Dr. Maya Gislason is an Associate Professor in SFU's Faculty of Health Sciences and MSHRBC Scholar, specializing in health equity and eco-social approaches. Her interdisciplinary research examines the intersections between climate change, resource extraction, and health disparities, with emphasis on Indigenous communities and planetary health frameworks. Her research program integrates social inequities scholarship with ecosystem approaches to health, addressing complex public health challenges through community-engaged methodologies. Key projects investigate climate change impacts on vulnerable populations, women/children's health interventions, and Indigenous wellness in contexts of resource extraction. She co-leads initiatives including the Environment Community and Health Observatory Network and contributes to national health policy reform through gender-based analysis frameworks. Publications demonstrate commitments to transformative education, knowledge co-production, and ethical engagement with marginalized communities. Recent work examines climate anxiety measurement, interspecies justice, and decolonization of health research.
Dr. Braid Macrae is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Fashion & Textiles at RMIT University, specializing in advanced textile applications for extreme environments, biomedical engineering, and human physiological systems. His work integrates material science with clinical and aerospace applications, particularly focusing on compression garments, thermal regulation systems, and extravehicular activity (EVA) technologies for space exploration. Research interests include: Textile-based solutions for spaceflight (e.g., skinsuits, pressure garments) Thermal physiology and sensor technology validation Cerebrovascular autoregulation and cardiovascular dynamics Material properties of protective clothing for firefighting and occupational safety Notable contributions include developing mechanical-loading countermeasure skinsuits to mitigate post-spaceflight sensorimotor dysfunction and advancing methodologies for contact thermometry in clinical and environmental settings. His interdisciplinary approach bridges fashion design, biomedical engineering, and aerospace systems. Collaborations involve international teams in aerospace medicine, materials engineering, and physiology, with active participation in conferences such as the International Conference on Environmental Systems. Current research emphasizes optimizing wearable technology for extreme environments and translational applications in healthcare and space exploration.
Dr. Clare McCracken is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Art at RMIT University, serving as Program Manager for the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Photography (Honours). Her practice as an artist, curator, and researcher focuses on visual art, cultural geography, and cultural theory, with a critical exploration of mobility futures, climate change, and settler-colonialism. She holds a PhD from RMIT (2020), supported by a Vice-Chancellor's scholarship, examining mobility systems' impact on space and landscape through performance-based research. Her creative works include large-scale installations like The Becalmed Heart and Section 32 , temporary public artworks across Australia, and international exhibitions such as the 2019 Bienal de la Habana (Cuba) and Venice Biennale pop-ups. Notable awards include the RMIT Research Award (2019) and a Gold Award at UNLEASH (2017) for urban sustainability. Teaching and supervision interests include Art History, public space practices, and interdisciplinary research. Her work bridges art and academia, with publications in Geography, Urban Theory, and Anthropology.
Paul Giles is Professor of English at the Australian Catholic University, located at the Melbourne Campus within the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences. He is a leading scholar in American literature and transnational literary studies, with a distinguished international profile. He holds an ORCID ID (0000-0001-5183-2366) and is actively engaged in research, publishing, and academic leadership. His research interests span American literature, Anglophone literatures in transnational contexts, and the cultural studies of religion. He explores innovative frameworks such as antipodal perspectives, planetary time, and transpacific/transatlantic literary networks. His work challenges traditional Eurocentric models by emphasizing southern and global hemispheric epistemologies in literary studies. The recent publications of Paul Giles reflect a sustained engagement with temporal theory, postmodern fiction, Romanticism, and Indigenous temporalities. His articles demonstrate a consistent focus on reorienting literary studies through spatial and chronological decentering, particularly through antipodal and planetary frameworks. There is a clear trajectory toward global and comparative analyses of literature, especially in relation to time, memory, and transnational circulation. Australian University Heads of English book prize for The Planetary Clock (2021) Honourable mention for Amerikastudien article (2021) Short-listed, NSW Premier’s History Awards (2014) Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities (2012) Runner-up, British Association for American Studies book award (2012) William Riley Parker Prize Honourable Mention (2003) Arthur Miller Prize (1999) Paul Giles has secured significant research grants, including two Australian Research Council Discovery Projects: one for 'Chronometrics: Cross-temporal Approaches to Literature and Culture' (2015–2017, AUD $100,869) and another for 'Antipodean America' (2011–2014, AUD $105,000). He is a full HDR Supervisor and has held editorial leadership roles in major journals such as American Literary History and American Literature in Oxford Handbooks Online. He also serves on numerous advisory boards and is series editor for Anthem Studies in Global English Literatures. He is affiliated with several research networks and institutions, including as Honorary Professor of English at the University of Sydney, Supernumerary Fellow at Linacre College, Oxford, and former Director of the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford. He is President of the International Association of University Professors of English and has held visiting positions at Washington University, ANU, and Dartmouth College.
