Dr. Maud Borie is a Senior Lecturer in Environment, Science & Society at King’s College London’s Department of Geography, within the School of Global Affairs. Her work bridges Human Geography and Science and Technology Studies (STS), focusing on biodiversity governance, environmental policy, and green finance. She holds a PhD from the University of East Anglia and has held visiting fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School. Borie’s research explores the politics of environmental knowledge and its societal implications, including nature-based solutions and green finance mechanisms. She has contributed to global initiatives like the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and co-founded the Mediterranean Alliance for Wetlands. Her recent projects include analyzing green finance’s reliance on scientific legitimacy and mapping resilience strategies in cities. She teaches courses on environmental policy, qualitative methods, and geographies of financialization. Borie has been awarded grants for interdisciplinary projects such as ‘deep listening with machines for equitable environmental futures’ and ‘forestscapes’ immersive soundscapes. Her research outputs span over 18 peer-reviewed articles, with topics ranging from climate change framing to urban resilience in the Global South. Awards: Planetary-scale interpretation (2023), Rethinking environmental policy (2022), Forestscapes collaboration (2023) Grants: Creative Collaboration Seed Fund (2023), EU/PEARL disaster resilience projects Labs/Teams: KingsCAT (Social Media Research), Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (PEBES) group
Professor Mark Scott is a Full Professor of Planning and Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin (UCD), where he has served since 2002. He is a leading scholar in rural planning and environmental policy with over 25 years of academic experience. His leadership roles include Dean (2020-2025), Head of School, and various subject leadership positions within UCD. Mark Scott earned his BSc, Diploma in Town Planning, and PhD in Environmental Planning from Queen's University Belfast. Prior to joining UCD, he worked at the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast, and also had planning practice experience. He has held visiting appointments at the University of Pisa and the University of New South Wales. His research focuses on the environmental and sustainability dimensions of spatial planning theory and practice, with specific expertise in rural planning, land-use governance, climate action, green infrastructure, and natural and built heritage. Professor Scott has published extensively in these areas with over 150 journal articles and book chapters, and has authored several influential books including 'Rural Planning Futures' (2025) and 'Postcapitalist Countrysides' (2025). His work demonstrates a strong focus on contemporary challenges in rural planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable development, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical policy applications. Professor Scott has received significant recognition for his contributions to the field: Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2024) Fellow of the Regional Studies Association Shortlisted for the Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence (2025) With research funding totaling approximately €6 million from various national and international sources, Professor Scott actively engages with policy and practice. He serves on the Board of the Heritage Council (2023-present), chairs the Historic Monuments Council in Northern Ireland (2025-30), and has advised numerous governmental bodies including Oireachtas Committees, the UK House of Lords, and the OECD. His leadership extends to editorial roles, having served as editor of Planning Theory & Practice (2008-2015 & 2018-2024) and currently on the editorial board of Town Planning Review. Professor Scott leads several significant research initiatives including the Wildfire Resilient Cultural Heritage project (funded by JPI Climate and JPI Cultural Heritage), CO-Bioecon (funded by Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine), and the Rural Planning in the 2020s project (funded by the Royal Town Planning Institute).
Manish Verma is Professor of Operations Management and Associate Dean, Graduate Studies at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. His academic journey began with an MBA and PhD in Business Administration with Operations Management/Management Science specialization from Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. Dr. Verma's research focuses on multimodal transportation of dangerous goods, risk assessment, network design and planning in transportation, humanitarian logistics, green supply chain management, and disruption/resilience in transportation systems. His current research engagements center on safety and security issues in freight transportation and humanitarian logistics, funded by NSERC and SSHRC grants. He has been frequently approached by media to comment on railroad accidents involving dangerous goods. An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on hazardous materials transportation risk management, with significant contributions to rail-truck intermodal systems, hazmat risk modeling using value-at-risk methodologies, and emergency response planning for transportation networks. His work bridges theoretical operations research with practical transportation safety applications. $245K research grant for rail safety research from Government of Canada As an educator, Dr. Verma has taught courses including Predictive Analytics for Managers, Network Design Issues in Freight Transportation, and Management Science Research Issues. His scholarly impact is evidenced by publications in leading journals such as Transportation Research Part E, European Journal of Operational Research, and Safety Science. He actively contributes to real-world transportation safety through media commentary and research that informs policy decisions regarding dangerous goods transportation.
