Energy, Water and Climate Change

Latifa Debbi, from Algeria earned her PhD degree at the University Henri Poincaré, Nancy 1, (France). She is currently an Associate Professor at the National Polytechnic School of Algiers. Among other positions she has been an Associate Researcher in the Department of Mathematics at the University of York, UK, and a Humboldt Fellowship researcher in Bielefeld University, Germany. In her host research center, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, she studied the properties of the fractional deterministic and stochastic partial differential equations. This is related to the study of the behavior of some natural phenomena as, for instance, how a fire spreads or the way semiconductor crystals grow in a laboratory.

Fatima Zohra Benhamida is assistant professor at the Higher National School of Computer Science Algiers, where she obtained her PhD in Computer Science. She is also a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Methods of Conception of Systems (LMCS). She represents the Legal Entity Appointed Representative (LEAR) for Horizon 2020 Projects which give a unique opportunity to close the research gaps between Algeria and Europe. During her fellowship at Deustotech, Fatima has worked with a “societal challenges” team to use technology for solving socio-economic challenges. Her collaboration included projects for smart city (working on smart bikes and urban traffic in Bilbao city), and smart workplaces (to reduce energy consumption by employees while offering them health assistance). She has supervised students’ teams in their IoT projects to solve real-world challenges (mainly related to Bilbao city). Results of her fellowship were crowned by many scientific publications, conference communications, and future research projects. Her fellowship was sponsored by the Bizkaia Provincial Council.

Dr. Bouchara, from Algeria, holds a PhD by the Bejaia University (Algeria). At the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) her research is focused on non-linear photonics. The intention is to exploit the interaction of light with matter to elucidate new strategies for manipulating, controlling, shaping, and processing light beams and signals. Her project can lead to new perspectives by discovering the behaviors of light and the possibility of controlling it for useful purposes for industry, especially health.

Dr. Karima, from Algeria, holds a PhD by the University of Djillali Liabes, Sidi Bel Abbes (Algeria) in collaboration with the University of Uppsala, Sweden. She is currently a researcher, member of Materials Science and Applications Laboratory at the University of Ain Temouchent (Algeria). She carries out her research at the Donostia International Physics Center thanks to the funding of the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa with the objective to calculate the magneto-optical properties of different materials, specially of organic- perovskite materials.

Dr Corine B. Laurenda Sinsin is a researcher from Benin Republic. She is currently affiliated to the School of Wildlife Conservation of the African Leadership University (SOWC/ALU) as a research associate. The main research interest of Dr Corine Sinsin is in cross-cutting scientific issues in order to re-think and reorient biological resources conservation strategies in a context of a continuously changing climate. Her research hosted by the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics is entitled “Development of an artificial intelligence assisted framework for assessing the vulnerability to climate change of mangrove ecosystems in West Africa: application on Benin coastal mangroves” and it will provide evidence and road maps for successful mangroves’ restoration.

Marie Korsaga, from Burkina Faso, obtained her PhD in Astronomy jointly between the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) in France, and the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. She’s currently a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg in France and a lecturer at the Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Burkina Faso. She’s working on dark matter distribution in galaxies using observations from optical, infrared and radio telescopes. “This study will contribute to improve our knowledge of the nature of dark matter and to better understand the formation and evolution of galaxies”. She carries out her research at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands thanks to the sponsorship of the Government of the Canary Islands.

Njukeng Jetro Nkengafac, from Cameroon, obtained her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Buea, Cameroon. She is Head of Research at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development in Cameroon. At the Physical Materials Center, she studies the potential of environmentally friendly cellulose nanoparticles as reinforcement agents in the production of natural rubber compounds. The expected impact is of great value because it would allow the degradation of rubber-based materials, such as tires from all types of vehicles, among other applications. Dr. Nkengafac’s fellowship was sponsored by the Provincial Government of San Sebastian

