscale Meteorology Lab.
Stefano PELLO' is a Full Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice , where he specializes in Persian Language and Literature and the History of Iran in the Islamic Era. He also serves as the Director's Delegate for External Communications. His academic affiliations include long-term research positions at Columbia University and SOAS, University of London, reflecting his international scholarly reach. Education: PhD in Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome (2006), thesis: 'Hindu Poets and Persian Intellectual Circles between Delhi and Lucknow (1680–1856).' Degree in Oriental Languages and Literatures, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2001), with highest honors. High School Diploma, Classical Lyceum 'Carlo Alberto', Novara (1995). He holds advanced certificates in Persian (Dehkhoda Institute, Tehran) and Arabic (Damascus University, Cairo). Research Interests: PELLO' is a leading scholar in Indo-Persian literary culture, focusing on multilingualism, cosmopolitanism, and intercultural exchange in early modern South Asia. His work explores Persian poetry, Sufism, ethnography, and the philosophical dimensions of nature, language, and identity. He investigates how Persian functioned as a cosmopolitan medium across India, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Publications Trends: His recent articles analyze Mīrzā Bīdil’s poetics of nature and imagination, Persian literary representations of Varanasi, and the role of Persian in multilingual societies. The research reveals a consistent focus on textual identity, cross-cultural dialogue, and the philosophical underpinnings of Indo-Persian literary production. Scientific Contributions: Author of major monographs including Tutiyan-i Hind (2012) and Microcosmographies (2024). Translator of key Persian literary and mystical works into Italian (e.g., Hafez, Rumi, Motahhari). Editor of scholarly volumes such as Borders: Itineraries on the Edges of Iran (2016). Contributor to Encyclopaedia Iranica and Encyclopaedia of Islam . Advising and Grants: While no formal students are listed, PELLO' has directed PhD theses and mentored junior researchers. He has led international research initiatives, including workshops at the European University Institute and Ca' Foscari, often in collaboration with institutions like Columbia and SOAS. His work is supported by national and international academic networks. Labs and Teams: He has organized and convened international workshops such as 'Cultures of tahqiq from the Mughals to the Mediterranean' (2021) and 'Persian Literature in Multilingual India' (2008), fostering collaborative research on Persianate intellectual history.
Filipa Matos Wunderlich is an Associate Professor in Urban Design at University College London's Bartlett School of Planning, where she serves as Director of the cross-faculty MRes Interdisciplinary Urban Design (MRes IdUD) program and Urban Design Strategic Coordinator. She previously co-designed and directed the MSc Urban Design and City Planning program and has held academic positions at UCL since 2008, initially as a Research Associate before becoming a Lecturer in 2010. Her educational background includes a PhD from University College London (2010), a Diploma of Architecture from Universidade do Porto (2000), and a Bachelor of Music from ArtEZ Institute of the Arts (2001). This interdisciplinary foundation informs her unique approach that bridges architecture, urban design, and musical performance. Wunderlich's research centers on temporality in urban places, urban rhythms, and place-rhythmanalysis, with significant contributions to temporal urban design theory and practice. Her work explores sensory and performative urbanisms, affect in the city, and the interface between urban and musical aesthetics. She also investigates gender-neutral urban design and alternative hybrid typologies in contemporary cities, emphasizing the synergy between theoretical innovation and practical application in urban design. Her publication record reveals a clear evolution from foundational theoretical work on urban rhythms and place-temporality toward increasingly sophisticated applications of temporal design principles. The most recent publications demonstrate a maturation of her temporal urban design framework, moving from conceptual explorations to practical implementations across diverse urban contexts, with growing emphasis on wellbeing, health, and sustainability implications. As a respected academic, Wunderlich regularly serves as keynote speaker at international conferences, including recent invitations to Oxford University, AESOP conferences, and the Conscious Cities Festival. She is a guest editor for Planning Theory and Practice and Architecture Open-Access journals, and frequently reviews for leading urban studies publications. In her teaching and advising roles, Wunderlich directs the MRes IdUD program and coordinates the Major Research Projects module across multiple postgraduate programs. Her grant activities include Innovate UK's Smart Walkability Platform project, UCL ChangeMakers initiatives, and the European COST Action Go2CHANGE research project on cultural heritage conservation under climate change. Wunderlich leads several research initiatives including the Post Growth Planning Research Cluster, Temporal Urban Design Research Podcast and Journal, and Collective Zebra - an online journal focused on walking. These platforms foster interdisciplinary dialogue on temporal approaches to urban design and facilitate knowledge exchange between academic research and professional practice.
