Najet AROUA, Αssociate Professor
Department of Architecture, University of Algiers-I, Algeria
Najet AROUA is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Algiers-1.
She holds a degree in Bioclimatic Architecture, a Magister in Architecture & Environment, and a PhD in Urbanism, Architecture & Environment.
She is a member of the LaCoMoFa research laboratory (University of Biskra), Vice-President of the Wetlands History Group (GHZH), and a former fellow at Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (IMéRA-Marseille).
She is also a member of ICOMOS, the International Water History Association, and the Future Earth network.
Her research focuses on the interactions between urban systems and hydrosystems, and on adapting urban planning to the water cycle in response to climatic, social, and cultural contexts. She regularly contributes to international scientific events and has published in peer-reviewed journals and collective volumes. She has participated in several interdisciplinary research projects, both nationally and internationally, in the fields of Healthy Cities, Hydraulic Heritage, Urban Strategies for Climate Change, and Wet Cities.
Asproulis Nikolaos, Dr.
Deputy Director, Volos Academy for Theological Studies, Greece
Bio: Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis is the deputy director of the Volos Academy for Theological Studies (Volos, Greece) and academic staff of the Hellenic Open University (Patras, Greece). He is also an adjunct instructor at the Holy Cross Hellenic College (facilitated by Huntington Ecumenical Institute) of the Spring 2025 Soil and the Soul: Eastern Orthodoxy and Natural Environment Course, and Project Manager of the ecotheological initiatives of the Holy Metropolis of Demetrias (Volos, Greece). His most recent publications include: (with John Chryssavgis, Priests of Creation: John Zizioulas on Discerning an Ecological Ethos, T&T Clark, 2021; Eastern Orthodox Churches Go Green: From Ecotheology to Ecopraxis, Volos Academy Publications: Volos, 2024);(Safe)Water as the Condition for Sustainable Development in Light of the Climate Crisis: An Eastern Orthodox Reflection. Religions 15: 1326. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111326
Florencio C. Ballesteros, Jr., Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Philippines
Google Scholar Research Profile: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Florencio+Ballesteros+&oq=f
Professor Ballesteros obtained his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology–Rutgers University and currently holds the Don Felipe Say and Teresa Chua Say Professorial Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He previously served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Salerno, Italy, and was instrumental in establishing academic linkages between UP and institutions such as NJIT (USA), Salerno (Italy), and I-Shou University (Taiwan). His research encompasses watershed management and hazardous waste, integrating regulatory and academic perspectives. He developed accessible, low-cost protocols for tributary classification and a Philippine-adapted Stream Visual Assessment Protocol. In collaboration with UNIDO and UNDP, he supported the Philippines’ compliance with the Stockholm Convention on POPs, particularly in managing PBDE and PFOS. He teaches graduate courses in environmental engineering.
Prof. Deeksha Katyal
School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India
Prof. Deeksha Katyal is an Academic with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India. Her research domain covers various facets of Environment Science and Engineering wherein she has published around 40 high impact factor journal publications, 5 books and has developed 6 ICT modules under the flagship of e-PG Pathshala and IGNOU(Indira Gandhi National Open University). She has been an Erasmus Mundus Academic Fellow (funded by the consortium grant ‘Namaste’ )at Uppsala University , Sweden .She has received various recognitions in the form of appreciation and awards like ‘CII 4R Award of Merit’ for Excellence in Innovative Solutions,‘Water Leadership Award’ by ET & Ascent, ‘Aqua Foundation Excellence Award’ in the category ‘Women in water’, ‘Service Excellence Award’ from Rotary club of Capital City, New Delhi and ‘Outstanding Women in Science’ by Venus Women International Board. Her name appeared on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ aired on 28th May, 2017 and she has also been recognised by the Honourable Prime Minister on 1rst July, 2015 for her contribution to research on Ganga River. She is also a member of various committees of National and International repute like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) , Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE India) , General secretary of Specialist group of Water Heritage in International water Association (IWA) , National Innovation foundation (NIF) and Educational Consultants India Limited (EdCIL).
Eleni Grilla, MS, Ph.D
School of Science & Technology, Hellenic Open University, Greece
Dr. Eleni Grilla is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Sustainable Waste Management Technologies Laboratory with a PhD and MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Patras and a Diploma in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Crete. Her research focuses on the application of Advanced Oxidation Processes for the degradation of emerging pollutants (antibiotics, pharmaceutical compounds, endocrine disruptors) in aquatic systems. She has experience in catalyst characterization techniques (BET, SEM, TEM, XRD) and analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS/MS), which are used for the quantification of organic compounds. She has contributed to over 10 funded research projects focusing on waste management, with a particular emphasis on circular economy practices aimed at protecting the environment. Her published work includes 11 articles in international scientific journals, 10 publications in international and national scientific conferences (citation index: 195, h index: 6, Scopus, 16/06/2024). She has served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Agriculture of the University of Patras with the subject “Agricultural Residues and Waste Management” during the Spring Semester of the Academic Year 2023-2024 as well as at the Liaoning University of Technology with the subject “Physical Chemistry” during the Winter Semester of the Academic Year 2024-2025. In addition, her teaching work includes two specializations at the D.I.E.K. Patras, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic & Related Products Technician and Applied Chemical & Microbiological Technologies Specialist.
