Syllabus

Sustainable manufacturing has become a buzz in today’s manufacturing industries. Special attention is being given to the significant environmental burden that is being created due to manufacturing industries. Industry is facing an issue of getting skilled manpower trained in assessing these environmental burdens to make the manufacturing sustainable. This workshop tries to impart some of the sustainable and life cycle assessment (LCA) skills to make the students ready to implement sustainable manufacturing practices in industry. The main objectives are:
Inculcation of skills to create and implement sustainable practices in manufacturing.
Finding out the approaches and best practices for reducing carbon footprints and GHG Emissions.
Sustainability and Lifecycle analysis of machining process through case studies.
Who can attend?
Any undergraduate/diploma/postgraduate/PhD students/Working Professionals with basic knowledge of manufacturing.

Module1 (1 Hour): Monday
Sustainable Manufacturing: Introduction
Carbon Footprint and GHG Emissions
How to Perform Sustainability Analysis: Case Study

Module2 (1 Hour): Tuesday
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Introduction
Types of LCA
Phases Involved in Conducting LCA
How to Perform LCA: Case Study

Short Bio:

Dr. Navneet Khanna is a Dean, Faculty Aff airs and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management, Ahmedabad, India. He is a specialist in building a strong pool of trained engineering graduates and is involved in solving Manufacturing related problems of Indian Industries and Government Organizations. He bagged the Early Career Research Award of SERB (Government of India) and successfully completed the project. He has successfully led90+ projects defined by the Indian industries and published 100+ research papers in renowned (SCI/SCIE) peer-reviewed (Q1 & Q2) journals. In addition to this core competence, he has created several avenues of collaborative work with ISRO, DRDO, IPR, IITs, and renowned institutions round-the-globe. He has been invited by several renowned institutions worldwide to deliver invited talks and lectures. Dr. Khanna’s name figured among the top 2% of researchers and scientists of the world in a report published by Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier of the Netherlands for the years of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Dr. Khanna is listed among the World’s Best Engineering and technology Scientists by Research.com. Dr. Khanna also featured among top 0.05% of scholars worldwide in the specialty of Cryogenics and Tribology by ScholarGPS.

Monday, Nov 10 to Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025
7:30 am – 8:30 am

Syllabus

i) Composites: Definition and main criteria. Classification. Main fibers, reinforcements andpolymeric matrices. Importance, benefits and market. ii) Micromechanics: Introduction and basicconcepts. Some analytical models for estimating longitudinal and transverse modulus of elasticity,Poisson’s ratio and in-plane shear modulus of continuous fibers composites. Use of the free MECH-Gcomp software (www.ufrgs.br/mechg).

The course requires the use of a notebook or similar.

Short Bio:

Dr. Sandro Amico graduated from UFRN, did his Masters at UNICAMP and the PhD at the University of Surrey (England). He is Full Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Department of Materials Engineering. He has published 340+ journal papers, 550+ conference papers, 25 book chapters and 4 patents, and has supervised 72 Master/Doctorate students. He was the Chair of the 3rd Brazilian Conference on Composite Material and received the Pesquisador Gaúcho Award from FAPERGS (2021) and the Technological Innovation Award from ANP – Category III (2020) with his team. He has an H-index of 48 (Scopus) and 57 (Google Scholar) and is associate editor of the Materials Research Ibero-American Journal. He leads a Composites group (www.ufrgs.br/gcomp)and the development of a free composite mechanics software (www.ufrgs.br/mechgcomp). His ongoing international collaborations include Politecnico di Milano and IPF-Dresden.
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56439261300

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025
7:30 am – 9:30 am

Syllabus

Objectives represent the heart of scientific writing. All other elements of the essay rely on them. Defining the objective(s) of a dissertation or thesis may seem like atrivial task for master’s and doctoral students. Many view it as merely a formality with little practical significance. This sense of triviality persists until the writing begins,at which point authors often lose the thread and get discouraged. Even worse, evaluators notice a disconnect between the objectives and the conclusions in the finalstages. Even if the wording is amended, this flaw can usually diminish the quality of the work or, at the very least, lessen its appreciation. Therefore, establishing theobjectives of a dissertation or thesis should be approached more objectively during the planning stage (but it is never too late for re-evaluation).
In this short course, the concepts, meanings, and methods of defining objectives in a scientific essay will be discussed from the tutor’s perspective and experience.The focus will be on the approach of research questions and hypotheses, which is not very common in Brazilian academia. The alignment of the objectives with theconclusion, as well as their interdependence with the introduction and discussion of the results, will be demonstrated (reaffirming an analogy of the objectives with aheart, now including their reciprocal dependence on other organs). Practical exercises will be carried out with the participants.
It is hoped that, by the end of this short two class-hour course, participants will be able to think more critically about the role of objectives in scientific writing,particularly in a dissertation or thesis. They should also be able to apply these concepts to develop and articulate the objectives of their work, starting from the proposalstage and especially during the actual writing of the dissertation or thesis.

