Title: Transparent Electronics.

Abstract: TBA

Date: 21st of January 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WagmfoObxbM&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=37   

About the speaker: 

https://www.cenimat.fct.unl.pt/pessoas/people/elvira-fortunato 

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=aH1LTDwAAAAJ 

Title: Research and Education in Extended Reality at the Poznań University of Economics and Business.

Abstract: 

The Poznań University Of Economics and Business (PUEB) is one of the oldest, most prestigious schools of economics in Poland. Since 1926, we have been continually developing higher education and ensuring high quality of scientific studies and constant development of research infrastructure. We prepare numerous economic expert reports and implement innovative projects. High-quality education, which we have provided for years, allows our students and graduates to successfully face the challenges of a dynamic labor market.

For over 20 years, research in the field of extended reality, encompassing virtual and augmented reality, is being performed in the Department of Information Technology of PUEB. The department possesses the Virtual Reality Laboratory (VR Lab), which is one of the newest and well-equipped laboratories of PUEB. The VR Lab is equipped with hardware and software allowing high-quality acquisition of 3D models (by scanning physical objects and their motion), advanced user interaction (with body movements, gestures, and touch), and presentation of virtual environments with a variety of Head-Mounted Displays (HMD), interactive Powerwall system and CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment). Our application fields include e-commerce, marketing, cultural heritage, education, and rapid prototyping of products. In all these fields the use of VR/AR techniques opens new, unprecedented opportunities.

Date: 28th of January 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session:  

About the speaker: 

https://www.kti.ue.poznan.pl/en/jakub_flotynski.html 

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=OCvlxUkAAAAJ 

Title: The Softer Side of Robotics and their Wearable Applications

Abstract: 

The inherent compliance in soft material robotic systems can enable capabilities and task versatility not found in traditional rigid-bodied robotic systems. The robots of the future will use soft design approaches to provide a more conformal, unobtrusive, and compliant means to interface and interact, externally and internally, with the human body, and will be able to monitor, assist, or augment the capabilities of individuals. For example, elastomeric and textile actuators powered by pressurized fluids can offer several desirable features including robust, lightweight structures, inexpensive development, proven fabrication methods, and simple as well as complex motion paths with simple inputs. Furthermore, these actuators can provide compliance, fast actuation speeds, and most importantly safe human interaction, making them ideal for wearable and medical applications.

This talk will focus on soft components (actuators and sensors) as well as integrated systems that are tested in realistic settings. The first part will cover the principle of operation of soft composite elastomeric and fabric-based actuators, as well as their design and fabrication. The second part of the talk will present a number of research projects on wearables that demonstrate the design, fabrication, and sensing principles required to realize such soft systems as well as their challenges.

Date: 11th of February 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD48ffuftNQ&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=38&t=35s   

About the speaker: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/panagiotis-polygerinos/?originalSubdomain=gr 

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=ZGRQZ-4AAAAJ 

Title: Neural networks for direct and inverse problems in mechanics

Abstract: 

Machine learning methods, neural networks, and big data have attracted the interest of researchers in mechanics. The exploitation of experimentally or numerically generated data is one example where artificial neural networks can be trained to provide a reduced-order metamodel. A multi-layer feed-forward network, trained by the back-propagation method can be used in structural analysis problems for several inputs in order to predict the expected outputs. Depending on the input-output data, this approach can be used in order to study direct or inverse problems. A review of various applications will be given at the first part of the talk, including the early work for the study of crack and damage identification and recent results on spring-back prediction in metal stamp processing and on data-driven multiscale analysis of composite structures. The availability of recent software and hardware and the developments in deep learning allow us to study more complicated problems. Training can be based on data generated by the governing relations without the necessity of having input-output data. The so-called physics-informed neural networks are promising tools suitable for real-time predictions. Recent research work and open questions for further research will be presented.

The talk will demonstrate that the combined usage of computational mechanics and artificial intelligence tools is able to give solutions to hard classical tasks and provide novel approaches for the design of smart systems and reliable digital twins.