Dr. Ekavi Aikaterini Isari
School of Science & Technology, Hellenic Open University, Greece
Dr. Ekavi Isari is a Chemist and a postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratory of Sustainable Waste Management Technologies of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) in Patras, Greece. She holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Analysis from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Patras and a Ph.D. from the School of Science and Technology at HOU, specializing in Environmental Protection. Her research focuses on wastewater treatment, the remediation of aquatic systems, the detection of microplastics in agricultural soils, and the humification of wastewater. Dr. Isari is the author of nine (9) scientific publications in peer-reviewed international journals and has presented more than fifteen (15) scientific papers at national and international conferences. She possesses extensive teaching experience across higher, secondary, and post-secondary education.
History of waters of Vantaa – Environmental History of Vantaa City and Vantaa River
Tampere University, TAY, Finland
Biography
The head of the CADWES research team Petri S. Juuti is historian, UNESCO Professor and Adjunct Professor/Docent in Finnish History (in University of Turku, Finland), Adjunct Professor in Environmental History & Development of Water Services and Municipal Infrastructure (in Tampere University, TAY, Finland), and in History of Technology (in University of Oulu, Finland). He is currently working in Tampere University and is also Visiting Research professor in North-West University of South Africa (2024-30) and Guest Professor in Hubei university, China. Previously he has acted as Head of Publications (2014-15, UTA), Visiting Research Professor, UNISA, South Africa (2017-21), Visiting Professor in North-West University (2011, 2012, 2016) and University of Johannesburg (2007, 2009, 2010, 2013), South Africa, Senior researcher in WaterTime -project funded by European Commission, Assistant Professor (2002-2004) and earlier as researcher in University of Tampere, Tampere University of Technology and Ministry of the Interior and has also worked in business life.
His major area of interest is environmental history, especially the interaction between the society and the nature has been in the focus in his research projects. He is also interested in water history, urban environment, city-service development, urban technology, pollution, public policy, political history, development studies, and economic history. He is the author or co-author of more than 40 referee articles and over 40 books, few latest ones are Resilient water services and systems, 2019 (IWAP 2019, London & New York), Valkea kaupunki, mustat vedet (2015) Water Services Management and Governance. Lessons for a Sustainable Future (2013), Metropoli ja meri (2010), Brief History of Wells and Toilets (2005), Water, Time and European Cities (2005), Environmental History of Water (2007), etc. He has been granted four international and two national awards. He was also member of the executive council of International Water History Association, IWHA from 2009 to 2017 and President from 2017 to 2019). Hobbies: reading, marathon running (PB 3:12, total c. 600 marathons and ultra runs), movies, travelling.
Agronomist-Ph.D. Environmental GeochemistryFormer President Hellenic Οpen University (31 October 2022- 31 August 2024)
School of Science & Technology Hellenic Open University, Greece
- Member of the University’s Board of Directors (1, September 2024- 31 August 2028)
- Member of State Scholarships Foundation Board (20 Sept., 2024- 20 Sept. 2028 ΦΕΚ ΥΟΔΔ 1034)
- Former Member of the Management Committee of HOU (26 February 2018 to 31 August 2024)
- Former Dean of the School of Science and Technology (1 September 2016 to 18 October 2022)
Short Biography
Professor Dr. Ioannis K. Kalavrouziotis with PhD in Environmental Geochemistry from Department of Geology, University of Patras, Greece (1999) is currently a Professor and Former President of Hellenic Open University, Member of the University’s Board of Directors (1 September 2016 to 18 October 2022) and is Director of Education on Wastewater Management Master Programme, and Honoray Doctorate, Aristotle University of Greece, School of Spatial Planning and Development, Faculty of Engineering (7 March, 2024). Visiting Fellow in the University of Derby, UK (2015-2018). Guest Professor of Hubei University, China (09 May, 2019- 2022). Dean of the School of Science and Technology, HOU (1 September 2026 to 19 October 2022), He taught at the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Western Greece (2000-2013). He has completed administrative responsibilities as: Agronomist of the Greek Ministry of Agriculture (1988-2000), Director of Western Greece Region Administration (1993), Member of the Administrative Board of the National Agricultural Research Foundation (2006-2009), President of the Sector for the Management of Messologion Lagoon (2006-2009). He is a member of IWA and President of IWA Symposium on ‘Water, Wastewater, and Environment: Traditions and Culture’, 2014, Patras, Greece, a Chairman of IWA Specialist Group on Water and Wastewater in Ancient Civilizations. President of the Regional Council for Research and Innovation of the Western Greece Region (2020-2024). He has published 6 Books and chapters, 130 peer-reviewed full research papers in International Journals, 81 papers in International Conferences, 38 papers in National Conferences and more than 120 articles in journals and newspapers.
