Klaasjan Visscher is a Full Professor at the University of Twente in the Knowledge, Transformation & Society department. His work focuses on Innovation Ecosystems , Circular Economy , and Transdisciplinary Education , with a strong emphasis on organizational dynamics and stakeholder engagement. Recent research explores mission-oriented governance frameworks and institutional plurality in circular economy adoption. He pioneered theatrical role-play simulations to bridge technology-society gaps in engineering education. Scientific Awards : 2021 - ACROM: Best Paper on Construction Transformation His collaborations span interdisciplinary projects in infrastructure, climate services, and organizational design, with supervised works including 3 formal advisees and over 135 publications.
Agnieszka Szczepańska is a full Professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury , affiliated with the Faculty of Geoengineering and the Department of Socio-Economic Geography . Her research focuses on spatial planning, 3D visualization technologies, and socio-economic impacts on urban environments.
Agostinho Manuel Antunes da Silva is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Technology and Management, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, and Associate Professor at Business and Economics School. Holding multiple PhDs in Management, Industrial Engineering, and Operations Management, he specializes in Industry 4.0, Coopetition Ecosystems, and Digital Transformation across industrial sectors. His educational background includes a PhD in Management (Industry 4.0 Improving) from Évora University, Advanced Studies in Operations Management from ISCTE, and MSc degrees in Naval Engineering and Strategy and International Investment. His research bridges academic theory with industrial application through extensive R&D projects. Dr. da Silva's research focuses on technology-enabled coopetition networks, where he develops frameworks for SME collaboration using Industrial Internet of Things, Digital Twins, and Service-Dominant Logic. His work demonstrates how digital technologies can enhance operational efficiency, sustainability, and value co-creation in traditional industries like stone processing and footwear manufacturing. His recent publications reveal strong trends in applying service science perspectives to Industry 4.0 challenges, with particular emphasis on circular economy implementation, carbon footprint reduction, and BIM integration in supply chains. The research consistently addresses practical industrial problems through theoretical frameworks grounded in network science and service ecosystems. Medalha Municipal de Mérito: Grau Ouro – Câmara Municipal de Oeiras (2024) Medalha Municipal de Mérito: Câmara Municipal de Pombal (2023) Prémio Carreira e Mérito - Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique (2022) Grau de Comendador da Ordem do Mérito Empresarial (2015) As a research supervisor, he has mentored over a dozen master's students in projects spanning operational safety, digital hubs for local economies, health tourism, and blockchain applications in maritime industries. His leadership extends to major EU-funded projects including Sustainable StonebyPortugal, ARNET, and PRODUTECH R3, where he serves as Principal Investigator driving industrial innovation. Dr. da Silva leads the EM@IPLeiria Mission Structure for Leiria & West Ecosystem Development and maintains strategic roles in ASSIMAGRA (Portuguese Mineral Resources Association) and Lisbon Rough Diamond Bourse. His work with CEI-Zipor Engineering Group since 1995 demonstrates continuous bridging between academic research and industrial implementation, particularly through pilot plants like Solancis - Industry 4.0 plant for stone processing.
Aurélien Saussay is an Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics' Grantham Research Institute, specializing in environmental economics. He currently holds a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2022-2025) and will be visiting Harvard Kennedy School in Fall 2024. His primary research focuses on the interaction between economic inequality and climate change mitigation policies, aiming to address social and political acceptance challenges that hinder effective decarbonization. His research interests span Environmental Economics, Empirical Econometrics, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Macroeconomics. Saussay employs empirical methods to estimate the impacts of climate change mitigation on economic agents, with the goal of improving decarbonization policy design. His work often combines economic modeling with data science techniques to analyze climate policy impacts. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on understanding the distributional impacts of climate policies, green job transitions, and international dimensions of environmental policy. He has developed sophisticated methodologies using firm-level data, job advertisements, and macroeconomic modeling to assess how climate policies affect different economic sectors and social groups. His research demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing the ThreeME model (Multi-sector Macroeconomic Model for the Evaluation of Environmental and Energy policies), which is used across multiple countries. Scientific Awards: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2022-2025) Saussay previously worked as an economist at OFCE, Sciences Po, where he led the environmental economics team. He remains an associate researcher there and is one of the main co-authors of the ThreeME model, which is used extensively in France, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Indonesia. His work on climate policy visualization, including the Climate Nightmares project that used AI to interpret IPCC reports, demonstrates his commitment to making climate research accessible to broader audiences. His upcoming visiting position at Harvard Kennedy School further highlights his standing in the environmental economics research community.
