Hugo Jose Herrera de Leon is a Research Fellow at the Department of Geography, University of Bergen. His work focuses on socio-ecological resilience, system dynamics modeling, and policy planning for climate change adaptation. He is affiliated with the System Dynamics research group and has presented at major international conferences like the European Conference on Operational Research and the International System Dynamics Conference. His research explores bioeconomy transitions in Norwegian agriculture, resilience in farming systems, and participatory policy design. He has been funded by the Research Council of Norway (2021-2025) for projects investigating sustainable transitions in rural systems. Notable contributions include developing frameworks for assessing resilience through hybrid simulations and collaborative modeling approaches. Publications span topics like microworld simulations for policymaking, organizational impacts of group model-building, and system dynamics applications in food security. His doctoral thesis (2018) addressed public policy strategies for enhancing resilience in socio-ecological systems under climate change.
Professor Nancy W. Y. Law is a leading scholar in Learning Sciences and Technology at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Education . She has served as Founding Director of the Centre for Information Technology in Education (CITE) (1998-2013) and currently holds the Chair of Learning Sciences and Technology . Her career spans over 25 years of international comparative studies, policy analysis, and large-scale educational innovation. Current roles: Associate Dean (Strategic Development), HKU Key affiliations: Sciences of Learning Strategic Research Theme (co-convener) Research Expertise Her work focuses on technology-enhanced learning , digital literacy , knowledge building communities , and multilevel educational change . She pioneered network models of teacher innovation and socio-technical frameworks for sustainable pedagogical transformation, particularly in STEM education and Cyberbullying prevention . Scientific Leadership With over 25 major research grants (2000-2023) exceeding HK$50 million, she leads projects like: Learning and Assessment for Digital Citizenship Jockey Club Self-directed Learning in STEM Design-Aware Learning Analytics A Fellow of the International Society of Learning Sciences and recipient of the HKSAR Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship , she has supervised numerous international comparative studies including SITES 2006, ICILS 2013, and longitudinal digital citizenship research (2019-2021).
Natalie H. Brito is an Associate Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University (NYU), affiliated with the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her research focuses on how early social and cultural contexts shape neurocognitive development in infants and toddlers, particularly in areas of attention, memory, and socio-emotional skills. Prior to NYU, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and was a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar. Dr. Brito’s work bridges developmental psychology, neuroscience, and public policy, emphasizing the need for equitable environments that support healthy child development. She has received prestigious awards such as the APS Rising Star Award and NIH grants, reflecting her impactful contributions to understanding developmental trajectories. Her research also extends to policy implications, such as the effects of paid maternal leave on infant brain function and the role of structural inequities in maternal mental health. Key themes include early life stress, gut microbiome influences, and the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive development. Dr. Brito has published extensively in journals like Child Development , Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience , and JAMA Psychiatry , with a focus on innovative methodologies (e.g., the OWLET gaze-tracking tool). She teaches courses on developmental psychology and the principles of applied psychology, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to human development. Her scientific accolades include recognition from the International Society of Developmental Psychobiology and the American Psychological Association, underscoring her leadership in advancing developmental science and equity-focused research.
Eduardo Araral is an Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. With over 30 years of experience in academia and government, he holds a PhD in Public Policy from Indiana University-Bloomington under Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom. His research focuses on collective action, institutions, and water governance, with publications in Nature Human Behaviour , Public Administration Review , and World Development . He has held fellowships at Stanford University and centers associated with Coase, Ostrom, and Stigler. Research Interests : Collective action, institutional analysis, water governance, digital technologies in public policy, political economy, and socio-ecological systems. Scientific Awards : Ostrom Prize for the Governance of the Commons, Fulbright PhD Scholarship, and Presidential Award for Outstanding Overseas Filipinos. Leadership Roles : Vice Dean for Research, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Co-Director of the Institute of Water Policy (2016-2022) at LKYSPP. Global Engagement : Advised 20+ international organizations including ADB, World Bank, UNDP, and Fortune 500 companies, while lecturing to 7,000+ government officials across 50+ countries.