Ann Bostrom is the Weyerhaeuser Endowed Professor in Environmental Policy at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, where she joined the faculty in 2007 after serving as Associate Dean for Research and Professor at Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College. She co-directed the NSF Decision Risk and Management Science Program and serves on the AAAS and Washington State Academy of Sciences boards. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis, Carnegie Mellon University M.B.A., Western Washington University B.A. in English, University of Washington Postdoctoral studies in Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University Postdoctoral studies in cognitive survey methodology, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bostrom's research centers on risk perception, communication, and management in environmental policy and uncertain decision contexts. She investigates causal misconceptions about climate change, earthquake risk awareness, and pandemic risk communication, bridging social/behavioral sciences with weather and climate risk management through efficacy-focused frameworks. Her 2017-2021 publications reveal concentrated work on climate change communication, natural hazards, and pandemic risks. Key themes include causal thinking's impact on policy support, risk message design efficacy, and cross-cultural risk perception comparisons, frequently contributing to National Academies reports on science communication and hazard management. Major scientific recognitions include: 2020 Distinguished Educator Award (Society for Risk Analysis) 1997 Chauncey Starr Award Elected fellow of AAAS, WSAS, and Society for Risk Analysis ASA/NSF/BLS Research Associateship (1991-92) Fulbright Fellowship (1989-90) Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship (1988-89) She has secured major funding from NSF, EPA, and NIH, currently co-leading the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub and NSF AI Institute for Trustworthy AI in Weather/Climate. Advisory roles include National Renewable Energy Laboratory Decision Science Committee and Earthquake Hazards Reduction Advisory Committee. At UW, Bostrom co-chairs Environments and Populations research in the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, serves on EarthLab's steering committee, and participates in the Program on Climate Change Governing Board, while maintaining affiliations with Carnegie Mellon's Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making.
Professor Helen Mitchell is a multidisciplinary scholar in music performance and perception at the University of Sydney's Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Her research explores the intersection of music practice with scientific discovery, focusing on vocal pedagogy, listener perception, and multisensory performance analysis. She holds a BA (Hons) from Oxford and a PhD from the Sydney Conservatorium. Previously, she served as Dean of Students at the University of Sydney's Women’s College (2004–2005). Research Interests: Mitchell’s work investigates listeners’ sound quality perception, vocal identity recognition, and the cognitive effects of verbal descriptions on musical memory. Notable projects include longitudinal studies on music training outcomes and current investigations into audio-visual integration in performer identification. Her ARC-funded research emphasizes practical applications in pedagogy and performance valuation. Grants & Collaborations: Key grants include the 2022 ARC Discovery Project on bel canto sound rediscovery (with Neal Peres Da Costa) and a 2014 OLT grant for perceptually-aware music leadership training. She collaborates with institutions like Sydney Living Museums via projects such as The Dowling Songbook Project, blending historical performance practice with educational innovation. Teaching & Supervision: Mitchell convenes postgraduate research methods courses and supervises Honours, Masters, DMA, and PhD students in music performance studies. She coordinates Honours research at the Conservatorium and integrates empirical approaches into ethics and methodology training. Affiliations: Member of the Charles Perkins Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary health and performance research.
Michael Oppenheimer is the Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs at Princeton University, affiliated with the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), the Department of Geosciences, and the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI). He directs the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (C-PREE) and holds roles in multiple research programs. His work bridges climate science and policy, focusing on climate impacts, adaptation, and scientific assessment frameworks. He has advised international bodies, including the IPCC, and contributed to foundational climate policies like the Kyoto Protocol. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, University of Chicago S.B. in Chemistry, MIT Research Interests: Climate change impacts, sea level rise, compound hazards (e.g., storms and heatwaves), migration dynamics, and the role of scientific assessments in policy. His work emphasizes actionable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. Grants & Awards: 2010 Heinz Award for the Environment AAAS Fellow Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (via IPCC, 2007) Advising & Labs: Leads the C-PREE, mentors over 20 graduate students, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on climate policy and science. Key labs/centers include C-PREE, HMEI, and the NY City Panel on Climate Change.
