Yin Bao is an Assistant Professor in Plant and Soil Sciences and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware since 2023, previously holding the same position at Auburn University's Department of Biosystems Engineering (2019-2023). He holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering from China Agricultural University (2012) and a PhD in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from Iowa State University (2018), followed by postdoctoral research there until 2019. His research focuses on automation technology for agriculture and forestry, leveraging robotics, machine learning, and sensing systems to develop tools for precision farming and plant phenotyping. Key areas include unmanned systems (UGVs/UAVs), spectral imaging, and AI-driven predictive models for crop and livestock management. Recent work emphasizes automated inventory systems for forest nurseries, UAV-based vegetation assessment, and machine learning applications in crop yield prediction. His publications span robotic guidance systems, root segmentation in X-ray CT scans, and equine gait analysis using deep learning. Notable projects include the Robotic Assay for Drought (RoAD) system and the 'smart canopy' sorghum initiative. Collaborative efforts involve integrating multifrequency microwave sensing and electronic nose technologies for crop quality analysis.
Prof. Richard L. Peters is a Professor and Head of the Chair of Tree Growth and Wood Physiology at the Technische Universität München (TUM) since 2024. His research focuses on tree physiology, wood formation, and climate-forest interactions. He holds a doctorate summa cum laude from the University of Basel (2018) and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest Science (WSL) and Ghent University. His work integrates forest ecology, dendrochronology, and ecophysiology to address climate change impacts on forests. Education: B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biology at Utrecht University, Ph.D. from University of Basel (2018). Key career steps include a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) fellowship at Ghent University and coordination of the Swiss Canopy Crane II project (2021). Research Interests: Tree water-use strategies, drought tolerance mechanisms, carbon allocation dynamics, and the physiological basis of tree growth. He leads interdisciplinary projects to monitor forest responses to environmental stress using tools like the TreeNet network. Awards: Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (SNSF, 2019), Doctorate summa cum laude (2018). Contributions: Authored >180 publications, co-developed the datacleanr R package for ecological data processing, and pioneered methods linking tree-ring data with climate models. His work emphasizes the need for better observational data to improve vegetation models.
Dr. Anna Hopkins is a Senior Lecturer in conservation biology and molecular ecology at Edith Cowan University's School of Science. She is the Course Coordinator for postgraduate Environmental Science programs and has held academic positions since 2016. Her research focuses on soil microbial ecology, forest pathogens, eDNA applications, and climate change impacts. She has taught courses including Plant Pathology, Genetics, and Soil Processes. Education: PhD (University of Tasmania, 2007), Diploma of Modern Languages (UWA, 2002), BSc (Hons) (UWA, 2002) Her research interests include mycorrhizal-plant interactions, soil fungal responses to disturbances, and regenerative agriculture. Notable awards include the 2010 New Zealand Zonta Women in Science Award and the 2017 ECU Athena Swan Award. Recent articles highlight her work on soil microbial dynamics, invasive species management, and eDNA applications in ecology. She has led projects funded by organizations like the Australian Coal Association and WWF Australia, focusing on biodiversity restoration and ecosystem health. Awards: Multiple international and teaching awards, including recognition for poster presentations and research excellence. Advising & Grants: Supervises 5 PhD/MSc students and leads grants totaling over $1M in projects like eDNA tracking and Gilbert’s Potoroo conservation. Professional roles include Deputy Coordinator of the IUFRO Working Party on Forest Nurseries and Vice President of the Australasian Mycological Society.
