TODAY
Jul. 20, 2025
D-68

로고

Download Brochure
HOME LOGIN SIGN UP CONTACT US
닫기
HOME LOGIN SIGN UP CONTACT US Download Brochure
ICOBTE & ICHMET 2025
22nd - 26th September 2025
BEXCO, Busan, Korea
Committees
Committees
  • Committees

Committees

Local Organizing Committee
International Organizing Committee
International Scientific Committee
Advisory Board
Local Organizing Committee
Coordinators
Student Ambassador

Advisory Board

  • Prof. Jay Hyuk Rhee
    President of International ESG Association
    Korea University
    Bio
    Professor Jay Hyuk Rhee has been a professor of business administration at Korea University since September 2001. He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration at Korea University, and a Ph.D. at Ohio State University in the United States. At Korea University, he is a member of the ESG Committee, Director of the ESG Research Institute, director of the Social Enterprise Center, and a member of the Latin American Research Institute. Dr. Rhee is a co-chairperson of the International ESG Association, the chairman of ESG management committee of the Korea Teachers’ Pension, advisory committee member of the Korea Listed Companies Council, director of sustainability division of working group on industrial policy research. His research interest includes sustainability assessment (ESG), corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainable development objectives (SDG), management strategies and global strategies. He has published papers in a number of top academic journals, including Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), the world’s most prestigious international journal in the field of international business, and won the Korea International Society’s Best Paper Award. He has published books including “Social Value and Sustainability: ESG and Global Strategy,” “Beyond CSR to SDGs,” “The Role of Corporate Sustainability in Asia Development: A Case Study Handbook,” “Green Leadership in China: Management Strategies from China’s Most Responsible Companies,” “Hyundai-Kia Motors’ marketing case in China, and “Current Status and Implications of Management Education in Korea.”
  • Prof. Kyoungphile Nam
    11th President of the Korean Groundwater & Soil Environment Society
    Seoul National University
    Bio
    Professor Kyoungphile Nam served as the 11th President of the Korean Groundwater & Soil Environment Society from 2021 to 2022, underscoring his leadership in the field. He is a full professor in the Department of Construction Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University, specializing in groundwater and soil contamination. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Cornell University (1993-1998) with a dissertation titled “Role of Organic Matter and Nanopores in the Bioavailability and Sequestration of Phenanthrene in Soil and Model Solids” under Professor Martin Alexander. He also obtained his M.S. in Animal Resources (Genetic Engineering program) and his B.S. in Animal Resources from Seoul National University. Since 2003, Professor Nam has held various academic positions at SNU?from assistant professor to full professor. He has served as department chair (2021-2023), directed the Environmental Remediation and Risk Assessment Research Center, and led the InfraSPHERE Education Research Group. Additionally, he worked as a professional professor at POSCO and led the Ministry of Environment’s GAIA Project. An active member of several professional societies, Professor Nam has held influential roles, including chairing the Future Innovation Committee of the National Assembly Water Forum. His research contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, and he has published extensively in leading journals, significantly advancing the fields of groundwater and soil contamination research.
  • Prof. Seung-Kwan Hong
    Director and Dean of KU-KIST
    Korea University
    Bio
    Professor Seung-Kwan Hong, currently the Director and Dean of KU-KIST, is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Korea University, where he has served since 2003. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1996 under the guidance of Professor Menachem Elimelech, and received both his M.S. (1993) and B.S. (1991) degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. He also pursued studies in Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University. Prior to joining Korea University, Professor Hong held academic positions at the University of Central Florida, serving as an Assistant Professor from 1997 to 2003 and attaining tenure as an Associate Professor in 2003. His early career included lecturing at UCLA, graduate research at both UCLA and UC Irvine, and experience as an environmental student engineer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. A licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida (PE #59362), his research focuses on advanced water and wastewater treatment technologies?including membrane processes, desalination, flow?electrode capacitive deionization, and carbon capture?as well as sustainable water reuse. Recognized for his excellence in teaching and research through numerous awards, Professor Hong actively contributes to professional societies and editorial boards, significantly advancing the field of environmental engineering.
  • Prof. Inseong Hwang
    President of the Korean Groundwater & Soil Environment Society
    Pusan National University
    Bio
    Professor Inseong Hwang is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Pusan National University, where he leads the Environmental Remediation Laboratory. In addition to his academic role, he serves as the President of the Korean Groundwater & Soil Environment Society, providing strategic guidance and leadership to advance research in the field. Professor Hong earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2000 under the mentorship of Professor Menachem Elimelech, following his M.S. (1991) and B.S. (1989) degrees in Civil Engineering from Seoul National University. He also pursued studies in Mechanical Engineering at Seoul National University. His early career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Texas A&M University (2000-2001) and a position as a research director at I-N3 Environmental Technology Research Institute (2001-2003). Since 2004, he has been a valued member of the faculty at Pusan National University. Moreover, he has held leadership roles such as serving as the organizing committee chairman of the Busan International Water Forum (2013-2017) and as the director of the Environmental Technology and Industrial Development Institute (2014-2017). Professor Hong’s research achievements span studies on persulfate activation by nanosized zero-valent iron, accelerated carbonation of MgO-based binders for contaminated sediments, and field investigations on the treatment of DNAPL sources. His projects, supported by national agencies, focus on advancing electrochemical treatment processes for high-salinity wastewater and heavy metal stabilization in soils and mining wastes. An active member of several professional societies?including the American Chemical Society, the Korean Groundwater & Soil Environment Society, and the Korean Society of Water Environment?Professor Hong continues to contribute significantly to environmental remediation research and technology.
  • Prof. In-Joo Chin
    President of Korean Bioplastics Association
    Chairman of Pan Pacific Bioplastics Alliance
    Professor Emeritus, Inha University
    Bio
    Prof. In-Joo Chin has been working closely with biochemical industry by leading the Korean Bioplastics Association (KBPA) as president for more than 15 years. KBPA, an incorporated body under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Korean government, represents major stakeholders of bioplastics industry and research organizations. The association has been playing a key role in promoting bioplastics industry by publicizing and increasing public awareness of biodegradable plastics and plastics based on renewable resources. Prof. Chin has been also active in networking with global partners and elected as Chairman of the Pan Pacific Bioplastics Alliance in 2024. Prof. In-Joo Chin, a Ph.D. in polymers from MIT, is Professor Emeritus of Inha University after having worked as professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering for thirty years. His research interest includes bioplastics, soft nanomaterials, polymer nanocomposites, and surface and interface properties of polymers, etc. Prof. Chin has published approximately 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals and coauthored three books. During his academic tenure at Inha University Dr. Chin had held various administrative positions such as Founding Director of Inha Nano-Hitech Research Center, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Research and External Affairs. Prof. Chin had been invited as Adjunct Professor at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, Research Advisor for the School of Materials Engineering at University of Malaysia, Perlis (UniMAP), and member of the BINUS Advisory Council for BINUS University in Jakarta, ndonesia.
  • Prof. Jaeyoung Choi
    Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
    Bio
    Professor Jaeyoung Choi is a Principal Researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and a Professor at the Graduate School of Energy and Environmental Convergence at Korea University. He is currently serving as the President of the Korean Society of Sediment Environment and Dredging Engineering, demonstrating his leadership in advancing sustainable sediment and environmental management technologies. As a long-standing lead researcher in the Division of Sustainable Environment at KIST, Professor Choi has conducted extensive research across a wide range of topics, including soil and groundwater remediation, long-term environmental impact assessments of chemical accidents, carbon dioxide capture and storage, and indoor air quality improvement. His work particularly focuses on the development of field-applicable technologies such as in-situ stabilization of heavy metals, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for selective ion removal, and nano-calcium carbonate synthesis from waste concrete for carbon capture. He has actively published his research in major domestic and international journals within these fields. Among his representative publications are studies on CO₂ capture using recycled concrete, mobility assessment of heavy metals in mine-affected soils, and mechanistic investigations of MOF-based ion removal, published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Hazardous Materials. Over the past five years alone, he has published more than 30 papers in SCI(E)-indexed journals, reflecting his active and sustained contributions to environmental science and technology. In addition to his publications, Professor Choi holds numerous domestic and international patents. His patented technologies, including uranium removal using mineral-based adsorbents, nitrate elimination using microalgae and alginate composites, post-accident soil safety monitoring systems, and electrical property measurement methods for polluted soils, have drawn attention for their high applicability in real-world remediation scenarios. As President of the Korean Society of Sediment Environment and Dredging Engineering since 2025, Professor Choi continues to lead both academic and industrial advancements in aquatic and terrestrial environmental restoration and low-carbon sediment management. His work integrates advanced environmental analysis with comprehensive process design, offering practical solutions for a more sustainable future.
  • Prof. Hocheol Song
    Hanyang University
    Bio
    Professor Hocheol Song is currently a faculty member in the Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering at Hanyang University, where he leads cutting-edge research in sustainable resource recovery and environmental remediation technologies. He earned his B.S. in Mineral and Petroleum Engineering from Hanyang University, followed by an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Clemson, he served as a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and held various leadership positions at Sejong University, including Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Dean for Policy and Budget Planning, before joining Hanyang University in 2022. Professor Song's research focuses on transforming organic, industrial, and municipal wastes into carbon-based functional materials via thermochemical processes. These engineered materials are applied to treat a wide range of environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and trace-level toxicants. His notable contributions include studies on biochar composites, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), bioplastic production from food waste, and plant response to heavy metal stress. His work has been featured in prestigious international journals such as Geoderma, Environment International, Journal of Hazardous Materials, and Environmental Pollution. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher (2024) by Clarivate and has been listed among Elsevier’s “World’s Top 2% Scientists” for multiple consecutive years (2020?2024). Domestically, he has received major accolades, including the Science and Technology Medal (Do-Yak Jang) from the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2021, the Academic Award from the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment (2023), and the Ministerial Commendation from the Ministry of Environment (2017). Professor Song also serves as an editorial board member for the Journal of Hazardous Materials, an editor for Environmental Pollution, and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment, actively contributing to the advancement of environmental science on both national and global stages.
  • Prof. Kitae Baek
    Jeonbuk National University
    Bio
    Professor Kitae Baek is currently a full professor at Jeonbuk National University, where he leads research in environmental engineering, focusing on soil remediation, electrokinetic processes, and sustainable resource circulation. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from KAIST. After conducting research at the University of Loughborough in the UK and KAIST, he worked as a senior researcher at RIST and later joined KIT as a professor. In 2012, he became a faculty member at Jeonbuk National University, where he currently serves as the Director of the Environmental Research and Education Center and the Soil Environment Research Center. Professor Baek has played a key role in organizing international conferences and serves as an associate editor for several SCI journals, including Environmental Geochemistry and Health and Energy & Environment. His research focuses on electrokinetic remediation and environmental geochemistry, contributing to the development of sustainable technologies for resource recovery and waste management.