Prof. Dr. Gonzalo Guillén Gosálbez is a Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences , ETH Zürich. He holds a PhD in Process Systems Engineering (UPC, 2005) and has held academic positions at Imperial College London (Reader), University of Manchester (Senior Lecturer), and Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Assistant/Associate Professor). His research focuses on Sustainable Chemical Processes , integrating life cycle assessment, optimization techniques, and planetary boundary analysis to evaluate and design low-carbon technologies. Current position: Full Professor, ETH Zürich (2019–present) Prior roles: Imperial College London (2016–2019), University of Manchester (2014–2016), URV Spain (2008–2014) Education: PhD (UPC, 2005), MEng/BEng (University of Murcia) His research explores CO2 valorization , green methanol synthesis , circular marine fuels , and planetary boundary compliance in energy and chemical systems. Recent work emphasizes machine learning for process modeling, single-atom catalysis , and decentralized ammonia production . Scientific contributions include 15+ peer-reviewed articles (2023–2025) in journals like Nature Chemical Engineering , ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering , and Energy & Environmental Science . Key themes: Optimization of hybrid fossil/renewable carbon systems Environmental impacts of energy transitions Catalyst design for sustainable chemistry Life cycle assessment of emerging technologies Awarded UPC Top Doctoral Student Award and Top National Student Award , he combines process systems engineering with sustainability metrics to address global challenges in chemical and energy systems.
Harry Nelson is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) within the Faculty of Forestry , specifically the Department of Forest Resources Management . His work focuses on natural resource policy, climate change adaptation, and sustainable forest management in Canada. Research Themes : Ecosystems and Climate Change, Sustainable Forest Management, Indigenous Governance Key Interests : Climate change impacts on forestry, ecosystem services, policy development Nelson’s research explores the structural transformation of the forest sector under changing markets and public expectations. He investigates ecosystem services as a business model for Indigenous forest management in BC and analyzes global climate adaptation strategies. Recent publications highlight cross-border forestry challenges, wildfire risks, and socio-economic dynamics in forest enterprises. His 15 most recent articles (2019–2025) span interdisciplinary topics such as climate change adaptation, Indigenous governance, bioeconomy, and global forest policy. These works emphasize the integration of ecological and economic frameworks to address sustainability. Scientific awards and recognitions: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Nelson’s email address ( harry.nelson@ubc.ca ) and research areas are publicly available. No student advisement details or grant information is provided in the scraped data.
Claudio Sillero is a Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Oxford and Section Head of Ecology & Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU). He leads global efforts to conserve endangered species, particularly the Ethiopian wolf, and chairs the IUCN Canid Specialist Group. His work integrates behavioral ecology, disease mitigation, and transfrontier conservation strategies. Since joining WildCRU in 1988, he has pioneered research linking fundamental biology to practical conservation solutions. As founder and director of the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP), he focuses on safeguarding Afroalpine ecosystems through vaccination campaigns and habitat protection. His IUCN role oversees conservation strategies for all canid species worldwide. Research interests include carnivore behavioral ecology, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and the role of networks in conservation. Notable projects include resolving taxonomic ambiguities in wolf lineages and developing low-cost wildlife tracking technologies. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining ecological data with socio-political analysis to address conservation challenges. Key roles: Professor at University of Oxford, WildCRU Section Head, EWCP Director, IUCN Canid Specialist Group Chair Primary research sites: Ethiopian highlands, South American forests, African savannahs Key collaborations: Panthera, African Wild Dog Conservancy, local communities in Ethiopia and Bolivia Students and staff under his mentorship include Claire Marr (jaguar conservation), Dr. Sandra Lai (postdoctoral research on Ethiopian wolves), and Emily Madsen (conservation genetics). His work has led to breakthroughs in understanding canid disease dynamics and carnivore spatial ecology.