Dr. Yunfei Jiang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. Her research focuses on improving crop resilience to climate change and sustainable agronomic practices in Atlantic Canada, with expertise in agronomy, crop physiology, and environmental stress responses. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Saskatchewan (2017), an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University (2013), and a B.Sc. in Horticulture from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (2010). Her research includes evaluating enhanced efficiency fertilizers, biochar, and intercropping systems to enhance soil health and crop yields. She teaches courses such as AGRN2001 (Cereal-Based Cropping Systems) and PLSC2001 (Plant Propagation Techniques). Funding and awards details, along with her graduate students' projects, are available on her lab website at jiangdal.ca . Dr. Jiang is affiliated with professional organizations including the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists and the American Society of Agronomy. Her lab, the Agronomy and Crop Physiology (ACP) Lab, emphasizes sustainable agriculture and crop adaptation to environmental challenges. Contact her via email at yunfei.jiang@dal.ca or visit her lab's address: PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3.
Dr. Jianguo Wang is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Space Science Engineering at York University's Lassonde School of Engineering. He has been a faculty member since 2006 and is a founding member of the Lassonde School. With over 35 years of academic and industrial experience, he specializes in multisensor integration, GNSS technology, and precision engineering surveying. He holds a Dr.-Ing. in Geomatics Engineering from Universität der Bundeswehr München, Germany, alongside Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping (WTUSM). His research focuses on advanced data processing methodologies, including Kalman filtering, error analysis, and LiDAR systems. He has authored/co-authored over 60 publications, including textbooks like Error Theory and Foundation of Surveying Adjustment and Foundation of Geodesy . He is a Fellow of Engineers Canada and licensed as a Professional Engineer in Ontario. Education: Dr.-Ing., Geomatics Engineering, Universität der Bundeswehr München (Germany) M.Sc., Surveying Engineering, Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping B.Sc., Surveying Engineering, Wuhan Technical University of Surveying and Mapping Dr. Wang teaches courses such as Advanced Optimization and Applications , GNSS , and Global Geophysics and Geodesy . He leads the Earth Observation Laboratory (PSE 432), focusing on multisensor integration for navigation and positioning. His work explores innovative solutions for sensor calibration, data fusion, and geospatial applications. Grants & Labs: Active in lab-based research with collaborators like Baoxin Hu, his laboratory integrates GNSS, IMUs, LiDAR, and cameras for precision navigation. His recent work addresses challenges in sensor error calibration, LiDAR point cloud accuracy, and Kalman filter enhancements.
Jens Behley is a Lecturer (Privatdozent) and postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Photogrammetry, University of Bonn. He completed his habilitation in 2023 with a thesis on LiDAR-based spatio-temporal scene understanding for autonomous vehicles and earned his PhD in 2014 under Prof. Armin Cremers. His research focuses on LiDAR perception, agricultural robotics, and 3D scene understanding. Behley is an Associate Editor at IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L) and has authored influential datasets like SemanticKITTI and BonnBeetClouds3D. Education: PhD in Computer Science, University of Bonn, 2014 Habilitation in Photogrammetry, University of Bonn, 2023 Research Interests: LiDAR-based perception in urban and agricultural environments, machine learning for robotics, semantic mapping, SLAM algorithms, and 3D reconstruction. His work bridges computer vision and robotics, with applications in autonomous vehicles and precision agriculture. Awards: Best Agri-Robotics Paper Award (IROS 2024) Outstanding Reviewer Awards (ECCV, CVPR, ICRA) Faculty Award for Geodesy (2021) Advisees & Grants: Behley collaborates extensively with the PRBonn lab and researchers like Cyrill Stachniss, focusing on projects funded by EU Horizon and industry partners. His team develops open-source tools for LiDAR processing (e.g., KISS-ICP, VDBFusion). Labs/Teams: Part of the Photogrammetry and Robotics Institute (IGG) at the University of Bonn, contributing to the PRBonn research group.