Local Organizing Committee

  • Prof. Soo Young Kim
    Korea University
    Bio
    Soo Young Kim is a professor in the department of Materials Science and Engineering in Korea University. He received the B.S., M.S., and Ph. D. degrees in materials science and engineering from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea, in 2001, 2003, and 2007, respectively. During his post-doctoral period in Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, he focused on converting graphene oxide to graphene using thermo-chemical nanolithography technique. After starting assistant professor in 2009, he has been interested in the modulation of the properties of two-dimensional materials such as graphene, graphene oxide, transition metal dichalcogenides, and their applications. He combined his experience about optoelectronic devices with two-dimensional materials so that his research is focused on the optimization of two-dimensional materials’ properties and their application to energy devices. During the sabbatical year as a visiting professor at University of Chicago in 2015, he learned the synthesis of nano particles based on metal sulfides, organic perovskite materials, and inorganic perovskite materials. Nowadays, his laboratory is composed of two groups. One group is focusing on organic based semiconductors such as organic light emitting diodes, perovskite light emitting diodes, perovskite solar cells, and perovskite memories. The other group is focusing on the synthesis of two-dimensional materials and its application to hydrogen evolution reaction and CO2 reduction. He has produced more than 380 publications and H-index is 76 (google scholar).
  • Prof. Sumin Kim
    Yonsei University
    Bio
    Prof. Sumin Kim is Yonsei Lee Youn Jae Fellow and Full Professor of the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Yonsei University. He is the Editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials, Elsevier. Dr. Kim was with the Department of Architecture, University of Kansas, KS, USA as a Visiting Professor in 2014 and 2018. He was Full professor at School of Architecture, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea from Mar 2008 to Jul 2018. He was with Composite Material and Structure Center at Michigan State University, USA as Post-Doc. He received the Ph.D. degree in Environmental Materials Since from Seoul National University. Prof. Kim research group, Building Environment and Materials Lab, focous on building environment performance, Eco-friendly materials, PCM, energy-saving materials and energy saving technologies in buildings. Using these materials, he aims to address critical challenges in areas such as fire safety, structural durability, and the environmental sustainability of buildings. He is also committed to advancing carbon reduction technologies and explores high-efficiency bio-based materials, such as wood-based composites, to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Prof. Kim has made a significant impact in the field of building environment research and continues to advance architectural and environmental studies through his diverse roles and contributions. As vice president of the International Association of Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, and Energy Conservation in Buildings, he has actively contributed to organizing international conferences. He has been recognized as a researcher by winning the Young Scientist Award, Award from President of Korea, from the Korean Academy of Science and Technology in 2011. In 2013, he received the Choi Sang-Hong Young Researcher Award from Society of Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers of Korea. He received the 50 Outstanding Research Achievements from the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning in 2014. He was selected as one of the Top 100 Leading Technologies and Researcher of Korea in 2025 by the National Academy of Engineering of Korea in 2017. He has won numerous awards for excellent papers and excellent achievements through active research activities and human resource development, and was recognized for his research activities in the field of architecture for achieving carbon neutrality in 2021 by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of Korea. In 2025, he was elected as a full member of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology.
  • Prof. Hyun Bae Kim
    The University of Tokyo
    Bio
    Kim Hyun Bae is an assistant professor at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo. Dr. Kim received a Ph.D. in energy saving for solar buildings using Phase Change Materials (PCM) from the Department of Architecture at the University of Tokyo in 2017. While working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Energy Innovation Center of the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Dr.Kim conducted big data research on HEMS (Home Energy Management System) using nudge.
    In 2021, Dr.Kim focused on education and research of local forest biomass as building materials and renewable energy in the Biomass Utilization Laboratory at the University of Tokyo. Through this, Dr.Kim has achieved many research results by researching LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and carbon cycle models of local sustainable forest resources and is making efforts to overcome global warming.
  • Prof. Sung Yeon Hwang
    Kyung Hee University
    Bio
    Professor Sung-Yeon Hwang is a leading researcher in the field of plastic sustainability, one of the nation's critical challenges, and is at the forefront of research trends in bioplastics. He has served as a planning committee member for multi-ministerial research projects, including the Ministry of Environment, to address social issues. He is also a director at the Korea Bioplastics Association (KBPA), which aims to foster the bioplastics industry. The biodegradable bioplastic developed by his research team was introduced to the President during the Ministry of Science and ICT's 2020 report as a key innovation for solving national challenges. It was recognized as a leading achievement at the 2020 Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology and selected as one of the "Top 100 National R&D Achievements in Energy and Environment" for 2020. His awards include the Minister of Science and ICT Commendation in 2021, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Award in 2020, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation in 2019, and the Minister of Science and ICT Commendation in 2018. Furthermore, he pioneered the first technology transfer for biodegradable bioplastics manufacturing technology to a major corporation through domestic research and development, with commercialization imminent. As a result, he provides consulting and lectures to both large and small chemical companies interested in the bioplastics field. He previously served as the Director of the Bio-chemical Research Center at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and is currently a professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental New Materials Engineering at Kyung Hee University.
  • Prof. Jianjie Gao
    Korea University
    Bio
    Jianjie Gao is an Associate Research Fellow at the Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS). His research focuses on the bioremediation of environmental pollutants and the biosynthesis of natural substances using plants and microorganisms as chassis materials. He has led Natural Science Foundation projects at the national, provincial, and municipal levels in China. He is currently leading a Shanghai Science Foundation project and contributing to four additional projects. Gao is recognized as part of Shanghai's Youth Science and Technology Talent Program and has been awarded by Shanghai Agricultural Academy's Launch and Climbing Program (2024-2026). In 2022, his published paper was cited in an article in Science. In 2023, his research was featured as a research highlight in Nature Food. Gao holds two Chinese invention patents and one software copyright and has been involved in twenty-two additional Chinese invention patents and one US invention patent. Notably, he successfully developed a rice molecular farming and a plant cell culture system for the production of Ergothioneine, addressing key bottlenecks in the industrialization of plant synthetic biology. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including a Third Prize in the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award, a Second Prize in the Shanghai Technology Invention Award, and various accolades for excellence at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Biotechnology Research Institute.
  • Dr. Bin Cao
    Korea University
    Bio
    Dr. Bin Cao is a Research Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering at Korea University. He received his B.S. degree in 2016 and his Ph.D. in 2022 from Jiangsu University, China, where he subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher until 2024.
    His research focuses on advancing sustainable chemical processes in two primary areas: (1) developing biochar based carbocatalysts for the catalytic pyrolysis of biomass to produce bio oils and chemicals, and (2) conducting systematic life cycle assessments of bio refining technologies.
    Dr. Cao has authored 55 SCI-indexed articles, achieving an H-index of 24 (Web of Science). He serves as a peer reviewer for more than 10 international journals in the fields of energy and environmental sciences.
    He got the Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent (2023) and the Research Faculty Support Project at Korea University (2025). He currently leads a research project funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China that focus on sustainable biomass catalytic conversion technologies.
  • Prof. Seunghyun Weon
    Korea University
    Bio
    Prof. Seunghyun Weon is an Associate Professor at the School of Health and Environmental Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
    He received a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 2012 and a Ph.D. degree in Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at POSTECH in 2018.
    Following postdoctoral research at Yale University and 8-ID XAFS Lab of National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), he joined as a faculty member at Korea University in 2020. He has also served on the administration advisory committee at the Ministry of Environment, Korea. His research interests are mainly focused on air quality management, semiconductor photocatalysis, and environmental nanomaterials.
  • Prof. Jaesang Lee
    Korea University
    Bio
    Prof. Jaesang Lee is a Professor at the School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at Korea University. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for ES&T Engineering. He has previously organized ES&T family journal workshops for young researchers and students.
    He obtained his post-doctoral fellowships from Georgia Institute of Technology and Rice University in USA. Prof. Lee has served as an editor in reputed journals and through his multifaceted role in academia, Professor Lee continues to inspire and empower individuals within the field of civil, environmental, and architectural engineering.
  • Prof. Jungmok You
    Kyung Hee University
    Bio