Date: 18th of February 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7hOIhFmNi4&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=39  

About the speaker: 

https://www.pem.tuc.gr/en/personnel/professors/full-professors/georgios-stavroulakis 

Google Scholar: 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=a1ENygsAAAAJ 

Title: Nano Biosensors for Health

Abstract: 

Date: 11th of March 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hTK4_q-0EA&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=41 

About the speaker: https://icn2.cat/en/nanobioelectronics-and-biosensors-group/arben-merkoci 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=hF6hPeIAAAAJ 

Title: The Versatility of Perovskite Materials for Optoelectronics

Abstract: 

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have created much excitement in the past years and attract spotlight attention. This talk will provide an overview of the reasons for this development highlighting the historic development as well as the specific material properties that make perovskites so attractive for the research community. The current challenges are exemplified using a high-performance model system for PSCs (multication Rb, Cs, methylammonium (MA), formamidinium (FA) perovskites). The triple cation (Cs, MA, FA) achieves high performance due to suppressed phase impurities. This results in more robust materials enabling breakthrough reproducibility. Through multi-cation engineering, usually not-considered alkali metals, such as Rb, can be studied resulting in one of the highest voltages compared to the bandgap. Polymer-coated cells maintained 95% of their initial performance at elevated temperature for 500 hours under working conditions, a crucial step towards the industrialization of PSCs.

To explore the theme of multicomponent perovskites further, molecular cations were re-evaluated using a globularity factor. With this, we calculated that ethylammonium (EA) has been misclassified as too large. Using the multi-cation strategy, we studied an EA-containing compound that yielded a high open-circuit voltage of 1.59 V. Moreover, using EA, we demonstrate a continuous fine-tuning for perovskites in the “green gap” which is relevant for lasers and display technology. The last part elaborates on a roadmap on how to extend the multiplication to multicomponent engineering, providing a series of new compounds that are highly relevant candidates for the coming years, also in areas beyond photovoltaics, for example, for medical scintillation detectors.

Date: 18th of March 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF9m4pE4aQ8&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=42 

About the speaker: https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/press/experts/Prof.-Dr.-Michael-Saliba/ 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=1xrUZtkAAAAJ 

Title: Replacing mechanical metrology tools, one photon at a time.

Abstract: 

Metrology is a founding pillar and a driving force of scientific discovery and understanding. Despite its key importance in all aspects of science and engineering, the field is still dominated by the use of mechanical, intrusive probes. To tackle this, our group is developing coherent Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering (CRBS) as an alternative, non-intrusive probe for neutral and plasma thermodynamic characterization. 

CRBS is a four-wave mixing diagnostic technique that relies on creating an optical lattice in a medium due to the interaction between polarizable particles and intense laser fields. Single shot CRBS1 has been demonstrated to be the coherent analog of spontaneous Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering in measuring the temperature, pressure, bulk and shear viscosity, speed of sound, and polarizability of a gas or gas mixture2, as well as nanoparticles produced in an arc discharge3. This talk will present an overview of the theory and experimental aspects of single-shot CRBS along with our recent work in measuring the temperature, density simultaneously, and flow velocity4 of neutral species radially across a glow discharge and a neutral flow. Finally, the feasibility and working progress towards using CRBS as a thermodynamic characterization technique for partially/fully ionized gases such as those encountered in fusion or low-temperature plasmas will be discussed. 

Date: 8th of April 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X8zMFLjFC0&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=44 

About the speaker:

Alexandros Gerakis is a Senior Research & Technology Associate at the Luxembourg Institute of Science & Technology (LIST) and a 2021 FNR ATTRACT Fellow. He obtained his BSc from the School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Greece, and his Master’s degree from St Andrews and Herriot-Watt Universities in "Photonic and Optoelectronic Devices". He holds a PhD in Physics from University College London. Before joining LIST, he postdoc at Harvard University, was an Associate Research Physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and an Assistant Professor at the Aerospace Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, leading the “Optical Probing & Manipulation” Group.

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=dmHz_DEAAAAJ 

Title: Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass for the production of added-value materials.

Abstract: 

Date: 6th of May 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcweS4eaKP4&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=45 

About the speaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitrios-kalderis-4342a51b5/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=gr 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=oZqQ5a8AAAAJ 

Title: Cell Opto stimulation by intra-membrane molecular switches.

Abstract: 

Date: 13th of May 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvQntcVraaU&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=46 

About the speaker: https://www.iit.it/people-details/-/people/guglielmo-lanzani 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=Jdv3sw0AAAAJ 

Title: Unstructured data analysis for information retrieving.

