Professor Phil Purnell is a Professor of Materials and Structures at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds. His expertise spans materials science, infrastructure systems, circular economy, and interdisciplinary research. He leads projects addressing decarbonization, waste-to-resource systems, and sustainable construction materials. His roles include Deputy Head of School and advisor to UKRI, DEFRA, and the UK Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce. He holds visiting positions at the Royal College of Art and University of Cambridge. Education: PhD, BEng (Civil), and teaching qualifications (PCPCE, ACTLHE). His research focuses on circular economy applications in textiles, offshore wind, and foundational industries. Notable projects include the Textiles Circularity Centre, Yorkshire Circular Economy Living Lab, and Complex Value Optimisation for Resource Recovery (C-VORR). He advocates for systemic approaches to sustainability, integrating economic, technical, and environmental values. Research outputs emphasize decarbonization pathways, material lifecycle assessments, and robotics in infrastructure management. Collaborations with industry and policy bodies drive practical solutions for resource efficiency. His work bridges engineering, economics, and environmental science to address global challenges like waste management and climate change.
Guangyu Cao is a Professor at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He holds leadership roles in multiple international organizations, including the European standards working group CEN TC156 WG18, REHVA's technical committee, and the editorial board of the Journal of Building Engineering (Impact Factor 5.318). His research focuses on indoor airflow dynamics, ventilation systems in healthcare settings, and airborne disease transmission mitigation, with a strong emphasis on surgical environments and school buildings. Education: PhD in Energy Engineering (2009), Helsinki University of Technology Senior Researcher at VTT Technical Research Center (2009-2014) Research Interests: Hospital ventilation optimization, thermal comfort in clinical settings, airborne infection control, and sustainable building environmental quality. He combines experimental studies with mathematical modeling to evaluate ventilation strategies, particularly in operating rooms and isolation wards. Projects: EU Marie Curie DTN HumanIC (2024–2027) EU H2020 iclimabuilt (2021–2025) NFR POSIred (2020-2024) Labs/Teams: Collaborates with St. Olav's Hospital on indoor environment projects and leads teams in Cold Climate HVAC and Healthy Building Europe initiatives.
Katrine Eldegard is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA). She leads BatLab Norway and contributes extensively to national and international conservation science policy. Institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences School: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Department: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management Position: Professor Her research centers on understanding how human activities and land use affect natural ecosystems and species across taxa and spatial scales. She specializes in the behavioral, population, and community-level responses of mammals, birds, and insects to anthropogenic pressures such as energy infrastructure, transport networks, and forestry. A major focus is on bat ecology and conservation, pollination dynamics, and biodiversity monitoring in boreal and agricultural landscapes. Her recent publications reveal strong trends in climate change impacts on bat morphology and distribution, pollinator-plant interactions under environmental change, and the ecological consequences of infrastructure development. These works integrate field ecology with advanced modeling and policy-relevant assessments. She has played leading roles in key scientific committees: Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Red List for Species (2021) Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Alien Species List (2023) Member, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM), CITES Expert Panel Norway’s representative, UNEP/Eurobats Advisory Committee Eldegard has supervised numerous research projects and collaborated with government agencies and private partners on applied ecology. She teaches courses including NATF200 Vern og forvaltning av norsk natur and the upcoming NATF300 Conservation Science. Her work is supported by extensive fieldwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of ecological theory with practical conservation. She leads BatLab Norway, a research group dedicated to advancing knowledge on bat ecology, behavior, and conservation through innovative methods including telemetry, acoustic monitoring, and landscape analysis.
Brian K. Arbic is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan. He holds a PhD in Physical Oceanography from MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2000) and a BS in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Michigan (1988). His research focuses on global ocean dynamics, including internal tides, gravity waves, mesoscale eddies, and tsunamis. He collaborates with institutions like NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, NOAA, and international partners to advance ocean modeling and satellite missions (e.g., SWOT and S-MODE). Arbic leads capacity-building initiatives such as the Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Ghana and co-founded EquiSea, promoting equitable access to ocean science. He is a key contributor to UNESCO's Ocean Decade Challenge 9, addressing global disparities in ocean science capacity. Education: PhD, Physical Oceanography, MIT/Woods Hole, 2000 BS, Mathematics and Physics, University of Michigan, 1988 Research Interests: Internal tides and gravity wave dynamics Air-sea interactions and surface tides Mesoscale eddy energetics Tsunami modeling and paleotsunamis Global climate modeling Key Collaborations: NASA SWOT/S-MODE missions US Naval Research Laboratory, NOAA GFDL International institutions (Mercator Modeling Center, LANL) Initiatives: Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School (COESS) Global Ocean Corps and EquiSea Fund UNESCO Ocean Decade Challenge 9 Arbic's work bridges advanced modeling with global capacity development, emphasizing equitable access to ocean science resources and education.