    Professor Jungmok You has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant & Environmental New Resources at the Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University since March 2021. He earned his B.S. in Biotechnology (2004) and his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (2011) from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. Prior to his current appointment, Professor You served as an Assistant Professor in the same department from March 2015 to February 2021. He also gained valuable international experience as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis in the United States (January 2012 - February 2015), where he additionally lectured briefly in April-June 2013. Earlier, he completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Active Polymer Center for Pattern Integration at Yonsei University from September to December 2011. His research interests focus on plant biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, and the sustainable development of novel environmental new resources. By integrating principles of chemical and biomolecular engineering with advanced plant science, Professor You is dedicated to developing innovative strategies for sustainable environmental resource management. His work has been published in various leading peer-reviewed journals, and he actively participates in collaborative research aimed at advancing sustainable technologies.
  • Prof. Sunkyu Kim
    Pukyong National University
    Bio
    Professor Sunkyu Kim is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Energy and Chemical Materials Engineering at Pukyong National University, where he leads the Energy & Environmental Catalysis Laboratory. His research focuses on catalytic reactions using nano- and carbon-based materials in the fields of energy and the environment, with a particular emphasis on developing technologies for the removal of trace metals from soil, waste, and water. Professor Kim earned his B.S. (2014) and M.S. (2016) degrees in Chemical Engineering from Inha University, where he conducted research on catalyst-based environmental remediation during his master’s studies. He then pursued a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, which he completed in 2021 while researching energy conversion and environmental catalysis using nanomaterials. Following his doctoral studies, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware from 2021 to 2023, focusing on sustainable environmental remediation and resource recovery through high-efficiency catalytic reactions. In addition to his research, Professor Kim actively contributes to academic service. He currently serves as the Academic Secretary of the Environmental & Energy Division of the Korean Chemical Society (2025-present) and is an editorial board member for both Applied Chemistry for Engineering and the Journal of Korean Society of Surface Science and Engineering (2024-present). Internationally, he is recognized as a leader in his field, having co-chaired the session on "Advanced Nano- and Carbon-based Materials for Efficient Trace Metal Remediation in Environmental Systems (soil, waste, and water)," thereby helping to drive next-generation research in environmental catalysis and nanomaterial applications.
  • Dr. Kitae Kim
    Korea Polar Research Institute
    Bio
    Dr. Kim Kitae is a Ph.D. Senior Researcher at the Korea Polar Research Institute, where his work focuses on advancing environmental chemistry under extreme polar conditions. He began his academic journey at Kyungpook National University’s Department of Environmental Engineering, studying there from 1998 to 2006. He then pursued an integrated master’s-Ph.D. program in Environmental Chemistry at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from 2006 to 2012, where he deepened his expertise in advanced chemical processes. Since 2016, Dr. Kim has been a Senior Researcher at the Korea Polar Research Institute. His research is centered on the degradation of aqueous organic pollutants under cryogenic conditions?a field in which his most notable publication, “Activation of Periodate by Freezing for the Degradation of Aqueous Organic Pollutants,” has garnered significant attention. With an h-index of 25, his contributions have not only advanced the fundamental understanding of pollutant degradation in polar environments but have also paved the way for sustainable remediation technologies essential for protecting fragile polar ecosystems.
  • Prof. Jaehwan Yang
    Chungnam National University
    Bio
    Professor Jaehwan Yang, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Environment & IT Fusion Engineering (BK21 Four) at Chungnam National University, where he also holds a position in the Department of Environmental Engineering and leads the Air Pollution Control Research Lab. His research focuses on the catalytic abatement of hazardous gases?including VOCs, NOx, SOx, CO, NH₃, and H₂S?as well as on developing environmental catalysts for vehicle exhaust and plasma-catalysis systems for optimal treatment of air pollutants. In addition, he works on innovative processes for managing radioactive gases generated in nuclear power plants. Professor Yang earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear and Quantum Engineering from KAIST in February 2016, and he received both his M.S. (August 2004) and B.S. (February 2002) degrees in Physics from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Earlier in his career, he served as a Senior Researcher at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (2008-2018), where he was involved in radioactive gaseous waste treatment and spent nuclear fuel head-end process development, and as an Air Force Weather Forecaster (2005-2008).
  • Dr. Yuhoon Hwang
    Seoul National University of Science and Technology
    Bio
    Dr. Yuhoon Hwang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University of Science and Technology. He received both his B.S. (2007) and Ph.D. (2012) degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from KAIST, Daejeon, Korea. During his doctoral studies, he served as a research assistant at KAIST and focused on advancing environmental solutions through innovative engineering approaches. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Hwang gained further research experience as a postdoctoral researcher?first at KAIST’s Applied Science Research Center in 2012 and then at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (2012-2015). He also enriched his international exposure as a visiting scholar at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom (2017-2018). Dr. Hwang joined Seoul National University of Science and Technology in 2015 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. His research is centered on developing cutting-edge technologies in environmental engineering, with a particular focus on water and wastewater treatment, as well as soil and groundwater remediation. His work aims to create sustainable solutions for environmental challenges by integrating innovative materials and catalytic processes. In recognition of his research excellence and teaching dedication, Dr. Hwang has received numerous awards, including the Best Research Professor award at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (2019, 2020, 2021) and multiple best paper presentation awards from the Korean Society of Environmental Engineers, the Korean Society of Water Environment, and other prestigious organizations. His accolades also include recognition from the Danish Council for Independent Research, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and several other esteemed institutions. Dr. Hwang is actively involved in professional organizations. He currently serves as a Director of the Korean Society of Environmental Engineers (since 2022) and as the Editorial Secretary of the Korean Society of Water and Wastewater (since 2022). Additionally, he is an active member of the Korean Society of Water Environment, the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment, and the Korean-Scandinavian Scientists and Engineers Association. His leadership roles in these associations underscore his commitment to advancing environmental research and fostering collaborative innovation.
  • Prof. Yong Seok Hong
    Korea University
    Bio
    Professor Hong Yong Seok is a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Systems Engineering at Korea University. His research focuses on sediment pollution management, the behavior, control, and monitoring of trace pollutants, the biogeochemical cycling of mercury (Hg), and the development of eco-friendly pollution remediation processes. Professor Hong has conducted various research projects, including "Development of a Device to Measure the Amount of Dermal Migration of Volatile Organic Compounds in Household Products" and "Application of DGT Passive Samplers for Measuring Bioaccumulative Mercury in Polluted Sediments". In recognition of his outstanding research contributions, he was awarded the 12th Seoktap Research Award. This prestigious award has been presented by Korea University since 2012 to honor faculty members with exceptional research achievements, thereby enhancing the university's research excellence and encouraging high-quality academic publications. In 2022, Professor Hong contributed to the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Environmental Systems Engineering Department at Korea University Sejong and the Sejong Facility Management Corporation. This agreement aimed to promote mutual collaboration and strengthen partnerships in the field of water quality research and professional workforce development. Additionally, he has served as the Chair of the Research and Education Committee in the 13the Korean Society of Groundwater and Soil Environment.
  • Prof. Chang Min Park
    Kyungpook National University
    Bio
    Professor Changmin Park is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Kyungpook National University, where he has distinguished himself in the field of environmental nanotechnology. He earned his bachelor's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Hanyang University, followed by a master's degree in the same field from Virginia Tech. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. After completing his academic training, he gained industry experience as a senior research engineer at Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI. He later pursued postdoctoral research at the University of South Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since joining Kyungpook National University in 2017, he has been actively engaged in research and education. Professor Park's primary research focuses on environmental nanotechnology, with an emphasis on the sustainable development of next-generation multifunctional nanostructures. His work provides innovative approaches in various applications, including adsorption, resource recovery, chemical oxidation, ultrasonic/photocatalytic oxidation, and soil and groundwater remediation. Additionally, he designs and optimizes advanced physicochemical separation processes, such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, for drinking water and industrial wastewater treatment, enhancing energy efficiency and concentrate management. His research also investigates the fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment, exploring nanoparticle transformations, reactivity, and toxicity in soil, water, and plants.