Amir AghaKouchak is a Chancellor’s Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine (UCI). He directs the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS) and focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of hydrology, climatology, statistics, and remote sensing. B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources), K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2001, 2005) Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Germany (2010) His research aims to leverage satellite data and ground observations to advance modeling of hydrologic extremes (droughts, floods, landslides) and develop decision-support systems for water resources management. Key areas include climate change impacts , stochastic modeling , and the water-energy nexus . Recent publications highlight his work on multi-hazard analysis, groundwater decline, wildfire resilience, and climate projections. Tools like MhAST and MvCAT demonstrate his methodological contributions to copula-based and multi-hazard modeling.
Prof. Dr. Ina Christin Meier serves as Head of Department and Head of Research Unit for Functional Forest Ecology at the University of Hamburg, within the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences. She is affiliated with the Institute of Wood Sciences (Institut für Holzwissenschaften) in the Department of Biology, where she leads research on forest ecosystem responses to global environmental changes at Ohnhorststrasse 18, 22609 Hamburg. Dr. Meier's research focuses on the impacts of global change factors —including increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration, summer drought, nitrogen deposition, and intensified management—on the biogeochemistry and biodiversity of temperate, boreal, Mediterranean, and global forest biomes. Her work spans functional ecology of forest trees and grasslands , interactions between roots, mycorrhizal fungi and soil , ecophysiology , and long-term changes in forest ecosystems . She has made significant contributions to understanding root carbon allocation, tropical forest responses to climate change, and the role of mycorrhizal relationships in forest ecosystems. Analysis of Dr. Meier's publication record reveals a strong emphasis on belowground ecology and global change biology , with particular attention to root systems across diverse biomes. Her research bridges plant physiology, ecosystem ecology, and climate science, often synthesizing data from multiple studies to identify broader patterns. She frequently investigates how carbon allocation to root exudates affects soil sequestration and drought response, and has developed important frameworks for understanding root trait responses to multiple global change drivers. Dr. Meier actively collaborates with international research teams across continents. Her work on Nature's Contributions to People has demonstrated that securing essential ecosystem services requires maintaining at least 20-25% semi-natural habitat in human-modified landscapes. She also investigates the chemical complexity of root exudates and their ecological significance, contributing methodological advances to this challenging area of research.
Marina Alberti is a Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Washington, affiliated with the Department of Urban Design and Planning. She directs the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Urban Design and Planning and leads the Urban Ecology Research Laboratory. Her expertise lies in studying the interactions between urban development patterns and ecosystem dynamics, focusing on resilience, socio-ecological innovation, and biocomplexity. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to urban ecological problems, with a strong focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), land cover change, and environmental performance metrics. She has developed simulation models integrating urban development and ecological processes, supported by NSF, NOAA, and Washington state grants. NSF Biocomplexity Program Grant : Developing simulation models for urban-ecological integration. Washington State Department of Transportation Grant : Remote sensing for impervious surface estimation. NOAA/Washington Department of Ecology Grant : GIS analysis of land use and shoreline habitats. Her work spans urban planning, ecological assessment, and policy-making, with a methodological emphasis on GIS, remote sensing, and land use dynamics. She has contributed extensively to journals like International Regional Science Review , Urban Ecosystems , and BioScience , addressing topics such as urban gradients, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. Alberti's teaching includes Urban Ecology, Environmental Planning, GIS, and advanced research design, reflecting her commitment to training the next generation of urban ecologists.