Engseng Ho is a Professor of Cultural Anthropology and former Professor of History at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences since 2008. His work focuses on Arab/Muslim diasporas across the Indian Ocean, global transregional dynamics, and historical interactions between empires and local societies. Education: PhD (2000), MA (1990) in Anthropology from University of Chicago; BA (1986) from Stanford University. Research interests include mobility studies, transregional legal frameworks, and the intersection of Islam with imperial and postcolonial contexts. Notable projects involve Inter-Asia collaborations and studies on China-Africa relations, oil economies, and Malay sovereignty. Recent grants include funding from the National Science Foundation for research on refugees, Azerbaijan's oil-driven geopolitics, and a global religion dissertation fellowship program. Teaching spans courses on imperialism, mobility, global culture, and anthropological theory. His expertise spans Africa, India, Indonesia, and Yemen.
Christopher R. Knittel is the George P. Shultz Professor of Energy Economics and Professor of Applied Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management . He serves as Director of MIT’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR), Director of the MIT Climate Policy Center, and Deputy Director for Policy at the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI). PhD, University of California, Berkeley (1999) M.A., University of California, Davis (1996) B.A., California State University, Stanislaus (1994) His research focuses on energy economics, environmental policy, and machine learning applications in energy systems. He leads interdisciplinary initiatives like the Climate Action Through Education program for high schools and co-directs the E2e Project with UC Berkeley and University of Chicago. Recent publications analyze data center energy dynamics, hydrogen technologies, Russian oil sanctions, and transportation policy reforms. His work emphasizes policy cost-effectiveness, emissions equity, and energy market responses to regulation.
Dr. Jérôme Verny is an Associate Professor specializing in transport, logistics, and supply chain management. He is the founder and director of the research institute in innovative transport and logistics, as well as the co-founder of the DISC Master's program (Digital & Innovative Supply Chain) in Paris and the Mobility Accelerator. His expertise spans digitalization in logistics, blockchain applications, and sustainable development. Educated at the University of Lille Nord de France (PhD in Economics and Management) and engineering schools like École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, he advises both public institutions (OECD, EU) and private enterprises on transportation strategies. Research Interests: Dr. Verny focuses on supply chain innovation, digital transformation, and strategic logistics. His work integrates blockchain technology for supply chain transparency, optimizes last-mile delivery in urban environments, and analyzes the impact of geopolitical actors like China on global trade networks. He also explores sustainable practices in transportation, including CO2 reduction strategies and pandemic response logistics. Awards: Recipient of the 2009 OECD-FIT Young Researcher Prize in Transport. His contributions bridge academic research with practical applications in industry, policy, and international trade. Key Activities: Co-founded the DISC Master’s program and leads research initiatives on blockchain adoption, Arctic shipping routes, and Mediterranean trade dynamics. He actively contributes to conferences such as the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) and publishes in journals like Structural Change and Economic Dynamics and International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics . Labs/Teams: Directs the Institut de Recherche en Transport et Logistique Innovante and collaborates with institutions like the OECD and European Commission on transport policy. His interdisciplinary approach involves engineering, economics, and data science to address global supply chain challenges.
Baris Fidan is a Professor in Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with cross appointments in System Design Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. He is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA. His research focuses on cooperative/adaptive control, autonomous systems, multi-agent networks, and vehicular control applications. He leads the Cooperative & Adaptive Mechatronic Systems (CAMS) Lab, which develops control strategies for autonomous vehicles, robotic systems, and intelligent transportation. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (2003) Masters in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Bilkent University (1998) Bachelor's in Electrical & Electronic Engineering & Mathematics, Middle East Technical University (1996) Research Interests: His work spans adaptive control theory, sensor networks, multi-agent coordination, autonomous vehicle networks, and biomedical systems control. He emphasizes practical applications in intelligent transportation, robotic navigation, and distributed system optimization. Grants & Projects: He has led major grants including NSERC Discovery Programs on cooperative mechatronic systems and 3D autonomous vehicle coordination. Industrial projects include autonomous driving strategies, vehicle control optimization, and high-precision gear manufacturing technologies. Labs/Teams: Directs the CAMS Lab, which collaborates on projects involving distributed motion planning, sensor localization, and autonomous vehicle networks. Current projects address challenges in urban autonomous driving, cooperative robotic systems, and resilient sensor networks.