Coordinators

  • Maheshika Senanayake
    Korea University
  • Geonwook Hwang
    Korea University
  • Samhita Anakareddy
    Korea University
  • Sachini Senadheera
    Korea University
  • Kyu Won Chung
    Korea University
  • Jubin Park
    Korea University

Student Ambassador

  • Hyolim Kwak
    Sungshin Women's University
  • Sujin Kim
    Changwon National University
  • Yeongseo Kim
    Sejong University
  • Geewon Kim
    Konkuk University
  • Nayeon Park
    Duksung Women's University
  • Seoyeon Bang
    Korea University
  • Wookjae Son
    Changwon National University
  • Myeongsu Sin
    Pukyong National University
  • Shinyoung Yoo
    Myongji University
  • Dabeen Lee
    Korea Maritime & Ocean University
  • Younghyun Lee
    KorKyungpook National University
  • Hyeonjoo Lee
    KorKyMyongji University
  • Heonjae Jo
    Dong-A University
  • Sumin Chi
    Korea University
  • Seungmin Choo
    KorKyungpook National University

International Organizing Committee

  • Prof. Eakalak Khan
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
    Bio
    Eakalak Khan is a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Department and the Director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Water Resources, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). From 2002 to 2017, he was a Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, North Dakota State University (NDSU). He also served as the Chair of Civil Engineering Department, NDSU from 2010 to 2013. Prior to NDSU, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Polytechnic University (now New York University), New York from 1999 to 2002. He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from Chiang Mai University, Thailand in 1990, M.S. in Agricultural Engineering from University of Hawaii in 1993, and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1997. In 1998, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute of Environment, UCLA. Eakalak has published more than 190 refereed journal articles. He was awarded a CAREER grant from NSF in 2005. His honors include the NDSU Odney Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2008; Researcher of the Year, College of Engineering, NDSU, 2005; Water B. Booth Endowed Distinguished Professorship, NDSU, 2017; Water Environment Federation Fellow, 2019; Distinguished Researcher Award, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, UNLV, 2023; Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal, Water Environment Federation, 2023; and International Water Association Fellow, 2024.
  • Prof. Xiangzhou Yuan
    Southeast University, China
    Bio
    Prof. Xiangzhou Yuan is a Youth Chair Professor at the School of Energy and Environment in Southeast University, Nanjing, China. He has published over 80 refereed journal articles including Nat. Rev. Earth Environ., Matter, Environ. Sci. Technol, 8 out of them are highlighted as Covers (i.e., Front, Back) and 4 are recognized as HCPs. Dr. Yuan registered 8 patents and achieved 2 technology transfer (KR10-2197821 & KR10-1650191). He is active in serving as a key member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Sustainable Waste Management (APRU SWM) Program, Council Member of Jiangsu Energy Research Society, Senior Membership of the International Association for Carbon Capture, and Academic Committee Member of the International Cooperation Research Centre of Carbon Capture in Ultra-low Energy-consumption, etc. Moreover, he has been invited to deliver keynote and invited speeches for over 30 international conferences in energy, engineering, and environmental fields. He also serves as Guest Editors (Chem. Eng. J., Appl. Energy, Adv. Appl. Energy, etc.), and Editorial Board Members (Biochar, Carbon Res., Resour. Chem. Mater., etc.).
  • Prof. Xiao Yang
    Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing China
    Bio
    Dr. Xiao Yang’s academic background covers both soil chemistry and environmental quality monitoring and assessment. His research interest focuses on environment-benign materials (Iron minerals, biochar etc.) for their use in soil remediation or wastewater purification, spatial analyses of environmental variables, especially for visualizing spatiotemporal variation of metals and nutrients in soils using GIS, geostatistics and other related advanced AI algorithm, as well as novel technology for valorisation of biowaste into value-added products.
    Dr. Xiao has published more than 90 peer-reviewed journal papers, most of which are in mainstream environmental engineering and chemistry journals including Environ. Sci. Technol., Water Res., and J Hazard Mater etc., and 7 of which have been recognized as Web of Science ESI top papers, namely Highly Cited Paper.
    He has been served as a member of editorial board in Biochar and Carbon Research since 2020 and be horored with “2022 World Top 2% Scientists”. He also regularly reviews manuscripts in academic journals for environmental science (Environ. Sci. Technol, Environ. Pollut., Sci. Total Environ.), environmental engineering (J. Hazard. Mater., Chem. Eng. J., Bioresour. Technol.).
  • Prof. Ming Zhang
    China Jiliang University, China
    Bio
    Prof. Ming Zhang is now a Mingde Distinguished Professor at the Department of Environmental Engineering, China Jiliang University. He received his Ph.D. degree from Zhejiang University, Department of Environmental Science, in 2009, and joined China Jiliang University (CJLU) as a permanent faculty. He is currently serving as an associate editor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health. He was a visiting scholar at the University of Queensland (Australia), a visiting scientist at Kangwon National University (South Korea), and an incoming scholar of the Erasmus Mundus Master Program of Environmental Technology and Engineering at Ghent University (Belgium). His research interests include soil remediation, biochar for environmental application, and microplastics. He has published more than 70 SCI papers, including Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Environmental Pollution, et al., with >8400 citations and an H-index of 34. He was selected as Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2022, and World’s Top 2% Scientists (2023).
  • Prof. Lei Wang
    Zhejiang University, China
    Bio
    Prof. Lei Wang is a “Hundred-Talent Program” Research Fellow (Professor), Doctoral Supervisor, NSFC National Excellent Young Scholar, Humboldt Fellow at the College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University. His research interests include sustainable waste-to-energy technologies, low-carbon hazardous waste treatment, CO2 sequestration and utilisation in minerals. He has published over 100 SCI journal papers in total, including over 90 papers in Top 10% journals, 5 Hot Papers and 21 Highly Cited Papers, and co-edited two books and contributed chapters to 7 books (over 7900 citations with an h-index of 55). He has been selected as the World’s Top 2% Scientist (published by Stanford University). He is the Secretary General of International Cooperation Working Committee in Chinese Society of Power Engineering. He has served as an Associate Editor for Soil Use and Manag. and Waste Manage. Bull., Editorial Board for J. Hazard. Mater., and Guest Editor for 10 leading SCI journals. Prof. Wang served as an Evaluation Expert of Foundations in 7 countries, an Invited Speaker, Session Chair, Member of Scientific Committee in over 30 conferences and also has given seminars in over 20 leading universities.
  • Prof. Haiping Yang
    Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
    Bio
    Haiping Yang received her Ph.D Degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2005. Now, she is focused on Biomass/solid wastes thermochemical conversion for green H2 production, liquid fuel and biochar. So far she has published over 300 SCI papers, 10 book chapters and SCI citation is over 30000 with 10 papers cited in ESI and the highest citation of one SCI paper is over 6000. Now she owns National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars program (China), the Excellent Young Scholars program (China), Newton Advanced Fellowships, the Most Cited Chinese Researchers (Elsevier, 2014-2023) and Highly-cited-researchers @ Clarivate. She is associated editor of Fuel Processing Technology, and board member of Energy Conversion and Management, Fuel, Journal of the Energy Institute, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Cabon Capture Science and Technology and Green Carbon, she is also Board Directors member of Combustion Institute and Chinese Renewable Energy Society.
  • Prof. Yu Luo
    Zhejiang University, China
    Bio
    Dr. Yu Luo is working in Zhejiang University, and he is interested in soil organic matter and indulged in the understanding of mechanistic underpinning of soil organic carbon turnover since 2002. In the past 5 years he has produced several publications from the top soil journals including Soil Biol Biochem (27), Envion Mcriobiol (2), etc. He is leading projects from National Science Foundation of China and some other international cooperation funding with Germany, UK and Australia.
  • Prof. Jien Shih-Hao
    National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