Hanan Basioni Ahmed, from Egypt, obtained her PhD in Applied Organic Chemistry at Helwan University, with the Prize for the best Doctoral thesis. She was a Ph.D. Student at Institute of Textile Chemistry and Physics, in Dorinbirn, Innsbruck, Austria, and she is currently Lecturer of organic chemistry in Faculty of Science, Helwan University, where she is specialized in textile technology, nanoscience and polymers to be used in treatment of wastewater, especially that released from textile industries. In fact, 10% of dyes are directly released into the ecosystem and water bodies from the textile industries acting as a carcinogenic and mutagenic to marine and human organisms. At Donostia International Physics Center, Dr. Ahmed worked on her project “Application of Nano- alloys in Photocatalytic Degradation of Different Organic Dyes in Industrial Water”. Her fellowship was sponsored by the Provincial Government of Bilbao

Heba Abdelmaksoud, from Cairo, Egypt, obtained her PhD in Physics at the Warsaw University of Technology, in Poland. She is currently a Physics Lecturer at the Ain Shams University, in Egypt. In her host center, The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), she focuses her research on semiconductors nanocomposites whose properties are very important and useful for high-speed communication networks, but also in many other fields such as solar energy, films, adhesives, paper coating and drug delivery. Her fellowship is funded by the Company CLH.

Dr. Kamal, from Egypt, holds a PhD by the Cairo University (Egypt). She is currently a lecturer at the Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University. She carries out her research at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in order to develop an “Eco-friendly solar cell” using graphene nanocomposites and lead-free perovskites. She is convinced that her research will be fruitful in two senses: by matching the output of silicon cells at a lower price, and to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to hybrid perovskite solar cells.

Dr. Adel, from Egypt, holds a PhD by the University of Cairo (Egypt). She is a senior researcher in Sustainable and Biomaterials isolated from agricultural wastes, and is specialized in nanocrystalline cellulose extraction using chemical & physicochemical methods. She carries out her research at the Material Physics Center (MPC-CFM) thanks to the funding of the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa and she hopes to come up with an eco-friendly method for purifying water by using agricultural waste. It consists of using simple and cheap membranes from agro-wastes to purify water from heavy metals, and it has the potential to decrease the environmental hazard. Hence, it will fill the gaps for sustainable development in terms of innovation, technology transfer and international leadership in science and technology using new advanced methods.

Dr. Eman Helmy works at National Research Centre (NRC) in Egypt as a researcher at the lab of advanced materials and nanotechnology group, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences (CEAS). Her field of specialization is nanomaterials synthesis- polymer technology- solid state physics- photonics. She will conduct her research at the Institute of Photonics Sciences. “Since CO2 emissions can be recycled via low- temperature electrolysis to generate products such as carbon monoxide and ethanol, the main impact of the research is to develop gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) using new cheaper polymeric materials to enhance the mass transport of reactant gases such as CO2 to the active electro-catalyst”.

Dr. Moshera Samy Abd ElAziz Youssef, from Cairo, Egypt, holds a PhD by the Faculty of Science of the Ain Shams University (2019). She is a researcher at the National Research Center of Egypt. She got the Prize for the best Master thesis from National Research Center of Egypt (2013). She focuses her research on Polymeric Nano-particles: from Preparation to Biomedical Applications. This would help in understanding the effect of different factors governing the successful formulation of polymeric nanoparticles for efficient delivery of anticancer drugs. Her fellowship at Deustotech is funded by the Provincial Government of Bizkaia.

Samar Mohamed Attaher is an Egyptian senior researcher at the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AEnRI) which is one of the main institutes of the Agriculture Research Center (ARC) of Egypt. She received her PhD in Agricultural Engineering at Ain Shams University in Egypt in 2009 and wrote her dissertation on the effect of climatic changes on Egyptian on- farm water productivity. She comes to the Spanish Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (ISA) with over ten years of postdoctoral professional experience using models and data analysis methods and tools to improve the management of irrigation water and increase water productivity. At ISA, she has collaborated with the agronomy team with the goal of using thermal imaging and machine learning to improve on- farm deficit irrigation.