Short Bio:
Dr. Américo Scotti, Mechanical Engineer, MSc and PhD in Welding Technology. He has been working in this specialty since 1982. He dedicated his career as a professor/researcher to studying the fundamentals of arc welding and wire arc additive manufacturing. He is currently a visiting professor of the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlandia (Brazil).

Thursday, Nov 13 to Friday, Nov 14, 2025
7:30 am – 8:30 am

Syllabus

Presentation format: Expository and practical, with computational demonstrations and exercises with real and simulated data.
A concise four-hour course introducing mechanical engineers to the essentials of artificial intelligence and machine learning: one hour on overarching concepts and terminology, followed by separate one-hour modules on supervised regression, supervised classification, and foundational neural-network methods.
Lecture 1: Panorama and core concepts
Lecture 2: Regression
Lecture 3: Classification
Lecture 4: Neural Networks

Short Bio:
Americo Cunha Jr is a Research Staff Member at Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC) and an Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). He also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies. His research focuses on the nonlinear dynamics of energy-harvesting systems and metamaterials, utilizing machine learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques for their design, analysis, optimization, and control.

Monday, Nov 10 to Thursday, Nov 13, 2025
7:30 am – 8:30 am

Syllabus

Introduction to Modern CFD: Outline of Course
Lecture 1: Background & Brief History
What is CFD and why do CFD?
A brief history of CFD
Lecture 2: The Governing Equations
General Balance Equation
Various Forms of Governing Equations
Lectures 3 and 4: The Finite Volume Method
Introduction to the finite volume method
Iterative convergence
Linear Solvers
Numerical Accuracy and Grid convergence
Lecture 5: Pressure Projection and SIMPLE Method
Pressure velocity coupling
staggered & non-staggered grid
The SIMPLE algorithm
Lecture 6: Turbulent Flow
Elementary concepts and Turbulence Models
Overview of 2 equation models (k-e type and k-w type, blended)
Overview of Wall Treatment
Into advanced models: Reynolds stress, LES, DNS
Lecture 7: Environmental Flows
Atmospheric Flows
Surface and Ground Water Flows
Lecture 8: Emerging Trends and CFD of the Future
Machine learning, PINN, Digital Twin, AI/ML
Further Reading

