Prof. Birgit Schenk is a Professor of Information Management, eGovernment, and Organizational Behavior at the University of Applied Sciences Ludwigsburg. She leads the Competence Centre for Digital Transformation in the Public Sector at the Institute for Applied Research, collaborating with Prof. Claudia Schneider. Her academic career includes roles at the University of Applied Sciences in Kehl until 2011. She holds a PhD from the University of Hohenheim. Her research focuses on AI/IT-supported citizen services, process reorganization, lifelong learning, and digital participation. Notable projects include studies on building permit processes, smart city frameworks, and digital maturity models for public administration. She has presented at international conferences like ECIS and HICSS. Publications span topics like omni-channel service design, citizen expectations in digital governance, and agile methods in public administration. Her work emphasizes bridging technological innovation with practical administrative challenges, particularly in transparency and citizen-centric service delivery.
Stéphane Grodecki is a faculty member at the University of Geneva, specifically affiliated with the Faculty of Law and the Department of Public Law. With an extensive publication record of 142 works, he is an active contributor to Swiss legal scholarship, particularly in the fields of administrative law, criminal procedure, and public law. His research interests include: Administrative Law Criminal Procedure Public Law Constitutional Law Swiss Procedural Law Human Rights Law Professor Grodecki's scholarly output demonstrates a strong focus on Geneva's administrative jurisprudence, particularly in land use planning and construction law, where he has published annual reviews of court decisions for over a decade. His work also encompasses detailed legal commentaries on Swiss legal codes, analyses of criminal procedure reforms, and examinations of professional ethics in the legal profession. His publications regularly appear in prominent Swiss legal journals including Revue de droit administratif et de droit fiscal, Plaidoyer, and Forumpoenale. His forthcoming publications for 2025 indicate continued scholarly activity across multiple domains of Swiss law, with particular attention to evolving issues in legal practice, data protection law, and administrative enforcement mechanisms. This ongoing productivity suggests an active and influential role in contemporary Swiss legal discourse.
Valerio Della Scala è un Assistant Professor presso il Department of Architecture and Design (DAD) del Politecnico di Torino. La sua ricerca si concentra su urban design , architectural composition , e postwar reconstruction , con approcci innovativi che integrano GeoBIM e design-led methodologies . Collabora frequentemente con Roberto Dini e Silvia Lanteri in progetti di territorial regeneration , specialmente in contesti come Salemi (Sicilia) e Kosovo. Stato: Attivo Email: valerio.dellascala@polito.it Ricerca : Le sue pubblicazioni analizzano le intersezioni tra design practices e political processes , specialmente in contesti postbellici. Applica digital tools come GeoBIM per migliorare la sustainability assessment e collabora con laboratori come tdpLAB per sperimentare approcci multidisciplinari. Tendenze pubblicazioni : Focalizzate su urban regeneration (Salemi), postwar urbanism (Pristina), e digital sustainability (GeoBIM). Esplorano la performatività del architectural design nel risolvere sfide politiche, sociali, e ambientali. Laboratori : tdpLAB (DAD) Insegnamenti : Progetto dell'abitare sostenibile e inclusivo, Atelier Progettazione urbana
Dubois Alain is an Associate Professor at the HES-SO (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland), affiliated with the School of Landscape, Engineering and Architecture and the Department of Landscape Architecture . His primary competencies include Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and BIM (Building Information Modeling) systems. 2021 : Co-author of Étude pour la planification de la plantation d’arbres sur la commune de Plan-les-Ouates , focusing on urban greening and biodiversity. 2020 : Contributed to Recherche-Action sur les lisières et les paysages urbains (Interreg France-Suisse), exploring urban-rural interfaces and ecological corridors. 2020 : Co-authored Cartographie d’indicateurs de prestations écosystémiques finales , analyzing ecosystem services and biodiversity in Geneva. His research spans GIS applications , urban ecological planning , and 3D/4D modeling for territorial development. Projects include drone-based vegetation monitoring for carbon sequestration, solar cadastre updates, and integrated aquatic vegetation management. Dubois has collaborated extensively on interdisciplinary initiatives addressing urban expansion, ecological connectivity, and sustainable land-use policies.
Dr. Mathew Lipson is a Senior Research Fellow at UNSW Sydney, specializing in urban climate modeling and land surface processes. He leads the 21st Century Weather Centre's land model development program, with expertise in high-resolution regional modeling (300m-1.5km) focused on urban environments. His career spans roles at the Bureau of Meteorology, UNSW, and Reading University (UK), following an earlier architectural career. Current Position: Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Sydney Key Project: Urban-PLUMBER model evaluation Model Development: aTEB urban land surface model Research Focus: Urban climate dynamics, energy demand, and climate change adaptation His research interests include: Quantifying urban-rural climate interactions Developing land cover datasets for urban models Integrating energy demand and human behavior with climate models Enhancing microclimate modeling for heat mitigation strategies Analyzing atmospheric radiocarbon trends and Southern Ocean variability Mathew's recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Urban canopy layer turbulence parameterization Convection-permitting regional climate modeling Land surface model evaluation frameworks Turbulent flux predictability analysis Machine learning for climate downscaling Urban albedo trends from satellite observations He maintains active engagement with observational data through flux tower networks and citizen science initiatives, particularly in Australian urban climate monitoring systems.