    Bio
    Prof. Jien is now hosting Lab. of Soil and Environmental Conservation Techniques in NCHU, Taiwan. During Dr. Jien’s academic career at NPUST (previous) and NCHU (now), he has supervised more than 65 undergraduate students, 20 postgraduate students, and 4 Ph.D. students. He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles until now. He also conducted more than 20 projects associated techniques in biochar application and carbon sequestration from National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and Ministry of Agriculture (MOA). Now, Dr. Jien devotes to the research associated with soil erosion prevention and soil organic carbon sequestration. Professor Jien's recent research focuses on the surface mechanisms of biochar and modified biochar. Utilizing equipment such as XANES, XPS, and IR spectroscopy, he investigates the adsorption mechanisms of biochar and modified biochar for phosphorus and heavy metals. He also employs density functional theory (DFT) to model energy changes and interaction mechanisms between biochar and metals. For the past decade, Professor Jian has dedicated his efforts to studying the impact of biochar on soil environments. One of his international publications has been cited 760 times, while his related research papers on biochar have accumulated over 1,500 citations in total. Professor Jien also utilizes fluorescence spectroscopy and IR to identify indicators of compost maturity.
  • Prof. Jing Qiu
    Guizhou Institute of Technology, China
    Bio
    Jing Qiu’s research focuses on the soil application of organic residues and biochar, the remediation of contaminated soils, and phytostabilization techniques. Specifically, the work explores the effective use of organic residues and biochar to improve soil health and fertility, while also addressing soil contamination issues. The aim is to develop sustainable solutions for environmental challenges and promote ecological recovery.
  • Prof. Fangjie Qi
    Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
    Bio
    Fangjie Qi, Associate Professor at The Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Fangjie obtained her doctorate degree from The University of Newcastle, Australia (UoN) in 2017, and afterwards worked at UoN as a Research Fellow until 2023, when she was recruited by an Elite Program to CAS. Fangjie’s current research areas situate in soil and groundwater PFAS (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances) and heavy metal screening, source apportion, ecological and human health risk assessment, management and remediation technologies. Meanwhile, Fangjie’s work has been involving various carbon emission mitigation and waste utilization technologies. Fangjie has published more than 40 Q1 peer-reviewed SCI index articles, with an H-index of 25. Her project experience includes PFAS screening, fate and transport and ecological risk assessment of aqueous film forming foam impacted mining sites in Western Australia, and PFAS uptake mechanisms and management in PFAS impacted agricultural sites in China, with a consideration of the interaction with heavy metals.
  • Prof. Jin Shang
    City University of Hong Kong, China
    Bio
    Prof. Jin Shang obtained his Bachelor‘s (2007) and Master‘s (2009) degrees both in Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University in China and Ph.D. (2013) in Chemical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. His Ph.D. thesis on carbon dioxide capture from flue gas and natural gas streams discovered a new gas separation mechanism, i.e., molecular trapdoor mechanism, which has been recognized as the 4th mechanism for adsorptive gas separation. After his Ph.D., he worked as a research fellow on an Australian Research Council Discovery Project focusing on developing advanced gas adsorbents at the University of Melbourne. Since 2015, as Co-chief Investigator of Australian Research Council Training Centre for Liquefied Natural Gas Futures, he has been actively participated in research along with major industry partners in oil and gas field. He then moved to Georgia Institute of Technology and worked as a postdoctoral fellow funded by ExxonMobil focusing on restricted gas diffusion in zeolites by advanced molecular simulation, prior to joining the City University of Hong Kong as Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Environment in 2016.
  • Prof. Pavani Dissanayake
    University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    Bio
    Dr. Pavani Dissanayake is a Senior Lecturer in Soil and Environmental Chemistry attached to the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She also serves as the Review Editor of Frontiers in Soil Science and the secretary of the Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka. Her research interests include emerging contaminants, novel applications of biochar, sustainable waste management, and nutrient dynamics in soil. With an H-index of 25, Dr. Dissanayake has an impressive portfolio of over 25 publications in SCI-indexed journals. She has received Merit Award for Scientific Publications from the National Research Council of Sri Lanka and Prof. Yoo Hang Kim Young Women Scientists Award by the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia in 2023 in recognition of her scientific excellence.
  • Prof. Sunita Varjani
    University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), India
    Bio
    Dr. Sunita Varjani is currently working as a Senior Associate Professor at UPES, Dehradun, India. Additionally, she holds the position as Adjunct Professor at Korea University, Republic of Korea and the Director at the Institute of Chartered Waste Managers, India. She has worked as visiting fellow at the City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Scientific Officer at Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Her major areas of research are Industrial & Environmental (Bio)technology, Wastewater Treatment & Process Engineering, (Bio)process Technology and Waste Management having major keywords pollution control and abatement, bioremediation, heavy metals, waste-to-resources, and waste (bio)refineries. Her current research focus is on developing circular waste-based biorefineries for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels. Dr. Varjani has worked as visiting scientist at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Varjani has made noteworthy contributions to research with over 475 publications, including research and review papers, books, chapters, and conference communications. Dr. Varjani’s research output has garnered significant recognition, as evidenced by her h-index of 80. She has been enlisted as a “Highly Cited Researchers 2022” (Top 1% in the World”, Highly Cited Researchers are 1 in 1,000) published by Clarivate’s Web of Science. She has been enlisted as a Highly Cited Researcher (Top 2% in the World), Elsevier Citation Report (2019-Continue). She has also received the Environmental Sciences Leader Award for 2024 and Rising Star of Science Award 2023, 2024 by research.com. She was selected as a Member of The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) in 2021. She has won several awards, including CDC India- Professor Ashok Pandey Award - 2022 from Biotech Research Society, India; Young Scientist Awards from The International Bioprocessing Association - An International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses (2019-2020), Biotech Research Society, India (2018), Microbiologist’s Society India (2018-19), Association of Microbiologists of India (2018), International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (2018) and AFRO-ASIAN Congress on Microbes for Human and Environmental Health, New Delhi (2014); Highly Cited and Highly downloaded papers, Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, Wiley; Bioresource Technology, Elsevier, Journal of Environmental Management, Elsevier and Bioengineered, Taylor & Francis; Top Reviewer Award - 2018, Bioresource Technology, Elsevier; Top Reviewer Award - 2017, Bioresource Technology, Elsevier and Best Paper Awards in national and international conferences in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. She is editor for Archives of Microbiology (Executive Editor), and Indian Journal of Microbiology journal(s). She is associate editor for Spanish Journal of Soil Science and Bioenergy and Biofuels journal(s). She is member of editorial board of Current Pollution Reports, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy etc. and has served as guest editor of special issues of several journals. She served as Management Council Member of the BRSI (2019-2021; 2021-2023). She is an Executive Committee Member of the International Society for Energy, Environment and Sustainability.
  • Prof. Jinchun Tang
    Nankai University, China
    Bio
    He is now Professor of Nankai University, director of Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation. In 2004, graduated from Nagoya University and obtained a Ph.D degree of Civil Engineering. His research interests concentrated on biochar and nano materials, ecological remediation of oil pollution, microplastics pollution and environmental effects. He has published more than 220 SCI papers, including 19 highly cited papers, with an H index of 60. He won the 2012 Young Asian Biotechnologist Prize from The Society for Biotechnology, Japan.