Mick Smith is a Professor and Queen's National Scholar at Queen's University, holding joint appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the School of Environmental Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Science. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Values from the University of Stirling (1993), following earlier degrees in Ecology and European Thought. His research integrates environmental ethics, social theory, and phenomenology to explore nature-culture intersections, including emotional geographies, ecological sovereignty, and tourism ethics. Education: Ph.D. (1993): University of Stirling, UK M.Phil (1988): North Staffordshire Polytechnic, UK M.A. (1988): Thames Polytechnic, UK B.Sc. H. (1982): University of York, UK Research Focus: Smith investigates how humans interpret and value environments through hermeneutics, ethics, and emotion. His six key areas include environmental hermeneutics, ethics, social-theoretical frameworks, emotional mediation of environmental responses, political theory, and tourism ethics. Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate students in Philosophy and Environmental Studies. His grants and collaborative projects focus on ecological ethics and sustainability. He co-edits Emotion, Space and Society and contributes to interdisciplinary environmental studies. Affiliations: Founding Editor of Emotion, Space and Society ; contributor to the Center for Humans and Nature.
Benjamin J. Keys is a Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School within the Public Economics program. His work focuses on public economics, environmental economics, and financial risk management with particular emphasis on housing markets and climate change impacts. University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School Public Economics Department His research explores: Climate risk capitalization in housing markets Mortgage insurance moral hazard Consumer credit card payment behaviors Emergency credit systems Regional economic redistribution through mortgages Email: benkeys@wharton.upenn.edu Scientific awards include: Fellowships on Consumer Financial Management
Sibel Pamukcu is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lehigh University, affiliated with the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Her research focuses on electroremediation of soils and groundwater, advanced geo-materials, and sensor systems for subsurface monitoring. She has held leadership roles including interim Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering and co-director of Lehigh’s ADVANCE grant. Pamukcu teaches courses in geotechnical and environmental engineering at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Education: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University M.S. in Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University B.S. in Civil Engineering, Bogazici University, Turkey Research Interests: Her work spans electrochemical methods for environmental detoxification, development of polymer-enhanced sands, and distributed sensor networks for real-time subsurface monitoring. Key focus areas include: In-situ destruction of contaminants in clay-rich soils Enhanced oil recovery via electric fields Wireless and fiber-optic sensor systems for hazard mitigation Grants & Awards: Principal investigator on over 60 grants from NSF, DOE, DOD, and others. Notable awards include the Alfred Noble Robinson Award (Lehigh University) and the ASCE Civil Engineering Foundation Grant Award. Her lab holds multiple patents on soil remediation techniques and polymer-coated sands. Advising & Service: Supervised 9 Ph.D. and 25+ M.S. students Appointed to Martindale Center faculty and Sigma Xi leadership Contributed to 50+ peer-reviewed articles and 100+ technical publications Labs & Teams: Leads interdisciplinary initiatives in electrokinetic remediation and underground sensing, collaborating with industry partners like Electric Power Research Institute and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Nallan C. Suresh is the Associate Dean for Faculty, Research and Centers and a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Operations Management and Strategy department at the School of Management, University at Buffalo . His work bridges academic research with industry practice, focusing on manufacturing systems, supply chain agility, and sustainable operations. PhD , University of Cincinnati MBA , McMaster University, Canada BTech , Indian Institute of Technology Suresh's research spans cellular manufacturing , flexible automation , forecasting models , and reverse supply chains . He has pioneered frameworks for evaluating manufacturing systems and optimizing supply chain agility through empirical and simulation-based studies. Recent publications emphasize sustainability and disruptive technologies in supply chains, including reverse logistics for plastics recycling and agile responses to catastrophic events using data analytics. His work integrates DEA models , neural networks , and policy analysis . Summer Research Fellowship, University at Buffalo Joseph T.J. Stewart Faculty Scholar Alfred V. Bodine/SME Award for Machine Tool Economics Cleveland Foundation Grant for High Technology Firms Suresh has secured grants totaling over $145,000, advised numerous students, and contributed to global research through empirical studies in the Netherlands and executive training in China/Latvia. His consulting spans automotive, electronics, and manufacturing sectors.