Philippe Christe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), Faculty of Biology and Medicine. His research centers on host-parasite interactions, with a focus on bats, birds, and their ectoparasites, integrating behavioral, physiological, and genetic approaches. He leads the Christe Group, which investigates evolutionary and ecological dynamics in host-parasite systems, particularly avian malaria and bat-mite relationships. He is actively involved in conservation initiatives, including the Jorat Peri-Urban Nature Park, and collaborates with KORA on human-wildlife interactions. Bachelor's degree in biology, UNIL (1989) PhD in Zoology and Animal Ecology, UNIL (1994) Philippe Christe’s research interests lie at the intersection of parasitology, evolutionary ecology, and conservation biology. He investigates how host defenses evolve in response to parasitic pressures, examining trade-offs between immunity and life history traits such as reproduction and survival. His work often integrates field studies with experimental and molecular techniques. Key model systems include Parus major (great tit) and Culex pipiens in avian malaria, and bat species with their ectoparasitic mites. He also explores broader ecological interactions, including predator-prey dynamics and wildlife conservation in human-modified landscapes. His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on disease ecology, wildlife conservation, and molecular methods. Articles span topics such as avian malaria transmission, lynx population dynamics, snow leopard behavior, and habitat fragmentation effects on insects. These works employ advanced techniques like DNA metabarcoding, spatial modeling, and long-term monitoring, demonstrating a trend toward interdisciplinary, data-driven ecological research with direct conservation applications. Dubois Foundation Prize for an educational CD-Rom on bats (2004) Communication Award from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of UNIL (2017) Philippe Christe has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students, contributing significantly to training the next generation of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. His group collaborates widely with institutions such as the Museum of Zoology in Lausanne and KORA, and participates in large-scale conservation projects involving snow leopards, lynx, and bats. He has been involved in research grants related to host-parasite coevolution, wildlife monitoring, and conservation strategies. His leadership in establishing the Jorat Peri-Urban Nature Park and involvement in the UNIL Interdisciplinary Center for Mountain Research highlight his commitment to applied science and environmental stewardship. He leads the Christe Group, which conducts research on host-parasite coevolution, with a focus on bats and their ectoparasites, and birds affected by avian malaria. The group combines fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and molecular analyses, and includes post-docs, PhD students, and technical staff. Collaborations extend to researchers in Bern, Paris, and Spain, fostering an international and interdisciplinary research environment.
Prof. Dr. Oliver Crönertz serves as Dean and Professor of Business Administration and IT-Supported Business Processes at the Faculty of Digital Transformation , HTWK Leipzig. His work bridges digital transformation with business management, focusing on interdisciplinary project management, digital business models, and sustainability. Current roles: Dean, supervising professor for HTWK Robots/nao Team Research areas: Digital Transformation, Business Analytics, Industry 4.0, Stoffstrommanagement Research Trends : Recent publications emphasize digital solutions for environmental management, business process optimization, and smart urban logistics. His work connects Industry 4.0 with financial sustainability and societal impacts of digitalization. Projects : Leads Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Leipzig-Halle, involved in EXIST-Potentiale, Future Parking, and FAssMII (Feedback-based E-Assessment in STEM).
Priti Narayan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Faculty of Arts. Her research and teaching focus on urban processes and politics in India, with an emphasis on state-society relations, feminist methodologies, and public scholarship. Prior to joining UBC, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University’s Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities. PhD in Geography, Rutgers University (2019) Narayan’s research explores how marginalized communities in Chennai, India, negotiate slum evictions through collective action. She collaborates with the Pennurimai Iyakkam (“Women’s Rights Movement”) to document working-class activists’ lived experiences and theorize their contributions to urban studies. Her work bridges academic and activist knowledge, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to environmental justice and labor rights. Recent projects examine urban development in Tamil Nadu, labor codes, and occupational health for construction workers. Her academic publications span journals like Gender, Place & Culture , Urban Studies , and Environment and Planning D: Society and Space , often co-authored with local activists. She emphasizes ethnography, archival analysis, and collaborative methods. Scientific Awards : SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2023) UBC PRE Fund Award (2023) CIHR Operating Grant (Co-PI, 2021-23) Hampton New Faculty Research Grant Narayan supervises graduate students in Geography and Interdisciplinary Studies, including Varun Panickar and Paroma Wagle (postdoctoral). She currently does not accept new supervisees. Her courses at UBC include topics like urban environmental politics and climate change.
