Tseganesh Wubale Tamirat serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Her research bridges agricultural technology, economics, and social science with field-based investigations across Europe and Ethiopia. Her expertise centers on agricultural robotics adoption dynamics, precision farming economics, and sustainable technology implementation. Key interests include ethical implications of farm automation, socioeconomic barriers to innovation, and comparative analysis of smallholder versus industrial farming systems. She examines how cultural, economic, and policy factors shape technology uptake through multi-stakeholder frameworks. Recent publications (2018-2024) reveal a concentrated focus on field robotics, with 50% of works analyzing European farmer perspectives on robot deployment. Cross-cutting themes include data governance challenges, labor displacement concerns, and optimal integration of automation within crop rotations. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary alignment between agricultural engineering, resource economics, and sustainability science.
Christian Andreasen is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, where he leads the Plant Protection research group in the Section for Crop Sciences. He earned his MSc in Agronomy (1986) and PhD in Weed Science (1990) from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (now University of Copenhagen). His academic career includes roles as Assistant Professor (1991-1995), Associate Professor (1995-present), and Head of Crop Sciences (2004-2015). His research spans weed biology, sustainable crop protection, and seed technology, with emphasis on: Non-chemical weed control (laser weeding, thermal methods) Crop-weed interactions in changing climates Seed science and quinoa cultivation in tropical zones Biodiversity conservation in agricultural systems Publications (2019-2025) demonstrate strong focus on sustainable agriculture technologies, particularly laser-based weed control, climate adaptation of crops, and biochar soil applications. Research consistently addresses herbicide alternatives, precision agriculture, and resilience of crops like quinoa under abiotic stresses. He actively advises PhD candidates and has supervised 10+ doctoral projects. Major grants include Horizon 2020's WeLASER project (2021-2024) on autonomous laser weeding, AC/DC Weeds (2021-2022) for perennial weed management, and Sweedhart (2016-2019) on harvest weed seed control. Leads field and laboratory facilities at Taastrup Campus, collaborating internationally through NIBIO (Norway) and DanSeed consortium.
Dr. Edmund R Hunt is a Senior Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Bristol, working within the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology and the Department of Engineering Mathematics. Since 2021, he has held a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship. His research group, the Hunt Lab, focuses on deploying robot swarms into real-world environments for practical applications, particularly in environmental monitoring. Education: PhD in Complexity Sciences (2012-2016), University of Bristol MPhil in Economics (2007-2009), University of Oxford BSc in Physics with Theoretical Physics (2004-2007), Imperial College London Dr. Hunt's research bridges collective animal behavior and swarm robotics, developing bioinspired approaches for real-world robot deployments. His work emphasizes smaller-scale swarms (4-10 robots) using sophisticated ROS-based systems that can navigate complex environments. Key research themes include multi-robot patrolling, trust in human-robot teams, behavioral plasticity in swarms, and environmental monitoring applications. His group conducts experiments both indoors on campus and in outdoor locations including Bristol's harbourside and Fenswood Farm. Analysis of Dr. Hunt's recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical swarm robotics applications, particularly in environmental monitoring and security. His work increasingly integrates human-robot teaming concepts, trust modeling, and bioinspired algorithms. The research shows progression from theoretical swarm concepts toward field-deployable systems with real-world applications in atmospheric measurement, biodiversity monitoring, and security patrolling. Scientific Awards: British Science Festival 2021 Award Lecture Winner for Digital Innovation 3rd Place in EPSRC Photography Competition 2018 EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow (2017) UK Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Fellow (2019-2021) Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow (2021-2026) Dr. Hunt actively supervises multiple PhD students working on diverse aspects of swarm robotics, including multi-robot patrolling, atmospheric electricity measurement, and behavioral plasticity. His current research is supported by significant grants including the £1.2M EPSRC-funded 'Satisficing Trust in Human-Robot Teams' project (2023-2026) and the T-B PHASE Prosperity Partnership with Thales. He previously held research fellowships from EPSRC and UK Intelligence Community funding. The Hunt Lab operates across multiple Bristol facilities including the Bristol Robotics Laboratory on UWE campus, field testing at Fenswood Farm in Long Ashton, and day-to-day operations on the Clifton campus. The lab works with various robot platforms including Leo Rovers for field experiments and has previously used Kilobots for conceptual swarm research. Current projects explore heterogeneous swarms incorporating different robot types for specialized environmental monitoring tasks.
