Polymers 2024 - Polymers for a Safe and Sustainable Future

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece <a href="https://bikiarislab.wixsite.com/bikiarislab">Website</a>;Dr. Dimitrios N. Bikiaris is a Chemist and Professor at the Chemistry Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His research interests include the synthesis and characterization of polyesters, the development of polymers using biobased monomers, the synthesis and characterization of copolymers, composites and nanocomposites, polymers recycling via various processes, modification of natural polymers, the use of polymers to remove contaminants (heavy metals, drugs, pigments, etc.) from urban and industrial sites, determination of microplastics in environment and its effect on living micro-organisms, etc. Furthermore, his research interests include the investigation and application of new biocompatible polymers in tissue engineering and pharmaceutical technology using a variety of techniques (melt blending, solvent evaporation, copolymerization, etc.), as well as in the –micro and -nanoencapsulation of drugs in polymeric matrices. His scientific work includes more than 530 published papers, with over 23.600 citations, and an h-index 81 (scopus). He is also author of 4 chapters in international scientific books and holds 15 international and 2 Greek patents. He has participated in more than 64 research projects (national and international). During the years, he has developed strong collaborations with researchers from International Universities and Research Centers as well as with more than 10 Greek companies. He has participated in more than 150 international and 50 national conferences, having 139 oral presentations as a simple or invited speaker, and 290 poster presentations. Moreover, he has been a reviewer in more than 150 international journals and is member of editorial committees in six scientific journals. In 2023, Prof. Bikiaris was ranked 1st in Materials Science in National ranking and at 1128th position in the World ranking (https://research.com/u/dimitrios-n-bikiaris).

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece <a href="https://ktrianta.webpages.auth.gr/">Website</a>;Dr. Konstantinos S. Triantafyllidis is Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece, with undergraduate and PhD studies at the Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Greece, postgraduate training at SHELL-Laboratorium, Amsterdam, and post-doctoral work at Michigan State University, USA. His research interests focus on Biomass and organic waste valorization, Biorefinery, Waste plastic chemical recycling, CO2 utilization, Heterogeneous catalysis, Green Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Adsorption/catalysis for environmental remediation, Polymer nanocomposites, Nanomaterials. He is co-author of 160 peer-reviewed papers (h-index 52, Google scholar), 8 book chapters and 2 patents, and co-editor of 6 books and > 15 journal special issues, with > 300 conference presentations. Moreover, he has been a reviewer in more than 100 international journals and is the Editor or member of editorial committees in 10 scientific journals. He has participated in > 40 research projects and networks as coordinator or principal researcher, funded by EU and Greek Ministry of Education/Research, European Space Agency (ESA), industrial contracts, etc. He is the Head of the Research Unit “Green and Environmental Chemistry (ENVIGREEN)” in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, AUTH, and Collaborating Researcher at the Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre of Research and Technology-Hellas (CPERI/CERTH). He currently serves as the delegate of the Association of Greek Chemists to the EuChemS/Division of Green and Sustainable Chemistry, and he recently chaired the 5th EuChemS on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (2021) and the 9th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry (2022).

AXIA innovation, Germany, <a href="https://www.axia-innovation.com/en/home/">Website</a>;Dr. Ioanna Deligkiozi is a Chemical Engineer that graduated from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). She gained her M.Sc. degree in the field of Science and Technology of Materials and defended her Ph.D. thesis «Synthesis and characterization of new [2]rotaxanes of α-cyclodextrine with diazobenzene containing molecular dumbbells acting as Molecular Switches» in the field of supramolecular chemistry. These advanced supramolecules are a new class of nanomaterials, which have been intensely investigated the last years because of their ability to act as molecular switches or molecular shuttles by providing controllable and reversible transformations. Since then, she has worked as a senior researcher at the “Centre for Research and Technology Hellas”, and as an research associate at the “Center for Technology Research and Innovation”. She has been involved in various National and European Research Projects leading the technical and exploitation management. Since 2016, she is working at AXIA Innovation as a Business consultant and CEO. She has also been involved in the setup of three Start-up Companies. She has been involved in more than 50 European research projects as senior researcher, technical, dissemination and exploitation manager in FP7, H2020 and HEU projects. She has published more than 60 scientific and technical papers in Journals and Conferences, including three book chapters, and is a reviewer of HELION and MDPI. Since 2015, she is an Expert Evaluator and Monitor of Proposals and Projects of the European Commission. Her interests and goals lie in the wide field of nanomaterials, nanoscience and nanotechnology, with a focus on their exploitation and commersialization.