Stephan J. Goetz is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology and Education at the College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University. He is based at 207C Armsby Building, University Park, PA 16802, and can be reached at sjg16@psu.edu. His research spans agricultural economics, regional development, and rural policy, with a strong emphasis on human and social capital, innovation, and community well-being. His research interests focus on the role of markets and human capital in economic growth and poverty reduction. Key areas include regional food systems, self-employment, social network analysis, targeted regional development, agritourism, direct farm sales, and the digital divide. His work often integrates data science, spatial analysis, and policy evaluation to understand rural economic dynamics. The recent publications highlight a consistent trend in analyzing rural innovation, food system resilience, and socioeconomic impacts of technology and crises. His work combines empirical methods with optimization models, often using county-level U.S. data. Themes include food hub logistics, cloud computing in rural economies, pandemic-related food insecurity, and gender impacts in farming. While no specific awards are listed, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals reflects scholarly recognition. He has collaborated with researchers across disciplines, suggesting active grant-funded projects and likely student mentorship, though formal advisees are not named. He is involved in research on equitable communities and the built environment, and affiliated with initiatives related to health and environmental sustainability. His work with extension services indicates engagement with public outreach and community development programs.
Federico Miretti is an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin, affiliated with the Department of Energy and the interdepartmental center Cars@PoliTo. His research focuses on hybrid and electric vehicles, with emphasis on energy management strategies, battery state estimation, and sustainable transport solutions. PhD in Energetics from Polytechnic University of Turin Research areas include: Optimization-based Energy Management Strategies for hybrid propulsion systems Simulation and digital twinning of hybrid systems Thermal management for electrified vehicles Techno-economic assessment of mobility solutions Recent publications highlight advancements in battery temperature anomaly detection, wireless power transfer feasibility, and control algorithms for energy efficiency. His work aligns with SDGs 7 (Clean Energy) and 9 (Innovation). Teaching roles include: Fluid Machinery (2019-2025) Energy Management in Hybrid/Electric Vehicles (2021-2025) Projects: PRoSIT (2025): Predictive thermal management demonstrator Consulting contract with MIDAC SpA (2025): Battery Digital Twin development EBOAT project (2025-2026): Technical support for Vulkan
Prof. Dr. Menelaos Gkartzios is a distinguished academic affiliated with the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University , with extensive experience at institutions including Newcastle University , Izmir Institute of Technology , and University College Dublin . He has served as a Visiting Professor at Tongji University and contributes to editorial boards such as Habitat International and Journal of Rural Studies . Education: PhD in Regional & Urban Planning, University College Dublin (2008) MSc in Environmental Resource Management, University College Dublin (2003) MAgrSc in Agricultural Economics & Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens (2002) PGCert in Advanced Studies in Academic Practice, Newcastle University (2014) Research Focus: His work bridges sustainable rural development , urban-rural dynamics , and the cultural dimensions of place-making . Key themes include counterurbanisation , rural mobilities , and artistic practice in planning . Publication Trends: Recent articles and books examine climate-driven migration , community co-creation , and rural housing paradoxes . His scholarship spans interdisciplinary frameworks, merging rural sociology , geography , and planning theory . Leadership Roles: He co-leads the AESOP Thematic Group on Rural Planning and contributes to global planning discourse through edited volumes like The Routledge Companion to Rural Planning .
Prof. Dr. Seyhan ÖZTÜRK is an Associate Professor at Kafkas University's Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Accounting. She has held full-time academic positions since 2010, progressing from Research Assistant to Associate Professor (2019–present). She also serves as the Head of the Accounting Department. Education: PhD in Accounting and Finance, Atatürk University (2011–2015) Master's in Business Administration, Istanbul University (2005–2011) Bachelor's in Business Administration, Istanbul University (2005–2009) Research Interests: Her work centers on Accounting Ethics, Forensic Accounting, and Internal Control, with applications in sustainability, corporate governance, and digital transformation. She explores ethical dilemmas in accounting, fraud detection methodologies, and the impact of regulatory frameworks on financial transparency. Publications: Her recent articles (2020–2025) emphasize sustainability accounting, financial performance analysis, and technology's role in accounting education. Themes include ESG metrics, bibliometric studies on climate accounting, and ethical challenges in SME financial reporting. Advising & Grants: She has supervised 16+ graduate students (PhD/Master’s) in topics like accounting ethics and financial modeling. She led a research project (2019–2021) testing bankruptcy prediction models on the Borsa Istanbul exchange.