Shaimaa Elyamny, from Alexandria, Egypt, is a Researcher in the Electronic Materials Research Department, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City). She holds a PhD in Physics from Alexandria University in the renewable energy field. Also, she participated in projects concerned with energy and protection from Covid-19. In the Repsol Technology Center, she will work in “energy storage project aimed to develop new ways for combined cycle energy uses and tools for the management of batteries”. This proposal aligns with priority lines of Repsol’s vision and supports those countries where the grid has not reached large portions of the population. Her fellowship is funded by Repsol Foundation.

Dr. Mofeed El-Sayed is an Egyptian Associated Professor of Environmental Pollution (Microbiology) at the Faculty of Fish Resources, Suez University. She has large experience in identification of both marine and freshwater algae used as bioindicators for pollution, in biomarkers and innovative techniques in intensive aquaculture of marine algae in order to increase productivity in the field of aquaculture and energy production. Her research at the Spanish National Center for Biotechnology focused on the development of the necessary tools in algae molecular and synthetic biology for accumulation of desired products, production of algae biomass (including sequestration of CO2 from flue gases) and use of cyanobacteria for the production of bio- photovoltaic panels.

Eman Ebrahim Mohamed Ali Nassar is an Associated Professor in mechanical engineering department, Higher Technological Institute in Egypt. Her field of research is polymer composites and polymer recycling. “Recycling polymer and using natural materials are a promising field to solve the problem of plastic pollution especially after COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to the increased usage of face masks”. She carries out her research at Donostia International Physics Center in San Sebastian.

Laila AbdelFattah Saad Hamam is an Egyptian Lecturer at the Renewable Energy Science and Engineering Department at Beni-Suef University in Egypt. She is also a researcher in a solar energy lab at Alexandria University, where she received her PhD in Materials Science in 2015. She has ample research experience, much of which has been focused on identifying materials for photovoltaic applications. At the Donostia International Physics Center in San Sebastian, she will build on that experience by researching Perovskite solar cells, which represent one of the most promising new generation photovoltaic technologies due to their strikingly high conversion efficiencies. Her hope is that her findings will promote the use of solar power to generate electricity in Egypt.

Narjisse Amahjour, from Morocco, obtained her PhD in Physics, specialization in Fluid Mechanics and Energy (Physics) and completed her Postdoctoral studies in Fluid Mechanics at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Madrid. She works on the project “Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling to reduce risk of the spread COVID-19 of different isolation room in the hospital”, specialization Fluid Mechanics. This research aims to use CFD modeling in the living room to anticipate air patterns and velocity. This enables us to evaluate the ability and the capability of the CFD model to reproduce the complex airflows and to forecast the amount of air departing as a function of time. Her fellowship is funded by ENDESA.

Dr. Chizoba May Obele is an Associate Professor in the Department of Polymer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. She is currently the Chairman of the Polymer Institute of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter. The title of her research is, “Development of Non- Toxic Antifouling Coatings for Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Using Nano Halloysite Nanotubes”. Her field of research is coatings, nanotechnology and bio polymers and it will reveal new eco- friendly coating material for marine structures in Nigeria and the world at large. Her host center is Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), San Sebastian.

Assumpta Chinwe Nwanya is a lecturer in the department of Physics and Astronomy at University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a FLAIR Fellow. She focuses on materials for energy harnessing and storage with specialization in the synthesis of nanostructured materials for applications in photovoltaics and electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors). The title of the research she carries out at Instituto de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB- CSIC) is “Development of low cost and high- capacity graphene and silica from rice husk for energy storage applications”. Her interest is to develop affordable and environmentally benign energy storage options that will help in the alleviation of energy challenges inherent in Nigeria. Her fellowship is funded by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

