Keynotes

Dr. Teresa PÉREZ-PRADO, Research Professor, heads since 2008 the Sustainable Metallurgy group at IMDEA Materials Institute, where she was also Division Leader between 2014 and 2017 and Deputy Director between 2017 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022 she coordinated the programme on Structural Materials at the Spanish National Science Foundation. Dr. Pérez-Prado got a PhD in Physics at the Complutense University in Madrid in 1998 and an MBA at INSEAD, France, in 2008. After a 2 year postdoctoral stay at the University of California in San Diego, USA, she joined the National Center for Metals Research (Madrid, Spain) in 2001, where she worked as a tenure-track fellow until she was granted a Tenured Scientist position in 2004. Dr. Pérez-Prado has coauthored 160 papers (h 56, ≈11000 citations (Google Scholar)), 1 book (Elsevier, 2004) and 4 patents. Teresa has been a member of the Scientific Council of the Nomaten Center of Excellence (Poland), the IRT Jules Verne (France), the Henry Royce Institute (UK), and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Professor Dinara Sobola is a materials physicist at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology. She is also affiliated with CEITEC BUT and works as a researcher at the Institute of Physics of Materials of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on advanced functional and smart materials, ferroic and multiferroic systems, and the non-destructive characterization of material surfaces. Her work combines material synthesis, advanced surface analysis, 3D printing, and the investigation of electrical, mechanical, and magnetic properties. She is particularly interested in materials for highly sensitive sensors, energy-efficient electronics, energy storage, and emerging computing technologies. Professor Sobola is actively involved in international research collaboration, doctoral supervision, and the teaching of solid-state physics and physics for electrical engineering. 

Prof. Dražan Kozak (TEAM society) A distinguished international expert and President of the TEAM society, dedicated to bridging engineering excellence with national economic prosperity. In his keynote, he will explore the strategic importance of STEM education and the vital role of engineers in shaping Europe's competitive future. His "Engineering with Heart" vision emphasizes scientific integrity as the cornerstone of sustainable development and responsible decision-making in both industry and society.

Michiya Matsusaki was born in Kagoshima, Japan in 1976. He received his Ph.D. degree in 2003 from Kagoshima University. He started his academic career as a Postdoctoral fellow at Osaka University in 2003. He was a visiting scientist at Lund University in 2004. In 2006, he joined the Department of Applied Chemistry in the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka University as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2015 and to full Professor in 2019. He was a JST-PRESTO researcher (Concurrent position) from 2008 to 2011 and from 2015 to 2019. He was awarded 23 awards including Osaka Science Award and the Young Scientist's Prize by MEXT. His research interest is biomaterials and tissue engineering for regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical applications. His current publication number is 240 and h-index is 50. current publication number is 240 and h-index is 50.current publication number is 240 and h-index is 50.current publication number is 240 and h-index is 50.current publication number is 240 and h-index is 50.

Aracely Angulo-Molina, PHD, is Professor at the University of Sonora, Mexico, translating scientific knowledge into innovative solutions that improve people's health and well-being. Her interdisciplinary research bridges biophysics, emerging technologies, environmental health, and clinical science to address complex health challenges and translate scientific knowledge into benefits for society. She has delivered invited lectures, courses, and workshops across Mexico, the United States, and Europe. She has served as Guest Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and has contributed to international programmes at Johns Hopkins University, the State University of New York, and the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Beyond research and teaching, she has been invited to serve on honorary governmental advisory committees on public health and air quality, helping translate scientific evidence into public decision-making. She also works with breast cancer patients and survivors, integrating music, and creative arts into health promotion. Passionate about inspiring future generations, she actively promotes STEM education through interdisciplinary learning and community engagement.

Dr. Babak Safaei currently is working as an Associate Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eastern Mediterranean University. He obtained a PhD from Tsinghua University with expertise in Applied Computational Mechanics, Additive Manufacturing, Composite and Nano Composite Materials, Machine Learning, and Energy Storage. Over six years of academic research experience and more than ten years in industry, providing innovative solutions and technical leadership. Presently, he is the Director of Nanotechnology and Multifunctional Structures Research Center (NMSRC) at Eastern Mediterranean University. Also, he has honorary position as Visiting Professor at University of Johannesburg since 2023. ASME Member, with a strong track record in lecturing, research supervision, and mentoring students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.