Renewable and Sustainable Energy

Professor Jan A. Stasiek was born on January 31, 1948 in Kwidzyn, Poland and had an undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from Gdansk University of Technology (GUT),         in 1972, followed by a PhD and Dr Hab in 1975 and 1985 respectively. He went through the academic ranks until becoming a professor in Mechanical Engineering awarded by President of Poland in 1998 and since 2005 he has been employed (nominated by Polish President) as a Full Professor . Since 2008 till 2016, he was elected two-time as the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and from 2000 to 2012, he had been also the Head of Thermal Technology.Department.at.GUT                                                                                                                                               .   An undeniable achievement of Prof. J.A. Stasiek was obtaining second PhD (30.09.1992) and DSc (15.12.1995) from City University, London , United Kingdom where he joined as a professorial research fellow from 1989 until 1995 (seven years). He had previously held visiting fellowships (mitarbeiter) in RWTH Aachen (1986- 6 months) and University of Munich (1989-DAAD scholarship) Germany and later Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Stockholm (3 month under Swedish Institute Scholarship in 1999). Throughout his career he has actively researched in the areas of thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, energy conversion (combustion, gasification), flow visualization and renewable energy resources (RES).He is a highly distinguished scientist and internationally recognized expert and member.of.various.national.and.international.scientific.journals.boards.and.committees.                                                                                 . He was an outstanding expert of the EU Framework Programmers (FP) as an evaluator and reporters (6 and 7 FP Ex2002 B023391). These facts have brought forth him cooperation with m any universities and research institutions in various countries as a Rector's proxy e.g. City University, Brunel University London, UK ;Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm Sweden ,University of Genoa, University of Palermo and University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Italy. He published well over 320 scientific papers as author and co-authors, including 15 monographs and scientific books chapters published in the USA, Great Britain and Poland, 23 articles from the JCR list, 4 textbooks and students-teaching scripts, and about 275 published articles and peer-reviewed conference presentations. Supervisor of 6 doctors (including 2 from abroad: UK and Sweden).Tutor of over 200 engineering and master's theses, most of them in English. He was also a manager and main contractor of 13 research projects of the State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN),and Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSzW) Poland (at present Ministry of Education and Science-MSE). On October 1, 2022 he was nominated by Rector as a professor emeritus of the Gdańsk University.of.Technology.with.teaching.and.research.opportunities.                                                                                                                                           .   He was also awarded by First Prize for Scientific Achievements given by Prime Minister of Poland in 2009 year which is an exceptional (rare) distinction that few receive.

Dr. Md Rabiul Islam is currently an Associate Professor at the University Utara Malaysia. Prior to joining UUM, he was a senior lecturer in the department of Economics. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Institute for Environment and Development, University Kebangsaan Malaysia. In addition, he obtained his PhD in Environment and Development Economics under the Institute for Environment and Development, UKM. He has more than 18 years of experience in research as well as economics teaching and published over 180 papers in highly reputable journals and presented in international conferences in front of world-renowned audiences in his respective fields.

Professor Takemi Chikahisa has conducted long-term research in energy-related fields at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hokkaido University (Japan), where he is currently an emeritus professor. His early work focused on emission control in internal combustion engines. He later devoted many years to studying gas–liquid flow in fuel cells and to assessing the potential of renewable energy with due consideration of economic factors. He has also participated in wildfire research projects in Siberia and Canada.

Owing to these research achievements, he has received various major awards from multiple academic societies. At this summit, he will discuss the limited options for future energy systems. He will emphasize that transformations of energy systems will not disadvantage employment and the economy, even though the economic structure will likely differ from today. Finally, he will explain how stratification of wealth and poverty can be understood through entropy theory.

Raised in a somewhat Pueblo indigenous family business/ranch on the western from range of the Rocky Mountains, Art achieved early acclaim in the state of Colorado per the study of economics and went on earning a Bachelor of Science (planning emphasis) and Master of Science (resource emphasis) degree in that field. Adding to that a Bachelor of Science in education, Art devoted himself to education to better other indigenous Indian groups via teaching economic development (and eventually providing social work with Athabascan Indigenous elders) in rural Chippewa reservations and Athabascan villages, as well as teaching English in the Orient.