Dr. Yu Wang serves as Reader/Associate Professor in Civil Engineering at the School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK. He earned his PhD from Aston University and previously conducted research at the University of Bristol, Imperial College London, and the University of Plymouth before securing a Research Council UK Academic Fellowship in 2007 at Salford. His research spans multiple domains including construction materials, reinforced concrete durability, pavement engineering, unsaturated soil hydrology, and environmental engineering. Dr. Wang has made significant contributions to understanding hydro-physical constitutive characteristics of unsaturated porous materials, infiltration process modeling in porous media, and fluid-structure interactions across different scales. His recent work focuses on sustainable asphalt technologies incorporating waste materials, nano-additives, and advanced composites for improved infrastructure performance. Dr. Wang's publication portfolio exceeds 100 items, comprising 2 books, over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, and more than 30 conference papers. His current research examines sustainable asphalt mixtures using waste byproducts, soil erosion mechanisms in China's Loess Plateau, and oil contamination assessment in Kuwait. He has established extensive international collaborations across the UK, EU, China, Taiwan, Iraq, Australia, Brazil, USA, and Russia. Professional recognitions include: RCUK Academic Fellowship (2007-2012) Editorial board positions for Journal Crystals and Journal of Advances in Civil Engineering Keynote speaker at international conferences including ICACEE 2024 Honorary Associate Professor at University of Baghdad (2024) Guest Academic at Chongqing Jiaotong University (2025-2026) Dr. Wang has supervised 6 PhD students to completion and co-supervised numerous others. He leads multiple research projects including 'Corrosion Fatigue Damage Mechanism of Cable-Stayed Bridge Cables' (2023-2026) and participates in international initiatives like the RS-NSFC Research Exchange Programme. His work bridges fundamental research with practical applications in sustainable infrastructure development and environmental protection.
Dr. Ben Talbot is a Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) , affiliated with both the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision (ACRV) and the QUT Centre for Robotics (QCR) . He earned a PhD in 2018 and a BEng (Honours I) in Electrical Engineering in 2012 from QUT. Ben specializes in cognitive robotics , artificial intelligence , and real-world robotic applications , with a focus on translating theoretical advances into practical systems. PhD , Robotics, Queensland University of Technology, 2018 BEng (Honours I) , Electrical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, 2012 His research explores robot navigation using abstract maps , semantic SLAM , and human-inspired spatial reasoning , particularly in unseen environments . He pioneered the Abstract Map framework, which enables goal-directed exploration through symbolic spatial information. His work emphasizes open-source software like BenchBot and OpenSeqSLAM2.0 , enhancing robotics community accessibility. Ben's publications span 2013–2023, showcasing advancements in controller fusion , scene understanding , and sim-to-real transfer . Notable trends include integrating reinforcement learning with classical control and developing dynamic spatial models for navigation. Awarded Best Student Paper at ACRA 2015 and multiple Vice-Chancellor's Awards in 2015, Ben also received the Dean's Scholars Award in 2009. His work has been featured in The LABS and Brisbane Times media outlets. Beyond research, Ben contributed to robotics education as Head Tutor for Advanced Robotics and Microprocessors & Digital Systems during his PhD. He actively supports active scene understanding via high-fidelity simulated environments and robust API designs, aligning with QUT's commitment to bridging classical and modern robotics.