Short Bio:
Dr. Akshai K. Runchal has almost 60 years of experience in CFD and simulation of flow, heat and mass transport processes in engineering and environmental sciences. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1969 from Imperial College (London) under the guidance of Prof. D. B. Spalding. Runchal along with Suhas Patankar and Micha Wolshtein formed the 3-member team led by Spalding that invented the Finite Volume Method (FVM) for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in mid-1960’s. He started his professional career as a faculty at IIT Kanpur in 1969 and has taught as regular or adjunct faculty at IIT(Kanpur), Imperial College (London), University of California (Los Angeles), Cal Tech (Pasadena), and Cal State (Northridge). In 1979, Dr. Runchal established the ACRi group of companies (www.ACRIcfd.com) that has offices in the USA, France and India. Core expertise of ACRi is Engineering, Environmental and Space Sciences.
Over the past 56 years. Dr. Runchal has provided advanced technology and CFD Simulation services to over 200 clients that include Fortune 500 corporations, R&D organizations, and governments in over 20 countries. Among his clients are BARC, DeitY and DRDO in India; ARCO, Coca Cola, Exxon, GE, IBM, Flour, Lockheed, NASA, Rockwell, US Air Force, US DOE and Westinghouse in the USA; Rolls Royce, AEA and BP in the UK; SAFRAN, TOTAL and Hydratec in France; ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia; BBC in Switzerland, and major organizations in Abu Dhabi, China, Holland, Korea, Sweden and UAE. Dr. Runchal has been actively involved in innovative and path breaking R&D projects with leading research organizations in many countries including the Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Savannah River National Laboratories. Dr Runchal ’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of aerospace chemical, mechanical, civil and environmental engineering projects. Additionally, he has consulted extensively on projects in the fields of environmental impact, management of air, surface and ground water resources, safe disposal of hazardous and nuclear waste, and, policy and decision analysis. His clients have included major fortune He is the principal author of the ANSWER®, PORFLOW®, TIDAL®, and RADM™ CFD Software Tools that are widely employed by commercial, academic and R&D organizations. He obtained a Bachelor’s in Engineering with Honors from Punjab Engineering College (Chandigarh) in 1964. He is the author or co-author of 12 books and over 200 technical publications. Dr. Runchal has received professional honors and awards and has delivered keynote and invited talks at more than 100 international conferences and seminars. He is a Fellow of the ASME, a Fellow and founder member of the ASTFE, and has served as Chairman of the IIT Kanpur Foundation Board. He was a member of the IIT Gandhinagar Advisory Board from 2012 to 2019. He has served as an Advisor to the Government of India and the Indian Army and, a number of educational institutes in their R&D and Industrial Relations Programs.
In 2011, Dr. Runchal founded a non-profit CFD Virtual Reality Institute (www.CFDVRi.org) to further the cause of CFD education, training and R&D and to make CFD a vital and easily accessible tool for practicing engineers and its use in sustainable and socially responsive economic growth.
Dr. Runchal grew up in the scenic hill town of McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, that is now on the world map as the hometown of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He divides his time between McLeod Ganj and Los Angeles. Since 2006 he has been deeply engaged in reviving the lost heritage of Kangra Miniature Paintings through Kangra Arts Promotion Society (www.KangraArts.org) based in McLeod Ganj. His social interests include a passionate campaign to transform his home state of Himachal into a vibrant and sustainable economy through encouragement of Service/IT industry with high-paying jobs with low environmental foot print.

runchal@ACRiCFD.com ◙ +1 310 471 3023 ◙ +91 94 1822 0963
CEO & Founding Partner, ACRi Group (USA, France, India)
MD & Founder, CFD Virtual Reality Inst., Dharamsala
Distinguished Alumnus (PEC)
ASME Fellow
ASTFE Fellow & Founding Member
Ex-Chairman, IIT Kanpur Foundation
Ex-Member, Advisory Council, IIT Gandhinagar
Adjunct: UCLA (Los Angeles), Cal Tech (Pasadena)
Ex-Professor, IIT (Kanpur), Imperial College (London)
Ex-Advisor: Government of India
Core Expertise: CFD, Heat & Mass Transfer, Combustion
Engineering & Environment Modeling

Monday, Nov 10 to Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025
7:30 am – 9:30 am

Abstract

The integration of scientific research and entrepreneurship is crucial for Brazil’s technological and socio-economic development, especially in the field of engineering. The lecture will explore how academic research can serve as a foundation for innovation and the creation of technology-based businesses, highlighting pathways for engineers to transform knowledge into practical solutions. Topics will include the Brazilian innovation ecosystem, public policies fostering research and entrepreneurship (such as the Innovation Law and the Legal Framework for Science, Technology, and Innovation), and the challenges faced by researcher-entrepreneurs in the country. The talk will also examine strategic areas where science, engineering, and entrepreneurship converge in promising ways, including Industry 4.0, sustainability, renewable energy, smart mobility, and digital technologies, showcasing real and inspiring examples. The goal is to offer a practical and motivational perspective on how engineers can position themselves as key players in generating knowledge and developing solutions to meet the demands of the Brazilian market and society.

Short Bio

Prof. Alvaro T. Prata is an engineer who served at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) as a professor in Mechanical Engineering for 44 years, as Pro-Rector for Research and Graduate Studies (2000 to 2004), and as Rector (2008 to 2012). From 2012 to 2018, he was part of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, where he held the positions of National Secretary for Technological Development and Innovation, Secretary for Research and Development Policies and Programs, and Vice-Minister. He is a full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

Sunday, Nov 9, 2025
7:05 pm – 7:45 pm
UFPR Rectory auditorium

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionised industries, transforming how we interact with technology. However, intelligence remains an inherentlyhuman and biological trait—AI systems are powerful tools, not sentient beings. This keynote will explore the fundamental distinction between AI and trueintelligence, addressing misconceptions and emphasising the ethical and philosophical implications. Additionally, as AI adoption accelerates, sustainabilityemerges as a crucial challenge. We must navigate resource-intensive AI development with environmental responsibility, ensuring these technologies driveprogress without exacerbating ecological concerns. By critically examining AI’s trajectory—its challenges, trends, and opportunities—we pave the way forresponsible and impactful innovation.

