Chad E. Hart is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University (ISU), specializing in agricultural economics and international trade policy. His research focuses on WTO agricultural commitments, crop insurance, biofuel policy, and commodity market dynamics. Hart holds a Ph.D. (1999) and B.S. (1991) in economics from ISU and Southwest Missouri State University, respectively. He has served in roles at ISU’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), examining trade policies and energy-agriculture intersections. Hart has received notable awards, including the CALS Dean’s Citation (2020) and Exemplary Faculty Mentor Award (2016). His work bridges academic research and practical extension, addressing issues like trade disputes, commodity pricing, and agricultural sustainability. Hart’s insights frequently inform USDA outlook reports and policy analyses, with a focus on Iowa’s agricultural economy. Labs/Teams: Active in CARD and FAPRI, contributing to interdisciplinary research on agricultural policy and market dynamics.
Gavin McNicol is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). His research focuses on soil biogeochemistry and its connection to Earth’s climate system, particularly methane emissions from wetlands, temperate rainforests, and waste systems. He employs field measurements, laboratory experiments, and data science to study greenhouse gas dynamics across scales. McNicol teaches courses on data science (EAES 420) and climate-ecosystem interactions (EAES 579). His work integrates machine learning with satellite remote sensing to monitor global wetland methane emissions. Key collaborations include FLUXNET-CH4, CRMRCN, and the SOIL NGO in Haiti. McNicol holds a BS from the University of Stirling (2010) and a PhD from UC Berkeley (2016). Research interests span wetland methane budgets, carbon cycling in coastal ecosystems, and climate impacts of sanitation systems. He has secured grants from NASA, DOE, and NSF, totaling over $87,000. His team, the McNicol Lab, emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining fieldwork, lab analysis, and computational modeling. Recent publications (2023–2025) address global methane upscaling, tropical wetland monitoring gaps, and boreal-Arctic methane feedbacks. McNicol’s work bridges local measurements to global climate models, with applications in climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
John Carruthers is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, affiliated with the Carl Sagan Institute and the AAP school. His research bridges regional science and urban planning. Ph.D. in Regional Science, University of Washington (2001) M.S. in Regional Science, University of Arizona (1998) B.A. in Economics, Hunter College, CUNY (1996) Carruthers specializes in Sustainable Urban Development , Economic Geography , and Geospatial Analysis , focusing on environmental remediation in Puget Sound and public amenities in Seoul. His work employs spatial econometrics and input-output analysis to address urban challenges. His recent publications in journals like International Regional Science Review and Journal of Regional Science explore Land Use Policy , Urban Growth Patterns , and Environmental Valuation . George Washington Award (2019) Distinguished Leadership Award for a Planning Educator (2016) Carruthers has led grants such as the Estimating the Public Benefits of Green Space in the Seoul Metropolitan Area project (Korea Development Institute, $75,000). He teaches courses on regional economic impact analysis and climate change economics.
Gioele Zardini is the Rudge (1948) and Nancy Allen Assistant Professor at MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), with affiliations to the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) and the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS). He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and previously worked as a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. His research focuses on co-design of complex systems, autonomous systems, and game-theoretic modeling of transportation networks. Education: BSc and MSc in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics from ETH Zurich (2017–2019), PhD in 2023. He has held visiting roles at nuTonomy Singapore, Stanford, and MIT. Research interests include co-design methodologies, autonomous vehicle systems, compositionality in engineering, and strategic interactions in mobility networks. Recent work emphasizes scalable fleet coordination, safety-critical robotics, and user-centric transportation solutions. Notable awards include the 2024 ETH Doctoral Dissertation Award (Silver Medal), Best Paper at ITSC 2021, and federal grants for enhancing urban transit equity. He leads the Zardini Lab, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in systems engineering and autonomy. Grants and advising: Received federal grants for transit accessibility projects. His work on Autonomy Talks has produced over 180 recorded lectures, promoting knowledge exchange in autonomous systems. Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator at LIDS, affiliate at IDSS, and founder of the Zardini Lab, focusing on systems co-design, mobility innovation, and game-theoretic frameworks.