  • Prof. Ali El-Naggar
    Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., Alberta, Canada
    Bio
    Dr. Ali El-Naggar is a recognized Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) and Senior Soil Scientist at Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Canada. With over 15 years of expertise in soil reclamation, conservation, surveying, classification, quality assessment, land use, environmental remediation, and sustainable management, he brings a wealth of experience across academia, industry, and consultancy. Dr. El-Naggar holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Soil Science from Ain Shams University, Egypt, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from Kangwon National University, South Korea. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at the University of Alberta, Canada (2021?2023), and Zhejiang A&F University, China (2019?2020), as well as roles as a visiting researcher at Korea University, South Korea (2017?2018), and an NRF-DAAD Fellow at Wuppertal University, Germany (2016?2018). Dr. El-Naggar is the recipient of several prestigious international awards, including the PYRO ASIA 2020 Young Research Award for his outstanding contributions to biowaste conversion and the Outstanding Academic Award from the President of Kangwon National University (2018) for being the top graduating student. A distinguished researcher, Dr. El-Naggar serves as an editorial board member for six internationally recognized journals and has reviewed over 300 manuscripts for leading international journals in agricultural sciences. He has authored 55+ peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters (H-index: 34), with eight of his papers recognized as Web of Science ESI top papers (seven highly cited papers & and one hot paper). He has also presented 30+ conference abstracts, earning three Best Presentation Awards. Dr. El-Naggar is actively involved in the organization of international conferences in South Korea, China, and Canada and is recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists, according to Stanford University rankings.
  • Prof. Chia-Hung Hou
    National Taiwan University, Taiwan
    Bio
    Professor Chia-Hung Hou is the Principal Investigator of the Water Innovation Research Lab at National Taiwan University, Taiwan. Leading a team of 20 researchers, his work focuses on engineering nanomaterials, membrane separation, capacitive- and battery deionization. His research spans from lab-scale experimentation to pilot-scale development, with a strong emphasis on future commercialization. Prof. Hou’s contributions drive advancements in water desalination, wastewater reclamation, brine concentration for zero liquid discharge, and rare metal ion recovery for high-tech industries. Additionally, his team explores nanotechnology-enabled electrochemical technologies, including bipolar membrane electrodialysis and reversible redox reactions, as sustainable approaches for carbon capture. He actively engages in international collaborations through joint research projects, personnel and student exchanges, seminars, and formal agreements (MOUs).
  • Prof. Bor-Yih Yu
    National Taiwan University, Taiwan
    Bio
    Professor Bor-Yih Yu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at National Taiwan University (NTU), Taiwan. His research focuses on chemical process simulation, process intensification, life cycle assessment (LCA), biomass thermo-conversion, CO₂ capture and utilization, and solid waste treatment. With extensive experience in both academia and industry collaboration, he applies data-driven modeling and rigorous process simulations to develop sustainable and efficient chemical processes. Prof. Yu has held previous academic positions at Chang Gung University, NTUST, and Korea University and currently serves as Subject Editor for Process Safety and Environmental Protection (PSEP) and Editor for Cambridge Prism: Carbon Technologies.
  • Prof. Sabry M. Shaheen
    Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt
    Wuppertal University, Germany
    Bio
    Dr. Sabry Shaheen is working permanently as Full Professor for soil and water sciences at Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt. Currently (01.09.2018 ? to date), he is working as “Senior Scientist” at the Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering; Wuppertal University, Germany. Prof. Shaheen is an Experienced Humboldtian because he got the esteemed Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researcher (2016-2018). He also worked as Expert and Project Manager in the Ministry of Higher Education, Egypt (Feb. 2015- June 2016). Prof. Shaheen has gained international recognition for his research work in soil chemistry, particularly biogeochemistry of trace elements in soils. During the period 2007-2025, together with his team and partners, Prof. Shaheen published 262 articles in 52 of the ISI-Web of science listed Journals, with a scopus total citation = 18,700.0 and h-index = 75 (data extracted on 03.02.2025). Prof. Shaheen has been identified as a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate List, 2021 and 2022) in the field of Environment and Ecology. Also, Prof. Shaheen has been ranked among the top 2% of researchers in the world for the fifth year in-a-raw. He ranked No. 1 in Egypt in the evaluation of environmental scientists and No. 2 in the evaluation of chemistry for the third year in-a-row. Also, according to the AD Scientific Index, 2024, Prof. Shaheen has the highest h-index among all scholars at his home University, and has been ranked No. 1 among scholars in the field of Agricultural & Soil Sciences in Egypt and Africa. Prof. Shaheen is acting as an associate editor and editorial board member for many international journals including Biochar, Environmental Pollution, Sustainability, Journal of Archive of Agronomy and Soil Sciences, Energy & Environment, and Carbon Research. He also acts as a Guest Editor for special issues in many journals. Prof. Shaheen acts as Scientific Secretary of the first Joint ICOBTE (16 th ) & ICHMET (21 st ) Conference (ICOBTE-ICHMET 2023). Also, Prof. Shaheen has been invited as keynote speaker in many international conferences. Prof. Shaheen has awarded “The Order of the Republic of Egypt for Science and Art (2019)”; “The State Award for Excellence in Agricultural Sciences (2018); & Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers (2015) ;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management (2014) & The State Incentive Award in Agricultural Sciences (2011 & Kafrelsheikh University Incentive Award in Environmental Sciences in
  • Prof. Shahabaldin Rezania
    Sejong University, Korea
    Bio
    To be updated.Professor Shahabaldin Rezania is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environment and Energy at Sejong University. His research addresses critical environmental challenges, including wastewater treatment (phytoremediation, adsorption), pollution remediation (persistent organic pollutants, microplastics), and renewable energy (bioethanol, biodiesel, biohydrogen). He worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Seoul National University in 2018, to further strengthen his expertise in environmental and energy research. He has published 171 ISI-indexed papers (Web of Science), accumulating over 11,000 citations with an H-index of 52. Recently, he was recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher 2024 by Web of Science (Clarivate). Additionally, he has been ranked among the Top 2% of Scientists/Researchers worldwide for five consecutive years (2020-2024) in Environmental Science, Energy, and Strategic Technologies. His work directly contributes to 12 out of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Climate Action (SDG 13). With a strong global research network, Dr. Rezania has collaborated with over 150 researchers worldwide and actively participated in international conferences across France, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Korea.
  • Dr. Xue Ting Wang
    Harbin Institute of Technology, China
    Bio
    Dr. Wang is an Associate Research Fellow and Master's Supervisor at School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, China. She received her Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in 2015, and obtained her Master's and Ph.D. degrees from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2017 and 2022, respectively. Her research focuses on low-carbon treatment and resource recovery of organic wastewater and waste biomass, hybrid microbial electrolysis cells-anaerobic digestion, and near-zero discharge of industrial park wastewater. She has led eight national and provincial-level research projects, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the National Key R&D Program and the Heilongjiang Province Key R&D Program, and participated in multiple national natural science projects. In the past five years, she has published over ten papers as the first or corresponding author in high ranked SCI journals, including Water Research and Chemical Engineering Journal. She also serves as a reviewer for multiple SCI journals.