Abstract: 

The volume of data is constantly growing due to the explosion of machine-generated data and human involvement in social networks, especially in the last period when the pandemic forced most activities to occur online. Big Data refers to the storage, manipulation, and analysis of huge data sets that come from various sources and are too large and heterogeneous to be traditionally processed. The talk overviews Big Data and some of the most fundamental mining tasks. We will define the main characteristics of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data and the characteristics of Big Data. Also, we'll go ahead and describe text mining tasks and briefly compare them. Finally, we will present a case study on the sentiment analysis from the unstructured component of teacher evaluations by the students. This case study is based on the data collected from the teacher evaluation application developed within “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Romania.

Date: 18th of May 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: 

About the speaker: http://ns2.usv.ro/ccsc/barila_adina.html 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=tsEZlxcAAAAJ 

Title:.Integrative lighting: Understanding the visual and non-visual effects of lighting on humans.

Abstract: 

Date: 10th of May 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atc7fsY6Jek&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=47 

About the speaker: https://vbn.aau.dk/en/persons/gt 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=RoWWEjAAAAAJ 

Title: A frank assessment of ceramic conductors as alternative plasmonic materials. 

Abstract: 

Ceramic conductors, such as the nitrides of the group IVb, Vb, and VIb metals (TiN, ZrN, HfN, VN, NbN, TaN, and MoN) and transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) like ITO, AZO, and IGZO, have emerged as necessary alternative plasmonic materials due to the unique combination of substantial electric conductivity and plasmonic features in the midIR-NIR-Vis-UV ranges with their refractory character (primarily for nitrides) and chemical inertness, which provide the durability of nanostructures upon exposure to high-power laser beams, and due to their compatibility with CMOS (for nitrides) and solution (for TCOs) fabrication of various devices. However, this comes at an expense with inherent electronic losses that lead to reduced near-field enhancement compared to metals. Furthermore, their refractory character can turn from a blessing to a curse due to the excessive density of structural defects when grown at relatively low temperatures. The extended defects, i.e., the grain boundaries, scatter the conduction electrons, resulting in further enhanced electronic losses. Unlike conventional plasmonic metals, conductive conductors may also incorporate point defects, affecting plasmonic performance. In this seminar, the defect formation mechanisms in nitrides and TCOs will be reviewed, and their association with the bottom-up growth processes will be discussed given their plasmonic performance. In addition, we will consider and discuss the optical properties of conductive nitrides and TCOs in the form of films, colloidal nanoparticles, and self-assembled nanowires and nanoislands produced by various high-throughput physical processes such as glancing angle deposition, nanosphere lithography, and laser ablation in liquids.

Date: 27th of May 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA1JUnCL7Vw&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=48 

About the speaker: https://www.physics.auth.gr/en/people/208 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=zhvJbwgAAAAJ 

Title: Applied nanotechnologies for health & environment protection.

Abstract: 

During the last decades, pollution has been a major global problem affecting millions of people. The environmental issues are related to the activity of great industrial players in terms of recycling or circular economy and the small consumers who ignore the environment and the consequences of their actions on it.  Considering the scientific and technological progress, the above led to the idea that “if it’s not recyclable, then it should not be produced”. Moreover, the pressure given by the obligation of new and more severe regulations by the European Union led to a change in the scientific approach of different researchers to direct their work towards “greener” processes.  Although this could represent the beginning of new sustainable, cleaner processes, there is a slowdown in the transition towards environmentally friendly raw materials or products. 

Thus, this presentation aims to showcase the most relevant scientific progress of our group at the University Politehnica of Bucharest related to nanostructured materials development for the removal of pollutants from contaminated media or valorization of wastes. The main topics of this presentation will involve the design of nanomaterials for the removal of organic pollutants, the valorization of biomass waste for the enhancement of crops, and the manufacturing of bio-based products. Special attention will also be given to developing nanomaterials with antimicrobial capacity for food packaging or medical applications. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, some industrial manufacturers' difficulty in respecting European Union REACH regulations will be discussed. 

Date: 4th of June 2022 @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCqcDn_2SHY&list=PL3OWQw2onmC_fjutflKRDT0OVw_1z0XFW&index=49 

About the speaker: 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=el&user=oadpYFMAAAAJ 

Title: The genesis of molecular photovoltaics and perovskite solar cells.