Rose Alani, from Nigeria, holds a PhD in Environmental/Analytical Chemistry and is a Senior Lecturer at the Chemistry Department in the University of Lagos. The title of the research she conducted in her host center, the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), is “Environmental Pollution Monitoring using Infra-red Spectroscopy and Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) based Image Cytometer” which aims at developing new photonic technology platforms and assessing them for air pollution and water quality monitoring. Her research at ICFO was so relevant and innovative, that she presented it at the 6th Edition of the International Conference on Water Pollution & Sewage management” in Rome. With KOOM Consulting from Barcelona and New Life International (USA), Rose presented in Lagos a system to do water monitoring in a simple and affordable way even for local populations. She wrote with her host group the article “Mid- infrared gas sensing using graphene plasmons tuned by reversible chemical doping” currently under review with the American Chemical Society Journal.

A Nigerian national, Esther Oluwafunmilayo Makine is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. In 2013, she obtained a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Science with a concentration in Space Applications from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. In 2017, she was awarded a Commonwealth Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Environment at the University of York, United Kingdom. At the Deusto Institute of Technology in Bilbao, her research was aimed at optimizing the use of surface and subsurface water for sustainable agriculture in Nigeria using geographical information systems. Her fellowship was sponsored by the Bizkaia Provincial Council.

Dr. Ogundiran, from Nigeria, holds a PhD by the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). She works as an associate Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Ibadan. Her project at Material Physics Center is focused on the assessment and remediation of heavy metals-contaminated soil. Studies are scarce on the effects of bio-alkali/ silicate ash on mitigation of high-water demand, efflorescence, and drying shrinkage. Therefore, the aim of her research is to investigate the use of waste palm oil fuel ash (silica source) and cashew nutshell ash (alkali source) in place of conventional commercial activators as a solution to the setbacks in geopolymer applications and to develop processes for structural and energy storage applications of geopolymers. Her fellowship is sponsored by the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa.

Dr. Niang is a Senegalese researcher in Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphere et de l’Ocean Simeon-Fongang (LPAO- SF). In 2015 she completed her PhD in a program of the Federal University of Technology AKure (FUTA) in Nigeria and Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de l’Ocean Simeon Fongang LPAO-SF in Dakar in the Cheikh Anta Diop University. Her work at ICMAT was a first attempt to perform a comprehensive analysis of moisture sources that affect the major precipitation over West Africa during the boreal summer through a sophisticated mathematical method. This potential prediction is of vital importance for water resources and agriculture, which is mainly rain-fed and, therefore, highly dependent on rainfall. Her findings were so relevant, that Complutense University of Madrid offered her another fellowship to keep her working with its team on the same project.

Dr. Ndiave, from Senegal, holds a PhD by the University of Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (Senegal). She specializes in Mathematical Analysis, Differential equations and Applications, and works as a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Education and Training at the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (Senegal). As a post-doc fellow at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT), she studies wave propagation, such as the propagation of greenhouse gases, with the aim of minimizing the impact of these gases in a given city and reduce contamination. The idea is to reduce the volume of the area occupied by these gases in cities in order to preserve the health of the population.

Dr. Kounta is from Senegal and holds a PhD by the Laboratoire de Physique de l’Océan Siméon Fongang (LPAO-SF/ESP), Dakar. She is currently an assistant lecturer and post doc researcher at Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar (Senegal). She investigates the dynamical functioning of the West African upwelling system with a focus on the circulation in the eastern tropical north Atlantic off West Africa. Her research in the Oceanographic Platform of the Canary Islands combines climate change and physics with the aim to contribute to a better understanding of the influence of global warming in ocean circulation and marine ecosystems, especially to help policymaking in the West African coast. Her fellowship is sponsored by the Government of the Canary Islands.

Elisabeth Naluminsa is a postdoctoral fellow at Southern African Large Telescope. At Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Island she studies “a class of galaxies that lies between the young and old evolutionary stages of galaxies” and she will be using “new data from the new WEAVE spectrograph on the William Herschel Telescope and contributing to the stabilization of its data processing pipeline while acquiring skills in analysis of integral field spectroscopic data. The project will contribute to the exchange of capabilities between IAC and SALT. Her fellowship is funded by the Government of the Canary Islands.