Dr. Benjy Marks is a Senior Lecturer in Geomechanics at the School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney. He holds a BEng/BSc (Hons I) and PhD in Civil Engineering. His research focuses on granular materials, including landslides, avalanches, and industrial processes, with applications in geotechnical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and construction. He leads the Immersive Learning Laboratory, integrating VR technology into engineering education. Education: BEng/BSc (Hons I), PhD in Civil Engineering (University of Sydney). Research interests include granular segregation, material behavior under stress, and computational modeling. He collaborates with international institutions like Université Grenoble Alpes and the University of Oslo. His work bridges fundamental granular physics and practical engineering solutions, such as landslide mitigation and fiber-reinforced concrete analysis. Recent articles highlight machine learning for grain classification, VR educational tools, and granular flow dynamics. Grants include studies on extreme wear of geotechnical machinery and earthquake mechanics. He supervises projects like 'Understanding the Student Response to Learning Empathy in Australian Engineering Courses.' Labs/Teams: Immersive Learning Laboratory, SciGEM, and collaborations with global partners in granular mechanics.
Sarah Adamowicz is a Professor at the University of Guelph's Department of Integrative Biology within the College of Biological Science. Her research focuses on biodiversity, evolutionary biology, and molecular evolution, particularly in Arctic ecosystems and aquatic invertebrates. She leads initiatives in DNA barcoding, macroevolutionary studies, and ecological assessments using genomic tools. Her work integrates DNA sequence data, fossil records, and comparative analyses to explore species diversity patterns and evolutionary processes. Key projects include the Barcode of Life campaign, habitat restoration research, and developing bioinformatics tools like Debar and CanFlyet. Dr. Adamowicz’s publications span molecular evolution rates, phylogenetic reconstruction, and ecological impact studies in boreal and Arctic regions. She collaborates extensively on northern biodiversity projects, such as the Churchill Diptera barcode library and assessments of peat-based soil recovery in industrial sites. Her lab (SSC 2409/10) supports interdisciplinary research, combining fieldwork with computational methods. Current and future work emphasizes leveraging genomic data for conservation, understanding latitudinal biodiversity gradients, and advancing metagenomic techniques for ecological monitoring.
Teo Wee is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of Research at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, UK. He also serves as Programme Director for the PhD in Engineering. His expertise lies in civil engineering and sustainable construction materials, focusing on geopolymer composites, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), and fiber-reinforced cementitious systems. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing sustainable materials and structural innovation. Teo’s research interests include the mechanical behavior of novel composites, interfacial bonding in construction materials, and the application of recycled materials in sustainable binders. He has led studies on ambient-cured geopolymers, alkali-activated binders, and UHPC-reinforced structural members. His work often combines experimental and numerical methods to evaluate material performance under diverse conditions. He has published extensively in journals like Construction and Building Materials and Materials , with over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2015. Additionally, he serves on the editorial board of Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Waste and Resource Management , reflecting his commitment to advancing sustainable construction practices.
Prof. Boess is an academic affiliated with the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Their research focuses on sustainable building renovation, energy-efficient housing, and the intersection of human behavior with technology. Key areas include occupant behavior analysis in residential settings, participatory design approaches for inclusive environments, and sociotechnical systems in energy transition. Research interests span interdisciplinary studies combining engineering and social sciences, particularly in zero-energy housing, heat pump adoption, and accessibility in building renovations. They have led projects on occupant experiences in social housing renovations and co-design methods for domestic technology interfaces. Recent work emphasizes user-centered design principles for sustainable practices, including studies on low-vision users and heat pump improvisation in households. Publications highlight trends in occupant behavior modeling, energy performance evaluation, and the role of interfaces in domestic conflicts. Their work bridges technical and human dimensions of sustainability, addressing both physical building systems and social practices. Boess has edited multiple conference proceedings, including the DRS2020 International Conference volumes, and collaborates widely with institutions like the TU Delft and Wroclaw University of Technology. Their research contributes to urban resilience strategies and inclusive design frameworks for future housing systems.