International Scientific Committee

  • Prof. Xinde Cao
    Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
    Bio
    As a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI, Dr. Cao has been and is being in charge of over 20 projects which are supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, Ministry of Education of China, Commission of Science and Technology of Shanghai, and local companies. Dr. Cao has received 4 state-level awards including the 1st Place Award of Science and Technology Progress by the China Ministry of Education. Dr. Cao has made significant achievements on the transport and transformation of heavy metals at soil and groundwater interface and the relevant biogeochemical process. He has published more than 130 SCI-indexed research papers in the refereed journals including Environ. Sci. Technol., Water Res., Environ. Int., etc. His research achievements are recognized worldwide, with the total SCI citation of >12500 and h-index of 56, and 16 papers are ranked as top 1% of ESI. He has completed 5 book chapters including 3 in English. Dr. Cao served more than 40 International Conferences as technical committee member, plenary speaker, session chair, or invited speaker. Dr. Cao has developed the technologies of chemical immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soil, integrated remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, gravity separation of heavy metal from contaminated soil, phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soil. These technologies have been successfully applied for remediation of contaminated shooting range sites, e-waste recycling site, chemical factory site, and electroplating site. He has obtained 8 authorized invention patents of China.
  • Prof. Siming You
    University of Glasgow, Scotland
    Bio
    Dr. Siming You, Senior Lecturer in the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, UK, specialises in the design and analysis of environmental and energy systems with a focus on water treatment and waste management. Before joining the School, he worked as a Research Fellow at NUS (National University of Singapore) Environmental Research Institute. He also served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Nanyang Technological University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Dr. You received his Ph.D. in Thermo-fluids from Nanyang Technological University in 2014. Dr. You was awarded the Outstanding Young Researcher Award by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), SLS in 2018, and the 2022 Young Scientist Award by the International Bioprocessing Association. Dr. You has an exemplary publication record with 120 journal papers and h-index=45.
  • Prof. Xiaomin Dou
    Beijing Forestry University, China
    Bio
    Dr. Xiaomin Dou received his Ph.D. degree from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China in 2006. He is presently a professor at the College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, China. His recent research interests include pharmaceutical wastewater treatment via hydrolysis and photocatalysis, hazardous ions (As, F and Sb, etc.) mitigation from water, and functional materials application for environmental remediation. Recently, he extends his interests on ecological remediation and ecological engineering. He has published more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific papers on the above-mentioned fields with more than 6100 citations. Please find more details on the ResearchGate page.
    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Xiaomin_Dou
  • Prof. Sanjai J. Parikh
    University of California-Davis, USA
    Bio
    Sanjai J. Parikh is an Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry at the University of California-Davis. The primary objective of his research is to examine biogeochemical processes that influence soil and water resources that have a bearing on sustainable agriculture, climate change, soil remediation, biomass recycling, and food safety and security. He is particularly interested in developing zero-waste processes and recycling nutrients and carbon as beneficial soil amendments. Dr. Parikh has published over 110 scholarly works and is the Chair of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Executive Committee. Additionally, he serves as the Soil Chemistry Technical Editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal and Associate Editor for California Agriculture and Earth Critical Zone.
  • Prof. Jianming Xu
    Zhejiang University, China
    Bio
    Prof. Jianming Xu is a soil scientist with particular interests in the field of soil pollution and remediation, and soil quality and food safety. He had a BA in soil science and plant nutrition (1985) and PhD in soil science (1990) at Zhejiang University, and granted the postdoctoral fellow (1994-1995) at University of Minnesota. He is now a leading soil scientist in the Institute of Soil and Water Resources & Environmental Science at Zhejiang University, China. He is a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of China. He is currently a Vice-Chair of the Division 2 Soil Properties and Processes of the International Union of Soil Sciences, and the Coordinator of Chinese Chapter of International Humic Substances Society. He is an associate editor of Research, Biogeosciences and Pedosphere. Dr. Xu has numerous invitations to present his research at national and international conferences. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Nature, Science, PNAS, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Nature Communications, Environmental Science & Technology and Soil Biology & Biochemistry.
  • Prof. Rafael Clemente
    CEBAS-CSIC in Murcia, Spain
    Bio
    Rafael Clemente is a Staff Scientist at CEBAS-CSIC in Murcia (Spain). His research has focused on the use of organic amendments in the (phyto)remediation of trace elements contaminated soils. He has been lately studying different options for the valorization/transformation of different organic waste materials and particularly of the plant biomass generated throughout the remediation process (post-phytoremediation biomass). He is currently working on the recirculation/reutilization of the byproducts generated during plant biomass transformation (digestate, ash, biochar, etc.). Dr. Clemente has published over 70 JCR-indexed scientific articles and is the Head of the Department of Soil and Water Conservation at CEBAS-CSIC. He serves as an Associate Editor at the Soil Science Society of America Journal and is a member of the Editorial Board in the journals SOIL, Soil and Environmental Health, and Toxics.
  • Prof. Kurt Konhauser
    University of Alberta, Canada
    Bio
    Prof. Kurt Konhauser is a Professor in Geobiology at the University of Alberta. Having received his PhD from the University of Western Ontario on aqueous geochemistry, he then moved to Leeds as a Lecturer in 2004. He worked there for 8 years before moving to Alberta as a Canada Research Chair. Konhauser has over 360 publications, including authoring the seminal textbook, & Introduction to Geomicrobiology & and Editing the book

