Sustainability in Architecture: Interdisciplinary Intro

Dr. Elena de la Poza serves as Associate Professor in Finance and Economics at Universitat Politècnica de València, where she earned her PhD in Finance in 2008. Her research focuses on sustainability, business impact assessment, and financial modeling, with significant contributions to understanding universities' roles in sustainable development. As Project Manager and Scientific Program Co-Director of the SEED 2024 International Conference on Sustainable Energy Education, she demonstrates her commitment to advancing sustainable education initiatives. Her current work includes leading research on corporate social responsibility transparency, sustainability rankings, and the financial performance of companies in relation to their environmental commitments. Her impact is evidenced through over 25 refereed research papers and 45 congress participations, with recent publications focusing on universities' reporting on SDGs and the sustainability of FinTech companies. Beyond her academic duties in financial, business, and entrepreneurship courses, she actively promotes regional sustainable development through her role in the CoVE SEED project, working to create a learning community focused on renewable energies in the Valencia Community.

Dr. Javier Orozco-Messana serves as Associate Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València while holding the position of Director for International Affairs at UPV. Born in Valencia in 1962, his career spans both industry and academia, with a consistent focus on R&D and education. His research interests center on materials science, building sustainability, and energy innovation, particularly in developing sustainable urban environments and innovative building materials. As a leading expert in materials science and ceramics, he has contributed significantly to understanding how efficient energy use in urban environments can reduce carbon emissions. His academic impact is evidenced through his role as guest editor for multiple special issues focused on building sustainability and materials innovation, while his research has garnered over 290 citations. He currently leads initiatives in advanced architecture materials, focusing on bio-based composites, recycled materials, and low-carbon alternatives to reduce environmental impact. His work extends to promoting sustainability in higher education, demonstrating his commitment to integrating sustainable development practices into academic institutions' core missions.

María Valles-Planells, born in Valencia, is an Associate Professor at the College for Rural Environment and Agricultural Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Her research focuses on the development and impact assessment of Green Infrastructure in urban and rural areas. She has authored nine peer-reviewed research papers, participated in 17 conferences, and contributed to 10 research projects.

Dr. Naoko Ellis serves as Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, where she also holds positions as Associate Director of the Clean Energy Research Centre and Faculty Associate at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UBC (2003), an M.E.Sc. from Western University (1993), and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Waterloo (1991). Her research expertise spans multiphase reaction engineering, biomass utilization, and CO2 capture, with significant contributions to fluidized bed technology that earned her the AIChE Powder Technology Forum PSRI Lectureship Award in 2023. As co-founder of the Systems Beings Lab and a leader in transdisciplinary climate emergency research, she combines technical expertise with sustainability education initiatives. Her work includes pioneering research in biomass gasification, pyrolysis, and biochar applications, while also advancing environmental literacy in higher education. Beyond her academic duties, she demonstrates personal commitment to sustainability through activities like cycling to work and maintaining worm boxes at home, while balancing her professional achievements with family life as a mother of three daughters.

Dr. Kas Hemmes serves as Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology, where he has made significant contributions to energy systems research and sustainable technology development. His career began with a master's in physics, followed by 15 years as coordinator of the Delft fuel cell research program in the Materials Science Department. Since 2001, he has been with the faculty of Technology Policy and Management, focusing on energy systems, sustainability, and technology dynamics. His research emphasizes multi-source multi-product energy systems and the reduction of thermodynamic losses in energy conversion, noting that 50% to 90% of primary fuel exergy is lost during power conversion. His impact in the field is evidenced through his coordination of multiple European and national research projects in fuel cells, hydrogen, and natural gas, particularly at the intersection of technology and society. With 88 publications in ISI journals and an H-index of 13, his work spans three decades of high-temperature fuel cell research, hydrogen production methods, and sustainable energy transitions. His expertise includes public acceptance of hydrogen technologies and the development of innovative energy conversion systems.