Short Bio

Dr. Hervé Panetto is a Professor of Enterprise Information Systems at University of Lorraine. He teaches Information Systems modelling and development at TELECOM Nancy and conducts research at CRAN (Research Centre for Automatic Control), Joint Research Unit with CNRS where he is managing a research project on the use of neuro-symbolic AI for formalising models related to the interoperability of cyber-physical-social systems. He is a member of the Academia Europaea, a Member of the National Academy of Artificial Intelligence (NAAI), a Fellow of the AAIA (Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association) and Fellow of the AIIA (Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance). He is IEEE senior member.
He received his PhD in production engineering in 1991. He has strong experience in information systems modelling, semantics modelling and discovery, and database development. His research field is based on information systems modelling for enterprise applications and processes interoperability, He is working on the cyber-physical systems smart interoperability with neuro-symbolic techniques and cognitive digital twins. He is expert at AFNOR (French National standardisation body), CEN TC310 and ISO TC184/SC4 and SC5. He participated in many European projects including IMS FP5-IST Smart-fm project (awarded by IMS) and the FP6 INTEROP NoE (Interoperability Research for Networked Enterprises Applications and Software). He is serving as expert-evaluator for the European Commission, FNR, AERES and ANR in the domain of ICT. He was visiting Professor in 2013-2015 in the frame of a Science Without Borders PVE project with PUC Parana, Brazil and visiting Professor in 2016 at the UTFPR, Curitiba, Brazil. He is editor or guest editor of books and special issues of international journals. He is author or co-author of more than 300 papers in the field of Automation Engineering, Enterprise Modelling and Enterprise systems integration and interoperability. From 2020 to 2023, he was Chairman of the IFAC French National Member Organization (NMO). After being Chair of the IFAC Technical Committee 5.3 “Enterprise Integration and Networking” from 2008 to 2014 and Chair of the IFAC Coordinating Committee 5 on “Manufacturing and Logistics Systems” from 2014 to 2020, he is now Vice-Chair of the IFAC Technical Committee 9.3 “Control for Smart Cities”. He received the IFAC France Award 2013, the INCOSE 2015 Outstanding Service Award and the IFAC 2017 Outstanding Service Award. In 2025, he received the Distinguished Artificial Intelligence Award from the NAAI. He is co-organiser of the yearly OTM/IFAC/IFIP EI2N workshop on “Enterprise Integration, Interoperability and Networking” and General Chair of the IFAC/INSTICC IN4PL series of conferences. He is Editor-In-Chief of the Annual Reviews in Control, Member of Computers In Industry, the International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, the International Journal on Universal Computer Science, the scientific journal Facta Universitatis, series Mechanical Engineering, member of the Advisory Board of the Digital Twin International Journal (DTIJ), and a Regional Associate Editor Europe of the international Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing (JIM), Springer, Associate Editor of the Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) journal, Taylor & Francis, the Journal of Industrial Information Integration (JIII), Elsevier, the Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (EAAI), Elsevier, and the Journal SN Computer Science (SNCS), Springer Nature. He is a supporter of ELLIS, and member of DAIRO, TAILOR and CLAIRE Networks.

E-mail: herve.panetto@univ-lorraine.fr
Homepage: www.panetto.fr

Monday, Nov 10, 2025
10:00 am – 10:40 am
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

We are in era where everything is getting more and more integrated which has become a common practice in various sectors. The energy sector requires a revolutionary approach to begin designing systems in a more integrated fashion where multiple useful outputs, such as power, heat, hot water, cooling, fresh water, hydrogen and other alternative fuels, will be produced to cover the needs of a district or a community or a city in more efficient, more cost effective and more environmentally-friendly manner. The subject matter plenary talk will consider these dimensions and explain how to initiate the sector development and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead and how to overcome those challenges and manage the opportunities in a right way. The talk will also discuss how to develop integrated energy systems with renewable energy sources and hydrogen energy options to for a unique ecosystem by considering various domains, including education, energy, environment, policy development, sustainability, etc. A clear outline will then be given about what specific technologies will play a crucial role in local and global economies.

