Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo is Vice Dean: Global Engagement and Professor of Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa, where he also directs the Centre for Innovative Food Research (CIFR). His research focuses on sustainable food processing, fermentation, food metabolomics, and 3D food printing to enhance nutrition, food security, and health. Listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University, he has published over 140 journal articles, 29 book chapters, and 2 books (with other books titles in progress), and holds a patent on 3D food printing. Prof. Adebo has secured over ZAR 20 million in research funding and received numerous awards, including the Institute of Food Technologists Emerging Leader Award, NRF Emerging Researcher of the Year, and UJ’s Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Award. A TWAS Young Affiliate and Member of the South African Young Academy of Science, he serves on editorial boards of leading journals, has delivered keynote talks globally, and actively drives strategic partnerships that advance science and innovation worldwide.

Dr. Gomaa Ali is an Associate Prof. at Al-Azhar University (Egypt) and University of Khorfakkan (UAE). He has 17 years of experience working in the research areas of materials science, humidity sensing, graphene, supercapacitors, water treatment, and recycling. He was awarded his Ph.D. from UMP, Malaysia. He is the recipient of some national and international prizes and awards (1. TWAS-AREP (2018), 2. ARSCO Award 2022, 3. MKF-BUE excellence award, BUE (2024), 4. Individuals Award from ASRT, 2021, 5. Obada International Prize (2021), 6. Arab Water Council Award 2022, 7. Gold Medal (Archimedes, Russia, 2014), 8. Green Technology Award (CITREX, Malaysia, 2015), 8. Gold Medal (BIS, UK, 2015). He has been included in Stanford University’s List of the World’s Top 2% of Scientists. He has published over 175 articles and 30 book chapters. So far, he has over 8500 citations and an h-index of 56. He is an Editor of many WoS journals. He is a member of international scientific societies, including TWAS, AAS, ACS, and RSC. He is an Editor of some handbooks, “Waste Recycling Technologies for Nanomaterials Manufacturing” Springer, 2021, Handbook of Biodegradable Materials” Springer, 2022, etc.

Mary Donnabelle Balela is a full professor at the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from UP in 2004, a master’s degree in materials engineering from the Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2008, and a PhD in materials science and engineering from Kyoto University in 2011. She leads the Sustainable Electronic Materials Group, which develops low-cost advanced functional materials for applications in electronics, the environment, and energy. She recently received the 2020 Encouragement Award, which is part of the Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award, for her work on developing customizable sorbents based on kapok fibers. She is the runner-up in the 2019 ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women, 2019 Department of Science Outstanding Research and Development Awardee for Applied Research for her work on silver-based flexible electronic devices.

Paula Echeverría-Galindo is a scientific researcher with the Institute for Geosystems and Bioindication at the Technical University of Braunschweig, in Germany. At the same institute, she earned a magna cum laude recognition for her PhD degree in natural sciences. Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, and a master’s degree in Limnology and Marine Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has over 10 years of experience as a teacher of biology, geosciences and climate change. Her research interests are in climate change and its impact on aquatic communities. Paula is focusing on modern ecology and paleolimnological reconstructions, using multiple aquatic microorganisms, sedimentology and geochemical approaches to understand how the systems adapt and respond to global warming. Her research work has been carried out in the neotropics and on the Tibetan Plateau. She was awarded with a grant to expand her research in the neotropics examining paleolimnological data from volcanic lakes in Guatemala. She has been involved in activities related to gender equality and scientific outreach.

Dr. Chika Ejikeugwu is a Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) in Germany and currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany. He is also the founder of the online microbiology education platform www.MicrobiologyClass.net, dedicated to advancing microbiology learning and research. He previously held a DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, Germany (2021). He is currently a COFUND Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellow under Horizon Europe, funded by the European Union. His first postdoctoral training was on HIV-1 at the Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan (2018), supported by the Matsumae International Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in Tokyo. He earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria. In addition to his international research engagements, Dr. Ejikeugwu is a Senior Lecturer at Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Nigeria, where he mentors undergraduate and postgraduate students in microbiology. His research interests span antimicrobial resistance & One Health.

Otabek Khakimov is an associate professor at the Laboratory of Algebra and its applications at the Institute of Mathematics named after V.I. Romanovskii in Uzbekistan. At the same institute he is a secretary of scientific seminar under scientific council on the awarding of scientific degrees. Khakimov is an editor of the electronic journal Bulletin of the Institute of Mathematics in Uzbekistan. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematical sciences from the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, also in Uzbekistan. He earned a PhD in physical and mathematical sciences from The Supreme Attestation Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan based on the decision of the scientific council at the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek. He also earned a Doctor of Science (the next degree after PhD in Uzbekistan) in physical and mathematical sciences from the Institute of Mathematics named after V.I. Romanovskii, in Uzbekistan. His research interests are in the theory of dynamical systems, probability theory and stochastic processes, non-Archimedean analysis and mathematical physics.

