Urban Sustainability Assessment

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.

Dai Morgan is a leading figure in sustainable engineering and manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, where he serves as the Deputy Course Director for the MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development. His academic credentials include a Masters Degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a PhD from Cambridge, where his research focused on innovative polymer recycling processes and materials applications. As a key researcher at the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability, Morgan has developed groundbreaking approaches to industrial sustainability, particularly focusing on how manufacturers can improve their operations and decision-making processes while promoting sustainable outcomes. His expertise spans across manufacturing efficiency, sustainable design processes, and supplier relationship management, with a particular emphasis on helping organizations transition toward more environmentally conscious operations without compromising productivity. Through his work with the PrISMS programme and various sustainability initiatives, he has helped numerous SMEs enhance their business operations while reducing both costs and environmental impact. Morgan's research interests extend to investigating how industrial systems can meet global needs while respecting planetary boundaries, and he has been instrumental in developing educational programs that integrate sustainability principles into engineering practice. His contributions to the field include significant work on non-labor productivity improvements, sustainable design methodologies, and the development of frameworks for assessing and implementing sustainable manufacturing practices.

Ana María Gonzálvez, born in Valencia in 1965, is an Associate Professor at Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) who has dedicated her career to language education and classical studies. Her academic work bridges ancient and modern pedagogical approaches, drawing inspiration from Greek and Roman educational principles to develop innovative teaching methodologies. As a language instructor specializing in Latin and Spanish, she divides her time between high school education and university-level teaching at UPV. Her research focuses on integrating classical teaching principles with modern educational needs, particularly in language acquisition and pedagogy. Through her collaboration at UPV, she contributes to the development of new teaching methodologies and participates in sustainability-focused educational initiatives, working to enhance language learning approaches through technology-enhanced methods and traditional classical principles.