Professor Yu Bai is a Professor in Structural Engineering at Monash University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, part of the Faculty of Engineering. He holds a B.E. and M.E. from Tsinghua University and a Ph.D. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). His research focuses on composite materials, modular construction, robotics in construction, and structural resilience under extreme conditions. He directs the Smart Structures and Construction research theme and leads the Laboratory of Robotic Construction. Key research pillars include: Composite materials for lightweight structures Modular design and manufacturing Construction automation and robotics Prof. Bai has secured major grants including an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award and leads projects in sustainable construction, fire dynamics of composites, and robotic fabrication. He collaborates internationally and has over 290 peer-reviewed publications. Teaching responsibilities include courses on structural design and bridge engineering. His labs integrate cutting-edge facilities for structural testing and robotic systems. Awards include recognition for advancing prefabricated housing and low-carbon construction technologies. Current initiatives include the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing and Building 4.0 CRC for smart construction innovations.
Leberecht Funk is a Researcher affiliated with the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Freie Universität Berlin, part of the Department of Political and Social Sciences. He holds a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology (2019) and an M.A. from the same university. His work focuses on the anthropology of emotion, childhood socialization, and cultural cosmologies, particularly among the Tao people of Taiwan. Funk has conducted extensive fieldwork since 2009, exploring themes like animism, human-environment relationships, and interdisciplinary methodologies. His academic qualifications include a PhD dissertation on 'Society, Cosmology, and Socialization of Emotions among the Tao in Taiwan,' examining how cultural models of personhood and cosmology shape emotional development. His research integrates social anthropology and developmental psychology, addressing questions of emotion expression, socialization practices, and intercultural comparisons. Key research interests include East Asian studies (especially Taiwan), Southeast Asia, animism, and object-based research. Funk has contributed to debates on fieldwork ethics, particularly through his reflections on accompanied fieldwork with family. His publications span topics from Tao cosmology to comparative kinship systems in China and India. Teaching engagements include courses on childhood studies, cultural anthropology, and interdisciplinary research methods at both BA and MA levels. He actively participates in academic networks such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sozial- und Kulturanthropologie (DGSKA) and the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA).
Dana James is a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia (UBC). She holds a PhD from UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) and Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm, supervised by Dr. Hannah Wittman. Her research focuses on agroecology, climate change, food security, land reform, and political ecology, with a regional emphasis on Latin America and Brazil. She currently leads a postdoctoral project collaborating with seven peasant farming organizations to develop agroecological indicators. Education: BS (Environmental Resource Management & Community Development) from Penn State University (2013), MPhil (Geography) from Newcastle University (2014, supported by a Fulbright Award), and PhD (2022) from UBC. Professional experience includes USAID-funded agricultural assessments, policy advising for the Feed the Future initiative, and NSF-funded research on climate impacts in Spain. Research Interests: Dana examines the intersection of agroecology with social movements, governance, and equity. Her work emphasizes participatory approaches, food sovereignty, and the science-policy interface. Key themes include gender equity in farming, agroecological transitions, and climate resilience in rural communities. Notable Awards: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, UBC Public Scholar Fellowship, and P.E.O. International Scholarship. Her work is supported by Mitacs, SSHRC, and the Liu Institute. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with UBC’s IRES and Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. Engaged with global networks including La Vía Campesina and the Agroecology Research-Action Collective.