Dr. Anissa Aouni is a Tunisian associate professor at the Center for Water Research and Technology in Tunisia. She obtained a master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry in 2008 and a PhD in Chemistry in 2012. During the course of her PhD and current position as an associate professor, she has gained more than 12 years of experience in numerous analytical processing laboratories in Europe (Spain) and Asia (China, Japan, Turkey). She has a specific interest in solving the global issue of fresh water shortage, which continues to be exacerbated by the rapid development of modern industry and population growth. At the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, she will expand on this interest by working on an emerging electrochemical technology (Capacitive Deionisation (CDI) for desalination and water treatment.

Latifa Guesmi, from Tunisia, has a PhD in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) from the University of Carthage. She is currently a Permanent Assistant lecturer in Telecommunications at the Institut supérieur des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie de Mateur (ISSATM). At ICFO, she focuses on the optical components of the internet which are very cost- effective and show low consumption and high-performance levels. This is a relevant objective in order to improve energy efficiency in the field of communications and to give internet access to remote areas of emerging economies. Dr.Guesmi’s fellowship was sponsored by Exolum.

Dr. Matoetoe was born in Lesotho and lives in South Africa. She received her PhD at the University of Pretoria. Currently she works as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and she is head of the electrochemistry research group. In Spain, Dr. Matoetoe has been working at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu) on remediation and detection of trace pollutant in the environment changing the mode of detection from electrochemical to plasmonic (Raman, fluorescence and UV visible). These involved spectral interrogation of the platforms before and after incorporating a bio molecule. Among these they assessed potential of biometallic nanomaterials for detection of nevirapine.

Dr. Namumba, from Zambia, holds a PhD by the University of Cape Town (South Africa) and was the first Astrophysicist from Zambia. Beyond being a tutor at the University of Cape Town, she is an expert in observational astronomy. In fact, Namumba’s research focuses on using radio and optical data to explore the growth of galaxies. More concretely, she investigates how the HI kinematics and dynamics in dwarf galaxies link to star formation. As she mentions, her study would allow for the first time “a comprehensive understanding of how the disks of dwarf galaxies interact with their environment” and would provide optimal wide- ranging opportunities for training and transfer of knowledge. She carries out her research at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands thanks to the sponsorship of the Government of the Canary Islands.

Dr. Moloto is a South African senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, where she is currently a Professor and Senior Researcher. In 2011 she obtained her PhD at the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa). She was also a Professor at the University of Johannesburg. In the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, www.icfo.eu), Dr. Moloto research focused on the synthesis and characterization of metal chalcogenide nanocrystals for application in solar cells. Lerato Machogo, one of her doctoral students, got a Learn Africa postgraduate scholarship in the University of Málaga.

Nobanathi Maxacato, a young South African doctor, obtained her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Pretoria in 2012. She is currently a lecturer and research fellow in the University of Johannesburg, where she teaches Chemistry for Somatology, for chemical engineering, for food and biotechnology and for environmental health. Her field of study is nanotechnology. Her research at the Institute of Photonic Sciences, Barcelona, aimed at finding new catalysts that are capable of solving the problem of surface poisoning at low potentials in Fuel Cells.

Erika Kraemer-Mbula from South Africa was trained as an economist at the University of Cantabria and got her PhD in Development Studies from the University of Oxford. Currently, she works as an Associate Professor of Economics based at the University of Johannesburg, and as a researcher at the DST- NRF Center of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (SciSTIP) in South Africa. At Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, her research focuses on Transformative innovation, the fourth industrial revolution and sustainable development in Africa.
Dr. Kraemer has the ambition to develop a new theoretical framework to understand transformative innovation in the context of 4IR and from an African perspective. This is based on an interest to unpack the social and technological relationships that explain the rate, direction and patterns of (radical) innovation adoption, diffusion and use. She is a member of the COTEC network of experts.