Anubhav Pratap-Singh is an Associate Professor in the Food, Nutrition and Health department within the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia, where he holds the Food and Beverage Innovation Professorship. He leads the UBC Food Process Engineering Laboratory and his research spans environmental and natural resources economics, food chemistry (including fermentation), and natural resource management. His primary research interests focus on agri-food transformation, cold plasma food engineering, food processing, functional foods, heat transfer, high pressure mass transfer, novel non-thermal processing, nutraceuticals, pasteurization, and pulsed light sterilization. Dr. Pratap-Singh's work addresses fundamental questions about the impact of food processing on food quality, how technology can maximize desirable effects while minimizing deleterious ones to feed the growing global population, and how to ensure food safety and nutrition for all socioeconomic groups. His research program is organized around three main pillars: developing novel processing technologies for food preservation, developing technologies for food fortification, and modeling the human GI tract to understand the interaction between food processing and human health. He has made significant contributions to sonic mixing technology for thermal processing and pulsed UV light processing for food surface decontamination, with particular expertise in processing of liquid particulate matter. Dr. Pratap-Singh has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including the Banting Fellowship (2016) and Green College Leading Scholar award (2017). His work has been recognized with the Young Entrepreneur Award (2009), IFTPS Graduate Scholar designation (2014), and Gold Medal from the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists (2014), among other fellowships and honors. He is affiliated with the BioProducts Institute and Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute at UBC, and supervises graduate students in Food Science (MSc and PhD programs). His laboratory focuses on interdisciplinary research that addresses critical challenges in food science, with implications for feeding the projected 10 billion people by 2050 while countering negative public perceptions around processed foods.
Barry Babin is the Phil B. Hardin Professor of Marketing and Chair of the Department of Marketing, Analytics and Professional Sales at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) School of Business Administration. He also serves as Executive Director of the Academy of Marketing Science®. Education: B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Louisiana State University (1982) M.B.A. in Business, University of Central Florida (1987) Ph.D. in Business Administration, Louisiana State University (1991) Barry's research focuses on customer experience design , wine marketing , value creation , and marketing analytics . He has published over 200 works, including books like Multivariate Data Analysis and CB: A Consumer Value Framework , with an h-index of 88. His meta-analyses and sensory marketing studies have significantly influenced service and retail marketing practices. Recent publications highlight trends in augmented reality marketing , robotic shopping assistants , and sustainable packaging . His work spans consumer behavior , salesforce management , and digital innovation . Awards: AMS Harold W. Berkman Distinguished Service Award Barry has directed over 20 dissertations/theses and consults on graduate program structures. He is a sought-after speaker in France and globally on marketing research topics.
Valerio Pascucci is a Professor at the University of Utah's School of Computing and a DOE Laboratory Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He directs the Center for Extreme Data Management Analysis and Visualization (CEDMAV) and previously led projects at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and University of Texas at Austin. PhD in Computer Science (Purdue University, 2000) MSc in Electrical Engineering (University 'La Sapienza', Rome, 1993) As a pioneer in Big Data Management , Scientific Visualization , and Computational Topology , his work connects topological methods with progressive algorithms to enable interactive exploration of petascale datasets. His research spans climate modeling , neuroscience , materials science , and precision agriculture , focusing on multi-resolution techniques and geometric compression . Recent publications show specialization in web-based visualization and AI-driven analytics for climate data, with emphasis on equity in data access and FAIR data principles . His ViSUS project enables real-time data streaming from supercomputers to desktops, while NAPA explores GPU-based architectures for streaming algorithms. Scientific Awards : Best Paper Award, IEEE Pacific Visualization 2011 Best Application Paper Award, IEEE VIS 2006 DOE Laboratory Fellow He advises numerous graduate students and leads collaborations across national laboratories , universities , and industry . Funded by NSF Grant #2127548 , he develops technologies for exascale computing and geospatial intelligence .
Professor Cathryn Birch is a leading academic in Meteorology and Climate at the University of Leeds' School of Earth and Environment. She holds a Professorship specializing in high-impact weather systems and climate modeling, with extensive collaborations across international meteorological services including the Indonesian Met Service (BMKG) and the UK Met Office. Her research focuses on tropical meteorology , particularly thunderstorm formation and extreme rainfall mechanisms in Southeast Asia. She employs convection-permitting models , satellite observations, and machine learning techniques to develop nowcasting systems that predict severe weather 2-3 hours in advance. Key research areas include: Weather and climate extremes in tropical regions Flood forecasting and early warning system development Climate impacts on health (particularly humid heat extremes) Machine learning applications for weather prediction Her recent publications demonstrate strong trends in applied meteorology with emphasis on real-world implementation - 60% of her 2023-2025 work involves operational forecasting systems, while 40% focuses on climate-health linkages. Notable methodological innovations include satellite-based humid heat early warning systems and deep learning frameworks for convection initiation. Major scientific recognition includes: 2024 Emerging Environmental Impact Award for flood early warning systems 2021 Queen's Anniversary Prize for tropical community resilience 2014 European Meteorological Society Young Scientist Award Professor Birch actively supervises 6 PhD students and 3 postdocs while leading multi-million pound projects including the £6M National Hub on Net Zero, Health and Extreme Heat (HEARTH). Her team develops practical forecasting tools currently being tested with African meteorological services and the Indonesian Met Service. She also serves on the European Meteorological Society Awards Committee and the Met Office K-scale project steering group.
