Talk
How AI/ML is shaping the fight against air pollution for better public health

Bio
Dr. Suraj Kumar Bhagat is a leading environmental engineer and researcher whose work exemplifies the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sustainable management of environmental resources. Renowned for advancing public health through AI/ML-driven environmental solutions, Dr. Bhagat’s research, highlights his innovative approaches to application of AI/ML in environmental solutions for human well-being. As an Editorial Board Member in a Scientific Reports journal and with an h-index of 19, Dr. Bhagat is recognized as an influential figure in environmental science. Dr. Bhagat holds a PhD from Ton Duc Thang University (Vietnam), focusing on AI/ML-based environmental solutions in construction engineering, and a Gold Medal-winning Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Rajasthan Technical University, India. His postdoctoral research at The Ohio State University (USA) centered on advanced methodologies, including SWAT modeling and geospatial analysis, to tackle complex environmental challenges. At the core of his research is predictive modeling for water resource management, utilizing feature engineering and AI/ML to enhance sustainability and resilience. His international accolades include the National Global Energy Award (Austria), received as Principal Investigator at Ambo University, Ethiopia, for a transformative project, and the SF-Research Fellowship at IIT Delhi. Dr. Bhagat’s career underscores a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge AI/ML technologies in the fight against air pollution and for the promotion of global public health.

Talk
Mechanical Ventilation and Air Pollution

Bio
Dr. Berardi is the current President of the Canadian Acoustical Association and of the International Association of Building Physics (IABP). Dr. Berardi has been Canada Research Chair in Building Science (from 2021 to August 2024) and Full Professor and Director of the BeTOP center at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Canada (from August 2014 to August 2024). His main research interests are related to the study of innovative solutions and new materials for improving the performance within the built environment. Dr. Berardi has an extensive publication record, including 200 peer-reviewed journals, 200 international conference papers, and ten books.

Talk
Atmospheric Deposition of Microplastics and Other Anthropogenic Materials

Bio
Dr. Linda Walters is a Pegasus Professor of Biology at the University of Central Florida, where she has been on the faculty for 28 years. Her research spans many topics, including coastal restoration, tropicalization, invasive species, and microplastics. She has published 121 peer-reviewed articles, received over $19.6 million US$ in competitive grant dollars, and produced 11 children's story books on marine conservation topics.