Jose Barrera is a biostatistician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where he teaches applied statistics in health sciences and supervises undergraduate and master’s theses. He is also a senior statistician at ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), where he conducts statistical analyses for environmental epidemiology research. His work spans air pollution, noise, green space, climate impacts, and child health, with a strong focus on methodological innovation in data analysis. B.Sc. in Physics, University of Barcelona (1994) B.Sc. in Statistics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2007) M.Sc. in Statistics, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (2012) His research interests include biostatistics, environmental epidemiology, statistical methodology, exposome analysis, longitudinal study design, and R programming. He develops open-source tools such as R packages miclust , tlm , and optimalAllocation to improve statistical modeling and interpretation in public health research. His work emphasizes practical implementation and software development for complex models. The 15 most recent publications highlight his contributions to air pollution and health, noise exposure, green space benefits, nutritional interventions, and statistical methods. Key themes include health impact assessment across European cities, cognitive effects of pollution in adolescents, and methodological advances in regression and time-series modeling. His work often involves large multi-center collaborations and high-impact journals like The Lancet Planetary Health and Epidemiology . Jose Barrera has co-authored over 40 articles, with 93% published in Q1 journals. While no specific awards are listed, his consistent publication record and software development reflect significant scholarly impact. He provides statistical supervision to students and researchers and teaches advanced statistical methods in public health programs. He is actively involved in research teams at ISGlobal and collaborates with UAB’s Statistics Service. His work integrates data science, public health, and environmental policy, contributing to evidence-based urban planning and health protection. He continues to publish and develop tools as of 2025.
Professor Natalie Stoeckl is a leading academic in environmental and resource economics at the University of Tasmania, where she is a Professor in the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics. Her research spans sustainable development, ecological economics, and the valuation of non-market ecosystem services in marine and terrestrial systems. She actively contributes to national and international policy through large-scale research consortia such as the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Resilient Landscapes and Marine and Coastal Hubs. PhD, Australian National University MEc, James Cook University BEc, Australian National University Her research interests lie at the intersection of economics, ecology, and social wellbeing. She emphasizes integrating diverse knowledge systems—Western science, Indigenous knowledge, and lived experience—into rigorous methodological frameworks. Her work explores how non-market goods and services contribute to individual and community wellbeing, advocating for their inclusion in governance and policy decisions. She has led over 40 research projects, focusing on environmental management, biosecurity, climate change, and marine conservation. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on ecosystem services valuation, Antarctic and Southern Ocean benefits, Indigenous land management, and socio-ecological data integration. Trends show increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research with global implications, particularly in climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and equitable development. While no specific scientific awards are listed in the text, her research has been widely recognized through media coverage (picked up by over 70 news outlets), policy references, and high readership on platforms like Mendeley, indicating significant academic and societal impact. Natalie has supervised 18 PhD, 3 Masters, and 21 Honours students, fostering multidisciplinary research on regional development and environmental change. She has secured substantial funding, including multiple NESP grants and contracts with agencies like the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, supporting projects on drought resilience, recreational fishing compliance, and blue economy assessment. These grants reflect her leadership in translating research into actionable knowledge. She is involved in major research teams such as the NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub and the Marine and Coastal Hub, where she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to inform land and marine management policies. Her work often involves co-design with stakeholders, ensuring research relevance and impact.
Bernard Parent is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, where he has been a faculty member since August 2019. He is a member of the Graduate Faculty and actively contributes to research in computational fluid dynamics, plasma dynamics, and hypersonic flows. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, he held research positions at Princeton University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Pusan National University. PhD in Aerospace Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 2002 MS in Aerospace Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 1998 BS in Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, 1996 Dr. Parent's research focuses on computational modeling of high-speed reacting flows, plasma-assisted combustion, and magnetohydrodynamics for aerospace applications. His work spans hypersonic flows , plasma flow control , reactive flows , and computational aerothermodynamics . He has developed advanced numerical schemes such as positivity-preserving methods and high-resolution flux-splitting algorithms for gas dynamics and plasma simulations. His recent publications (2021–2025) reveal a strong trend toward MHD-based aerocapture, plasma sheath modeling, and electron/ion transport in hypersonic boundary layers. Key themes include electrodeless MHD actuators , plasma-assisted lift augmentation , and thermodynamically consistent electron energy modeling , positioning him at the forefront of next-generation entry, descent, and landing (EDL) technologies. Scientific awards include: AIAA Associate Fellow (2023) Editor's Pick Award, Physics of Fluids (2022) Best Paper of the Year Award, AIAA (2021) Dr. Parent has advised numerous researchers and contributed to major AIAA conferences and journals such as Journal of Computational Physics , Physics of Fluids , and AIAA Journal . His work is supported by ongoing computational research grants focused on plasma-enhanced aerospace systems. He leads a research group focused on developing high-fidelity CFD tools for plasma and hypersonic applications, with collaborations involving NASA and other institutions. His laboratory specializes in numerical simulation of plasma discharges, turbulence, and combustion in scramjet engines, utilizing large-eddy simulation (LES) and detailed plasma chemistry models. The team develops and validates advanced algorithms for stability, positivity, and convergence in extreme flow conditions.