Prof. Dr. Steffen Marburg is a Full Professor at the Chair of Acoustics of Mobile Systems within the TUM School of Engineering and Design at the Technical University of Munich. His research focuses on numerical methods in vibroacoustics, structural optimization, and acoustic modeling for applications in automotive, maritime, and musical instrument domains. Education: PhD from Technical University of Dresden (1998). Academic Career: Junior Professor at TU Dresden (2004), Chair of Technical Dynamics at University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich (2010), Full Professor at TUM (2015–present). Editorial Roles: Co-Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Theoretical and Computational Acoustics, Associate Editor of Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Editor of Acoustics Australia and Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing. His research integrates computational acoustics, boundary element methods, and machine learning to address noise control and structural optimization challenges. Recent work explores acoustic metamaterials, viscothermal losses, and data-driven modeling. He has co-authored over 150 publications and led advancements in multifrequency solution methods and noise-insulating structures. Scientific awards include the Innovation Award of the Industrieclub Sachsen e.V. (1999). His editorial contributions and leadership in journals highlight his influence in computational acoustics and structural dynamics.
Dr. Isabella Jackson is an Assistant Professor in Chinese History at Trinity College Dublin's Department of History. She specializes in modern Chinese history, with a focus on colonial Shanghai, treaty ports, and the intersections of imperialism and identity. Her research includes the CHINACHILD project, investigating the sociolegal status of enslaved girls and evolving conceptions of childhood in 20th-century China. She is also a co-editor of Treaty Ports in Modern China and author of Shaping Modern Shanghai , analyzing colonial governance and transnational networks. Her teaching includes courses on Republican China, global childhood history, and imperialism. She contributes to Trinity's Asian Studies programs, supervising PhD students researching topics like medical objects in late Qing China and Irish identities in Chinese maritime history. Dr. Jackson's work bridges urban history, colonial studies, and gender analysis, often exploring how global and local dynamics shaped modern China. Her research highlights include examining Sikh policemen in Shanghai's International Settlement, treaty port governance via the Shanghai Municipal Council, and the socio-political dimensions of foreign presence in China. She frequently publishes in journals like Modern Asian Studies and collaborates internationally on projects linking urban development, legal frameworks, and cultural identity.
Bert DE REYCK is the Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at Singapore Management University (SMU) and holds the rank of Professor of Operations Management. He holds a PhD in Business Economics from the University of Leuven, Belgium, along with an MSc in Business Information Systems and a BSc in Business Engineering from the same institution. His career includes roles as Founding Director and Professor at UCL School of Management (2015–2021), Professor and Head of Department at University College London (2009–2015), and various visiting professorships at institutions like London Business School and the University of Ghent. He has held academic positions since 1998, including Assistant and Associate Professor roles at prestigious institutions such as the London Business School and Rotterdam School of Management. DE REYCK’s research focuses on Operations Management, Business Analytics, and Project Management, with notable contributions to AI applications, transportation systems, and strategic sourcing. His work bridges theoretical rigor and practical impact, addressing challenges in project valuation, contract design, and operations optimization. He has received numerous accolades, including INFORMS’ AAS Best Paper Award (2022), multiple Daniel H. Wagner Prize recognitions, and teaching awards from London Business School and UCL. His research has been supported by grants from organizations like Eurocontrol, NHS, and private sector firms such as Vungle and Noble Group. DE REYCK has led significant industry collaborations, including projects on airport operations optimization, pharmaceutical R&D valuation, and AI-driven advertising strategies. His advisory work spans sectors like aviation, healthcare, and transportation, emphasizing real-world problem-solving through analytics and decision science.
Dr. Nicholas Townsend is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, specializing in experimental hydrodynamics, marine renewable energy, and maritime robotics. He actively collaborates with the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute and supervises PhD students in cutting-edge maritime research.
Amanda Giang serves as Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, holding a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Modelling for Policy. She maintains a joint appointment with the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES). Her educational background includes a B.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from MIT, with postdoctoral training at MIT and Harvard. Dr. Giang's research employs interdisciplinary approaches to develop modeling tools for environmental policy analysis, focusing on pollution assessment, environmental injustice, and the intersection of air quality, decarbonization, and equity. Her work emphasizes action-oriented partnerships with community organizations and government health/environment agencies. Current projects address freight transport decarbonization equity, cumulative impact assessment methodologies for overburdened communities, and holistic environmental impact evaluation in technology design. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise across environmental modeling, policy analysis, and justice frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding spatial inequities in environmental risk distribution and developing community-engaged research methodologies. UBC Killam Research Prize, 2023 Dr. Giang actively collaborates with community groups and government authorities through her LEAP (Learning, Environmental Assessment, and Policy) research group. Her work integrates technical modeling with real-world policy applications, particularly in urban environmental planning contexts where equity considerations are paramount. She has developed innovative frameworks for cumulative impact assessment and environmental justice analysis that directly inform regulatory decision-making processes. Her research laboratory focuses on developing open-source modeling tools for environmental policy analysis while maintaining strong community partnerships that ensure research addresses pressing local environmental justice concerns.