Abstract: TBA

Date: 14th of October @10.00 CET

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/az54MbUckrM

About the speaker: 

https://www.epfl.ch/labs/lpi/graetzel/ 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ch/citations?user=B0h47WAAAAAJ&hl=fr 

Title: Ultrafast quantum nano-optics 

Abstract: TBA

Date: 21st of October @10.00 CET 

About the speaker: 

https://nano-optics.physik.uni-siegen.de/images/biography_mario_agio.pdf

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/ac-ggSwdXNE

Title: Competence Framework for Policy Makers including Futures Literacy

Abstract:

Policymaking, the task at the core of the European Commission, is a key tool for creating desired futures. However, it calls for a highly competent community of civil servants and policymakers. To remain at the forefront of global excellence in policymaking, the European Commission aims to provide its staff with the capacity to future-proof, develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate policies in an evidence-informed, transparent and collaborative way. 

The EU Policymaking Hub offers a platform to learn, collaborate and share knowledge in EU policymaking as well as a new range of training. The  framework at the core of this offer covers seven clusters of competencies, including being future literate, and recognizing it as a core competence for policymaking. The competence progression model addresses the capacity to anticipate change (working with the short-term future) and the capacity to engage in foresight (working with the long-term future). For each level of competence, the progression model describes the level of skill required and indicates tools and methods that should be mastered. 

The presentation will introduce the values and methodological aspects of the development of this tool and the details of the future literacy part of the progression model for the benefit of all policymaking organisations.

https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/node/45701_fr

Date: 2nd of November @11.00 CET

Register: https://forms.gle/t1Es6nJuZytR4cgg7 

About the speaker:

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/EoOpJAfNEBA 

Title:  Layered Materials: Characterization and Applications.

Abstract: 

Graphene and layered materials (LMs) have great potential in photonics and optoelectronics, where the combination of their optical and electronic properties can be fully exploited, and the absence of a bandgap in graphene can be beneficial. The linear dispersion of the Dirac electrons in graphene enables ultra-wide-band tunability as well as gate controllable third-harmonic enhancement over an ultra-broad bandwidth, paving the way for electrically tuneable broadband frequency converters for optical communications and signal processing. Saturable absorption is observed as a consequence of Pauli blocking and can be exploited for mode-locking of a variety of ultrafast and broadband lasers. Graphene integrated photonics is a platform for wafer scale manufacturing of modulators, detectors and switches for next generation datacom and telecom. Heterostructures based on LMs have properties different from those of their individual constituents and of their three dimensional counterparts. These can be exploited in novel light emitting devices, such as single photon emitters, and tuneable light emitting diodes. LMs have potential for quantum technologies, as scalable sources of single photon emitters (SPEs). Quantum emitters in LMs hold potential in terms of scalability, miniaturization, integration. Generation of quantum emission from the recombination of indirect excitons in heterostructures made of different LMs is a path with enormous potential. I will overview production, characterization and application of graphene and LMs, focussing optical and quantum applications.

Date: 4th of November @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

https://www.graphene.cam.ac.uk/people/acf26 

Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ucXN1nQAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao 

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/OQxxGRNNlUo

Title: The 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics: A very brief introduction to quantum mechanics and Bell's inequalities 

Abstract: TBA

Date: 9th November 2022 @10.00 CET. 

About the speaker: https://mech.hmu.gr/prosopiko/melh-d-e-p/prof-kavoulakis-georgios/ 

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/1fYbGzuX8ro

Title: Supramolecular Strategies in Hybrid Perovskite Photovoltaics.

Abstract: 

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite materials have become one of the leading semiconductors for renewable solar-to-electric energy conversion in photovoltaics. However, they are unstable under operating conditions, which stimulates global research efforts to overcome this challenge towards practical applications. Supramolecular strategies have provided an invaluable tool for controlling hybrid perovskite materials by purposefully tailoring noncovalentninteractions with organic components, such as through halogen bonding, π- interactions, and host-guest complexation, which has been assessed at the atomic level by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. These strategies were also applied to the development of low-dimensional perovskite architectures that further enhance stabilities as well as photovoltaic performances.As a result, perovskite solar cells have reached superior operational stabilities without compromising their performances,providing a versatile strategy for advancing hybrid photovoltaics.