Damianos Kalpakidis
Department of Public & Community Health, School of Public Health at the University of West Attica, Greece
Damianos Kalpakidis is an Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist and Ecology Expert with a strong academic and professional background in biodiversity, environmental planning, and environmental impact assessment studies. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Management of Protected Areas, a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, and is currently a PhD candidate at the Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, focusing on the intersection of Nature-Based Solutions and Public Health. He has co-authored scientific papers including “Best Practices for Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Public Health” (Panhellenic Public Health Conference, 2024), “Promoting Nature-Based Solutions in Education” (2nd International Conference on SDGs in Education, 2024), and “Temporal Variation of Bioclimatic Indices in Greece (1980–2007)”. He has authored species-specific mitigation plans for major infrastructure projects such as TAP. He is a member of HELECOS, the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), and SMEDEKEM, contributing regularly to public discourse on environmental policy through articles in print and online media.
Hrissi K. Karapanagioti
Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
Hrissi K. Karapanagioti is a Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry in the University of Patras. She has been studying sorbents and biochars since 2000 and microplastics since 2004. She has co-edited two books related to plastic and microplastic pollution (from IWA and Springer Nature Publishers), co-authored several papers (Google Scholar >8200 citations, Stanford list of 2% World’s Top Scientists) and co-organized and presented as invited speaker in several conference sessions with GESAMP, UNEP, G20, IAEA, EGU, NOAA, British Council, European Parliament, etc. Her research interests include the development, characterization and evaluation of sorbent materials and the degradation of plastics to microplastics and microplastic interaction with microbes and organic pollutants. She is also interested in educating the general public on preventing plastic pollution and valorizing biomass by-products.
Associate Professor Dr. Petros Kokkinos
School of Science & Technology, Hellenic Open University, Greece
Dr. Petros Kokkinos is Molecular Biologist and Associate Professor at the School of Science and Technology of the Hellenic Open University (HOU). He has studied Biological Sciences at the University of Trieste, Italy, and holds a PhD from the Polytechnic School of the University of Patras, Greece.
He has received nine scholarships and has conducted research in UK, USA, Spain, and Switzerland. He is currently member of the Laboratory of Sustainable Waste Management Technologies and the Director of the Postgraduate Study Program ‘Cultivations under cover-Hydroponics’. He has participated in more than 17 research projects. He has published 58 peer reviewed scientific papers (h-index: 27, citations >2500, Google Scholar), 51 publications in international conferences, 29 publications in Greek conferences, two book chapters and a scientific book.
His research interests include Water Pollution, Biology of Wastewater Treatment, Wastewater Reuse, Environmental Virology, Risk Assessment and Public Health.
Prof. Konstantinos Komnitsas
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Greece
Prof. Konstantinos Komnitsas, holds a PhD in Hydrometallurgy and is the director of the Laboratories (i) Waste Management and Soil Decontamination, (ii) Ceramics and Glass Technology and (iii) Ore Beneficiation, of the School of Mineral Resources Engineering of Technical University of Crete. His interests are in the fields of hydro- and bio-hydrometallurgy, waste management and valorization, new materials, soil decontamination, environmental risk assessment, and LCA studies. He has implemented more than 70 research projects (as coordinator and partner) funded mainly by the European Commission, including Life, H2020 and Horizon Europe. The period 2020 – 2024 he is included in the top 2% world-list of the most influential scientists by considering the impact of his published works. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed papers and presented more than 200 in international conferences.