Dr. Divya Jayakumar Nair serves as Senior Lecturer in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where she also holds the position of Associate Dean International – South Asia for UNSW Engineering. Her academic work is centered at the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), focusing on transportation systems, network optimization, and disaster management applications. Dr. Nair's research interests span transportation engineering, disaster management, and urban mobility systems. Her work investigates complex network design problems, particularly in pre-disaster evacuation planning, transportation resilience, and food rescue logistics. She employs advanced analytical methods including traffic equilibrium modeling, network optimization techniques, and data-driven approaches to solve real-world transportation challenges with significant societal impact. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on transportation resilience during disasters, with particular attention to equity considerations in pre-event planning. Dr. Nair's research shows how transportation networks can be optimized to improve emergency response while ensuring equitable access to safety for all population segments. Her work bridges theoretical network optimization with practical applications in urban environments facing climate-related challenges. Dr. Nair collaborates extensively with leading researchers in transportation including S. Travis Waller, Vinay V. Dixit, David Rey, and Taha Rashidi. Her collaborative approach spans multiple institutions and addresses pressing challenges in urban transportation systems worldwide.
Professor Sara B. Pritchard is a leading scholar in environmental science and technology studies (STS) at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in History from Stanford University and University of Puget Sound. Her research critically examines light pollution, environmental ethics, and the intersection of technology and nature. Pritchard has received grants from the National Science Foundation and Cornell's Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, among others. Her major works include Night as Environment: Light Pollution and the Anthropocene (2024) and Confluence: The Nature of Technology and the Remaking of the Rhône (2011). She co-edited influential volumes such as New Natures: Joining Environmental History with Science and Technology Studies (2013) and pioneered the concept of 'envirotechnical analysis.' Pritchard advises students across disciplines including Anthropology, Asian Studies, and Natural Resources. Her research explores dark histories, nuclear disasters, and sustainable energy transitions. She collaborates with global scholars through special journal issues on topics like climate justice and polar night studies. Pritchard’s work bridges environmental humanities with technological critique, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to urgent ecological challenges.
Prentice L. White is a Professor and the Associate Vice Chancellor for the Evening Division and Emerging Program at Southern University Law Center. A 1995 alumnus of SULC, he joined the faculty in 2001 after serving as an Assistant District Attorney and Senior Research Attorney, specializing in criminal appellate litigation. Education : B.A. from Xavier University of Louisiana (1991), MBA from University of New Orleans (2001), J.D. from Southern University Law Center (1995). Research interests span Criminal Law , Civil Procedure , Tort Law , and Legal Education , with a focus on Judicial Accountability , Domestic Violence Legislation , and Environmental Tort Law . His publications analyze legal reforms for domestic violence, judicial immunity, plea negotiations, and environmental liability. Notable trends in his articles include critiques of judicial discretion in criminal justice, advocacy for victim compensation in ecological disasters, and pedagogical approaches to legal education. His work bridges Legislative Analysis , Civil Rights , and Legal Ethics . Professional Background : He teaches courses such as Civil Law Property , Criminal Procedure , and Advanced Legal Writing , leveraging his experience in state and federal appellate courts.