Lai received his PhD in biomedical engineering from the Malaysia University of Technology and Ilmenau Technical University in Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service PhD Sandwich Programme. He is currently an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University Malaya, and chief technology officer of BioSight Sdn Bhd. Lai was awarded a fellowship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities by the UK in 2021 for his research on recovered COVID-19 patients’ risk of hospital readmission. Later, Lai was conferred the Young Engineer Award 2021 by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia. Lai was also awarded the IEEE-EMBS Early Career Achievement Award 2021 by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Malaysia Chapter the same year. Lai was elected as Fellow of Engineers Australia and Fellow of Institute of Engineers Malaysia. In 2022, Lai was bestowed the Board of Engineers Malaysia Most Prominent Young Engineering Leader Award by the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Elías Peraza has been the Technological and Educational Prospective Manager of Salvadoran Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, since 2022. He conducts studies in science, technology and innovation (STI), prioritizing those of interest to the education system, including emerging technologies. He graduated in business administration from the University of El Salvador in 2010 and earned a master’s degree in business management for innovation and internationalization from the University of Basque Country, Spain, in 2011. In 2019, Peraza received a PhD in economics with cum laude distinction from Universities of Burgos, Valladolid and Salamanca, Spain. He studied both his master’s and doctorate thanks to scholarships from the European Union. Peraza has published academic and diffusion articles about systems of innovation, STI policies, business innovation behaviour, and economic policy. He has participated in more than 15 international conferences, the most recent: Globelics 2023 (virtual) and "Nobel Prize Dialogue Rio and São Paulo 2024" (in person). As for awards, he received the Central American Rubén Darío Award for Academic Excellence in 2009.

Johan David Reyes Chavez is a PhD student at University College Cork in Ireland and a Climate and Innovation Officer at Fundación Ayuda en Acción, Honduras. His research interests are in conservation management, plant biodiversity, biogeographical patters, climate change, and public policy. In recognition of his contributions to the Honduran biodiversity and climate change studies, he was awarded the 2022 Ten Outstanding Young Person award by Junior Chamber International – Honduras in the category of scientific advancements and technology. An Oxford and Cambridge journal author, he has been published in many journals in his field, including Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Tropical Ecology, Plant Ecology, Phytotaxa and Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.

Tesfay Gebremariam Tesfahannes is an associate professor and PhD program coordinator at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences. He is also the community engagement coordinator for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Arbaminch University, Ethiopia. At the same university, he teaches quantum states of light, advanced quantum optics, quantum information, and more. In 2018, he earned a PhD degree in theoretical physics from Dalian University of Technology in China. His research interests are in quantum optomechanics—the quantum features of optomechanical systems, including quantum entanglement and continuous-variable quantum information processing. In February 2020, he was awarded a letter of recognition from the Winter College on Optics: Quantum Photonics and Information at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Italy. In 2021, he won a letter of recognition from the Ethiopian Physical Society Annual Conference. In 2022, he received a letter of appreciation from the Ethiopian Physics Society for his participation in the North America Summer School Program.

I am Dr. Ghanya Al-Naqeb an Associated Professor of Nutritional Sciences, (Nutrigenomics), a national of Yemen, I have a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences (Nutrigenomics) from University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia 2009. as well as a M.Sc. in Nutritional Biochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia in 2005, and Nutrition degree, from the University of Damascus, Syria, in 1998. Currently am a senior scientist in the University of Pavia Italy in the Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine. My research so far is focusing on preclinical investigation on the role of herbal plants, nutrients, functional foods and nutraceuticals in disease prevention (in the area of obesity, oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes, anti-inflammation and cancer) in addition to addressing their toxicology and safety profile. My research experience spans a wide range of methodologies and technologies in green extraction, in vitro and in vivo research, molecular biology research, toxicology, and protein expression. I have gained my scientific experiences from different advanced laboratories in Malaysia.

Al-Qadhi received her PhD degree with a major in oral biology from Cairo University, Egypt, and her research focuses on tissue regeneration using stem cells derived from oral tissues and evidence-based dentistry, a rare achievement for a woman from Yemen. Her master's project was about the effect of Khat extract on the oral tissues, as the habit of Khat chewing is a major health and social problem in Yemen. She has published several scientific articles in international journals. She received several awards, including the academic distinction for the highest-ranked undergraduate students, and a postgraduate scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Yemen. She was selected as a TechWomen emerging leader representing her country in the USA in 2014. She had worked as an assistant lecturer at the University of Science and Technology in Yemen. Now, she is looking to pursue her scientific journey as a researcher in stem cells and tissue regeneration in a safe environment where she can improve her technical skills, gain knowledge, and make a positive impact on her community as well as the host institute.

Noushin Arfatahery is a dynamic researcher and advocate with a Doctor of Biology (PhD) from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the Alfred Wegener Institute and Charité University. She also holds a Master’s in Food Microbiology and a Bachelor’s in Medical Science from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Her research focuses on aquaculture, microbiology, antibiotic resistance, and sustainable seafood production. She conducted advanced research on the symbiotic interactions of oysters and sea cucumbers during a fellowship at Vancouver Island University, Canada, with a focus on sustainable aquaculture. She presented her work at major international conferences, including the IAFP 2024 in the USA. Dr. Arfatahery was a John Maddox Prize nominee (2017–2019) and a 2022 Aquaculture Award finalist for environmental impact. She is a member of Aquaculture Europe and has published extensively on sustainable aquaculture and seafood safety. Her multidisciplinary expertise and advocacy for women in STEM and food sustainability make her a key contributor to advancing global scientific collaboration.