Elissa Waters is a Lecturer in Human Geography at Monash University, specializing in the social and political dimensions of climate change adaptation and disaster governance. Her research focuses on policy development for climate adaptation in Australia and Pacific atoll states, with 15+ years of government collaboration experience. She holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne (2019) and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and sustainable communities. Education: PhD in Human Geography, University of Melbourne (2019). Research Interests: Climate change adaptation, disaster governance, political geography of small island states, coastal management, and international development. Recent projects include leading the National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) and the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative Phase III. Key Projects: National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub (Enabling Best Practice Adaptation) National Adaptation Stocktake Mapping (2024) Building a new knowledge architecture for SIDS (2025-2026)
Jason Gordon is an Associate Professor of Community Forestry at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. His work focuses on the social dimensions of natural resource management, particularly urban forestry, wildfire hazards, and community engagement. He holds a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Penn State and teaches courses such as Society and Natural Resources, Community Forest Management, and Urban Forestry Practicum. His research integrates social science methodologies to assess public attitudes toward urban growth, environmental risk perceptions, and wildfire mitigation strategies. Education: Ph.D. (Rural Sociology, Penn State), M.S. (Rural Sociology, Penn State), B.S. (Forest Resources, UGA) Key Research Areas: Urban-rural interface dynamics, tree risk management, conservation easements, and policy evaluation Recent publications highlight his expertise in economic contributions of urban forestry, pandemic impacts on forestry sectors, and migration’s socioeconomic effects. He has received awards for outreach (e.g., Warnell Alumni Award) and led projects on forestland tax policies and Guatemalan migration analyses. Gordon advises students in both MNR and MS programs, with current advisees focusing on community forestry, wildfire management, and urban ecology. Labs/Centers: Tree Health Care and Community Forestry Lab Outreach Focus: Arboriculture practices, urban tree risk assessment, and community planning
Dr. Juneseok Lee is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Manhattan University, where he focuses on resilient infrastructure, AI applications, and engineering education. He earned his PhD from Virginia Tech and holds professional licenses (PE, BC.WRE) with expertise in water resources and systems analytics. His R.A.I.S.E. framework integrates resilience, AI, infrastructure, systems, and education to advance sustainable engineering practices. Education: PhD, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech (2008) MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech (2004) BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea University (2001) Research Interests: Dr. Lee’s work bridges technical and societal aspects of infrastructure resilience. Key areas include AI-driven water systems, predictive analytics, and engineering education innovation. His research addresses water distribution networks, premise plumbing safety, and sustainability strategies at the water-energy nexus. Recognition: 2024 ASCE Fellow 2022 EWRI Fellow 2021 EWRI Service to the Profession Award Multiple AWWA/ASCE Best Paper Awards Grants & Leadership: His work is supported by NSF, EPA, and industry partners. He serves as an Associate Editor for ASCE/AWWA journals, ABET Evaluator, and leader in professional societies like EWRI and ASCE. Labs & Teams: Leads initiatives in premise plumbing modeling, drinking water analytics, and educational technology through collaborations with utilities and global researchers.
Robert Riggs is an Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science. He holds a Teaching Track position and serves as Systems ME and VEO Advisor. His research focuses on integer programming, combinatorial optimization, healthcare systems engineering, Six Sigma, lean enterprise applications, and disassembly optimization. He has advised on projects spanning healthcare clinic efficiency, AI-driven systems, and logistics optimization. Education details are not explicitly provided in the text, but his roles indicate advanced academic training in engineering disciplines. His research explores topics such as healthcare patient flow optimization, AI applications in recommenders, and disaster management systems. Recent work includes refining an AI restaurant recommender system (2025), redesigning emergency department layouts (2025), and analyzing post-COVID-19 healthcare workflows (2023). Riggs' articles reflect a multidisciplinary approach, addressing challenges in healthcare, logistics, and sustainability. His work on truck scheduling in cross-docking centers (2024) and maritime electrification (2023) highlights expertise in supply chain systems. He has also explored ethical AI applications and threats (2023) and nonprofit employment strategies for adults with autism (2024). No scientific awards are mentioned, but his active research portfolio spans over a decade with contributions to disassembly line balancing (2015) and parameter-coupling models in manufacturing (2013).
Samuel Rufat is a prominent researcher affiliated with the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), focusing on disaster risk, resilience, social vulnerability, and urban risk perception. His work bridges geography, environmental policy, and crisis management, with extensive publications in top journals such as Nature , Global Environmental Change , and Annals of the American Association of Geographers . Institution: Institut Universitaire de France Research Focus: Risk perception, flood resilience, climate adaptation, urban vulnerability, video games in geography Geographic Scope: France, Romania (Bucharest), global mountain regions, urban Europe His research interests center on understanding how individuals and communities perceive and respond to environmental risks, particularly floods and climate change. He critically examines the social, political, and spatial dimensions of vulnerability and resilience, emphasizing the role of equity, governance, and public participation. His work on video games as tools for urban simulation and risk education highlights innovative methodological approaches in geography. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research. Themes include the validation of social vulnerability models, risk communication strategies, evacuation behavior in cities, and the integration of local knowledge in disaster risk reduction. His work increasingly emphasizes methodological rigor, comparative analysis, and the need for theory-practice integration in resilience science. Scientific recognition includes membership in the prestigious Institut Universitaire de France, reflecting national scholarly excellence. He has contributed to major research projects funded by ANR and the European Commission (H2020, COST). Risks – Evacuations – Resilience (ANR) H2020 ResiLoc COST Land4Flood ERC FiBeGa Rufat actively collaborates with a broad network of researchers across Europe and has advised or co-authored with early-career scholars. His work often involves interdisciplinary teams and contributes to shaping public policy on climate adaptation and disaster risk management. He has no listed grants as principal investigator in the provided text, but his involvement in major projects indicates significant research funding support. He is also engaged in theoretical debates, notably challenging simplistic notions of resilience and advocating for more nuanced, context-sensitive approaches. He has contributed to collective works on open data, guerrilla cartography, and the spatial dynamics of post-socialist cities like Bucharest. His role in the IUF suggests a senior academic position, likely at a French university, though the specific host institution is not named in the provided material. He is active in research dissemination through conferences and publications, with no indication of teaching or administrative duties.