Luca Sebastiani is a Full Professor in Horticultural Sciences (AGR/03) at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Italy, since 2014. He currently coordinates the PhD Course in AgroBioSciences and has previously served as Director of the Institute of Life Sciences (2016-2021). His academic career includes roles as Associate Professor (2002-2014) and Assistant Professor (1998-2002) at the same institution. PhD in Plant Biology from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (1996) MSc in Agricultural Sciences from University of Pisa (cum laude, 1991) Postdoctoral research in agricultural biotechnology (1996-1998) Research Interests: Focus on plant-environment interactions, particularly abiotic and biotic stress responses in crops. Key areas include: Physiological and molecular responses to climate change stressors Nutraceutical enhancement of food crops Plant germplasm conservation using molecular markers Agriculture 4.0 integrating AI, IoT, and robotics Phytoremediation using poplar and Brassica species Scientific Contributions: His work bridges molecular mechanisms (aquaporin function, heavy metal transport) with ecosystem-level applications (precision irrigation, contaminant phytoremediation). Recent publications emphasize genome sequencing, stress tolerance modeling, and nutraceutical food development. ISHS Medal for SapFlow Workshop organization (2011) Giovanni Spitali Foundation Award for PhD dissertation (1998) Collaborations: Extensive international collaborations with institutions like Beijing Forestry University, Comenius University, and Purdue University. Currently supervises projects in plant phenotyping, omics technologies, and sustainable crop management.
Shashi Shekhar is a Professor at the University of Minnesota, holding the distinguished titles of McKnight Distinguished University Professor and Distinguished University Teaching Professor. He serves as the ADC/CSE Chair and Director of the AI-LEAF Institute within the Department of Computer Science at the College of Science and Engineering. His research interests span multiple areas of spatial computing including spatial data science, spatial data mining, spatial databases, Geo-AI, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). His work has focused on developing scalable algorithms for eco-routing, evacuation route planning, and spatial pattern mining. He has made significant contributions to the field through his Spatial Databases textbook, the Encyclopedia of GIS which has seen over 192,918 downloads in 2017, and a spatial computing book for professionals. His research group has produced numerous PhD graduates dating back to 1993 through 2023. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on applying spatial computing to critical societal challenges including climate change mitigation through the AI-LEAF Institute, pandemic response through mobility data analysis, and sustainable transportation through eco-routing algorithms. His work bridges theoretical advances in spatial data science with practical applications in urban planning, emergency management, and environmental sustainability. Distinguished McKnight University Professor Distinguished University Teaching Professor UCGIS Education Award (2015) Graduate Education Award (2015) President of University Consortium for GIS (2017-2018) Computing Research Association Board Member (2016-2019) Professor Shekhar has advised over 30 PhD students since 1993, with his most recent graduate in 2023. He has secured significant research funding including a $20 million AI Institute grant focused on climate-smart agriculture and forestry. His Spatial Computing Research Group maintains active collaborations with government agencies and industry partners. The group has developed practical applications featured in media outlets including FoxTV coverage of evacuation route planning algorithms. Current research directions include applying AI techniques to address climate challenges through the AI-LEAF Institute and advancing spatial data science for polar regions through NSF-funded initiatives.
Ross Meentemeyer is a Professor and Director of the Center for Geospatial Analytics at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources in the College of Natural Resources. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2000) and a B.S. in Geography from the University of Georgia (1993). His research focuses on geospatial analytics, ecological forecasting, biological invasions, and forest health, with a strong emphasis on integrating geospatial data and modeling to address environmental challenges. Dr. Meentemeyer's work includes developing decision-support tools for pest management, climate adaptation, and land-use planning. Notable projects involve forecasting invasive species spread via international trade, creating open-source geospatial platforms, and modeling floodplain development risks. He collaborates extensively with federal agencies like USDA, DOI, and NPS to translate research into practical solutions. His grants include multi-million dollar NSF and USDA-funded initiatives addressing plant disease pandemics, agricultural pest threats, and geospatial infrastructure development. Key outcomes include the PAdb system for pandemic prediction and the FUTURES model for urbanization forecasting. He also leads efforts to enhance stakeholder engagement through participatory modeling tools like Tangible Landscape. Research contributions span 20+ years, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles on topics like viewscape modeling, river water dynamics, and wildfire-epidemic interactions. His work bridges ecological and social sciences, emphasizing actionable solutions for sustainable land management and climate resilience.