Date: 18th of November @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

Dr. Jovana V. Milić is Assistant Professor and Group Leader at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland since January 2021. She has obtained her PhD in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETH Zurich in 2017 with Prof. François Diederich. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher and scientist in the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces of Prof. Michael Grätzel at EPFL, until taking on a Group Leader position at the Adolphe Merkle Institute in Fribourg as Swiss National Science Foundation PRIMA Fellow in September 2020. Her research is centred around the development of (supra)molecular materials for energy conversion that can respond to external stimuli and adapt to their operating conditions, with a particular focus on photovoltaics. This involves a multidisciplinary approach at the interface of chemistry, physics, material science, and engineering towards sustainable development. She has been recognized by a number of honours and awards, such as the CAS Future Leader 2019, Green Talents Award in 2020, and the Zeno Karl Schindler Prize in 2022, among others. In addition to research and international collaborations, she is invested in science outreach, policy, and diplomacy as Member and Science Advice Working Group Co-Lead at the Global Young Academy, as well as Member of the Swiss Young Academy, European Young Chemists’ Network, and International Younger Chemists Network, connecting and supporting young scientists globally.

https://jovanamilic.com/ 

Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7q3sExwAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao 

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/gCez_g1a4pY 

Title: Semiconductor photoelectrodes and photocatalysts for solar-driven water splitting.

Abstract: TBA

Date: 2nd of December @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

https://people.epfl.ch/kevin.sivula 

Google Scholar page: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=e0tQrsEAAAAJ&hl=en 

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/jnwf9q8owBQ

Title: International Sign Everywhere: Towards Internationalization of Education and International Mobility of Deaf Students

Abstract: 

The inclusion of deaf students in education has been always a topic of debate and research for a long time. Deaf students experience numerous communication challenges, which is especially true for communication with those from other nationalities due to the lack of a common sign language. Further deaf students face serious difficulties to understand new technical concepts along their academic path. Fields such as engineering or geography, lack signs representing specific lexicons like nanotechnology or tropical rain belt. The University of Siegen along with EU partners and stakeholders aims to overcome these challenges through the outcomes of InSign and TechWhiz Erasmus+ projects. InSign promotes the internationalization of education and the international mobility of deaf students through the use of International Sign as an effective channel of communication between deaf and non-deaf and its implementation in higher education.  TechWhiz aims to promote equity in education by providing access to explanations of technical and scientific concepts for deaf students in sign language. Deaf students are a specific cluster in European Higher Education where they have little support that might be largely extended by InSign and Techwhiz projects. 

Date: 8th of December @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

Omar Gamal is a researcher at the Centre for International Capacity Development (CICD) at the University of Siegen. And currently working on different EU projects related to education and inclusion of hearing-impaired people.  He is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Siegen. In 2017, he received his M.Sc. degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Siegen. He received his B.Sc. degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the Higher Technological Institute (HTI), Egypt. His research interests include artificial intelligence, robotics, and control engineering.

Recorded Session: 

Title:  Perovskite Photovoltaics enabled by 2D materials take to the field

Abstract: 

During the past decade, there was intensive research on the development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which have emerged as an alternative efficient energy harvester for both IoT devices and solar farms. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs has rapidly increased and is now approaching the state- of-the-art PCE of 26.1%1 obtained by crystalline-silicon PVs.  However, this impressive PCE obtained on small-area cells and in laboratory conditions should be also valid to large-area PV panels in real outdoor conditions. Interface engineering, using solution processable 2D materials (e.g., graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides) is an effective approach to increase the readiness of this technology for manufacturing. The incorporation of the 2D materials improves the charge dynamics of the interfaces and most importantly protects the perovskite layer against diffusion of external agents, such as oxygen and moisture and the metal ion migration2.  In this context, the Graphene Flagship partners University Rome Tor Vergata, BeDimensional S.p.A, Greatcell and Hellenic Mediterranean University demonstrated the validity of this technology through the entire value chain, from materials development, perovskite modules and panels fabrication and their integration in an autonomous solar farm, to outdoor field tests, and assessment of the real energy production output. The main validation of the proposed approach is the realization of an autonomous solar farm, consisting of 5m2 perovskite PV panels in the HMU campus at Crete3.  A continuous monitoring of the solar farm was performed through in-house developed maximum power point trackers, coupled with a correlation of the environmental conditions, recorded by a weather station, with the outdoor performance of farm. The assembled solar farm delivered peak power exceeding 260W, proving the scalability of the proposed technology. The energy production of the solar farm was monitored for 12 months, demonstrating a remarkable 20% reduction (T80) of the PV performance over 8 months of operation. Moreover, the solar farm’s electrical characteristics were monitored as a function of temperature and light intensity. The data analysis demonstrated that the perovskite panels enabled by 2D materials are promising for outdoor operation at elevated temperatures, such as in high-irradiance global locations.