Alberto Brugnoli is a Full Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Bergamo, Italy, where he has served since 2020. He holds the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, International Cooperation and Sustainable Development and serves as Delegate for International Cooperation in Developing Countries at the University of Bergamo. His academic career spans over 30 years with progressive appointments from Researcher to Full Professor. Brugnoli's research focuses on International Development Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Local Development, Regional Governance and Policy, Migration, Municipal Financing, and Trade. His work demonstrates a strong international dimension through collaborations with institutions like Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil), McGill University (Canada), OECD, and the European Commission. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward sustainability, decarbonization, and economic transition topics. His research output reveals a progression from traditional economic policy topics toward contemporary challenges of sustainability, climate change, and social development. The most recent publications (2022-2025) predominantly address decarbonization, sustainable economic transitions, and regional development strategies, reflecting current global economic policy priorities. Award by the Scientific Committee of the First Report on Finance of the Rosselli Foundation (2012) Award by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy (2009) Recognition from Università Bocconi for editorial contributions (1999) Brugnoli has advised numerous international research projects and has extensive teaching experience in Development Economics, Regional Economics, and International Cooperation. His leadership extends to serving as President of the Master's Degree Program in Human Rights, Migration and International Cooperation (2018-2022) and various delegate roles at the University of Bergamo.
Jon Miller is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He holds dual roles as Director of the NJ Coastal Protection Technical Assistance Service and NJ Sea Grant Coastal Processes Specialist. Miller earned a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Stevens (1999), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. in Coastal Engineering from the University of Florida (2001, 2004). His research focuses on coastal hazard mitigation, nature-based solutions, and numerical modeling of coastal systems. Education: - Ph.D. Coastal Engineering, University of Florida (2004) - M.S. Coastal Engineering, University of Florida (2001) - B.E. Civil Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology (1999) Research Interests: Miller's work emphasizes coastal resilience through innovative engineering approaches. Key areas include: - Wave attenuation mechanisms of natural/nature-based features - Climate change impacts on coastal erosion - Living shoreline design and implementation - Sediment management strategies for inlets and beaches - Dune system vulnerability analysis Grants & Awards: - $1M+ funding from NOAA, NSF, and state agencies - 2024 ASCE Educator of the Year Award - 2023 Robert G. Dean Coastal Award - Over 20+ technical reports guiding coastal policy Professional Leadership: - Editorial roles in Shore & Beach and Journal of Coastal Research - Leadership in NJ Coastal Resilience Collaborative - Advisor for 3 Technogenesis Summer Scholars Labs & Projects: - Principal Investigator for SEECPRS disaster response system - Co-developed NJ Living Shorelines Engineering Guidelines - Conducts fieldwork on Hudson River shoreline restoration
Dr. Matthew Brookhouse is a Senior Lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, part of the Australian National University's Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions. With a PhD in Dendroclimatology from ANU, he specializes in using forest structural complexity and tree-ring analysis to understand climate interactions and ecological responses in Australian subalpine environments. Research Focus: Sub-alpine ecology, Dendrochronology, CO2 responsiveness in eucalypt species Teaching: First-year research methods with emphasis on statistical application, advanced modeling and field botany Projects: Leading collaborative snow-gum dieback research and dendrochronological monitoring initiatives His publications span 2006-2025 with recent emphasis on machine learning applications for forest monitoring, tropical tree-ring chronologies for climate change, and climate sensitivity in Australian alpine ecosystems. Key collaborations include institutions like Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and University of Canberra researchers. Current projects focus on snow-gum woodland dieback mechanisms, high-resolution dendrometric monitoring, and integrating dendrochronology with environmental policy frameworks. He maintains active supervision of research students and contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development.