Dr. Heesung Woo is an Assistant Professor of Advanced Forestry at the College of Forestry, Oregon State University , specializing in robotics, sensor integration, and precision forestry. His work focuses on autonomous forestry machinery, AI-driven forest management, and sustainable practices. He advises two graduate students and collaborates internationally through research projects. Research Interests: Autonomous Forest Machinery Development Sensor Integration & ICT Solutions Precision Forestry via Remote Sensing/LiDAR/GIS Machine Learning for Forest Inventory Advanced Forestry Practices for Sustainability Publications emphasize innovative applications of technology in forestry, including LIDAR integration, harvester data analytics, and carbon offset project modeling. His work bridges engineering, environmental science, and policy. Dr. Woo leads the Advanced Forestry Lab at Oregon State, focusing on real-world deployment of cutting-edge technologies to address challenges in forest operations, sustainability, and resource optimization.
Katrine Eldegard is a Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA). She leads BatLab Norway and contributes extensively to national and international conservation science policy. Institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences School: Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Department: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management Position: Professor Her research centers on understanding how human activities and land use affect natural ecosystems and species across taxa and spatial scales. She specializes in the behavioral, population, and community-level responses of mammals, birds, and insects to anthropogenic pressures such as energy infrastructure, transport networks, and forestry. A major focus is on bat ecology and conservation, pollination dynamics, and biodiversity monitoring in boreal and agricultural landscapes. Her recent publications reveal strong trends in climate change impacts on bat morphology and distribution, pollinator-plant interactions under environmental change, and the ecological consequences of infrastructure development. These works integrate field ecology with advanced modeling and policy-relevant assessments. She has played leading roles in key scientific committees: Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Red List for Species (2021) Chair, Mammal Committee, Norwegian Alien Species List (2023) Member, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM), CITES Expert Panel Norway’s representative, UNEP/Eurobats Advisory Committee Eldegard has supervised numerous research projects and collaborated with government agencies and private partners on applied ecology. She teaches courses including NATF200 Vern og forvaltning av norsk natur and the upcoming NATF300 Conservation Science. Her work is supported by extensive fieldwork, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of ecological theory with practical conservation. She leads BatLab Norway, a research group dedicated to advancing knowledge on bat ecology, behavior, and conservation through innovative methods including telemetry, acoustic monitoring, and landscape analysis.
Dominik Roeser is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research Forests & Community Outreach at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Resources Management. With over 21 years of experience in forest research and innovation, he has built a comprehensive forest operations research program since joining UBC in 2018, following his tenure as Senior Director at FPInnovations where he managed multidisciplinary teams focused on improving forest sector competitiveness and wildfire management solutions in Western Canada. Professor Roeser's research interests center on sustainable forest management and the bioeconomy, with specific expertise in forest bioproduction, supply chain design, steep slope harvesting, and biomass operations. His work through the Forest Action Lab applies diverse research methods including productivity studies, field trials, and modeling to address sustainability challenges across different operational environments. His research portfolio spans sustainable forest biomass utilization, harvesting in difficult terrain, innovative forest planning tools, operational productivity, carbon management, and community sustainability impacts from reforestation. His publication record shows a strong focus on practical applications of forest science, with recent work emphasizing wildfire management, remote sensing technologies for precision forestry, biomass energy systems, and the socio-ecological dimensions of forest management. His research increasingly integrates advanced technologies like LiDAR and drone-based systems with traditional forest operations to address contemporary challenges in sustainable forest management. Roeser has received the Recognition Award from the Canadian Forest Service (2017) for his contributions to forest science and innovation. His work demonstrates significant impact on both academic understanding and practical implementation of sustainable forest operations across North America and Europe. As an educator, Professor Roeser teaches several key courses including FOPR 264 Introduction to Forest Operations, FOPR 362 Harvesting systems and forest access, FOPR 464 Operational planning and management, and FRST 452 Coastal field school. He considers educating the next generation of forestry professionals one of his passions, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical industry applications. The Forest Action Lab, led by Professor Roeser, represents a multidisciplinary research hub applying diverse methodologies to address forestry stakeholders' needs across British Columbia, Canada, and globally. The lab's work connects academic research with industry implementation, focusing on practical solutions for sustainable forest utilization in varied operational environments.
