(Prof. univ. ),
Università di Napoli Federico II , Italy
Professor Massimiliano FABBRICINO
is full professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II. His research topics are related to water and wastewater treatment, solid remediation, waste valorization and circular economy. He has authored more than 150 publications on International Journals, and almost 50 publications on Conference Proceedings. He has been visiting professor at the University of Washington (Seattle – USA), and at the University of Chengdu (Chengdu – China) several times, and has participated, and still participate, to numerous European and National Research projects, often holding the role of Principal Investigator of the local research unit. He got the Fulbright Scholarship for research, the endowed professorship of the University of Washington, and the Italian prize of Fondazione Cortese and Commerce Chamber.
Keynote lecture on: ,,Effects of climate changes on wastewater characteristics in rural areas’’
(Prof. univ. emeritus dr. habil.),
National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania
Emeritus Professor Corneliu Balan
graduated mechanical engineering from NUST Politehnica Bucharest in 1981. He obtained a PhD in continuum mechanics at TU Darmstadt (DAAD fellowship 1990 – 1991), a COST post-doc fellowship at University of Wales at Aberystwyth (1993) and a Fulbright Senior Researcher fellowship at University of Minnesota (1994-1995). Corneliu Balan occupied the position of professor in fluid mechanics at Politehnica Bucharest (1996 – 2021), invited professor at TU Darmstadt (1999 – 2014) and visiting scientist at Claude Bernard University Lyon (2004 – 2005).
Corneliu Balan founded in 2000 the REOROM group at Politehnica Bucharest, an unit focused on developing research in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics and rheology. He is co-founder and vice-president of the Romanian Society of Rheology (since 2009), an active member of the European Society of Rheology and International Committee of Rheology. He organized numerous summer schools with the aim to promote rheology in Romania and to establish scientific connections between Romanian institutions and research groups from EU and USA.
Scientific activity of Corneliu Balan was mainly focused on four directions: a) rheometry and modelling of yield stress fluids, b) rheology of polymers derived ceramics, c) flow visualizations of complex fluids in confined domains, d) microfluidics and interfacial phenomena.
He also has a constant interest in philosophy and history of science, especially in investigation the influences of the Austrian universities to the evolution of physics, in particular continuum/fluid mechanics, in the first part of the XXth century.
Keynote lecture on: ,,Constitutive Laws in Fluid Mechanics: Historical Overview and Perspectives’’
Ilinca NASTASE
(Prof. univ.),
Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest,
Romania
Prof. Dr. Eng. Ilinca Năstase
is Professor of Building Services Engineering and Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and International Affairs at the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB), Romania.
She leads the CAMBI Research Center and her research focuses on indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort, ventilation, CFD, digital twins for buildings and occupants, and healthy, energy-efficient buildings. She has coordinated and participated in numerous national and European research projects and serves in several international scientific committees, including REHVA and WHO expert groups. She is a member of AIIR and serves on its Board. She is also an ASHRAE member and Chair of the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee of the ASHRAE Danube Chapter. She is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific publications.
Keynote lecture on: ,,Beyond Adaptive Thermal Comfort: Integrating Human Perception, Context and Climate-Responsive Design’’
(Assoc. Professor)
La Rochelle Université, France
Dr. Rachid CHERIF is an Associate Professor at La Rochelle Université, where he has been
working since 2019. He joined the Laboratory of Engineering Sciences for the Environment
(LaSIE) in 2014. His research focuses on concrete durability and the modelling of mass
transport in construction materials, including cement-based and bio-based materials.
His scientific output includes more than 30 publications, comprising 28 peer-reviewed
journal articles and four book chapters. He has actively contributed to several research
projects, including PN Perfdub (2015–2019), ANR El-Toro (2022–2027), ANR SMACHA
(2022–2025), and ANR CO2ncrete (2022–2026). He has also coordinated two regional and
ADEME-funded projects: Durcyl (2021–2024) and Sarecarb (2022–2025). In addition, he
co-coordinated the development of the international NORISK Master’s programme at La
Rochelle Université.
Keynote lecture on: “Durability of low-carbon concrete: linking material sustainability and service life”
LUT University – Finland
Dr. Xiaolei (Damon) Yuan
is an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) at LUT University, Finland. His research focuses on thermal management, data center cooling, and building energy systems. Dr. Yuan has published over 85 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, including Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Energy Conversion and Management, and Energy and Buildings, including an ESI Highly Cited Paper. He has also participated in more than 40 patent applications. His publications have received over 2,100 citations, with an H-index of 24. He is a corresponding member of the REHVA Research and Technical Committee (TRC). He served as Scientific Committee Chair of BuildSim Nordic 2024 and will serve as Vice Chair and Scientific Committee Chair for the SCANVAC Cold Climate HVAC Conference 2027 and the REHVA HVAC World Congress CLIMA 2028.
Keynote lecture on: “Advanced Microchannel Thermal Management for High Heat Flux Energy Systems: From Flow Field Design to Thermo-Hydraulic Optimization”
(Associate Professor)
NOVA School of Science and Technology, Portugal
Ph.D. Eng. Daniel Aelenei
is Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Department of Civil Engineering, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Portugal. He coordinates the Master’s Programme in Façade Technology and has extensive experience in teaching, research supervision and international scientific collaboration.
His research focuses on low-energy and net-zero-energy buildings, adaptive and solar-responsive façades, building energy flexibility, passive cooling, passive retrofit strategies and the integration of renewable energy technologies into the built environment.
He has participated in several national and international research projects and networks, including COST Action TU1403 on Adaptive Façades and IEA EBC Annex 67 on Energy Flexible Buildings. He was Principal Investigator of the MIT Portugal FIRST project on mapping the flexibility of urban energy systems. Professor Aelenei has supervised approximately 60 master’s theses and five PhD theses and has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific publications, including around 80 peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters and conference proceedings, reflecting his commitment to research, advanced education and the transition towards a resilient, zero-carbon built environment.
Keynote lecture on: “Designing Climate-Adaptive Buildings for Health and Comfort“