Professor John McCall is a distinguished academic and researcher at Robert Gordon University's School of Computing, Engineering & Technology, where he previously served as Head of School. He currently serves as Director of the National Subsea Centre, leading initiatives to accelerate energy transition through smart technologies applied to industrial and environmental challenges in subsea and related marine sectors. With over 25 years of research experience in nature-inspired computing and artificial intelligence, Professor McCall has established himself as a leading expert in optimization algorithms and explainable AI. Professor McCall's research interests span data science, artificial intelligence, nature-inspired computing, and optimization, with significant applications in energy transition and subsea technologies. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations, having founded two spinout companies that deliver real-world optimization solutions to industry. He leads both the Complex Optimisation Research Group and the Computational Intelligence Research Group, where his team explores cutting-edge approaches to solving complex computational problems. Analysis of Professor McCall's recent publication record (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on explainable AI, particularly in the context of evolutionary computation and metaheuristics. His research demonstrates an increasing emphasis on practical applications in energy systems, transportation, and subsea technologies, reflecting his commitment to addressing real-world challenges related to climate change and industrial transformation. The interdisciplinary nature of his work is evident in publications spanning computer science, operations research, renewable energy, and transportation planning. Lead of the Computational Intelligence Research Group ResearcherID: G-1423-2011 Scopus Author ID: 36797474900 ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1738-7056 Professor McCall is actively involved in mentoring the next generation of researchers, currently supervising multiple PhD students across diverse topics including explainability of non-deterministic solvers, optimization of electrical machines, and computational intelligence applications in hydrocarbon systems. His research is supported by numerous grants from industry and government sources, with projects totaling millions of pounds focused on solving challenges in energy transition and smart technologies. At the National Subsea Centre, Professor McCall leads a multidisciplinary team working on digital twin technologies, subsea AI applications, and data-driven solutions for the energy sector. His work emphasizes collaboration between academia and industry to develop transformative solutions that address both current challenges and future opportunities in the subsea domain.
Dr. Lee Christie is a Research Fellow at Robert Gordon University's School of Computing, Engineering & Technology, where he conducts research in optimization and artificial intelligence. He is affiliated with the Complex Optimisation Research Group and maintains connections with the National Subsea Centre through his research on net-zero operations. His educational background includes: BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from Robert Gordon University (2003-2007) MSc in Information Engineering (Distinction) from Robert Gordon University (2009-2011, part-time) PhD in Computational Intelligence from Robert Gordon University (2011-2016) Dr. Christie's research primarily focuses on combinatorial optimization, structure learning, and blockchain technologies. He investigates how to make non-deterministic solvers more transparent through trajectory mining and feature extraction. His work bridges theoretical optimization techniques with practical applications in transportation systems (particularly connected autonomous vehicles), renewable energy (wind farm optimization), and supply chain management. He has published extensively on explainable metaheuristics, with a growing emphasis on making optimization algorithms interpretable for end-users while maintaining effectiveness. His recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a clear research trajectory toward explainable AI for optimization algorithms, with applications spanning transportation systems, renewable energy infrastructure, and complex supply chains. These works showcase his ability to translate theoretical advances into practical solutions for real-world problems with societal impact. Dr. Christie has secured research funding for projects including the A.R.T. Forum NSR (2019-2022), which developed implementation roadmaps for automated road transport in the North Sea Region. He teaches programming for business analytics courses and actively contributes to the Aberdeen Python User Group as a steering committee member. His academic service includes supervision of PhD students, with Dr. Martin Fyvie recently completing a dissertation on 'Explainability of Non-Deterministic Solvers' under his guidance as second supervisor. Dr. Christie maintains active collaborations with researchers including John McCall, A.-C. Zăvoianu, and A.E.I. Brownlee, resulting in consistent publication output across reputable venues in evolutionary computation and artificial intelligence.
Julián Sánchez-Hermosilla López is a Professor in the Department of Engineering at the University of Almería, Spain, specializing in agricultural robotics and precision agriculture technologies. His research focuses on developing autonomous systems for greenhouse operations, particularly in pesticide application, crop monitoring, and structural analysis of agricultural facilities. His research interests span agricultural robotics, precision agriculture, electrostatic spraying technology, UAV photogrammetry, and mechatronic systems for agricultural applications. Professor Sánchez-Hermosilla leads research in the 'Tecnología de la producción agraria en zonas semiáridas' group, focusing on technological solutions for Mediterranean agricultural challenges. His recent publication activity (2020-2024) demonstrates strong productivity in high-impact journals, with multiple Q1 publications in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, Smart Agricultural Technology, and Science of the Total Environment. His work shows consistent focus on practical agricultural robotics solutions for greenhouse environments. Scopus h-index: 19 Web of Science h-index: 17 Scopus i10-index: 25 Web of Science i10-index: 22 Professor Sánchez-Hermosilla has served as Principal Investigator on numerous research projects funded by Spanish agencies, with total funding exceeding €500,000 in the past decade alone. His current research includes autonomous greenhouse monitoring vehicles and optimization of natural/artificial pollination in olive crops. He directs the research activities of multiple PhD students and has supervised numerous theses in agricultural engineering, with a particular focus on UAV applications, electrostatic spraying systems, and greenhouse structural analysis.