Dr. Zhifu Mi is a Professor of Climate Change Economics at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction , University College London. His research focuses on carbon footprint analysis, climate change economics, air pollution and health, sharing economy sustainability, and input-output modeling. He has published extensively in top journals like Nature Sustainability , Lancet , and Science Advances . Co-Editor-in-Chief, Structural Change and Economic Dynamics (2020–present) Executive Editor, Journal of Cleaner Production (2019–present) President, Chinese Economic Association (UK/Europe) Council Member, International Input-Output Association Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society His research explores: Carbon Footprints: Economic development and emission convergence in Chinese households Climate-Health Linkages: Air pollution impacts, ultra-low emission policies Sharing Economy: Sustainable societies through shared micro-mobility Policy Analysis: Synergies between environmental regulations Recent publications analyze decarbonization employment gaps, polycentric urban structures, and health-environment policy intersections. Awards include the World Sustainability Award (2018), multiple Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher honors, and UCL's Outstanding Research Supervision Award (2022). He teaches modules on construction economics and input-output analysis.
Edgar Hertwich is a Professor of Industrial Ecology at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He is on partial leave from NTNU, serving as a Senior Researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and as a partner in the environmental data company XIO Sustainability Analytics. His work bridges academic research and practical applications for climate mitigation. Current affiliations: NTNU (Professor), IIASA (Senior Researcher), XIO Sustainability Analytics (Partner) Previous roles: Professor at Yale University (2015-2019), Fellow at Yale (2019-2022), Professor at NTNU (2003-2015) Hertwich's research focuses on industrial ecology, examining material flows in economic systems to advance climate protection and sustainable development. His work spans machinery, buildings, urban form, and food supply systems, employing life cycle analysis, cross-flow analysis, and economic modeling. He contributes to global policy frameworks like the UN's Circular Economy Action Plan and EU Climate Council reports. Recent projects include CIRCOMOD (Circular Economy Modeling for Climate Mitigation) and RAINFOREST (knowledge co-production for biodiversity). He has been recognized with NTNU's Prize for Research and Artistic Activity (2023) for his contributions. Scientific Awards NTNU's Prize for Research and Artistic Activity (2023) Editorial Roles Environmental Science & Technology Journal of Industrial Ecology Journal of Economic Structures As a thought leader in industrial ecology, Hertwich connects technical insights to policy, emphasizing material efficiency and resource allocation. His work influences EU climate strategies and global environmental assessments.
Lu Yi is a Professor at the Department of Economics, Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management , holding a CITIC Chair Professor since 2022. He is also Director of multiple research centers , including the Tsinghua University China Economic and Social Data Research Center and the Center for International Economics. A doctoral supervisor , he has guided students across institutions and academic programs. Lu Yi's education includes a BA from Fudan University's School of Life Sciences (1999) , an MA from Fudan University's School of Management (2003) , and a PhD from the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Business and Economics (2007) . His research focuses on Chinese economy, public finance, and global economic governance , with particular emphasis on trade liberalization, institutional quality, and environmental policy. Key research areas : Trade policy impacts, productivity gains from trade, environmental regulation effects, and labor market responses to technological change Leadership roles : Editorial board member of American Economic Journal: Economic Policy , Co-Editor of China & World Economy , former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Economic Journal Policy advisory : Expert for National Healthcare Security Administration's DIP payment system, National Council Member for Social and Economic Council His scientific awards span national and provincial levels , including the First Sun Shangqing Young Scholar Award , Pushan World Economics Outstanding Paper Youth Award , and multiple provincial social science achievement awards in Shandong, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Sichuan. His publications in top journals like the Journal of Public Economics , Review of Economics and Statistics , and Nature Climate Change demonstrate his influence in applied economics and policy research.
Joost de Moor is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Sciences Po’s Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) . His research bridges Environmental Politics , Social Movements , and Political Participation , with a focus on climate activism, lifestyle politics, and post-political strategies. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences: Political Science from the University of Antwerp (2016) and has held postdoctoral positions at Keele University (2016-2018) , Stockholm University (2018-2021) , and Leiden University (2021) . A visiting scholar at the University of Mannheim (2015) , his work spans urban environmentalism, climate summit dynamics, and strategic movement adaptation.