Dr. Ronita Bardhan is Associate Professor of Sustainable Built Environment at the University of Cambridge , where she leads the Cambridge Sustainable Design Group and serves as Director of Research & Deputy Head of the Department of Architecture . She holds courtesy roles at Cambridge Public Health and the Department of Computer Science and Technology , and is a Fellow at Selwyn College . Education: BArch, MCP, MA, PhD (Urban Engineering) Her research intersects built environment , climate change , and public health , focusing on data-driven strategies for precision prevention of health and energy burdens. She pioneers algorithmic approaches to identify decarbonisation potential in buildings and urban areas, with a particular emphasis on gender-inclusive climate adaptation in the Global South. The 15 most recent articles span topics such as urban cooling with tree canopies , heatwave impacts on social systems , and machine learning applications for building energy efficiency . Her work addresses climate justice , hybrid workspace design , and thermal comfort in low-income housing . Awards: Top 50 Finalist Women in Engineering, UK 2024 Exceptional Woman of Excellence, Women Economic Forum Felicitated by Ministry of Health, Maharashtra, India She advises World Bank and ADB on affordable housing and climate resilience, and chairs the Research Ethics Committee at the Department of Architecture. Her lab, the Sustainable Design Group , develops solutions for health and low-carbon potential in built environments.
Upaka Rathnayake is a Professor of Civil Engineering and Principal Investigator at the Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health and Environment (MISHE) research unit at Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Ireland. He has held academic and research roles globally, including in Sri Lanka, Japan, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji. His research focuses on water resources management, hydrological modeling, climate analysis, and AI-driven solutions for environmental challenges. He holds a PhD from the University of Strathclyde and advanced certifications from Hokkaido University. Education: PhD in Optimal Management of Urban Sewer Systems (University of Strathclyde, 2013) Professional Memberships: Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, Engineers New Zealand, International Association of Hydrological Sciences Research interests include: Hydrological modeling and climate change adaptation Multi-objective optimization and soft computing techniques Explainable AI applications in environmental systems Remote sensing and GIS for water resource management Recent articles highlight AI-driven solutions for air quality prediction, soil nutrient analysis, and flood risk assessment. Awards include the 2023 Presidential Award for Scientific Publications and multiple university excellence awards. He actively advises PhD students on projects like urban water systems optimization and climatic trends analysis. Rathnayake is an editorial board member of journals like Scientific Reports and PLoS ONE , contributing to peer review and policy-oriented research. His work bridges data-driven methods with traditional hydrological practices to address global environmental challenges.
Bo Lu is a Professor of Biostatistics and Statistics at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on advancing early detection technologies for forest pathogens and pests using spectroscopy, machine learning, and metabolomics. He specializes in understanding plant defense mechanisms against invasive species and climate-driven disease dynamics. Key research areas include: Non-invasive disease diagnostics via FT-IR/Raman spectroscopy Machine learning applications in plant health monitoring Molecular basis of plant-pathogen interactions Environmental risk modeling for emerging forest diseases Notable projects include developing early detection systems for ash dieback, beech leaf disease, and soybean cyst nematode infestations. His work integrates statistical modeling with biochemical analysis to improve forest biosecurity strategies globally. He advocates for international collaboration in addressing the global forest health crisis through improved diagnostic frameworks and resistance breeding programs.