Pedro Pablo Pérez Hernández is a Full Professor in the Department of Economics at Universidad Loyola Andalucía, specializing in the Fundamentals of Economic Analysis. He leads research within the Development Studies group and maintains active collaborations with Junta de Andalucía and European Commission research initiatives. His research focuses primarily on rural development economics , agricultural policy analysis , and regional economic studies , with particular emphasis on Andalusia and Spain. Professor Pérez Hernández has published extensively on topics including Social Accounting Matrices applications, forestry economics (particularly Pinus pinea), bioenergy production systems, and regional fiscal policy analysis. His recent publication trends show continued focus on rural development policy design, with his 2022 article on small-scale forestry-based activities representing his most recent scholarly contribution. His work consistently bridges theoretical economic analysis with practical policy applications for rural economic development. Professor Pérez Hernández has secured significant research funding for projects related to agricultural policy implementation, rural development, and environmental economics. His active involvement in projects through 2025 demonstrates his ongoing research productivity and relevance in the field of economic development. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as Current Situation Analysis, Spanish and World Economy, and Economics II - Markets, reflecting his expertise in applied economic analysis with regional and global perspectives.
Jakub Szulwic is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geodesy, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology. His work focuses on applying advanced geodetic and remote sensing technologies to solve complex problems in civil engineering, environmental monitoring, and cultural heritage preservation. Dr. Szulwic earned his doctoral degree in Geodesy and Cartography from the Faculty of Geodesy and Spatial Management at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn in 2003. His academic journey has positioned him as a specialist in terrestrial laser scanning, photogrammetry, and geospatial data processing. Dr. Szulwic's research interests span across multiple domains of geospatial technology. His primary focus areas include geodesy , photogrammetry , remote sensing , lidar , terrestrial laser scanning , geoscience , civil engineering , geoinformatics , and geomatics . His work demonstrates how these technologies can be applied to diverse fields from structural engineering to environmental monitoring and agricultural technology. His publication record shows a consistent focus on practical applications of geospatial technologies. Recent work includes studies on HBIM (Historical Building Information Modeling), marine gravimetric measurements, light pollution monitoring, agricultural technology, and structural diagnostics. His research demonstrates a pattern of applying advanced scanning and imaging technologies to solve real-world problems across multiple domains including civil engineering, environmental science, and agriculture. Dr. Szulwic leads several significant research projects including PLAN-B (addressing light and noise pollution impacts on biodiversity), BalMarGrav (marine gravity mapping), SoURCE (utility risk/cost evaluation), and MarLS (3D laser scanning from vessels). These projects are funded by European programs including Horizon Europe, European Territorial Cooperation, European Space Agency, and European Regional Development Fund. He is actively involved in laboratory work and research teams focused on geodetic measurements, with particular expertise in laser scanning applications both on land and at sea. His work with the Department of Geodesy at Gdańsk Tech has established him as a key researcher in applying geospatial technologies to solve complex engineering and environmental challenges.
Professor Abdullahi Ahmed serves as Head of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he holds the academic rank of Professor. His leadership drives research initiatives focused on sustainable development within engineering and urban infrastructure. His research spans interdisciplinary domains including Sustainable Engineering, Materials Science, Energy Systems, and Circular Economy. He pioneers solutions for environmental challenges through metamaterials development, renewable energy systems, smart city optimization, and sustainable agricultural practices using AI-driven approaches. Professor Ahmed currently supervises six postgraduate students: Breeshea Robinson (Additive Manufacturing of Auxetic Metamaterials), Mu’Azu Gidado (Thermal Management for Second-Life EV Batteries), Natasha Vaccaro (Algae-Based Vertical Farming Optimization), Rajesh Malhan (Techno-Economic Analysis of Autonomous Smart Cities), Gabriela Matei (AI-Powered Eco-Innovations for CSR), and Francis Okeke (Corncob Valorization in Sustainable Construction).
María Francisca Rosique Contreras serves as a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, driving interdisciplinary research at the nexus of autonomous systems, agricultural technology, and rural development. Her work bridges technical innovation with societal impact through concrete applications in transportation, farming, and digital inclusion initiatives. Her research portfolio demonstrates three converging trajectories: (1) Pioneering autonomous driving systems using end-to-end deep neural networks for real-world vehicle control; (2) Advancing computer vision applications for agricultural challenges like grape berry segmentation under variable lighting; and (3) Leading rural development projects addressing digital isolation in Spain while empowering women through green entrepreneurship programs. These interconnected domains reflect her commitment to solving practical problems through technological innovation. Analysis of her 68 publications (2007-2025) reveals consistent growth in AI-driven solutions, with recent work emphasizing practical deployment in autonomous vehicles and agricultural imaging. Her scholarly output shows increasing focus on societal applications, particularly in bridging the digital divide and creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities. Professor Rosique Contreras actively mentors graduate students as evidenced by thesis supervision records and secures research funding for projects spanning autonomous vehicle development and rural empowerment initiatives. Her educational innovation work includes the VR360 UPCT project, demonstrating commitment to transforming teaching methodologies through immersive technologies.