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Claudia R. Binder is Full Professor at EPFL's School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, leading the Laboratory for Human-Environment Relations in Urban Systems (HERUS) since 2016. Previously, she held professorships at the University of Munich (2011-2016), University of Graz (2009-2011), and University of Zurich (2006-2009). She served as Dean of EPFL's ENAC School from 2020-2023 and holds advisory roles with Swiss federal institutions including the Mercator Foundation since 2024. Her academic foundation includes a Biochemistry degree and PhD in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland. This interdisciplinary background underpins her research approach spanning natural and social sciences. Professor Binder's work centers on urban sustainability transitions, examining urban metabolism dynamics through systems science frameworks. She investigates energy-food-transport interdependencies in cities using transdisciplinary methods that integrate material flow analysis, spatial modeling, and socio-technical assessments. Her research particularly emphasizes regulatory mechanisms and transformation drivers in human-environment systems, with case studies across Swiss and global urban contexts. Recent publications reveal evolving focus from foundational urban metabolism studies toward actionable transition strategies. Her 2024-2025 work increasingly addresses social tipping dynamics, circular decarbonization, and spatially explicit waste management, demonstrating methodological innovation through geo-referenced material flow analysis and participatory backcasting frameworks. Key thematic clusters include energy innovation diffusion, plastic waste governance, and demand-side flexibility in residential systems. She actively mentors 7 current PhD candidates while supervising 11 graduates since 2018, with research spanning urban metabolism modeling, sustainability assessment, and transition governance. Her leadership extends to Swiss National Science Foundation committees and National Research Program 71 on energy consumption management. At EPFL, she directs the HERUS laboratory which develops the Sustainability Solution Space methodology for urban assessment. The lab operates at the intersection of data science, environmental engineering, and social theory, maintaining strong field connections in Switzerland, Indonesia, and Germany for empirical validation of transition models.
Dr. phil. Andrej Holm is a Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences , Humboldt University of Berlin, specializing in Urban and Regional Sociology . As a Women's Representative and active academic, he focuses on gentrification, housing policy in international comparison, and European urban policy. His work bridges academia and activism, contributing to housing referendums and social movement analysis. Research Themes : Gentrification dynamics, financialization of housing, socio-ecological housing transformation, and post-socialist urban development. Key Projects : Expert analysis for Berlin housing socialization referendum (2022), comparative studies on Amsterdam/Barcelona/Berlin/Vienna (2022), and social infrastructure reconceptualization (2021). Holm's publications span urban policy critiques and housing justice , with recent 2025 works examining financial investors' impact on Berlin housing and pandemic-era housing conditions. His research integrates political economy with spatial inequality frameworks.
Dr. Majdi Faleh is an Academic Fellow/Lecturer in Cultural Heritage at the School of Architecture Design and Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University. He focuses on architectural globalization, migration and heritage, Islamic architecture ethics, and social justice in cities. Previously, he held roles at the University of Bahrain, MIT’s Aga Khan Programme, and multiple Australian institutions. He coordinates the Tunisia ENGAGE Hub Network for Humanitarian Heritage and leads the ARC-funded 'Australian Mosque Today' project. Education: PhD in Architecture and Humanities (University of Western Australia), Master of Architecture (Ball State University). Affiliations: Registered Architect in Tunisia, member of AIA, ICOM, and multiple architectural networks. His research bridges marginalized communities’ heritage with global architectural trends, emphasizing ethical frameworks in design. Notable projects include studies on Tunisian medinas, Dubai’s urbanization, and Australian mosque architecture. His work has been supported by ARC grants, Fulbright, and other international bodies. He has authored/co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on topics like public housing challenges for refugees, Islamic architectural ethics, and cultural preservation. Awards include the MIT Aga Khan Fellowship and Fulbright grants. Grants & Projects: Led £400k ARC-funded mosque project, coordinated Tunisia-UK humanitarian heritage networks, and contributed to Melbourne’s African immigrant housing studies. He has taught at universities in Australia, China, and the Middle East, and his practice spans architecture in the US, Tunisia, and France. Fluent in five languages, he engages in international conferences and editorial roles for journals like Journal of Architecture .