He began with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks instructing Political Economy in 2001 and currently serves there as professor/statewide energy specialist for a decade and a half (with a several year hiatus serving as community/economic development faculty at the University of Minnesota). He focuses on personal solutions for Alaskan residents per thermal heat and electrical power through biomass gasification/pyrolysis, greenhouse construction and thermal food storage as well traditional renewable sources such as solar, hydro, wind and of course enhanced oil recovery utilizing captured carbon dioxide. Art teaches under the conviction that with current global upheavals and energy markets going to Hell in a handbasket, that individuals and small communities will have to learn about more than commercial constraints when it comes to energy sources and utilization of tech to navigate a new world that very well may lead to "offgrid" realities. As the Pueblo blessing states, "Hold onto what is good, even if it is a handful of earth".

Professor Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves is Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at University of Coimbra (UC). She completed her PhD degree in Biology at Coimbra University (UC) in 2011, in collaboration with Ghent University (Belgium). Her peer review publications have attracted 7256 citations, resulting in an h-index=44 (SCOPUS). Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves is (co-)author of 128 papers published in international peer review journals, 61 book chapters, Editor of 5 books, Guest Editor of 13 Special Issues, Editor of 8 indexed journals, over 250 communications in international scientific meetings, supervised more than 160 graduate and post-graduate national and international students and participated / coordinated more than 37 projects. Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves develops her work in the field of Biological Sciences, in the frontier of aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology, and biochemical pathways, assessing potential changes in trophic food webs, from primary producers to top predators, exposed to chemical stressors and climatic changes. Her research focus in biosafety, assessing the impacts of chemical and environmental stressors along the trophic food chain determining ecotoxicological effects and changes in biochemical pathways of aquatic organisms, and in human health. She also develops her research in marine biotechnology and the valorization of marine resources with industrial applications like food, biomedicine, pharmaceutical and agriculture novel products. Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves dedicates part of her time to health and ocean literacy and environmental education. She has conducted several activities to school students, from kindergarten to secondary and professional schools under the issue of ocean literacy. Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves organizes and coordinates advanced courses and teach several lectures to Degree, Master and PhD students; presents a vast research network, with national and international collaborations with Academia and aquaculture seaweeds and companies. A huge amount of news in media, journals, radio and TV about her research work has been noticed. Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves also manages several national and international adminstrative and scientific positions (e.g. Coordinator of UC Food Coordination – an Interdisciplinary Initiative of UC, Chair of SETAC Education Committee, eLTER Coordinator of the Working Group Sites and Platform Forum (SPF) Training Group, Coordinator of LTsER Estuaries (Portugal), Board member in MARE, focal point of the research unit CFE in the Regional Centre Ocean Teacher Global Academy Consortium (Portugal), member of the board of directors of IMAR – Institute of Sea and member and one of the representative of Portugal at the Traning & Education LifeWatch ERIC group), in societies (e.g., SETAC, AIL, SIBECOL, SPD) and associations (e.g., PROAQUA). Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves presents a vast research network, with national and international collaborations with Academia and companies. In 2025 Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves integrated the list TOP 1% of the highly cited researchers published by Clarivate, placing her among th world’s most influential scientists shaping global research today, an elite group whose work has profoundly influenced their field over the past decade and beyond. This recognition reinforces her position as a leader in Ecology, Environment, Marine Biology and Sustainable Blue Biotechnology. Since 2024 Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves integrated the list TOP 2% of world’s TOP 2% Scientists of Elsevier and Stanford University. In 2021 Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves was awarded by UC with the Honorable Mention Award for the Impact of International Publications, according to Web of Science. In 2008 Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Gonçalves was also awarded with the MARS travel award to young scientists funded by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and was also awarded with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) grants during are research career, as well as others awards.

Olajiga, Bamidele studied Agricultural Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and graduated with a B.Eng. and M. Eng in 1995 and 2021 respectively. He later obtained his Ph.D in 2025, at the Center for renewable Energy Technology at the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State Nigeria. He has published in several journals and in many conference proceedings
He has worked with various organizations across Nigeria spanning, manufacturing, process and agricultural machinery industries.