Liuchi Li is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University, affiliated with the HMEI (likely High Meadows Environmental Institute). His research focuses on the mechanics of complex material systems, including granular media, fracture mechanics, and metamaterial design. He integrates computational and experimental techniques such as synchrotron X-ray imaging and phase-field simulations to study material behavior across scales. Research interests include understanding contact mechanics in granular systems, dynamic fracture in brittle solids, and metamaterial applications for environmental resilience. His work spans disciplines like solid mechanics, soft matter physics, and optical diagnostics to bridge micro-scale phenomena with macro-scale engineering solutions. Key projects involve analyzing crack propagation in glass-ceramics at velocities of ~1500 m/s using 5 Mfps imaging, and exploring material heterogeneity effects in fracture dynamics. He develops novel architected materials with tunable stiffness for sustainable infrastructure applications. His research team employs advanced methods like Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensing and coupled material-point/level-set simulations to address challenges in geomechanics, fluid-structure interactions, and adaptive material systems. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, and his advising/grants activity is not detailed here.
Peng Song is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), affiliated with the Pillar of Information Systems Technology and Design (ISTD). His research focuses on computer graphics, geometric modeling, computational design, and fabrication, emphasizing the development of algorithms for designing functional real-world objects. He holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University (2013) and prior research roles at EPFL, University of Science and Technology of China, and Nanyang Technological University. Education: PhD in Computer Science, Nanyang Technological University (2013) Master’s Degree, Harbin Institute of Technology (2010) Bachelor’s Degree, Harbin Institute of Technology (2007) His research interests span computational design of assemblies, 3D printing, robotics, and urban modeling. Notable projects include generative urban design, wireframe mesh modeling, and mechanisms for custom-fit medical devices. He has received awards such as the SMI 2024 Best Paper Award and SIGGRAPH 2022 Honorable Mention. Grants & Professional Roles: Leading Singapore MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 2 grants (2023–2024) Associate Editor for Computers & Graphics and Graphical Models (2024–present) Program Committee Member for SIGGRAPH Asia, Pacific Graphics, and SPM He teaches courses such as 'Graphics and Visualization' and 'Extended Reality' at SUTD. His group’s work is showcased on YouTube and his lab’s website.
Dr. Pin Shuai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University, affiliated with the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL) within the College of Engineering. He leads the Shuai Computational and Integrated Hydrology (SCI-Hy) research group, focusing on advancing the understanding of complex hydrological systems through computational modeling and data integration. Dr. Shuai holds a PhD in Geology (Hydrogeology) from Texas A&M University (2017), an MS in Water Resources Engineering from Wuhan University (2013), and a BS in the same field from Wuhan University (2011). His academic journey was followed by a postdoctoral and staff scientist position at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2017 to 2022. His research interests are centered on groundwater-surface water interactions, nutrient and contaminant transport, watershed biogeochemistry, and integrated hydrologic modeling. He employs a model-data integrative approach combining field observations, laboratory data, remote sensing, and numerical models powered by high-performance computing. His group emphasizes open-source and reproducible science, addressing critical environmental challenges such as human-water interactions and the impacts of disturbances like drought and land use change on watershed processes. The recent publications of Dr. Shuai reflect a strong trend toward computational hydrology, with a focus on high-resolution watershed modeling, the role of streambed representation, the impact of meteorological forcing resolution, and the application of machine learning and deep neural networks for model calibration and permeability estimation. His work bridges traditional hydrological modeling with modern data science techniques, aiming to improve predictive capabilities in complex hydrological systems. Dr. Shuai has mentored several graduate students, including Collins Stephenson, Ehsan Ebrahimi, Pamela Claure, and Jihad Othman, guiding them through thesis research in civil and environmental engineering. While no scientific awards are listed in the provided text, his active research program, consistent publication record in high-impact journals, and leadership of a growing research group indicate a strong trajectory in the field. He teaches courses such as Groundwater Engineering, Hydrologic Modeling, and GIS for Civil Engineers, contributing to both graduate and undergraduate education. The SCI-Hy group, under Dr. Shuai’s leadership, is actively engaged in projects that integrate advanced modeling tools like the Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (ATS) and Watershed Workflow to parameterize and simulate watershed processes. The group welcomes passionate students and recently advertised for a postdoctoral position focused on ML/AI applications in hydrology, highlighting its forward-looking research direction.