Alexander Birbrair received his bachelor’s degree in biomedicine from Santa Cruz State University in Brazil. He completed his PhD in neuroscience at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Then, he joined as a postdoc in stem cell biology at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York. His laboratory is interested in understanding how the cellular components of different tissues function and control disease progression. His group explores the roles of specific cell populations in the tissue microenvironment by using state-of-the-art techniques. In 2018, Alexander was elected affiliate member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and, in 2019, he was elected member of the Global Young Academy, and in 2021, he was elected affiliate member of TWAS. He is the Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Current Tissue Microenvironment Reports, and Associate Editor of Molecular Biotechnology. Alexander also serves on the editorial boards of several other international journals.

Dr Blair is a policy adviser for S&T and R&D, applying her expertise and skills in academia and government to assist various triple helix R&D organisations for the advancement of research and innovation, knowledge management, S&T education, and international cooperation. She is an interdisciplinary professional with degrees in Environmental Studies & Anthropology (B.A., St. Lawrence University), Environmental sciences (MSc, University of Arkansas), Freshwater Systems Science (MSc, University of Glasgow), and Earth Sciences (PhD, University of Glasgow). Her PhD research was to describe and model the behaviour of microplastics in fresh- and wastewater systems and to inform policy, publishing her original work in three peer-reviewed journals before the end of her PhD. She has worked as Chief Science Officer creating the R&D Unit and developing institutional processes for the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation in Honduras; and later, was Adviser for S&T for the Government of Honduras. Currently, she is Policy Officer for the Scottish Government's Hydro Nation Strategy and also guest editor for a special issue on microplastics pollution in the journal Frontiers.

Eric Djomo Nana is a Senior Researcher/Assistant Professor and Head of the Wildlife Research Unit at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development in Cameroon. He is also currently a Research fellow in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Science in environmental impact assessment from the University of Dschang in Cameroon and a Taught Masters in Parasitology from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. He earned a PhD in ecology from Charles University in Prague, in the Czech Republic. His research interests are in wild meat use and trade and how that affect threatened species, local livelihoods, and facilitate spill over of highly pathogenic viruses. He has published several articles in peer-reviewed impact factor journals and has won several research grants and awards. He is an affiliate of the African Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences since 2021. He is the current President of Cameroon's chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. He is also an adjunct professor at the Higher Institute of Environmental Science in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Sabrina Moriom Elias is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Life Sciences at the Independent University, Bangladesh. Her teaching focuses on genomics, bioinformatics, biostatistics and plant biotechnology. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned a PhD focusing plant genomics and quantitative genetics from the University of Dhaka. Her research interests are focused on functional genomics studies using gene editing and cloning technologies for development of climate-resilient crops. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow in a continuation of the PhD project and was chosen for the Beachell Borlaug International Scholar impact award from Bayer in 2020. She worked as a researcher in National Jute genome project, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory at Australian National University, as a guest faculty in University of Dhaka, and cBLAST—an online bioinformatics course platform. She is a member of the Global Young Academy and current Secretary of the National Young Academy of Bangladesh.

Onjamirindra Sarobidy Rakotonarivo is a research fellow at the Department of Forestry and Environment at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural sciences and a Master of Science in Sustainable Tropical Forestry. She earned a joint PhD in environmental and development economics from Bangor University, UK, and the University of Copenhagen, the Netherlands, in 2016. Her research interests are in nature-climate interventions in Africa, such as forest conservation, restoration, and climate-smart agriculture. She uses a mixed method approach, including field experiments and qualitative approaches, to study the political and socioecological factors that increase their effectiveness. By identifying what does and doesn’t work, and under what conditions, her research aims to support the design of policies that contribute to the long-term well-being of people and nature. She also has a track record of supporting evidence-based policy and working in multi-stakeholder engagement.

Lobna Said is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Microelectronics System Design Master Program at Nile University in Egypt. At the same university, she teaches electric circuits and electronics courses. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in electronics and electrical communication from Cairo University, Egypt. She earned a PhD in electronics and electrical communication from Cairo University, Egypt. Her research interests are interdisciplinary, including modelling, optimization, linear and nonlinear circuits and systems, and chaos theory. In recognition of her contributions to science and development, Said was a winner of the 2019 State Encouragement Award for Engineering Science. In 2019 and 2020, she was the recipient of Dr. Hazem Ezzat Prize for the Outstanding Researcher. In 2020 and 2021, Her name was in the top 2 percent of scientists according to the Stanford Report. In 2021, she was awarded the IEEE Outstanding Branch Counsellor & Branch Chapter Advisor Award.