Seyed Masoud Sotoodeh Bahraini is an Assistant Professor at Sirjan University of Technology and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. His career spans multiple institutions including Loughborough University (Research Associate/Teaching Fellow) and City, University of London (Postdoctoral Research Fellow). Current Affiliations: Assistant Professor, Sirjan University of Technology Senior Research Fellow, University of Birmingham Past Positions: Research Associate & Teaching Fellow, Loughborough University (2022-2024) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, City, University of London (2019-2021) Dr. Bahraini's research bridges robotics, control theory, and fractional calculus applications. His work focuses on: SLAM and visual odometry in dynamic environments Human-robot collaboration gestural interfaces Fractional-order control for chaotic systems Viscoelastic material modeling in microbeams Multi-robot cooperation for planetary exploration Deep learning integration in robotic perception His publications since 2013 demonstrate expertise in applying fractional calculus to mechanical systems and advancing SLAM algorithms through machine learning. Key trends include: 2013-2014: Foundational work on fractional derivative models for viscoelastic beams 2018-2021: Development of ML-RANSAC SLAM techniques and planetary exploration robotics 2023-2025: Expansion into fuzzy fractional control and human-robot interaction gestures
Angie Bone is a Professor at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, leading the Planetary Health Division. She holds an Honorary Clinical Associate Professorship at the University of Exeter. Her expertise spans climate change and health equity, with over 20 years of leadership in public health, including roles as Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment) in Victoria and Head of Extreme Events at Public Health England. She advises on policy, emergency planning, and climate adaptation, focusing on housing and environmental determinants of health. Education includes a MBChB from the University of Manchester, a Master in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and certifications in Systems Thinking and Tropical Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and Royal College of Physicians. Research interests center on planetary health, climate adaptation, and health equity. Recent projects include a 2024-2026 initiative on sustainable food systems and a regional study on resilient healthcare facilities in Asia-Pacific. Her work bridges policy, practice, and science, advocating for upstream interventions to reduce health inequities. Key awards include her 2019 Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on extreme weather impacts, healthcare environmental footprints, and COP28 outcomes. Projects emphasize cross-sector collaboration, with studies in low-, middle-, and high-income countries. Grants and collaborations include leadership in multi-institutional initiatives, such as the ‘Resilient Hospitals’ project (2024-2025). She serves on expert groups like Doctors for the Environment Australia, translating research into actionable policies for health systems and communities.
Professor Kate Pangbourne is the Professor of Transport Transitions at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds, and Deputy Director of the Leeds Social Sciences Institute. She specializes in transport governance, sustainable travel behaviour, and persuasive technology, focusing on decarbonization strategies and socio-technical transitions. Her current roles include leading the Governance Theme for the Energy Demand Research Centre and co-leading the ITS Social and Political Sciences Research Group. She holds a PhD in Transport Governance from the University of Aberdeen and has extensive experience in interdisciplinary research spanning social and environmental sciences, including a decade with Scottish Natural Heritage (now Nature Scot). Her academic career began with a prestigious EPSRC-funded fellowship (2016-2022) exploring personalized persuasive technology for sustainable behaviour change, culminating in the ADAPT project. Her research interests include transport-energy demand convergence, governance of smart mobility, and ethics of behaviour change. She has led high-profile projects such as the evaluation of the Go-Hi MaaS pilot in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. She actively supervises PhD students and teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, emphasizing critical thinking and sustainability challenges in transport. Professor Pangbourne has contributed to national and international advisory roles, including Transport Scotland’s National Transport Strategy and the Royal Geographical Society’s Transport Geography Research Group. Her work bridges academia and policy, addressing systemic issues in mobility equity, climate resilience, and inclusive urban planning.