Dr. Das, from South Africa, holds a PhD from the University of Connecticut, USA. She is passionate about statistics and works as a professor of Business Management at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). At the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), she focuses her research in analysing weather data from north-eastern South Africa. Due to the lack of data about weather dynamics in this region, she aims to introduce more appropriate and novel empirical tools to gain more insights into the urgent problem of temperature variations – that affect both agriculture and livelihood. Therefore, agricultural decisions could be better informed particularly in climatically sensitive areas like the north-eastern parts of South Africa.

Dr. Miranda M. Ndipingwi obtained her BSc degree in Chemistry in 2011 at the University of Buea, Cameroon. She received her MSc in Nanoscience in 2016 and PhD in Physical Chemistry in 2020 at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa. She has been a postdoctoral researcher since 2020 at the University of the Western Cape Sensor Laboratories headed by Professor Emmanuel Iwuoha. Her main research interests are in materials chemistry, nanomaterial synthesis, and their application in electrochemical energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. Dr Ndipingwi received the University of Missouri-South African Education Program (UMSAEP) Fellowship Award in 2019 and has also been awarded the Department of Science and Innovation in conjunction with the National Research Foundation of South Africa (DSI/NRF) Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards for 2020 and 2022, respectively. Recently, she received the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Program Award for 2023–2024. She is a fellow at the Institute of Material Sciences of Barcelona with the project “Design and Fabrication of Polyoxometalate Species as flow cell Materials for Sustainable Energy Storage”.

Dr. Boutheïna Kerkeni is Professor of Physics at ISAMM University la Manouba. She holds a PhD from Paris VI University and a Habilitation (HDR) from Cergy Pontoise University, France. She is also the head of an active research group in Physical Chemistry at Faculty of Sciences Tunis, University Tunis El Manar. The goal of her research, which is computational-theoretical based with particular focus on quantum chemical (ab initio/DFT), molecular dynamics (MD), and chemical kinetics modelling of collisions and chemical reactions both in gas phase and at hybrid interfaces, is to derive fundamental and molecule specific data/parameters, like Infrared spectra (to compare to observations), reaction rates and diffusion barriers. These can then be included in astrochemical models that simulate specific species evolution, track their complexity over realistic typical timescales and constrain the properties of the underlying sources. She has gained several scholarship awards in particular the CNRS-PhD scholarship, Paris (1998), a junior lectureship at Worcester College University of Oxford (2005), the PRESTIGE FP7 Marie Curie-Actions, IFPEN, France (2016). She has also been the recipient of many international research grants (e.g., HPC-Europa, COST CM1410), a Senior AfOx Visiting Fellowship at University of Oxford (2020). She develops the project “Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of fullerene-PAH adducts” at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), Tenerife, thanks to the funding of the Government of the Canary Islands.

Dr. Misrak Girma holds a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bahir dar University, Ethiopia (2006) and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree from Addis Ababa University (AAU), Engineering Faculty (2010). She also completed a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Thermal and Energy Conversion from AAU in 2017. Her research thematic area is renewable energy, especially in solar/ wind hybrid systems. After her Ph.D. work, she spent a professional career in the area of Thermal Engineering at the Mechanical Engineering Department of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU). She has secured and runs different internal and external grants from the university research directorate and abroad. Currently, she is working as an Assistant Professor at AASTU and also advising and co-advising MSc and Ph.D. students respectively. She has been also working as a Director of the Undergraduate Program and Associate Dean of the College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at AASTU for a total of four years and eight months. She is also a member of the Ethiopian Society of Mechanical Engineers (ESME) and Ethiopian Women in Energy (EWiEn). She develops the project “The assessment of passive evaporative cooling technologies for building envelopes” at DeustoTech, Bilbao. Her fellowship is sponsored by the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa.