Cherith Moses is an Academic and Head of the Department of History, Geography & Social Sciences at Edge Hill University since September 2018. Her research focuses on coastal geomorphology, climate change adaptation, and environmental risk assessment, with fieldwork conducted across Southern Thailand, the European Seas, and the UK coastlines. Her research interests include: Coastal erosion and resilience mechanisms Climate change impact modeling Tropical peatland classification using remote sensing Shore platform dynamics and weathering processes Recent publications highlight her work on pan-European coastal vulnerability assessments (EMODnet Geology), erosion modeling in tropical regions, and interdisciplinary approaches combining remote sensing, machine learning, and field measurements. Moses collaborates extensively on international projects related to sediment dynamics, coastal behavior data products, and climate adaptation strategies. She contributes to academic leadership through editorial roles in the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology and participates in conferences like EGU General Assembly and EMODnet Open Conference. Her methodological expertise spans multi-source remote sensing, geological mapping, and interdisciplinary coastal research frameworks.
Mitchell de Sousa is an architect and PhD candidate at the Technical University of Berlin specializing in autonomous urban management strategies for Argentine contexts, while serving as an Assistant Researcher at the University of Buenos Aires' Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism and Tutor for the Dual Degree Master program in Urban Planning and Mobility. His work bridges German academic rigor with Argentine urban challenges through collaborations with CETAM and ISR research centers. Education: Architect, University of Buenos Aires Postgraduate Studies in Urban Planning and Mobility, Dual Degree Master (University of Buenos Aires and Technical University of Berlin) De Sousa's research critically examines urban mobility systems within popular and informal economies, developing place-based territorial management tools for Latin American municipalities. His work integrates spatial analysis of urban boundaries with socio-economic studies of marginalized communities, emphasizing practical applications for municipal practitioners in contexts like Trelew's 'Planta de Gas' neighborhood and Buenos Aires' Riachuelo River basin. His publication trajectory reveals consistent thematic evolution from 2018-2021, progressively deepening interdisciplinary connections between landscape architecture, urban mobility, and popular economy frameworks. The research demonstrates methodological innovation through participatory mapping of urban boundaries and visual sociology approaches, consistently targeting practical urban intervention strategies rather than purely theoretical contributions. Scientific Awards: Riachuelo en transformación. Hacia un nuevo estatus urbano de lugar, ACUMAR, Argentina As a Master's program Tutor, De Sousa directly mentors students in urban planning methodologies while conducting field research through institutional partnerships with CETAM and IGEOPAT. His academic guidance focuses on translating theoretical mobility frameworks into context-specific Argentine applications, supported by the dual institutional framework of Technical University of Berlin's Institute for Urban and Regional Planning and UBA's Faculty of Architecture. De Sousa operates within three key research ecosystems: CETAM (Transportation Studies Center) at UBA for mobility economics research, ISR (Superior Institute of Urbanism) for territorial management frameworks, and IGEOPAT at National University of Patagonia for Patagonian urban case studies, creating a unique transnational research network focused on Latin American urban challenges.
Alberto Innocenti is an Associate Professor in Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU Civil and Architectural Engineering), with a focus on coastal systems and land-sea planning. He holds a double PhD from the University Iuav of Venice and the University of Copenhagen, along with a Master’s in "Planning and policies for cities, environment and landscape" from Iuav and an Erasmus exchange at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. His career includes a 10-month internship at the Government of Flanders and ongoing collaboration with the Planning Climate Change LAB at University Iuav of Venice since 2015. He serves as a senior non-key expert for the EU International Urban Cooperation (IUC) Asia since 2019. Research Interests : Urban resilience, maritime spatial planning, climate change adaptation, and sustainable urban design. His work addresses complex social, economic, and climate challenges in coastal regions, emphasizing nature-based solutions and multi-hazard urban planning. Projects : Co-PI in the SCC Elite Centre of Aquatic Nature-based Solutions (2023–2027), PI for the LEARNING project (2023), and contributor to initiatives like DANIDA-DFC (2022–2023) and Health and Wellbeing Assessment (2019–2022). His research spans land-sea interactions, coastal resilience, and climate policy frameworks in the EU. Activities : Regularly delivers lectures and presentations on urban resilience, including at the 2024 AESOP Congress and SDU Climate Cluster events. He has been featured in media outlets like TV 2 Funen (2023).