Kaori Komatsu is a Professor at the Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences , Waseda University , specializing in Department of Oriental History . With a Doctor of Letters from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Arts from Ochanomizu University, her work bridges military history, social welfare analysis, and maritime studies. 1992 : Doctorate in Humanities from University of Tokyo 1989 : MA from Ochanomizu University Her research focuses on: Ottoman Empire History : Analyzing military ethos, economic nationalism, and welfare systems Modern Turkish Military : Comparative studies with Japanese bushido Maritime Personnel Records : Revealing ethnic and regional dynamics in late Ottoman society Selected publications highlight trends in 19th-20th century Ottoman military-maritime economics and modern Turkish ideological formations . Awards include the 25th Rasha Nishikai Award (1992) for her groundbreaking research. Her JSPS-funded projects examine: 2023-2027 : Ottoman pension systems' social impacts 2018-2023 : Global dignity concept standardization 2013-2018 : Civil society through pension records She actively collaborates with Turkish institutions like Boğaziçi University , Ankara University , and Turkish Archives , conducting fieldwork and comparative analyses.
John Folkesson is an Associate Professor at the Department of Robotics, Perception and Learning at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His research focuses on mobile robotics, underwater autonomous vehicles (AUVs), and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), particularly addressing challenges in dynamic underwater environments. He leads the AUV group within the Swedish Maritime Robotics Centre (SMaRC2.0) and supervises multiple PhD projects, including those funded by Ocean Infinity and Vinnova. Folkesson has pioneered work on sonar-based SLAM, bathymetric mapping, and autonomous underwater navigation without human intervention. He teaches courses such as Probabilistic Graphical Models (DD2420) and Applied Estimation (EL2320). Recent projects include developing neural rendering techniques for sidescan SLAM and automatic launch systems for AUVs in collaboration with Purdue University and SAAB. His research emphasizes long-term autonomy, environmental ambiguity, and sensor data interpretation in unstructured underwater scenarios. Education: PhD in Robotics (2005, KTH Royal Institute of Technology) Recent Funding: 2024 projects include ALARS (Vinnova), WASP WARA-PS, and industrial collaborations. Research Interests Folkesson's work spans underwater robotics, SLAM algorithms, and sensor fusion. Key areas include: Underwater SLAM and sonar modeling Bathymetric reconstruction using neural networks Autonomous decision-making in AUV missions Real-time terrain modeling and localization Articles Trends Recent publications emphasize neural networks for SLAM optimization, sonar data processing, and autonomous underwater systems. Themes include real-time bathymetric mapping, sensor fusion in dynamic environments, and neural rendering techniques for improving navigation accuracy. Folkesson's work bridges theory and practice, with applications in marine robotics and industrial surveys. Advising & Grants PhD supervision: AUV perception (2024), SLAM with Ocean Infinity, event-response AUV systems. Collaborations: Purdue University, SAAB, Ocean Infinity. Course responsibilities: Over 10 advanced robotics and engineering courses at KTH. Labs & Teams Lead of SMaRC2.0, KTH's official research center for maritime robotics. Active in developing AUV systems for long-duration missions, including ice-covered and deep-sea exploration.
Dr. Jason Monios is a Senior Professor of Maritime Logistics at Kedge Business School in Marseille, France, specializing in operations, supply chain, and information management. His work focuses on the intersection of maritime transport, logistics, and environmental sustainability. Professor Monios' research spans three primary domains: Maritime Transport: Focusing on port system evolution, collaboration in port hinterlands, port governance and policy, and institutional frameworks Multimodal Transport: Examining multimodal corridors, dry ports, development of multimodal terminals, and urban logistics strategies Sustainability: Addressing maritime sustainability, decarbonization policies, green ports, climate change adaptation, and electric/autonomous vehicle integration His recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on climate change adaptation in port governance, decarbonization of maritime transport, and innovative logistics solutions like urban consolidation centers. His work increasingly examines the intersection of environmental policy, technological innovation, and institutional frameworks in global shipping and logistics. Notable awards and recognitions include: Ranked in the top 2% of logistics researchers worldwide by Stanford/Elsevier (2021 and 2022) Research on climate change adaptation cited in the IPCC report (2022) Professor Monios has led research projects with a total budget exceeding €1 million and has supervised numerous doctoral theses. His work extends beyond academia through collaborations with national and regional transport authorities and technical reports for international organizations including UNCTAD, UN-ECLAC, and the World Bank.