Nick Abel is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University. With a distinguished international career spanning Africa and Australia, he has worked in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana, Somalia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Australia. His academic credentials include a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.Sc.(Hons.), reflecting a strong foundation in environmental sciences and complex systems thinking. Abel's research program centers on the critical challenge of human adaptation to climate change, with particular focus on why adaptation efforts are insufficient to prevent environmental and social tipping points. He critically examines Australia's role as the world's third largest exporter of fossil fuels while facing escalating climate impacts, investigating how fossil fuel companies have maintained influence over public policy. His work integrates social-ecological systems theory, resilience thinking, and practical governance frameworks to address climate adaptation challenges. His publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from foundational work in rangeland management and complex adaptive systems toward urgent climate policy interventions. Early research established theoretical frameworks for understanding resilience in dryland ecosystems, while recent work focuses on transformation pathways, Indigenous engagement, and community-based adaptation strategies. A consistent thread throughout his career is the integration of diverse knowledge systems and the development of practical approaches for environmental governance in rapidly changing conditions. Abel has registered to supervise research students at ANU and participates in significant collaborative projects, including the current 'Partnering with local communities in regional Australia to increase resilience to flood events' (2022-2025). His high-impact publications, including the highly cited 'Resilience management in social-ecological systems' (1,120 Scopus citations) and 'From Metaphor to Measurement: Resilience of What to What?' (2,596 Scopus citations), demonstrate his foundational contributions to the field. Through his work with various research groups and projects, Abel has helped establish frameworks for understanding social-ecological systems and climate adaptation. His contributions to the Fenner School include advancing methodologies for integrating scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems, developing practical approaches to environmental governance, and critically examining the political economy of climate policy in Australia.
Dr. Stephanie Spahr is a Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany, where she leads the Organic Contaminants research group within the Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry. Previously, she served as a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Tübingen's Center for Applied Geoscience (2019-2021) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-2019). Dr. Spahr earned her PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in 2016. Her doctoral research focused on the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine during water disinfection with chloramine. She completed her MSc in Geoecology at the University of Tübingen in 2012, with thesis work on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of benzotriazoles conducted at Eawag, and her BSc in Geoecology/Ecosystem Management at the same institution in 2010. Dr. Spahr's research focuses on trace organic contaminants in aquatic systems, with particular expertise in transformation processes of contaminants in natural and engineered systems, advanced oxidation processes for water treatment, urban blue-green infrastructure, and compound-specific isotope analysis. Her work bridges environmental chemistry, engineering, and ecology to address water quality challenges in urban and natural water systems. She employs advanced analytical techniques to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for water treatment and environmental protection. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biochar-based water treatment technologies, particularly for stormwater management. She investigates how biochar amendments can remove trace organic contaminants from urban runoff, with recent work examining persulfate activation mechanisms, the role of chloride in reactive species formation, and the performance of engineered media filters under dynamic conditions. Her research also extends to understanding contaminant transport in rivers, the ecological impacts of pollutants, and developing analytical methods for environmental monitoring. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemical processes with ecological outcomes. Outstanding Review Paper Award 2023 in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Selected for the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2023 Selected mentee in the Leibniz Mentoring Programme 2022-2023 Best poster award (1st prize) at the Wasser 2022 of the Water Chemistry Society Selected fellow in the Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership 2020-2022 (Robert Bosch Stiftung) Selected fellow in the Athene Program for early female career researchers at the University of Tübingen, 2020-2021 As a Research Group Leader, Dr. Spahr supervises multiple research projects including 'POllution in UrbaN ponds, eco-evolutionary Dynamics, and Ecosystem Resilience (POUNDER)', 'Dynamic hyporheic zone', 'NYMPHE', and the 'Incident-related special investigation programme for the environmental disaster in the Oder River'. She serves on the Executive Board of the German Water Chemistry Society and heads its Expert Committee on 'Oxidative Processes'. Her collaborative work spans numerous institutions across Germany and internationally, addressing critical water quality challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Spahr leads the Organic Contaminants research group at IGB Berlin, which focuses on understanding the fate and treatment of organic pollutants in water systems. Her team employs advanced analytical techniques including compound-specific isotope analysis to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways. The group collaborates extensively with other departments at IGB and with international partners on projects addressing urban water challenges and ecological impacts of pollution. Current research emphasizes innovative water treatment technologies, particularly biochar-based systems for stormwater management, and investigating the complex interactions between contaminants, aquatic ecosystems, and human activities.