Matthias Braun is a researcher at the Institute of Building Construction, Timber Construction and Circular Construction, within the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work centers on structural timber engineering, focusing on innovative construction systems, load-bearing behavior of joints, and digital fabrication methods. He contributes to national and FFG-funded research projects related to prefabrication and high-performance concrete-timber systems. His research interests include timber-concrete composite systems , automated and robotic construction , numerical modeling of timber joints , and resource-efficient building technologies . He explores how digital design, optimization, and industrialized processes can enhance sustainability and structural performance in modern timber construction. His work bridges experimental testing with computational analysis, particularly in evaluating joint behavior under load and the impact of manufacturing tolerances. The trend in his publications shows a strong focus on advancing industrialized timber construction through automation, digital tools, and sustainable materials. His articles span experimental investigations, numerical modeling, and real-world applications in prefabricated systems, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach combining structural engineering, material science, and digital fabrication. Scientific Contributions: Active contributor to international conferences such as WCTE and IASS. Published in journals including Materials and Applied Sciences . ORCID: 0000-0002-0185-4521 Academic Mentoring and Community Engagement: Supervised multiple master’s theses on topics related to timber joints, truss optimization, and composite systems. Delivered lectures and public talks at institutions like HTL Mödling and during the Lange Nacht der Forschung. Featured in media outlets such as ORF Fernsehen discussing sustainable construction with wood. Laboratory and Research Infrastructure: His work is closely tied to the BOKU Robot Laboratory, where digital design and automated construction of wooden structures are implemented, including the development of a curved wooden truss as part of a research housing project.
Erwin Rauch is a Full Professor for Smart and Sustainable Production at the Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, where he leads the Smart Mini Factory (SMF) Laboratory for Industry 4.0 and the Sustainable Manufacturing Laboratory (SML). His academic journey includes a B.Sc. in Logistics and Production Engineering from the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering from the Technical University of Munich, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart with summa cum laude distinction. Professor Rauch's research spans sustainable manufacturing, Industry 4.0/5.0, digital twins, human-robot collaboration, and axiomatic design. His work addresses critical challenges in decarbonization, circular economy, and resilience in manufacturing systems. He has developed numerous educational demonstrators and learning factories to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications in engineering education. His publications reveal a strong focus on practical implementations of digital technologies in manufacturing, with particular emphasis on SME adoption. The research shows consistent integration of sustainability metrics with digital transformation, highlighting how Industry 5.0 principles can be operationalized through cyber-physical systems, worker assistance technologies, and resilient production design. Scientific Recognition: Best Track Paper Award (Sustainable Supply Chain) at IEOM 2018 Best Track Paper Award (Engineering Education) at IEOM 2018 Best Track Paper Award at IEOM 2015 Overall Best Paper Award at ICAD 2013 Professor Rauch actively contributes to editorial boards of several renowned journals and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Production & Manufacturing Research (Taylor & Francis Publishing). He is an Associate Member of EuroScience, World Manufacturing Forum, AITEM, and serves on the IAAD Executive Board and EPIEM Steering Board. His teaching portfolio includes courses on digital production planning, innovation management, sustainable production, and production systems. His laboratories (Smart Mini Factory and Sustainable Manufacturing Lab) serve as critical hubs for developing and testing Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies, with a particular focus on creating practical implementations for SMEs. These labs facilitate research on human-centered production systems, digital twin applications, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