Dr. Amal Nassar is Associated Professor in Mechanical Engineering department at Higher Technological Institute, Egypt. She serves as a reviewer in many international journals and as an editor board member in International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Applications (IJMEA), American Journal of Energy and Power Engineering, International Scientific Committee on Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, and World Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology. Among other awards, she achieved the second place in the Geneva innovation exhibit in 2019. She develops the project “Performance Evaluation of a PCM Thermal Energy Storage System” at Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), San Sebastián.

Dr. Yuliya Zelenyuk is Full Professor at the School of Mathematics of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She received a PhD degree in Mathematics at Kyiv University, Ukraine in 2003. She works in the areas of algebra, topology and combinatorics. She is a fellow at the Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas (ICMAT) in Madrid with the project “Ramsey Theory, Ultrafilters, and Related Structures”.

Dr. Lydia Adeleke is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Nigeria. She is Fellow of the African Women in Agriculture Research and Development (AWARD), Fellow of the African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) (supported by AvH and TWAS) and Visiting Fellow at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada. She also participates in the TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme for Scientists from sub-Saharan Africa to the Department of Ecological Modelling, at Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie (ZMT). And she is part of the MASHAV (Israel) Aquaculture: Production and Management fellowship at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem (2012). In addition, she is Associate Editor of the African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation and Co-Chair in the Handbook Climate Change Adaptation: Addressing Poverty and Ensuring Sustainable Livelihoods. She is a fellow at PLOCAN -Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands, Las Palmas with the project “Harnessing machine learning models to investigate climate change impacts on oceanographic parameters and marine spatial planning (MSP)” thanks to the funding of the Government of the Canary Islands.

Dr. Usisipho Felini is a Senior Lecturer at Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS) in University of South Africa. Among her awards, she received in 2020 Principal’s Award for Excellence in Research, in 2021-2022 University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) Fellowship Award and in 2016 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Doctoral Fellowship Award. Through Science by Women programme, she develops the project “Electroactive nanocomposite material for energy storage applications” in POLYMAT, San Sebastián.

Dr. Florette Corinne is a teacher in the Physics Department at the Faculty of Science at the University of Dschang. Currently, her research interests are Condensed Matter Physics (Solid State Physics, Strongly Correlated Systems, Superconductivity Magnetism, Magnetic Materials, Optical and Electronic Materials). She was awarded in 2020 Best thesis in Physics at the University of Dschang and in 2019 Best presentation award at the conference Cameroon Physical Society and Best presentation at CASESMA School (Dschang). She is a fellow at the Materials Physics Center in San Sebastian with the project “AB Initio calculation of Polarons”.

Dr. Adelaide Nicole is an experienced teacher at the University of Buea / college of Technology specialized in electronics, electrotechnics, telecommunication, automation and computer engineering. She holds a Master in Physics (Electronics specialty) and a PhD/Doctorate in physics telemedicine. As a researcher she currently works with machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), neural network (NN), non-linear dynamic methods applied in medicine (for encryption, transmission, automated diagnosis devices and internet of medical things), industry (automation, control system, electronic, electrotechnique, telecommunication), renewable energy and climate change. She develops the project “Machine learning based non-invasive estimation of intracranial pressure (ICP) by diffuse optics” at the Institute of Photonics Science (ICFO), Barcelona.

Dr. Smita has a Doctorate in Engineering from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, an MBA University of Chichester UK. She has more than 30 years of academic and research experience and Heads the Namibian Institute of Space Technology at Namibia University of Science and Technology Windhoek Namibia. She is the Past President of the Engineering Council of Namibia (2018-2019) and served as a member of the Engineering Council of Namibia and Chair of the Engineering Education Committee (2018- June 2022). Smita is the Founder and CEO of the Namibia Women in Engineering Association and has worked on numerous projects promoting STEM in national conferences, outreach and networking events. She is a member of the Women in Engineering FAEO team. Smita regularly organises national workshops and events. She is a renowned keynote speaker at conferences and forums in Africa and internationally. She develops the project “Division of Electronics and Instrumentation in the Laboratory of Integrated Circuits (LABIC)” in Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, thanks to the funding of the Government of the Canary Islands