Craig A. Bond is a Professor at the RAND School of Public Policy, a Senior Economist at RAND Corporation, and Editor-in-Chief of the RAND Journal of Economics. His work bridges military resource allocation and environmental economics through advanced econometric modeling. Current Roles: Research QA Manager (RAND Arroyo Center), Senior Economist Methodological Expertise: Stochastic dynamic programming, discrete choice modeling, non-market valuation Key Research Themes: Military readiness, coastal resilience, green infrastructure, post-disaster recovery Research Interests: Craig Bond specializes in natural resource economics , environmental economics , and applied welfare economics , with recent work focusing on: Risk modeling for defense acquisitions and personnel strategy Resilience dividend valuation frameworks Green infrastructure cost-benefit analysis Climate adaptation in coastal communities Publication Trends: His 15 most recent works (2017-2025) show interdisciplinary focus across: Military Economics: Recruiting optimization, training requirements, economic multipliers Environmental Policy: Coastal land loss, invasive species impact, water management Resilience Modeling: Disaster recovery frameworks, adaptive systems
Joseph Francois is a Professor of Economics and Director at the World Trade Institute (WTI) , affiliated with the Economic Institute at the University of Bern. He previously served as Deputy Director of the NCCR Trade Regulation (2015–2017) and held professorships at Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and other institutions. His research spans international economics, trade policy, globalization, environmental economics, and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling. Key focus areas include cross-border production chains, trade in services, open economy competition policy, financial market integration, and the interplay between trade agreements and sustainability goals. Scientific distinctions include a Fellowship at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (London). His methodological expertise includes CGE modeling, econometric estimation of large nonlinear systems, and policy analysis of trade disputes, carbon border adjustments, and non-tariff measures. Education: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Maryland BA in Economics and History, University of Virginia He has contributed extensively to policy briefs and technical reports, particularly in analyzing trade impacts on employment, economic development, and environmental outcomes.
Associate Professor at the University of Lisbon's School of Economics and Management (ISEG) since 1983, João Carlos Lopes specializes in Portuguese economic analysis with emphasis on sectoral dynamics, European integration impacts, and circular economy applications. His institutional affiliation spans decades of active teaching and research within Portugal's premier economics institution. Research interests center on Input-Output Analysis , Circular Economy transitions , and Portuguese industrial history , particularly the cork sector. His work examines EU structural funds' regional impacts, migration economics through consumption patterns, and austerity policy consequences. Key thematic areas include: Macroeconomic policy evaluation in peripheral Eurozone economies Historical evolution of Portuguese industrial clusters EU migration's economic consequences via input-output modeling Rural innovation driven by young farmers in peripheral regions His 15 most recent publications (2013-2024) reveal a clear trajectory toward circular economy applications in Portuguese automotive and construction sectors, while maintaining core focus on EU integration challenges. Articles consistently employ Portuguese case studies to address broader European economic questions, with strong methodological emphasis on input-output frameworks and historical institutional analysis. Supervising over 40 Master's students since 2010, his advising portfolio shows thematic consistency with research interests: Circular Economy : 7 theses on automotive, construction, and pharmaceutical sectors EU Policy Analysis : 12 theses on migration, fiscal policy, and structural funds Portuguese Industry : 9 theses on cork, rubber, and regional specialization Teaching responsibilities include Macroeconomics I and EU Economics courses, with documented instruction from 2007-2025 across undergraduate and graduate programs.
Pablo Durango-Cohen is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, located in Evanston, IL. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from UC Berkeley, following an M.S. from the same program and a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California. His research focuses on developing and analyzing optimization and econometric models for transportation infrastructure systems, integrating environmental design, life-cycle assessment, and policy analysis to address decarbonization challenges in freight systems. He also explores dynamic segmentation models for nonprofit fundraising strategies. Education: Ph.D. Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of California, Berkeley (2006) M.S. Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, University of California, Berkeley B.S. Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Southern California Research Interests: Prof. Durango-Cohen’s work bridges transportation engineering, environmental science, and operations research. He emphasizes infrastructure management through data-driven frameworks, including statistical process control for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance. His recent projects address decarbonization of freight rail systems, electric vehicle impacts on road infrastructure, and optimal auction designs for road concessions. He also applies mathematical models to analyze donor behavior and fundraising efficiency in universities, aiming to improve nonprofit resource allocation strategies. Awards: NSF Faculty Early CAREER Development Award (2006) Young Author Prize, 2007 World Congress on Transport Research Matthew G. Karlaftis Best Paper Awards (2020–2025) Advising & Grants: He advises current PhD candidates including Jing Yu, Adrian Hernandez, and Callahan Skiles, while mentoring former students across sustainability, infrastructure, and fundraising analytics. His research is supported by agencies like the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy (through ARPA-E), and Department of Transportation. He co-leads the LOCOMOTIVES project with ANL researchers, focusing on decarbonizing rail networks, and founded the Virtual Inter-university Symposium on Infrastructure Management (VISIM) to foster academic collaboration. Labs & Teams: As Principal Investigator (PI) on major initiatives like LOCOMOTIVES and VISIM, he collaborates with multidisciplinary teams at Northwestern and Argonne National Laboratory. His group develops tools such as the Locomotives interactive dashboard and a computational framework for input-output lifecycle assessments, accessible via repositories like CivEnv304 .