Short Bio

Dr. Ibrahim Dincer is a full professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ontario Tech. University. Renowned for his pioneering works in the area of sustainable energy technologies he has authored/co-authored many books and book chapters, along with many refereed journal and conference papers. Dr. Dincer has chaired many national and international conferences, symposia, workshops and technical meetings. Dr. Dincer has delivered many keynotes and invited lectures. Dr. Dincer is an active member of various international scientific organizations and societies, and serves as editor-in-chief, associate editor, regional editor, and editorial board member on various prestigious international journals. Dr. Dincer currently serves as President for Hydrogen Technologies Association in Turkey and Chair for Energy Working Group in Turkish Academy of Sciences. Dr. Dincer is a recipient of several research, teaching and service awards, including the Premier’s research excellence award in Ontario, Canada. During the past 10 years he has been recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the Most Influential Scientific Minds in Engineering and one of the most highly cited researchers. During the past 25 years Dr. Dincer’s research and activities have been diverse and primarily focussed on sustainable energy solutions, sustainable communities and cities, district energy systems, green buildings, renewable energy technologies, energy storage technologies, hydrogen energy technologies, and waste to energy technologies. His group has developed various novel technologies for commercialization. He is known for his engineering education related talks as a committed educator.

President, Hydrogen Technologies Association
Chair, Energy Working Group in Turkish Academy of Sciences
Editor-in-Chief, Energy Storage
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Exergy
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Global Warming
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation
Special Issues Coordinating Editor, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Monday, Nov 10, 2025
1:30 pm – 2:10 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Global efforts toward decarbonization have highlighted the importance of addressing emissions in the transportation sector. For ground transportation, this has triggered an imminent transition towards multiple variants of electric vehicles. This talk will focus on air transportation. We will present the IZEA concept – an ongoing effort towards zero emission aviation – which relies on hydrogen as an alternative fuel for turbines and fuel cells. The talk will cover an overview of the proposed power train with emphasis on thermal management of its components (motors, power electronics, HTS cables, among others). The talk will conclude with a summary of ongoing efforts aiming to increase the overall aircraft cooling capacity and illustrating how that increased capacity can enable NOx reduction by supporting an expanded use of direct electrochemical conversion in fuel cells over combustion in hydrogen turbines.

Short Bio

Prof. Juan C. Ordonez (M.S., Energy Systems, Ph.D. ME Duke University) is at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering since 2003, where he is now a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His research lies within heat transfer and applied thermodynamics and their application to the design, modeling, and optimization of advanced energy systems. Specific research areas include renewable energy systems, solar thermal systems, modeling and optimization of heat exchangers, fuel cells and fuel cell systems, HTS motors and cables, combined heat and power, HVAC systems, and photobioreactors for microalgae growth. He is a member of ASME and Sigma Xi, and has served as Associate Technical Editor for Thermal Engineering since 2005. He is co-author of the book Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes with Aldo da Rosa and is currently funded by ONR and NASA on thermal management and renewable aviation projects.

Monday, Nov 10, 2025
4:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Machine learning and Artificial Intelligence are rapidly evolving and are increasingly being used for developing dynamic models and for analysis and diagnostics. However, these data-based models are often not robust and generalizable, and do not capture many observed phenomena. On the other hand, nonlinear dynamics is able to satisfactorily explain many complex phenomena we can document in the physical world. We will explore how these physics-derived insights can help improve data-based models and especially assist diagnostics. Engineering and biomedical applications will be provided to discuss the promising synthesis of nonlinear dynamics and machine learning.

Short Bio

Dr. C. ‘Nat’ Nataraj is the Moritz Endowed Distinguished Professor of Engineered Systems at Villanova University, USA. Founding director of VCADS, an interdisciplinary research center of excellence. Published text book and 250+ papers and patents in dynamic systems, Life Fellow of ASME, and Editor-in-Chief of Springer-Nature’s Journal of Vibration Engineering Technologies. Research contributions in modeling, analysis and diagnostics in dynamic systems including rotating machinery, robotics, unmanned systems & autonomy, electromechanical systems, electromagnetic bearings, etc. Received research funding from ONR, DARPA, NSF and NIH. Winner of the Villanova Outstanding Research Award. Founding host of the podcast Nodycast (sponsored by the journal Nonlinear Dynamics). TEDx talks on medical diagnostics and CPR, and media articles in US News and World Report, Forbes, Wired and Philadelphia Inquirer.