Professor
Head of the Department of Chemistry, Democritus University of Thrace, Kavala, 65404, Greece
Department of Chemistry, Democritus University of Thrace, Kavala, Greece
Biography
Dr. George Z. Kyzas is Chemist and Full Professor at the Department of Chemistry at the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh). He studied Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh). He obtained his BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees from the same Department expertised in Chemical Technology. He is the Head of the Department (since 2019). He is also the Head of Hephaestus Laboratory of Faculty of Sciences (since 2023) and the Head of the MSc in Cosmetic Chemistry (since 2021). His research interests include the synthesis and characterization of various (majorly adsorbent) materials (inorganic, aluminates, polymers, graphene, activated carbons, agro-food residues, nanomaterials, CNTs, etc.) for environmental applications (wastewater treatment). His scientific work has been published in more than 340 Papers in international journals with high impact factor, while he published 8 Books, 42 Chapters in scientific Books and holds 3 Patents. He was also 11 times Guest Editor at Special issues of journals and has more than 200 Invited talks in International Conferences. His work is widely recognized with 22,000 Citations (h-index 82). He is the Editor of the journal “Environmental Science and Pollution Research” (Springer).His name is included in the list of Highly Cited Researchers for 2022 (Thomson Reuters – Clarivate WoS) [0.1% most impactful Scientists in the World]. Also, his name is also included in the list of World Top 2% Scientists for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 which is compiled by the Stanford University (USA) based on standardized citation indicators. He has been awarded with grants from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2009, 2013), the Greek State Scholarship Foundation (2013) and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (2016). He has also participated in about 25 research projects. He is a Reviewer in more than 200 scientific journals (ACS, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, etc) and participates as Chair of Expert Panelists and Assessor/Evaluator/Reviewer in National, European and International research proposals/calls/projects.
Orthodox Priest, University Church of Kapnikarea, Athens, Greece
Biography
Fr. Evangelos Markantonis was born and raised in Athens. He holds a degree from the Department of Chemistry of the School of Science and from the Department of Social Theology of the Faculty of Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). He earned a Master’s Degree in Theology with a specialization in Pedagogy from the Faculty of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and he holds a PhD from the Department of Theology at NKUA.
He serves in secondary education as both a Theology and Chemistry teacher. Since 2019, he has been seconded as a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Religious Education within the Department of Theology at NKUA, where he is involved in supervising student teaching practice for the Certificate of Pedagogical Competence. He is also a lecturer in the NKUA interdepartmental postgraduate program “Identity, Education, and Competences of Democratic Culture.”
His academic interests focus on Environmental Education, Ecotheology, and Environmental Ethics. He has served as the Head of the Center for Environmental Education and Awareness of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and has authored educational material on Environmental Education. He has also participated as a presenter in international conferences on Ecotheology.
Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan
Mohammed Matouq, PhD
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, Jordan. Dr. Matouq holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Nagoya University, Japan. His research focuses on environmental engineering, wastewater treatment, adsorption, resource recovery, and climate change modeling. He is a recipient of the Japanese Emperor’s Medal for Academic Excellence and the Rising Sun Medal of Golden Rays with Neck Ribbon, and holds a US patent in wastewater treatment. With extensive publications in esteemed scientific journals, Dr. Matouq brings significant expertise in sustainable resource management and environmental solutions.
Union of Environmental Scientists GR, Greece
Professor,
School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University
School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Biography
Tingting Gong is currently a professor at Southeast University, China. Prof. Gong received her Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2014. Her research interests are evaluation and guarantee of water quality safety; formation, toxicity and control of emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water, swimming pool water and wastewater. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal papers and led 8 research projects. She is currently the member of Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) Early Career Editorial Board.
Prof. Xiao Yun. Zheng
Institute for Yangtze River Culture Studies, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
Mr. Xiao Yun. Zheng (Zheng， Xiao Yun)，is a full distinguished professor in School of History and Culture, president of China Institute of Yangtze River Studies, and president of Institute of Water History and Water Civilization, Hubei University, China. He is a historian， anthropologist and human hydrologist in the fields of the environment\water history and comparative studies of water history and culture internationally. He is past president of International Water History Association(2012-2015).Currently he is a scientific advisor of UNESCO’ s Global Water Museum Network, vice president of Chinese Water Museum Alliance, Vice chairman of IWA specialist group of water in ancient civilization.Member of France Academy of Water. He was awarded the Honorary PHD by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 2017, Honorary Professor of Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts in 2009,etc. He has published 24 books and more than 300 papers in China and internationally. His current research interesting and teaching included river history and civilization compare studies, water history, diversity of water culture, hydrological heritage, etc.
Dr. Zhang Nan
School of History and Culture, Hubei University, China
Education
- D. in Environmental History, Wuhan University, China
Dissertation: From Exploitation to Conservation: Water Diplomacy between Canada and the United States (1945-1970)
- A. in American History, Wuhan University, China
Research Expertise
Comparative study of water history and hydraulic civilizations, with a focus on transnational water diplomacy, governance models, and sustainability transitions.
Current Work
Member of Prof. Zheng Xiaoyun’s research team at Hubei University, focusing on:
- Historical water management systems in China and the Mediterranean
- Interdisciplinary approaches to water heritage preservation
- Policy implications of ancient water adaptation strategies