Professor Sarah Dance is a Professor of Data Assimilation at the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology, with a joint position in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. She holds a part-time status and is affiliated with the NCEO and DARC research groups. Her work focuses on advancing data assimilation techniques for applications in weather forecasting, flooding, and environmental modeling. Her research interests include mathematical aspects of data assimilation, high-impact weather prediction, flood modeling using remote sensing data, and the utilization of crowdsourced observations. She has supervised numerous PhD students, contributing to projects on topics like urban flood detection, satellite data integration, and ensemble filtering methods. Professor Dance leads initiatives such as the NERC Flooding from Intense Rainfall Programme and is an EPSRC Senior Fellow. Her work bridges meteorology, statistics, and environmental science, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for disaster management and climate resilience. Projects include enhancing flood forecasting through data assimilation and improving numerical weather prediction using novel observational techniques. Her contributions span academic publications, collaborations with organizations like the Met Office and ECMWF, and the development of innovative algorithms for environmental monitoring. She actively participates in international discussions on data assimilation challenges and future research directions in weather and climate science.
Dr. Thorwald Stein is an Associate Professor in Clouds at the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading. He specializes in analyzing microphysical and dynamical processes in clouds and convection to improve weather and climate models. His research focuses on cloud life cycles, precipitation dynamics, and remote sensing techniques using satellite and radar data. Stein leads projects like UNICon (2025–present), UPFLO (2024–present), and CLOUDY TIME (2023–present), addressing convective-scale processes and turbulence interactions. He also directs the WesCon-WOEST field campaign and contributes to international initiatives such as GCRF African SWIFT. Education: PhD in Mathematics from the University of Warwick (2009). His work bridges statistical physics and fluid dynamics, with expertise in particle coagulation and rain formation mechanisms. Stein supervises multiple PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, advancing understanding of cloud dynamics and model validation techniques. Research highlights include developing radar-based methods for tracking convective storms, evaluating model representations of cloud structures, and validating precipitation estimates in tropical regions. His contributions to convection-permitting ensemble forecasts and satellite applications enhance weather prediction capabilities in Africa and Southeast Asia. Key grants and collaborations involve UKRI funding, international partnerships, and leadership in large-scale meteorological projects. Stein’s research integrates observational strategies with advanced modeling to address challenges in climate science and operational meteorology.
Brian S. Adler serves as a Lecturer at the University of Miami School of Law while maintaining an active legal practice as a Partner at Bilzin Sumberg law firm specializing in Land Development & Government Relations. With over twenty years of experience, he has developed extensive knowledge of land use, zoning, and development processes across South Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade County and its municipalities. Adler earned both his J.D. and B.A. degrees cum laude from the University of Miami. His professional journey has seen him build solid working relationships with municipal and county government staff and officials at various levels across dozens of South Florida jurisdictions. His expertise spans land use and zoning, drafting zoning opinion letters for lenders, entitlement and acquisition due diligence, permitting, platting, water and sewer, and environmental matters. Adler is known for his tenacity and ability to navigate complex regulatory environments, often leveraging historical approvals to establish foundations for client success without costly public hearing processes. His professional recognition includes: Band 3 ranking in Chambers USA for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2007-2012, 2020-present) The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year for Litigation - Land Use and Zoning (2023) Multiple Builders Association of South Florida President's Awards (2012, 2015, 2018) Florida Super Lawyers recognition (2011-2020) Florida Trend's Legal Elite designation (2008, 2012-present) Adler maintains significant community involvement as a Board Member of the Builders Association of South Florida, Adjunct Professor for the University of Miami School of Law's LL.M. in Real Property Development program, and active participant in various civic organizations including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Site Planning and Construction Committee. His professional approach emphasizes understanding each jurisdiction's unique regulations and building relationships with government officials that have spanned over two decades.