Takumi Ueda is a Professor at Waseda University 's School of Creative Science and Engineering , affiliated with the Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering (2024-2026). He holds a Ph.D. in Geophysics (2007) from the University of Utah and an M.Eng. in Electrical Exploration (2002) from Waseda University. Education: Ph.D. (Geophysics) - University of Utah (2007) M.Eng. (Engineering) - Waseda University (2002) B.Eng. (Science and Engineering) - Waseda University (2000) His research focuses on Exploration Geophysics and Electromagnetic (EM) Methods , particularly for marine and UAV-based geophysical surveys . Key contributions include: Developing drone-borne EM systems for buried object detection Advancing 3D holographic imaging techniques in marine CSEM Optimizing continuous wavelet transforms for MT data processing Innovating vertical electrode configurations for sub-seafloor resistivity sensing His 15 most recent publications (2006-2023) demonstrate expertise in electromagnetic exploration , inverse problem solving , and UAV applications for geophysical monitoring. Collaborative work spans institutions including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (2002-2017) and the University of Utah . Professional engagements include: Leadership roles in the Physical Exploration Society (2010-present) Membership in the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and Japan Society of Computational Methods in Engineering Participation in technical committees for CCS monitoring and geophysical software development
Reginald DesRoches serves as the eighth President of Rice University and holds the academic rank of Professor in both Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. He previously served as Rice’s Howard Hughes Provost and Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering, leading initiatives to expand research, graduate programs, and interdisciplinary efforts in neuroengineering, synthetic biology, and data science. His academic journey includes roles as Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech and Faculty Athletics Representative, where he contributed to institutional policies and NCAA compliance. DesRoches’ research focuses on resilient infrastructure systems under extreme loads and smart materials applications. Notable contributions include post-2010 Haiti earthquake technical leadership and congressional advocacy for infrastructure resilience. He has authored over 200 publications, emphasizing machine learning in earthquake engineering and SMA-based damping systems. He earned BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical and Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley. Awards include membership in the National Academy of Engineering, AAAS, and PSoT, alongside prestigious honors like the ASCE Walter L. Huber Prize and PECASE. His leadership has driven Rice’s academic expansion, including online programs in engineering and business, while prioritizing diversity and hurricane resilience in infrastructure systems. Collaborative efforts with the Texas Medical Center and Atlanta’s athletics leadership highlight his multidisciplinary impact.
Dr. Georgie Bennett is a geomorphologist studying earth-surface dynamics and hazards at the University of Exeter's Department of Geography. Her research combines remote sensing, fieldwork, and numerical modeling to investigate landslides, sediment transport, and river dynamics in mountainous regions. She leads multiple international projects including BOULDER (Nepal landslide resilience) and SCaRP (Philippines landslide hazards). Her research interests span landslide preconditioning factors, wood-sediment interactions in rivers, climate change impacts on mass movements, and coastal cliff erosion processes. She supervises PhD students working on lahar modeling, bedload transport, and landslide triggers. Dr. Bennett employs innovative techniques including smart boulder sensors, RFID tracers, and drone-based mapping to study geomorphic processes. Her work has applications in disaster risk reduction and landscape management.
Sonia Hassan, M.D., is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine and serves as Associate Vice President and founder of the Office of Women’s Health. She leads the SOS MATERNITY Network, a state-funded initiative addressing Michigan's high maternal and infant mortality rates through standardized care protocols, prenatal access improvements, and research collaboration across 14 universities and healthcare systems. Her research focuses on preterm birth prevention, preeclampsia management, and reducing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. Key projects include vaginal progesterone therapy studies, cervical length analysis using advanced imaging technologies, and investigating the impact of infectious diseases like COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes. Dr. Hassan has secured $11 million in state funding for the SOS MATERNITY Network and led collaborative efforts resulting in over 50 peer-reviewed publications. Awards include WJR's 2024 Women Who Lead Award for her leadership in maternal health advocacy. Her work integrates clinical care, policy advocacy, and transdisciplinary research to advance equitable obstetrical practices. Grants and partnerships include multi-state collaborations studying racial disparities in perinatal health and global health projects analyzing tuberculosis burden trends. Dr. Hassan also pioneers novel imaging techniques (e.g., photoacoustic systems) for cervical assessment and fetal monitoring, aiming to standardize diagnostic approaches across Michigan healthcare providers.