Date: 9th of December @10.00 CET   

About the speaker: 

Emmanuel Kymakis is a Full Professor at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) and Vice-President of the HMU Research Center. He received his B.Eng. (First Class Honors) degree in Electrical Engineering & Electronics from Liverpool University in 1999 and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from Cambridge University in 2003. He and Prof. Gehan Amaratunga are the inventors of the polymer-nanotube solar cell. Before joining HMU, he was a technical consultant offering engineering and consultancy services in the realization of photovoltaic and solar thermal power plants. His multidisciplinary research lies at the interface between nanotechnology and electrical engineering and is centred on the development of printed optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices. He has published more than 120 research articles, which have attracted over 10.000 citations and an h-index of 52, while he has an extensive experience in the management of research and industrial projects (6 M€ research funding, design & implementation of 67 MWp of PV parks). Ηe is also included in the list of the top 2% of scientists in their respective fields by citation impact (PLoS Biol 17(8), e3000384). He serves also as scientific evaluator and member of panels of experts of various international governmental and nongovernmental agencies, member of scientific committee of various international congresses, and have been invited to give invited talks in more than 50 occasions. He has been an honorary lecturer at UConn and a recipient of an Isaac Newton and an EPSRC studentship. He was named as a 2014 ChemComm Emerging Investigator and has received two National Excellence Awards. He has served as a member of the founding General Assembly of the Hellenic Foundation for Research & Innovation (HFRI), a member of the Engineering sectoral scientific council of the National Council for Research & Innovation of Greece (NCRI) and a member of the Engineering thematic advisory council of HFRI. He is currently the Director of the interinstitutional Post-Graduate Program “Nanotechnology for Energy Applications” and serves as the work package leader of Energy Generation of the EU FET-Flagship Initiative Graphene.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=AWrgzokAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao 

Recorded Session: 

https://youtu.be/6m7P5kFeiBo

Title: Design and implementation of advanced water treatment and desalination system and advanced studies on photocatalytic activity of hybrid nanomaterials for different environmental applications.

Abstract: 

The quality of groundwater in Egypt is deteriorating rapidly due to salinization and industrial pollution. To help reverse this trend, novel batch reverse osmosis (RO) desalination for high recovery of freshwater from ground-water, and new photocatalysts to eliminate emerging contaminants from wastewater – thus allowing effective and safe recharge of aquifers, have been developed. Prof El Nazer research team members have also developed an innovative solution for the management of harmful brine from desalination plants, using it to cool agricultural greenhouses. With the overall aim of developing new technology for better protection and management of groundwater in Egypt, the specific objectives are to (a) develop novel photocatalytic materials and composites, with sensitivity to both UV and visible light, for the  removal of emerging pollutants from wastewater and groundwater, (b) develop high efficiency, high-recovery desalination technology for groundwater, based on batch reverse osmosis (RO), giving resistance to fouling by organic and inorganic species, (c) Develop a solution for management of brine rejected from groundwater desalination plants by evaporative cooling of agricultural greenhouses, (d) demonstrate the above solutions in the study areas, and disseminate the knowledge generated, through the Egyptian ministries and industrial partners involved in the project. In addition, Prof. El Nazer guest, Prof. Yasser Mahmoud (Photochemistry Department, National Research Center, Egypt), will discuss the implementation of heterogeneous nano-photocatalysts in environmental applications that have been significantly investigated in the last decade as a result of the increasing demand for the use of green approaches and through the availability of visible light source. Herein, the presented results highlight the basic concepts of nano-photocatalysis and the applications of these catalysts in various photocatalytic processes.

Date: 14th of December @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

Prof. Hossam El Nazer is a professor of photocatalysis/Water Technology at the National Research Centre in Egypt. Prof El Nazer has excellent expertise in the applications of photocatalysis in the environment and industry and the design/implementation of water treatment and desalination systems. Dr Hossam is the principal investigator (PI) for many national and international joint venture projects concerning water treatment/desalination. Prof Hossam also supervises many MSc and Ph.D. theses. Dr. El Nazer has more than 30 publications (i.e. research articles, book chapters, and reviews). Prof Hossam has been working as visiting professor in many international universities (i.e. Saint Louis University (USA), Palermo University (Italy), Szeged University (Hungary)). Prof Hossam has two patents concerning the synthesis of new materials for solar photocatalytic water treatment applications. Prof El Nazer was also awarded many 2 prizes from the National Research Centre in Egypt (2010 & 2015) for his achievements in photochemistry.