Monday, Nov 10, 2025
4:40 pm – 5:20 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Flow systems in nature, whether animate or inanimate, have evolved in time toward greater efficiency by adapting, or ‘morphing’, their configuration to decrease resistance to the currents flowing through them. Observations at various scales indicate that the distribution of flow, i.e. the connection of a point to a volume or vice-versa, is the most efficient when it occurs through a dendritic architecture. Heat flow channels function in concert with the structures around them, as a combination of long and fast heat flows along the channels, with short and slow heat flows through the surrounding medium. Our previous work theorized the deterministic nature of morphing and showed how to obtain efficient flow configurations for combined and sometimes competing objectives.

In this talk, we will discuss first how to reach quasi-isothermal compression and expansion through the inclusion of phase change materials (PCM) elements within the compression chamber of liquid pistons. The importance of giving configuration to the PCM inclusions will be covered. Next, we will consider the design of capillary networks for the cooling of high-power electronic components. While the mechanisms are complex and involve several drivers, we will show how to obtain a conceptual understanding of how all the channels morph to allow enough capillary pressure in each branch and minimum friction losses to pull the maximum flow rate out of the system for evaporation heat transfer. Thirdly, we will present an application related to the thermal management of EV batteries in which hierarchical flow architectures are the main features of the liquid cooling solution. This example will shed light on the possibilities opened by passive thermal management as a way to provide more sustainable solutions.
Throughout the talk, we will emphasize the potentialities brought by Artificial Intelligence and document when AI brings added-value and when it does not.

Short Bio

Sylvie Lorente is the William M. Brown ’84, ’87 Endowed Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Villanova University, PA, USA, since June 2024. She is the Associate Dean for Research & Innovation in the College of Engineering.
She is also Professor (Exceptional Class) at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA), University of Toulouse, France. In 2019 she joined Villanova University as College of Engineering Chair Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering.
She is a member of the Academia of Europaea, and a member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council.
She is the Editor-in-Chief of Energy Conversion and Management and a member of several editorial boards, including Nature-Scientific Reports.
Sylvie has a passion for flow architectures, and works on thermal design, energy storage, vascularized structures, porous media, biological flow networks, urban design and organizations. Together with her group, she uncovers the engineered and biological hierarchical flow pathways that endow complex systems with efficient properties and behaviors. She is the author of 7 books, 10 book chapters and 230+ peer-reviewed international journal papers.
She is listed among the top 2% most cited scientists worldwide since 2017.

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025
10:00 am – 10:40 am
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Challenges in Mechanism Design for Robotics and Mechatronics can be considered from several viewpoints in technical, social, and financial ones as due to new designs and applications, mainly in service fields. In this lecture the main issues are discussed in terms of Innovation aspects coming from Mechanism Design. The attention is focused on challenging aspects that are related to the mechanical structure of a modern system as for the structure and operation when considering assigned tasks either in substituting or helping human operators. The lecture presents aspects emphasizing the role of mechanism design in developments of robotic systems as based on the fact that the action in performing tasks, either in coordination or not with human operators, is of mechanical nature due to motion and force transmission goals of the operation. The challenges of mechanism design are presented both in terms of technical solutions and community activity, since each of them depends, impacts, and generates each other. Examples of past and current solutions are presented to show how a mechanism design can be determinant for novel successful achievements and community developments. In particular, the activities at LARM2 in Rome are outlined on topics and systems that can be available for collaborations both in research and joint student formation.
Keywords: Robotics and Mechatronics, Mechanism Design, Innovation, History of MMS

Short Bio

Dr. Marco Ceccarelli, born in Rome in 1958, is Professor of Mechanics of Machines at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy, where he chairs LARM2: Laboratory of Robot Mechatronics. His research interests cover the subjects of robotics, mechanism design, medical devices, experimental mechanics, and history of mechanical engineering with several published papers in the fields of Robotics and Mechanical Engineering. He has been visiting professor in several universities in the world while he received several honors and awards. He is ASME fellow. Professor Ceccarelli serves on several Journal editorial boards and conference scientific committees. He is editor-in-chief of the MDPI journal Robotics and of the SAGE International Journal on Advanced Robotic Systems for the area on Service Robotics He is editor of the Springer book series on Mechanism and Machine Science (MMS) and History of MMS. He has been the President of IFToMM, the International Federation for the Promotion of MMS in 2008-11 and 2016-19. More information at the web page: LARM2 webpage: https://larm2.ing.uniroma2.it/marco-ceccarelli/