Dr. Kemal Maşera received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Aston University in 2019, where he subsequently served as a Teaching Fellow and contributed to a UKIERI-funded “Waste to Engine” project. He later joined Brunel University London as a Research Fellow, working on an EU-funded project investigating the application of solar thermal technologies in industrial processes. In parallel with his academic roles, he has developed substantial experience in energy consultancy within the UK, specialising in commercial and industrial sectors, including the delivery of ESOS- and EN 16247-compliant energy audits and the implementation of ISO 50001 energy management systems for both local and internationally recognised organisations such as McLaren and AstraZeneca. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus (METU NCC), where he teaches thermodynamics, heat transfer, and renewable energy-related subjects, and his research encompass the modelling and analysis of renewable energy systems, biofuels, low-carbon technologies, and thermofluid sciences.

Professor Ezendu Ariwa is a Fellow of British Computer Society (FBCS) and held position of Chair of IEEE Consumer Technology & Broadcast Technology Chapter, UK and Ireland. He holds the post of Director of Studies/Postgraduate Research Supervision at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and International Outreach at the University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH), Sierra Leone. and previously held the role of Academic Supervision at Warwick University, UK. He has expertise on Executive Training consultancy for top Government Executives. He also held ERASMUS collaboration with Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia. He has good research profile and the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Green Computing (IJGC), Area Representative of Journal of American Academic Research, USA and Editor in Chief Acta Scientific Pharmaceutical Sciences Journal. He recently received International Life Doctoral Research Fellow award from The Academy of Executives & Administrators.

Sofia Máximo is an Environmental Educator and Climate Action Advocate from Portugal, serving as a European Climate Pact Ambassador. Her work focuses on empowering communities through education, sustainability, cultural heritage, and citizen participation.
She has participated in several international volunteering programs, developing educational projects with children and working in women's empowerment programmes in different cultural contexts.
In Portugal, she coordenates and collabores in numerous practical sustainability initiatives involving schools, local communities, and socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Her approach combines environmental education with hands-on learning experiences that encourage active citizenship and behavioural change.
She is also an active member of a non-profit association promoting active mobility through community-based actions and awareness campaigns, fostering healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.
Her background in museum education and community engagement, she believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for addressing climate challenges and creating resilient, inclusive communities.

Danijela Pezer is a Senior Lecturer at University Department of Professional Studies at the University of Split in Croatia. She holds the position as a Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department. She has published a numerous scientific papers in indexed International Journals and Conferences as an author or co-author. She won the award for the best scientific paper in the category of Young Researchers (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2017) and also for the best paper presentation (Kecskemét, Hungary, 2014) as Young Researcher. She is a member in International Scientific Journals as Editorial and Reviewer Board Member

Constantin Volosencu is a professor (full) “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Romania, Department of Automation and Applied Informatics. He is a doctor in control systems of “Politehnica” University of Timisoara and engineer in automation and computers at “Traian Vuia” Politechnic Institute, Timisoara, Romania. Constantin Volosencu has researches in the field of linear control systems, fuzzy control, neural networks, control of electrical drives, system identification, sensor networks and distributed parameter systems. He is author of 10 books, over 130 scientific papers published in journals and conference proceedings and 27 patents and manager of over 30 research projects. Constantin Volosencu is member of editorial review boards of international scientific journals, former member, chair and plenary speaker of scientific committee of international conferences. He had technical activity in the field of electric drives, power ultrasonics, machine tools, spooling machines with homologation of 30 prototypes and series zero.

Marion Langlet is a master’s student in geography at the University of Fribourg and a teaching assistant for introductory geosciences courses at the bachelor level. She made a one-year internship at the defense group of the swiss army headquarters for sustainable development and environment. Her interests include fair governance, mitigation, and environmental justice, with a particular focus on the valuable collaboration between stakeholders from different fields of expertise and world leaders. She is also particularly interested in the integrative approach to problem-solving and related policies.
She holds two bachelor's degrees, in primary education and in geography with a minor in biology. She has been involved in scouting for almost 15 years, including 4 years as a leader with training as a camp leader. Marion was co-president of the Geosciences Fachschaft at Unifr, the University of Fribourg, part of the Swiss Philanthropy Fundation and Wise’ selection committee program “Demaimpact”, awarding funds to projects targeting young beneficiaries in French-speaking Switzerland and curator at the Fribourg Hub for the Global Shapers community.
This experience has enabled her to start implementing her ideas for a fairer and more sustainable future, notably with an agroforestry training project she is carrying out, a project to revitalise part of the University of Fribourg campus within the framework of the sustainability commission of the University of Fribourg’s General Students’ Association (AGEF), as well as her investment in politics of the Fribourg’s city