Loring Nies is a Professor of Civil Engineering/Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University, holding roles in the School of Civil Engineering. He serves on key committees such as the University Senate and the Professional Practice Advisory Committee. His research focuses on environmental engineering challenges, including nanomaterial impacts, bioremediation, anaerobic digestion, and sustainability strategies. He has contributed to advancing interdisciplinary education through initiatives like the foundational graduate course in Environmental and Ecological Engineering. Research interests emphasize understanding nanomaterial interactions with soil microbiology and developing sustainable solutions for water reuse, waste recycling, and end-of-life treatment. His work spans laboratory studies on microbial community dynamics to large-scale analyses of water resource management in HUC-4 basins. He has pioneered methods for economic input-output analysis in advanced manufacturing contexts and explored innovations in environmental engineering education curricula. Notable contributions include studies on fullerene toxicity, metal oxide nanomaterial effects, and bioaugmentation strategies for methane production optimization. His research bridges environmental science with engineering applications, addressing modern challenges in energy storage technologies and industrial symbiosis. While no specific awards are listed, his extensive committee involvement reflects institutional recognition of his expertise. Loring Nies advises on recovery alternatives for wind turbine end-of-life management and has explored frameworks for integrating environmental and business aspects in sustainable product development. His work integrates molecular genetic techniques to assess bioremediation efficacy in contaminated sites, demonstrating a commitment to both theoretical and applied environmental solutions.
Shannon Neibergs is an academic professional at Washington State University (WSU), serving as Director of the Western Center for Risk Management Education and Extension Specialist in the School of Economic Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University (1993), an M.A. in Agricultural Economics from WSU (1987), and a B.S. in Animal Science from WSU (1983). Her research focuses on livestock production economics, auction market dynamics, and agribusiness employment strategies, with significant contributions to risk management education and sustainable agriculture. Notable honors include NACAA National and Regional Finalist awards for team newsletters (2010, 2008), a Faculty Member of the Year Award (University of Louisville, 1997), and multiple annual evaluation awards for service and research excellence. Her work bridges academic research with practical extension programs, addressing challenges in beef production systems, genomic selection tools, and rangeland management. Risk Management Education: Leads initiatives to help farmers navigate market uncertainties and policy changes. Livestock Economics: Specializes in production costs, crossbreeding impacts, and disease management economics. Regional Agriculture: Analyzes economic contributions of Washington's beef and dairy sectors through input-output models. Her advisory and collaborative efforts include managing the Western Center for Risk Management and contributing to the Beef Risk Control (BRD CAP) project. She collaborates with ranchers and policymakers to enhance agricultural resilience. Active in interdisciplinary teams such as the IMPACT Center and Transportation Research Group, her work emphasizes translating research into actionable solutions for agricultural stakeholders.
Arianto Patunru is a Research Fellow at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics within the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU). He joined ANU in 2012 and holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His roles include coordinating the ANU Indonesia Project, overseeing policy engagements such as the Australia-Indonesia High Level Policy Dialogue, and managing the Indonesia Project on COVID-19 initiatives. Patunru previously headed the Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI) in Jakarta and taught economics at Universitas Indonesia. His research focuses on international trade, economic development, globalization, and policy analysis. He has published in journals like the American Journal of Agricultural Economics , Journal of Development Studies , and Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies , where he serves as an editor. Patunru frequently contributes to policy debates through op-eds in platforms like East Asia Forum and The Conversation , addressing issues such as Indonesia’s economic strategy, trade policies, and climate change. Key research themes include the impact of economic reforms (e.g., Indonesia’s Omnibus Law), trade policy dynamics, and the role of foreign investment. He has explored topics like labor share declines in manufacturing, environmental policy challenges, and vaccination strategies during the pandemic. Patunru’s work bridges academic analysis with practical policy advice, emphasizing Indonesia’s integration into global value chains and the need for balanced economic strategies.