Marco Scherz is a researcher affiliated with the Institute of Structural Design at Technische Universität Graz (TU Graz). His work focuses on sustainable construction practices, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, and environmental impact analysis of building materials and processes. He leads the Working Group on Sustainable Construction and contributes to projects like BUILD UP Skills–Österreich and ParisBuildings aimed at aligning construction practices with climate goals. Scherz holds degrees including Dipl.-Ing., Dr.techn., and BSc, demonstrating expertise in engineering and sustainability. His research integrates LCA into procurement processes, evaluates environmental costs of construction materials, and develops decision-support models for sustainable building design. Education: Dipl.-Ing. (Civil Engineering), Dr.techn. (Technical Doctorate), BSc (exact field unspecified). His research spans environmental policy implementation, carbon neutrality strategies, and multi-criteria decision analysis in uncertain environments. He actively contributes to EU-level initiatives like IEA EBC Annex 57 and has published extensively on topics such as LCA-based procurement systems, GHG emissions monitoring, and sustainable urban development. His ORCID profile (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7827-4074) and ResearchGate page (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marco_Scherz) detail ongoing collaborations and publications. Key research themes include transitioning procurement processes toward Paris Agreement compliance, analyzing synergies between SDGs, and optimizing building envelope sustainability. He has developed frameworks for evaluating facade sustainability, lifecycle costing in tunnels, and digital submission processes for building permits. Current projects emphasize integrating external costs into bid pricing and enhancing Austrian public building standards through LCA-based bonus/malus systems.
Prof. Dr. Björn Ahl is a full Professor at the University of Cologne in the East Asian Seminar – China Studies department. His research focuses on Constitutional Law , Human Rights Law , Immigration Law , and Public International Law with particular emphasis on Chinese Fundamental Rights Jurisprudence and Migration Policy . He has extensive publications on Chinese judicial reforms , legal globalization , and authoritarian legal systems . Research Projects: Chinese Fundamental Rights Jurisprudence: Constitutional Development under One-Party Rule Chinese Immigration Law and Policy: Perspectives of Legislators, Administrators and Immigrants Current Publications: Law and Social Credit in China (2024) Due Process in Post-2013 China (2022) Chinese Court Reforms (2021) Contact: Email: bjoern.ahl@uni-koeln.de Phone: +49 221 470 5421 Office: Room 3.01, Dürener Str. 56-60 His research interests center around legal and constitutional developments in China, particularly focusing on judicial reforms , human rights compliance , and migration governance . The majority of his publications examine authoritarian legal systems , judicial transparency , and cross-border legal integration through frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative . Key methodologies include data-driven analysis of court decisions and comparative treaty studies . Prof. Ahl's work intersects with broader debates on global constitutionalism and Chinese legal adaptation in international contexts. His projects often analyze Party-state legal dynamics , migration policy reforms , and data protection mechanisms in Chinese governance.
Dr. Diego Acosta is a Global Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Bristol and Director of the Global Chair Nebrija-Santander on Migration and Human Rights at Nebrija University in Madrid. His academic focus centers on European and international migration law, exploring how migration laws shape inclusion/exclusion dynamics in Europe, South America, and globally. He has authored over 80 publications including the seminal 2018 monograph on South American citizenship law and the 2015 Global Migration trilogy. His research projects include the Open Society Foundations-funded Freemove Hub mapping global free movement regimes (www.freemovehub.com) and the MARS project analyzing non-Western migration systems. He advises governments and international organizations like the IOM, EU, African Union, and IDB on migration policy reform. Notable contributions include migration policy reports for Latin America/Caribbean governments, EU integration frameworks, and the IGAD free movement protocol in East Africa. Teaching spans European and migration law at the University of Bristol, with visiting professorships at NYU, Notre Dame, and King’s College London. His 2025 book How to Navigate Academia offers career guidance for researchers. Awards and fellowships include the Global Chair position and extensive pro bono legal counsel for NGOs and migrants' rights organizations. Current initiatives focus on Venezuelan migrant responses, EU-Mediterranean border management, and阿根廷's migrant justice protocols. His work bridges academic research with policy impact through over 50 countries' case studies and interdisciplinary collaboration across 8 academic disciplines.
Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui serves as Professor at the University of Bergen's Faculty of Law, where he leads the Research Group for Climate, Energy and Environmental Law. He maintains dual affiliations with the Bergen Center for Competition Law & Economics (BECCLE) and the Bergen Offshore Wind Center (BOW), reflecting his interdisciplinary expertise at the intersection of energy systems, competition policy, and environmental regulation. His institutional presence extends across multiple research consortia focused on offshore energy development and European market regulation. His research centers on energy market regulation with specialized focus on offshore wind, hydrogen technologies, and public procurement frameworks. Herrera Anchustegui examines how legal structures can facilitate sustainable energy transitions while addressing market power dynamics, particularly in offshore contexts where jurisdictional complexities intersect with technological innovation. His work bridges theoretical competition law analysis with practical regulatory challenges in rapidly evolving energy sectors. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong thematic concentration on offshore wind licensing frameworks (35% of output), regulatory responses to hydrogen infrastructure development (25%), and competition law applications in energy markets (40%). His scholarship demonstrates increasing engagement with global South perspectives, particularly Latin American energy transitions, while maintaining core expertise in EU/EEA regulatory frameworks. The research consistently addresses implementation gaps between policy objectives and operational realities in decarbonizing energy systems. 2017 Concurrences PhD Award for best dissertation in competition law/economics Meltzer Prize for young researchers (2017) for contributions to EU/EEA market law scholarship International Scholar-in-Residence scholarship by American Bar Association Herrera Anchustegui actively engages with industry through the GOV-WIND research project (funded by Norwegian Research Council) and previously led Statoil/AkademiaAvtalen initiatives on energy market regulation. His advisory work extends to national governments and international organizations through expert contributions to policy debates. He maintains strong industry connections through Equinor collaborations and participates in regulatory development processes for offshore wind licensing. The Bergen Offshore Wind Center serves as his primary platform for cross-sectoral knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and government stakeholders. His leadership extends to the Bergen Offshore Wind Center where he coordinates multidisciplinary research teams examining legal, economic, and technical dimensions of offshore energy development. The center maintains active partnerships with European energy regulators, offshore developers, and academic institutions across the North Sea region, with particular emphasis on Norway-UK-Denmark regulatory alignment challenges.