Theo Hofman is an Associate Professor and Program Director in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He specializes in integrated design methods for complex engineering systems, focusing on powertrain systems for automotive, maritime, and aerospace applications. His work emphasizes computational design synthesis, machine learning, and model-based optimization. Education: Hofman holds an MSc (1999) and PhD (2007) in Mechanical Engineering from TU/e. He has held roles at Thales Cryogenics and Drivetrain Innovations before joining TU/e. He also served as an Invited Professor at ETH Zurich and Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France. Research Interests: His research spans hybrid electric vehicles, powertrain design, energy management systems, and sustainable transportation. Key areas include automated design tools, thermal management, and co-design of plant and control systems. Applications include electric trucks, ships, and aircraft. Articles Trends: His recent publications (2021–2025) emphasize electric vehicle infrastructure optimization, battery systems, and control strategies. Key themes include energy efficiency, thermal management, and co-design methodologies for automotive and mobility systems. Scientific Awards: IEEE VPPC 2024 Best Paper Award. Advising & Grants: He has supervised over 104 MSc, 14 PDEng, and 10 PhD students. Active projects include the 'Green Transport Delta' initiative (2021–2024) and Bosch Transmission collaborations. His courses include 'Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Powertrain Design' and 'Automotive Systems Engineering Project.' Labs/Teams: He leads the Group Hofman and collaborates with the MEGEVH (France) and TU/e’s EAISI Mobility initiative. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy, industry innovation, and climate action.
Sarah Green is a Professor at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Her research focuses on the anthropology of borders, livestock and microbial movements, and Mediterranean and Balkan regional dynamics. She has led projects such as "Crosslocations in the Mediterranean" and "Opening Pandora’s Box: Assessing The Risks of Permafrost Thaw" , exploring environmental and health intersections. As Editor-in-Chief of Social Anthropology , she has shaped academic discourse. Her recent work examines zoonotic disease control and nonhuman animal migration. She advises doctoral theses on topics ranging from Roma policy to digital intimacy in Egypt. Affiliated with Helsinki One Health, she bridges social and medical sciences. Education: Not explicitly detailed in texts, but her academic roles imply advanced anthropological training. Research Projects: Includes "InterEarth RESET" (climate change), "Trade, Transit and Travel in the Mediterranean" , and "EastBordNet" . Grants: Recipient of University profiling funding and Research Council of Finland grants. Her theoretical contributions include "Crosslocations" theory, analyzing spatial entanglements. She frequently participates in conferences like the American Anthropological Association meetings and contributes to editorial boards. Recent publications address border entanglements, postmodern gender theory, and Mediterranean geopolitics.
Professor Chin Hoong Chor is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering. He specializes in transportation systems modeling, safety assessment, and congestion management. As a registered professional engineer and road safety auditor, he has contributed to numerous projects with Singapore’s land authorities and private companies. He holds leadership roles including Vice Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and Editorial Board membership for the International Journal of Transport Management. Qualifications include a BEng and MEng from NUS and a PhD in Transportation Engineering from the University of Southampton. His research interests span vehicle detection using image processing, traffic conflict analysis, and public transport optimization. Notable awards include the NUS Faculty Innovative Teaching (Gold) Award (2001/2002) and the UK Institution of Civil Engineers Webb Prize (2003). Education: BEng in Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore MEng in Civil Engineering, National University of Singapore PhD in Transportation Engineering, University of Southampton His research focuses on quantitative safety analysis, traffic flow modeling, and smart city initiatives. Recent work explores maritime collision risk modeling and sentiment analysis for transportation planning. He actively contributes to government committees and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed papers on traffic management and safety. Awards: Faculty Innovative Teaching (Gold) Award, 2001/2002 UK Institution of Civil Engineers Webb Prize 2003 Prof Chin has undertaken traffic impact studies and road safety reviews in Singapore, collaborating with public and private sectors. His work bridges academic research and practical policy implementation, emphasizing sustainable urban mobility solutions.