Professor Mark Scott is a Full Professor of Planning and Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin (UCD), where he has served since 2002. He is a leading scholar in rural planning and environmental policy with over 25 years of academic experience. His leadership roles include Dean (2020-2025), Head of School, and various subject leadership positions within UCD. Mark Scott earned his BSc, Diploma in Town Planning, and PhD in Environmental Planning from Queen's University Belfast. Prior to joining UCD, he worked at the University of Ulster and Queen's University Belfast, and also had planning practice experience. He has held visiting appointments at the University of Pisa and the University of New South Wales. His research focuses on the environmental and sustainability dimensions of spatial planning theory and practice, with specific expertise in rural planning, land-use governance, climate action, green infrastructure, and natural and built heritage. Professor Scott has published extensively in these areas with over 150 journal articles and book chapters, and has authored several influential books including 'Rural Planning Futures' (2025) and 'Postcapitalist Countrysides' (2025). His work demonstrates a strong focus on contemporary challenges in rural planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable development, bridging theoretical frameworks with practical policy applications. Professor Scott has received significant recognition for his contributions to the field: Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2024) Fellow of the Regional Studies Association Shortlisted for the Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence (2025) With research funding totaling approximately €6 million from various national and international sources, Professor Scott actively engages with policy and practice. He serves on the Board of the Heritage Council (2023-present), chairs the Historic Monuments Council in Northern Ireland (2025-30), and has advised numerous governmental bodies including Oireachtas Committees, the UK House of Lords, and the OECD. His leadership extends to editorial roles, having served as editor of Planning Theory & Practice (2008-2015 & 2018-2024) and currently on the editorial board of Town Planning Review. Professor Scott leads several significant research initiatives including the Wildfire Resilient Cultural Heritage project (funded by JPI Climate and JPI Cultural Heritage), CO-Bioecon (funded by Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine), and the Rural Planning in the 2020s project (funded by the Royal Town Planning Institute).
Michael R. Dove is the Margaret K. Musser Professor of Social Ecology and Professor of Anthropology at Yale University, where he also serves as Curator of Anthropology at the Peabody Museum and Co-Coordinator of the Combined YSE/Anthropology Doctoral Program. With over forty years of research experience, his work focuses on environmental anthropology, particularly the environmental relations of local communities in South and Southeast Asia. Dove earned his B.A. from Northwestern University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University. His academic journey has spanned decades of field research in Asia, including more than a dozen years conducting long-term studies on human ecology in Borneo and Java, developing government research capacity in Indonesia, and advising the Pakistan Forest Service on social forestry policies. Professor Dove's research interests encompass the anthropology of climate change, cultural and political aspects of natural hazards and disasters, indigenous environmental knowledge and practice, environmental institutions and movements, history of environment-related sciences, and multispecies ethnography. His work often examines how local environmental systems interact with national and global markets, politics, and ideologies, with a focus on problematizing orthodox approaches to conservation and development. He has made significant contributions to understanding human-environment relations through both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. Dove's recent scholarly output demonstrates a progression toward more integrated approaches to environmental challenges, blending historical perspectives with contemporary issues. His publications increasingly focus on the intersections of climate change, social justice, and indigenous knowledge systems, while maintaining his longstanding interest in Southeast Asian environmental relations. The work shows a growing emphasis on post-humanist approaches and multispecies ethnography, reflecting broader trends in environmental anthropology while maintaining his distinctive focus on political ecology and institutional analysis. As an educator, Professor Dove has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students, many of whom have gone on to win research awards and secure prestigious positions. He organizes separate research labs for doctoral students from Yale School of the Environment and other departments, as well as for joint YSE/Anthropology doctoral students. His advisees typically conduct international research and have excellent records of obtaining research support both within and beyond Yale. The Dove Lab at Yale School of the Environment serves as a hub for environmental anthropology research, focusing on topics including natural resource management, property rights, power struggles, household energy transitions, and human-wildlife interactions. The lab fosters a collaborative environment with 30-50 students working on related issues each year, characterized by supportive peer dynamics rather than competition. It also contributes to policy and social change through its research and the work of its alumni.