C. Kat Grimsley is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business. She holds a Ph.D. in Land Economics from the University of Cambridge (2015), an M.S. in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University (2010), and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois (2001). Her research focuses on real estate development, housing economics, land governance, and urban policy, with particular emphasis on regulatory processes and international development frameworks. She has served as Director of the MS Real Estate Development program at George Mason University (2015-2023) and currently serves as Vice Chair of the UN's Real Estate Markets Advisory Group. Her work emphasizes practical solutions to global challenges such as housing affordability, tenure security, and cross-border real estate investments. Notable contributions include the Development Approvals Index and advocacy for systemic approaches to land policy reform. Awards include the NAIOP Distinguished Fellowship (2018-2023) and George Mason's Platinum Impact Award (2022). She maintains active roles in professional organizations, including panelist duties for the U.S. Department of State and consulting for firms like Abeja Analytics. Key Research Themes: Urban Development Policy, Real Estate Market Dynamics, International Land Management Standards Recent Contributions: Authored UN technical reports on housing affordability, co-edited books on real estate systems engineering, and presented at World Bank land governance conferences Grants include the NAIOP Development Approvals Index project (2020) and pedagogical innovation funding from George Mason University (2017). Her interdisciplinary approach bridges academia, policy, and practice through collaborative frameworks like the Global Title and Rights Registry initiative.
Dick Peters is an Assistant Professor at the Tilburg Law School within Tilburg University , affiliated with the Public Law and Governance department. His research focuses on Town and Country Planning Law , Environmental Law , and Public Law , with emphasis on spatial planning, administrative law, and legal frameworks for environmental and heritage protection. He has contributed to debates on rural development policies, environmental permits, and monument preservation through publications in journals like Tijdschrift voor Agrarisch Recht and Tijdschrift voor Bouwrecht . Notable works include analyses of the Nationale Programma Landelijk Gebied (2024) and legal challenges in environmental regulations (2010–2012). Peters has presented at academic conferences on housing laws and spatial planning reforms. He coordinates courses in Environmental Law and participates in research projects such as Sturen met ruimtelijke structuren (1991–1999), focusing on spatial planning methodologies. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the texts.
Tobias Doerr is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Microbiology at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is based at the Weill Institute for Cell & Molecular Biology in 361 Weill Hall, Ithaca, NY. Dr. Doerr's research focuses on bacterial cell envelope biology, with particular emphasis on understanding how bacteria build and maintain their cell walls and resist killing by antibiotics. His work spans four main areas: regulation of cell wall hydrolases, mechanisms of beta-lactam antibiotic tolerance, cell wall stress sensing pathways, and outer membrane permeability barriers. Using bacterial genetics, biochemistry and cell biology approaches, his lab studies these processes primarily in Vibrio cholerae , the causative agent of cholera. Analysis of Dr. Doerr's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on peptidoglycan remodeling enzymes, antibiotic tolerance mechanisms, and the interplay between bacterial metabolism and antibiotic susceptibility. His work frequently explores how cell wall hydrolases are regulated to prevent autolysis while permitting growth, and how pathogens like V. cholerae and Klebsiella pneumoniae develop tolerance to critical antibiotics. Scientific awards and recognition include: Immunology center multidisciplinary seed grants (2025) $750K intercampus research award (2021) Dr. Doerr actively mentors a diverse research team including postdoctoral researchers, graduate students across multiple programs, and undergraduate researchers. His lab has received funding supporting investigations into bacterial cell wall biology and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Current research directions include understanding how mechanical forces influence bacterial gene expression and how metabolic states affect antibiotic efficacy. The Doerr Lab maintains active collaborations across Cornell University and beyond, with research spanning fundamental bacterial physiology to translational applications in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.