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sWMTolUAAAAJ&hl=en 

Recorded Session: https://youtu.be/EXokH9E3DT0 

Title: Advanced electromagnetic wave control with chiral and parity-time symmetric metamaterials.

Abstract: TBA

Date: 16th of December @10.00 CET

About the speaker: 

Maria Kafesaki is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Materials Science and Technology of the University of Crete and an Adjunct Researcher at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH). She obtained her Ph.D. in 1997, at the Physics Department of the University of Crete, Greece, on elastic wave propagation in complex media. She has worked as post-doctoral researcher in the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas in Madrid, Spain, and in IESL of FORTH (1997-2001). Her current research is on the area of electromagnetic wave propagation in periodic and random media, with emphasis on photonic crystals and metamaterials, where she has large theoretical and computational experience. She has more than 110 publications in refereed journals (with more than 6500 citations and h-index=42, according to Web of Science), and more than 70 invited talks at international conferences and schools. She has participated in many European projects and in the organization of many international conferences and schools. She is Fellow of the Optical Society of America

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gtFssuEAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao 

Personal webpage: http://esperia.iesl.forth.gr/~kafesaki/ 

Title: Explainable Argumentation-based Decision Making as a Service

Abstract: 

Argumentation is an emerging technology that has matured enough to produce practical applications for the industry. Start-up companies, like Argument Theory, and argumentation technology centers, like ARG-tech, are working on real-life applications using argumentation-based decision making and argument mining techniques.

Gorgias is a structured argumentation framework where arguments are constructed using a basic (content independent) argument scheme that associates a set of premises with the claim, or position, of the argument. Gorgias is being used for automated decision-making or decision-support in real-world systems development. The dialectical argumentation reasoning within the Gorgias framework gives, besides an admissibly supported Position, an internal representation of the argumentative reasoning that leads to this. This representation can be manipulated by applications to produce case-based human readable explanations. 

Gorgias Cloud offers a web-based integrated application development environment that facilitates the development of argumentation-based systems over the internet for providing human-readable explanations. These explanations can assist both in the development and in the validation of the theory capturing the knowledge of an application. 

This talk will introduce argumentation technology and then show how Gorgias Cloud offers Explainable Argumentation-based Decision Making as a Service and how applications can benefit from it.  

Date: 5th of May 2023 @10.00 CET. 

About the speakers: 

Nikolaos Spanoudakis holds a Teaching Assistant position at the Applied Mathematics and Computers Laboratory of the School of Production Engineering and Management of the Technical University of Crete. In the latter, he has the additional role of Director of the Life-Long Learning Centre of the University. Moreover, Nikolaos is a co-founder of the Argument Theory start up in Paris/France. Argument Theory uniquely offers argumentation-based automated decision making as a service. 

He has a PhD in Informatics from the Paris Descartes University (now Paris City University). He also has a Master in Science in the field of Organization and Management from the Technical University of Crete and a Diploma in Computer Engineering and Informatics from the University of Patras. He has experience as lecturer, information systems architect, designer and developer, technical manager, project manager and Information Technology and Services consultant.

His main research interests are in Engineering Multi-agent Systems, and Applications of Argumentation. His main scientific results are on one hand the ASEME methodology and the Gaia2JADE process for the development of multi-agent systems (the outcome of his PhD), methods that have been used by third-parties to develop their own real-world systems and have been referred to in surveys in the domains of Agent-Oriented Software Engineering, Software Engineering for the Internet of Things, Model-driven approaches to Robotic applications development. On the other hand, his scientific work concerns a methodology and tools for developing applications of argumentation by non-specialist users. Nikolaos has worked on 15 research projects, has published 13 journal papers and more than 50 papers in conference/workshop proceedings with reviewers. He has co-authored one book and has led a robocup robotic soccer team. 

He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), member of the European Association for Multi-Agent Systems (EURAMAS, currently member of the board with the role of the secretary), the Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society (EETN, currently member of the board), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE-TCG). 

For more information visit https://users.isc.tuc.gr/~nispanoudakis/

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ldn3i_QAAAAJ&hl=el&oi=ao