Brian Colle is a Professor and Division Head of Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS). His research focuses on extreme weather, coastal meteorology, weather forecasting, and regional climate change. He leads the COMAP (COastal Meteorological And Prediction) group, which aims to improve understanding and forecasting of extreme weather events in coastal regions. Colle holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington (1997). Education: Ph.D., University of Washington, 1997 Research Interests: Colle’s work spans severe convective storms, extratropical cyclones, precipitation dynamics, and climate impacts. His group employs numerical models like Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and collaborates on initiatives like the IMPACTS snowstorm study and OLYMPEX field project. Recent projects include analyzing storm surge flooding, microscale updrafts, and ensemble forecasting techniques. Publications Highlight Trends: Recent work emphasizes coastal flooding compounding effects, cyclone forecasting innovations, and immersive visualization tools for risk communication. His studies bridge atmospheric processes with societal impacts, addressing climate adaptation challenges in urban environments. Advising & Collaboration: Colle’s research involves interdisciplinary efforts with institutions like Brookhaven National Laboratory and the New York City Panel on Climate Change. His lab’s focus on high-resolution modeling and stakeholder engagement aims to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events. Labs/Teams: COMAP Lab focuses on coastal meteorology and numerical modeling, contributing to climate resilience strategies and disaster risk reduction.
Dr. Dana E. Veron is a Professor and Co-Director of the Gerard J. Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub at the University of Delaware (UD). She holds roles as Associate Chair of the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences and Faculty Director for the Environmental Science major and Climate Scholars program. Her research focuses on climate change impacts, polar meteorology, and offshore wind energy. She earned a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2000) and a B.A. in Physics from SUNY Geneseo (1995). Key research areas include Arctic energy balance, Antarctic boundary layer processes, cloud-radiation interactions, and coastal wind dynamics. She leads the Veron Lab, collaborating internationally on projects like CALVA in Antarctica. Dr. Veron also advances climate education through initiatives like MADE-CLEAR, addressing curriculum gaps and teacher training. Her work bridges academia and policy, contributing to UD's Delaware Environmental Institute and Center for Research in Wind (CReW). Notable contributions include studies on sea breeze impacts on wind energy forecasting and climate change literacy in higher education. Affiliations include the Provost Faculty Fellows program and roles on the Honors Program Board. She advises multiple graduate students and teaches courses on climate dynamics, oceanography, and wind energy.
Kat Haynes is an Honorary Fellow at the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS) at the University of Wollongong. Her research focuses on environmental change, disaster risk reduction, and community resilience through participatory processes. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of East Anglia (2005). Her work emphasizes youth and community-centered initiatives, including post-disaster investigations in Australia and volcano risk communication in Montserrat. Haynes has received significant recognition, including the Australian Academy of Science ASPIRE Award (2015) for contributions to disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. She leads or collaborates on grants such as the NSW Bushfire Inquiry (2021), Re-walking and Reawakening Country (2021), and Indigenous cultural burning research (2020). She has advised on multiple higher-degree research projects, including geochemistry studies of historical fires. Her research spans natural hazards, environmental management, and human geography, with a focus on wildfire management, flood risk communication, and elderly resilience during disasters. She collaborates with government and NGOs to institutionalize child-centric disaster resilience strategies. Haynes also contributes to global initiatives like the Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires and has published extensively on disaster preparedness and recovery.
Professor Marina Gashinova, Chair in Pervasive Sensing at the University of Birmingham, leads the Pervasive Sensing Group within the Microwave Integrated Systems Laboratory (MISL). Her research spans radar sensing for autonomous vehicles, space domain awareness (SDA), and sub-THz/mmWave technology, with international recognition for advancing cognitive radar and space-borne ISAR systems. Research Focus: She pioneers the use of mmWave/sub-THz frequencies for long-range sensing, applying AI to redefine radar capabilities in automotive and aerospace domains. Her EPSRC-funded projects (e.g., PathCAD, EP/Y022092/1) and Innovate UK collaborations (CORTEX, COSMOS) highlight her leadership in cognitive radar and quantum-enabled SDA. Scientific Awards: Lead of REF 2021 Impact Case Study on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Founding Chair of EMSIG Focus Groups: MODEST (Modern Trends in Medium/Short Range Sensing) and Radar for Space Associate Editor, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems Member of EPSRC ICT, EU, and Canadian funding panels Education & Teaching: With a PhD in Physics and Mathematics from St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University and PGCert in Learning and Teaching, she coordinates the MSc module Digital Communication and Signal Processing and contributes to radar and satellite communication curricula.