Helen Jarvie is a Professor of Water and Global Environmental Change at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She holds adjunct and visiting professor positions at the University of Arkansas (Fluvial Sciences), Plymouth University (Environmental Chemistry), and the University of Tokyo (Water Quality Science), and is a UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Fellow. Her research centers on river-system biogeochemistry, with intense focus on nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) cycling, eutrophication, and water quality across watershed-to-global scales. She investigates how climate variability, land-use change, and human activities drive water-quality impairment, and develops strategies for improved nutrient stewardship to build resilience in water resources. Her work uniquely bridges the critical tension between phosphorus-dependent food security and water-quality protection, given phosphate rock's non-renewable status. Analysis of her 2015-2019 publications reveals dominant trends in phosphorus dynamics research, spanning watershed management, global phosphorus budgets, and the water-energy-food nexus. Key themes include unintended consequences of agricultural conservation practices on soluble phosphorus loads, stoichiometric responses to hydrologic extremes, and sustainable phosphorus stewardship frameworks addressing eutrophication while ensuring resource security for future food production.
Sergio Carrera serves as Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Justice and Home Affairs Unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a prominent Brussels-based think tank. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) in SciencesPo, France, where he contributes to academic teaching and research in international affairs. Dr. Carrera's academic background includes a Ph.D. on immigration and citizenship from Maastricht University (The Netherlands), an LL.M. in European, Comparative and International Law from the University of Maastricht, and a Law Degree from Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. His extensive educational foundation in European and international law underpins his expertise in EU justice and home affairs policy. His primary research interests focus on EU justice and home affairs (JHA) law and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice policy, with particular emphasis on migration, asylum, citizenship, and Schengen policies. Dr. Carrera's expertise also extends to EU criminal justice law and police cooperation, examining their impacts on data protection, privacy, and the rights of the defense. His work consistently addresses the intersection between security measures and fundamental rights within the European context. Dr. Carrera has produced an extensive body of scholarly work, with over 190 published publications according to the available information. His recent research has particularly focused on EU-US data transfers, rule of law challenges in the context of migration management, global asylum governance, and the evolving landscape of EU security policy. His publications demonstrate a consistent concern with ensuring that security and migration policies uphold fundamental rights and the rule of law. Among his notable contributions are policy analyses on the European Green Deal's implications for climate policy, assessments of the EU's response to the Ukraine crisis, and examinations of the impact of the Trump administration on EU security policy. His research often bridges academic analysis with practical policy recommendations for EU institutions. Dr. Carrera leads and participates in numerous research projects addressing critical issues in EU policy. Current initiatives include "Reclaiming our past, rebuilding our future: new approaches to fighting antigypsyism" (2024-2026) and the "Study on Mapping Civil Dialogue Practices in the EU Institutions" (2024-2025). Previous significant projects include "Global Asylum Governance and European Union's Role" (ASILE, 2019-2023), "Pan-European Response to the ImpactS of COVID-19" (PERISCOPE, 2020-2023), and "IT tools and methods for managing migration FLOWS" (ITFLOWS, 2020-2023). His work has been commissioned by various EU institutions, including the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, demonstrating the policy relevance and impact of his research. Dr. Carrera's expertise is frequently sought for task forces addressing timely issues such as EU-US data transfers, digital justice, and cross-border cooperation in criminal matters.
Rachel Sippy is a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge , specializing in epidemiology and infectious disease dynamics within the Department of Psychiatry . Her work bridges public health, climate science, and computational methods.
Professor Lydia Bourouiba is a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES). Her research focuses on the intersection of fluid dynamics and disease transmission, with a strong emphasis on biophysics, interfacial flows, turbulence, and multiphase systems. Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from McGill University (2008) Research on fluid fragmentation, droplet/bubble dynamics, and pathogen transport Co-Founder and Associate Director of the NSF Center for Pandemic Prevention (APPEX) Her work spans fundamental and applied domains, including: Biophysics of pathogen transport in air and water Turbulent multiphase flows in respiratory events Fluid-plant interactions in agricultural disease Nonlinear dynamics in public health contexts Key article trends highlight: Biomedical fluid mechanics Climate and environment-driven disease modeling High-risk/high-reward public health innovations Interdisciplinary approaches combining physics, biology, and engineering Scientific awards include: Fellow of the American Physical Society (2021) American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow (2022) Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award for biomedical research Ole Madsen Mentoring Award She serves as Associate Editor for the journal FLOW and has founded conferences like the Gordon Research Conference on Fluids in Disease Transmission. Her lab (Fluids and Health Network) develops experimental and theoretical frameworks to address contamination, pandemic control, and fluid-health-environment interactions.