Christian Abshagen is a Program Director for the CAS Health and Environment program at FHNW and a Lecturer at the University of Bern. He also serves as the Representative for the longitudinal discipline 'Planetary Health and Sustainability in Healthcare' at the University of Basel's Faculty of Medicine. Education: MD from Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg (D) and Université Claude-Bernard Lyon (F) (1996–2002) Master of Business Administration (Leipzig Graduate School of Management, 2008–2009) Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2006–2007) Research Interests: Focused on integrating planetary health principles into healthcare systems. His work addresses climate change impacts on public health, sustainable healthcare practices, and environmental policy. He emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to achieve healthcare sustainability while mitigating environmental crises. Media Contributions: Active in disseminating research through articles, podcasts, and presentations on topics like climate resilience in healthcare and green health strategies. Recent works include analyses of climate change effects in Switzerland and global healthcare sustainability frameworks. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Institute for Ecopreneurship at FHNW, focusing on innovation in sustainable practices and environmental entrepreneurship within healthcare systems.
Francisco Javier Escribano Aparicio is an Associate Professor at the University of Alcalá, affiliated with the Department of Signal Theory and Communications. His research focuses on advanced communication systems, including chaos-based modulation, massive MIMO, optical wireless communications, and signal processing for IoT networks. He earned his Doctorate from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos with a thesis titled 'Communications Systems Based on Chaos' (2007), supervised by Dr. Miguel Ángel Fernández Sanjuán and Dr. Luis López Fernández. His work emphasizes practical applications of theoretical concepts in wireless communication systems, particularly in mitigating signal degradation issues like phase noise and intersymbol interference. He has contributed to protocols such as Slotted Aloha with Capture for Optical Wireless IoT systems and developed denoising techniques for space instrumentation data. Recent publications highlight trends in massive MIMO phase noise compensation, chaos-based reliable communications, and optical wireless system design. His research bridges chaos theory with real-world communication challenges, aiming to enhance system reliability and performance in fading channels and turbulent environments.
Prof. Michael Schloter is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), School of Life Sciences. His research focuses on microbiome interactions across environmental and human systems, emphasizing their role in planetary health. He leads the Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis at Helmholtz Munich and holds roles in the German Center for Lung Diseases (DZL) and TUM's Food and Nutrition Center (ZIEL). Education: Diploma at LMU Munich (1984-1989), PhD at University of Bayreuth (1994). Awards: Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2020-2022), Bavarian Academy of Science membership (2021), Heinrich Baur Award (2011). Research interests include omics-based approaches to study microbiome structure/function, probiotic applications, and environmental health linkages. His recent work explores microbiome dynamics in agroecosystems, human health, and aquatic environments. Publications highlight innovative methods for microbial community analysis and their implications for sustainable agriculture and disease prevention.
Andrew Mullen is a Visiting Scientist at the Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, and a core member of the Cornell Planetary Habitability & Technology Lab. His expertise spans systems engineering, underwater robotics, and planetary exploration, with extensive fieldwork in Antarctica, the Arctic, and deep-sea environments. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UC San Diego, an M.S. in Oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Research focuses on developing advanced imaging and robotic systems for ocean and planetary exploration, including the Icefin underwater robot for Antarctic missions and submersible microscopes for studying marine ecosystems. His work bridges engineering and astrobiology, with contributions to NASA missions and the search for life on ocean worlds like Europa. Key achievements include: Lead developer of the Benthic Underwater Microscope (published in Nature Communications ) Principal investigator on NASA-funded Antarctic robotics deployments Conceptual design of VERNE, a subsurface Europa exploration mission Recipient of prestigious fellowships including the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) and NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. His research has been featured in Nature , Science Advances , and media outlets like the BBC and New York Times. Advances include: Direct observations of ice shelf-ocean interactions via ROV Icefin Development of miniaturized sampling systems for extreme environments Pioneering studies on deep-sea brine pool microbial communities Active in public outreach, with over 150 scientific dives and leadership in Antarctic field training. Collaborations span robotics, planetary science, and marine biology disciplines.
Elena Cirkovic is a Researcher at Aarhus University's Faculty of Art and Design, specializing in cosmolegal frameworks and space governance. Her work integrates legal, environmental, and artistic perspectives to address planetary boundaries and ethical challenges in space exploration. Key affiliations include consultancy roles with UNGA/78 and the International Astronautical Congress. Research interests focus on outer space law, cosmolegal systems, and the intersection of environmental ethics with space policy. Notable contributions include proposing Earth-outer space system design frameworks and analyzing gaps in space traffic management authorization processes. Her publications span 2006-2025, emphasizing sustainable space exploration, weaponization regulations, and indigenous rights in orbital domains. Awards include the AIAA ASCEND Space Traffic Management Diverse Dozen (2021) and SSHRC funding (2007). Professional activities include organizing international conferences, peer reviewing for Acta Astronautica, and advising on indigenous peoples' rights in space law. Current projects involve UN-led space governance initiatives and corporate social responsibility frameworks for extraterrestrial operations.