    “Fundamental of Geobiology”. He is also the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the journal Geobiology. His many publications and service to the community have made him the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Fellow of the Geochemical Society, Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the Logan Medalist - the Geological Society of Canada’s top award, and most recently the Eunice Newton Foote Medal from the AGU and the Bancroft Award from the Royal Society.
  • Prof. Zeng-Yei HSEU
    National Taiwan University, Taiwan
    Bio
    Zeng-Yei Hseu is a distinguished professor of pedology and environmental science in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University (NTU), Taipei, Taiwan. Professor Hseu has been working in the field of soil science and trace elements since 1990s. Professor Hseu was elected the Chair, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, (NTU) (August 2022 to July 2025). He had been the president of the Chinese Society of Soil and Fertilizer Science (2016-2019) and the president of East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies (ESAFS) (2018-2019). His major topics of interest are pedogenic tracers of rare earth elements, heavy metal dynamics in serpentine soil, and soil trace element contamination and remediation.
  • Prof. Cheng-Di Dong
    National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
    Bio
    Dr. Cheng-Di Dong is a Chair Professor in the Department of Marine Environmental Engineering and Dean of the College of Hydrosphere at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST), Taiwan. Professor Dong’s research focuses on waste-to-resource recovery technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and novel catalytic materials/biochar for environmental applications.
    Professor Dong has published more than 500 referred articles in leading international journals and 7 book chapters and edited 6 special issues published by several scientific journals. His current h-index is 70, with more than 18,750 Google Scholar citations. He has received several awards and honors from several academic institutes.
    Professor Dong is in the “World’s Top 2% Scientist-Stanford University Releases List (2021, 2022,2023, 2024)” for Environmental Sciences. He is a Fellow of International Bioprocessing Association. Professor Dong is the Editor of Sustainable Environment Research and a member of the Editorial Board of Bioresource Technology.
  • Prof. Ajit Sarmah
    University of Auckland, New Zealand
    Bio
    Dr. Ajit K. Sarmah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Before joining the university, he served as a Senior Research Scientist at Landcare Research in Hamilton, New Zealand, for nearly a decade. Dr. Sarmah's academic journey includes a BSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Allahabad, India; an MEng in Soil and Water from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; an MAgSc in Soil Physics from the University of Queensland, Australia; and a PhD from the University of Adelaide, Australia, where he investigated the fate and transport modeling of herbicides in alkaline soils. His research interests encompass bioenergy, biochar, and fate modeling, with his work being cited over 23,000 times.
  • Prof. Yaoyu Zhou
    Hunan Agricultural University, China
    Bio
    Dr. Zhou is Research Professor in Hunan Agricultural University, and Dean of College of Environment and Ecology, Chief Scientist of the National Key Research and Developing Program, his academic background covers Soil/Water/Sediment remediation. His Researchgate score is 70 (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/
    Yaoyu_Zhou, web of science, 26,000 citations). More than 310 academic papers have been published in high ranked SCI journals, including Environment Science and Technology, Environment International, Water Research, etc. After supporting by Hong Kong Scholar Program, he worked at Hong Kong polytechnic university from 2018 to 2020. Yaoyu holds some international positions: Member of Editorial Board of Environmental Technology, Carbon research and Biochar; Guest Editor of Journal of environmental management (soil science and remediation), Guest Editor of Science of the Total Environment (Antibiotics and Heavy Metal), and Guest Editor of Science of the Total Environment (BEEM conference 2019).
  • Prof. Leilei Dai
    Southeast University, Nanjing, China
    Bio
    Prof. Dai holds a position at the School of Energy and Environment in Southeast University, Nanjing, China. His research primarily revolves around the thermochemical conversion of solid waste, encompassing biomass and waste plastics, aimed at producing renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials. To date, he has authored over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles in prestigious publications such as Science and Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. With a Google Scholar H-index of 45 and over 5,000 citations, his academic contributions are highly recognized. Over the past three years, he has been recognized as part of Stanford University’s “Top 2% of Scientists in the World”. Additionally, he has served in editorial roles for numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Biomass & Bioenergy and Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.
  • Prof. Yinfeng Xia
    Zhejiang University, China
    Bio
    Dr. Yinfeng Xia is a “Nanxun Scholar”. His research focused on the areas of electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate; microbial denitrification; biochar electrode, and microbial interface process. He has co-authored more than 40 peer reviewed articles and has received several grants from NSFC and ZJNSF. He is the youth editor of Chinese academic journal Energy and Environmental Protection and the guest editor of Processes.
  • Prof. Anushka Rajapaksha
    University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
    Bio
    Dr. Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and is currently serving as the Director of the Ecosphere Resilience Research Centre at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. She has an excellent background in Chemistry, specially focusing on Chemical Kinetics, Sorption and Environmental Chemistry. Her research approach covers developing novel engineered/designer materials as innovative solutions to environmental issues and converting waste materials into value-added products. She was awarded several recognitions and distinctions including the most Outstanding Young Researcher-(CVCD) Excellence Awards 2020 by The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors, Sri Lanka and the prestigious TWAS─Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry in the year 2022 by the UNESCO -World Academy of Sciences, Italy. This is the very first time that a Sri Lankan Scientist received this TWAS─Atta-ur-Rahman Award in the field of Chemistry from The World Academy of Sciences. Further she is currently serving as the Coordinating Editor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Springer), Editorial Board Member of Journal of Hazardous Materials (Elsevier) and Editorial Board Member of Carbon Research (Springer). Dr. Rajapaksha also ranked among the top 2% of the world’s best scientists in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 lists of outstanding researchers, prepared by Elsevier BV and Stanford University, USA.
  • Prof. Franz Jirsa
    University of Vienna, Austria
    Bio
    Franz Jirsa was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. Before turning to science, he had a successful career, first as a dancer and then as a singer, playing parts in musicals, operetta and opera, throughout Europe, including a ten year's engagement with the Vienna Volksoper. In 1997 he started his studies in biology and received his master in 2004, followed by the doctorate in 2008. His main focus was on fish parasites, their ecology and environmental influences on parasite communities, as well as heavy metal accumulation in parasites and fish. During his studies an increased general interest in metals in the environment lead to an intense engagement in aquatic chemistry and metal behaviour in aquatic systems in general. He was called to teach environmental chemistry at the University of Vienna in 2004 and has been doing this ever since. In 2015 he received his venia doceni in environmental chemistry from the University of Vienna. He has been leading the group of environmental chemistry at the department of Inorganic Chemistry since 2018 and has been associate researcher at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, since 2016. In addition to environmental analyses including risk assessments in aquatic environments he has broadened his research area developing novel substances, i.e. ionic liquids for the successful and greener extraction of heavy metals from aqueous matrices. Up until now he has supervised over 60 master thesis, 8 dissertation projects and has authored more than 80 papers in peer reviewed international journals.
  • Prof. Lin Zhang
    City University of Hong Kong, China
    Bio
    Prof. Dr. Zhang is an Associate Professor at City University of Hong Kong, the council member of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE), the editor of The Energy Journal, the guest editor of Energy Policy, and the SUSI visiting scholar (economics and sustainable development) by the U.S. Department of State. His research focuses on energy and sustainability economics, such as climate change, low-carbon transition, and sustainability. He has published over 80 papers at the top tier journals such as PNAS. Dr. Zhang has been ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists in the released metrics compiled by Stanford University, and the world's top scholars (top 0.5%) in social sciences by ScholarGPS. His work has been cited in policy papers of international organizations such as the WTO, EU, OCED, etc.
  • Prof. Nan Geng
    Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, China
    Bio
    Dr. Nan Geng is an associate professor in College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power. Her research focuses on the migration, transformation, and ecological restoration of pollutants (especially heavy metals) in aquatic environments. She has led one project funded by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation and participated in multiple national natural science projects. She has published over ten scientific papers as the first and corresponding author and serves as a reviewer for multiple SCI journals.
  • Dr. Xiaomeng Hu
    City University of Hong Kong, China
    Bio
    Dr. Hu is a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong. She earned her B.Eng. in Material Science and Engineering from South China University of Technology in 2013, followed by an M.Sc. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2015. She completed her Ph.D. in Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong in 2021, focusing on environmental assessments, sustainability strategies, and life cycle analysis of emerging technologies. Dr. Hu's research includes developing frameworks for evaluating the environmental and economic implications of innovations in wastewater treatment, bioconversion processes, and urban resource management. She actively advances sustainable solutions using dynamic life cycle assessment and techno-economic analyses.