Research Scientist in Atmospheric Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York Arshad Arjunan Nair is a Research Scientist at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) of the University at Albany. Inherently an interdisciplinarian, Dr. Nair identifies concepts across disciplines and integrates them to address pressing research questions with societal implications. He received his Dual-Degree BS-MS in Physics from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India and his PhD in the Atmospheric Sciences from the University at Albany, for which he won the 2021/22 SUNY Chancellor Distinguished PhD Graduate Dissertation Award (First Place). Dr. Nair’s research intersects multiple disciplines, broadly aimed at contributing to our understanding of various impacts of atmospheric trace gases (particularly ammonia) and aerosols on climate and public health using synergistic approaches that have cross-disciplinary implications. His development of explainable machine learning models for the quantification of aerosol properties have contributed to mitigating the largest climate model uncertainties due to aerosol–cloud interactions. This work has further implications for the development and application of explainable (xAI), interpretable, and trustworthy artificial intelligence. Dr. Nair’s postdoctoral work was aimed at understanding unforeseen impacts of air-quality and health associations under a changing paradigm of atmospheric chemistry, particularly with emergent pollutants and their disparate impacts on underserved populations. His research is widely published, and he actively engages in interdisciplinary efforts to address pressing environmental challenges, aiming to inform public policy and bolster our community’s climate and health resilience.
Honorary Professor, University of Cape Town Abebe Shimeles is currently Honorary Professor at University of Cape Town and Senior Economic Advisor. Previously Mr Shimeles has worked for The African Development Bank, The World Bank, UNECA, ACTIONAID, and Addis Ababa University in different capacities. His recent research interest includes macroeconomic policy analysis, tax reforms, poverty , labor market integration, migration issues in Africa and impact evaluation of policy interventions. He holds a PhD in economics from University of Goteborg, MSC from Delhi School of Economics and undergraduate degree in economics from Addis Ababa University.
Professor, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University Dr. Ashwini Sehgal is a nephrologist and clinical researcher, and director of an NIH-funded center grant designed to train lay people to deliver interventions in randomized controlled trials. He led several NIH-funded randomized controlled trials of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to improve patient outcomes related to a number of complex topics, including hemodialysis leg cramps, nutritional status in renal failure, phosphorus intake among dialysis patients, adequacy of dialysis, and access to kidney transplantation. He recently completed studies that i) utilized navigators to enhance access to transplantation and ii) determined the impact of directly observed fluoxetine treatment for depression in hemodialysis patients. Dr. Sehgal is also the Duncan Neuhauser Professor of Community Health Improvement at Case Western Reserve University, Co-Director of the Case Western Center for Reducing Health Disparities, and Associate Editor of Annals of Internal Medicine for nephrology and hypertension.
Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles Design, University of Technology Sydney Alyssa Choat is a Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles Design. In her research she has developed interdisciplinary projects of image-based works, wearable items, sculpture works, as well as performance projects in collaboration with practitioners and performers. Her research explores forms material agency through creative practice and draws attention to the relational aspects of body and material engagements, inherent to the dressed body in fashion, drawing on new materialist theory. Alyssa has presented her research locally and internationally including Critical Costume Conference, Aalto University, Helsinki and International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes Conference, Florence. She has created several public performances as part of nationwide creative events and exhibited works.
Adjunct professor, Monash University Andrea has over 25 years of experience working across diverse areas of public health, prevention, social justice and inequalities. She is skilled at researching, co-designing and evaluating solutions to complex social problems informed by lived experience, data, evidence and practice-based knowledge. Andrea has led research teams in top tier universities and previously held roles as Research Director in public sector and NFP organisations. Bringing her own lived experience and expertise, Andrea also shines a light on aspects of marginalisation, discrimination, and cultural and racial diversity. She has published over 150 research articles and reports, presented internationally, and is an adjunct Professor at Monash University.
Senior Lecturer, Environmental Law, University of Stirling Annalisa is a renowned expert in climate change law and on the interplay between human rights and climate change law, with 20 years’ experience working with international and nongovernmental organizations. Before embarking on an academic career, she worked with non-governmental organisations and think-tanks, focussing on human rights based approaches to environmental protection. Since turning to academia in 2009, she has contributed to numerous law and policy reports prepared for international organisations and governments. She has given evidence to the UK, the EU and Scottish Parliaments and provided technical advice in the context of the world’s first inquiry into the human rights violations associated with the impacts of fossil fuel corporations – the so called Carbon Majors inquiry carried out by the Philippines Human Rights Commission. Annalisa's numerous publications on international climate change law, emissions from land uses, and rights-based approaches to environmental law and policy have been widely cited and She has taught in prestigious institutions all over the world. Annalisa is Associate Editor of the Review of European, Comparative and International Law and currently serves as Director for Europe for the Global Network on Human Rights and the Environment. She is member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and of the Women's Energy and Climate Law Network.