Main references by author’s publications
Lovasz, EC., Ceccarelli, M., Ciupe, V. (eds) Mechanism Design for Robotics. MEDER 2024. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 166. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67383-2
Ceccarelli M., Innovation Challenges for Mechanism Design, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 125 (2018) 94–100. DOI 10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2017.11.026
Ceccarelli M. Challenges in service robot devices for elderly motion assistance. Robotica. Published online 2024:1-14. doi:10.1017/S0263574724001528
Ceccarelli M., Fundamentals of Mechanics of Robotic Manipulation, Springer, Cham, 2022 (second Edition). ISBN 978-3-030-90846-1. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-90848-5

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025
1:30 pm – 2:10 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

(To be updated)

Short Bio

Dr. Emilia Villani is a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Technological Institute of Aeronautics, ITA.

(To be updated)

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025
4:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Vibroimpact (VI) systems, characterised by the interaction of continuous vibration and sudden impacts, have been a focal point of nonlinear dynamics research since the early 20th century. These systems typically involve moving components that collide with each other, resulting in energy transfer and giving rise to complex, often unpredictable behaviours. The study of non-smooth dynamics in such systems has advanced considerably, especially with the development of bifurcation theory and chaos theory, which have revealed the intricate dynamics that emerge in systems with impacts. This work also introduced a new class of bifurcations—grazing bifurcations—which are especially characteristic of VI and other non-smooth systems. Grazing bifurcations occur when the trajectory of a system’s motion becomes tangential to the impact boundary, leading to a zero-velocity impact and a sudden, qualitative change in the system’s dynamics.

This presentation will begin with a historical overview of vibroimpact (VI) systems and their diverse applications, followed by an exploration of the complex non-smooth dynamics within a vibroimpact pair. In this system, a freely moving ball collides with dielectric membranes inside a harmonically excited capsule. These impacts deform the membranes, altering their capacitance and enabling efficient energy harvesting. The stability conditions for different types of motion, along with transitions to other motion states, will be examined in detail, including the interplay between ghost period-doubling and grazing bifurcations. Additionally, the system’s role as a vibroimpact nonlinear energy sink (VI-NES), passively mitigating excess vibrations through targeted energy transfer, will be discussed. Both applications rely on the same fundamental impact mechanics, with system parameters and bifurcation patterns dictating performance. A thorough understanding of these dynamics is crucial for optimising both energy harvesting efficiency and vibration mitigation effectiveness. While it may seem intuitive that increasing the mass ratio would enhance VI-NES efficiency by facilitating energy transfer, this relationship is, in fact, more complex. Higher mass ratios can sometimes degrade performance, introducing adverse effects that counteract the benefits of energy absorption. The computational framework we have adopted, based on exact maps, enables a precise investigation of both periodic and chaotic regimes, as well as stable and unstable solution branches. This method overcomes the limitations of traditional approaches, providing new insights into the dynamics of vibroimpact systems and their NES properties, shedding light on previously unobserved features.

Finally, a key challenge in analysing VI systems is studying their global dynamics, as classical methods, such as the Lyapunov exponent, are not effective in non-smooth setups. To address this issue, we present a novel computational method that simplifies the global stability problem by reducing it to a classical cobweb analysis, a technique well-known for its application to smooth, classical systems.

Short Bio

Dr. Yurchenko is an expert in the area of Nonlinear Stochastic Dynamics and Control, Vibration mitigation, and mathematical and experimental modelling of complex dynamic systems. He obtained a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA on the development of stochastic optimal control theory for dynamic systems and systems subjected to non-smooth nonlinearities. In 2007 became a full Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University. In 2008 he received a Young Scientists Award from the Russian Science Council. Dr Yurchenko has published over 200 scientific publications, led a number of industrial projects and projects supported by governmental agencies. He is an Associate Editor of Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Journal of Vibration Testing and System Dynamics; he is also an editorial board member of Int. J. of Dynamics and Control, Vibrations, Energies, Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering. He is a fellow of the International Institute of Acoustics and Vibration. Currently Daniil is the Head of the Dynamics Group at ISVR.

Tuesday, Nov 11, 2025
4:40 pm – 5:20 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Ignition of flammable gases, combustible liquids, or powders is a critical safety concern that engineers face in various industries. One way in which ignition may occur is through the process of self-heating due to positive feedback between reaction rates, energy release, and multiplication of reactive species. If self-heating results in an uncontrolled or runaway reaction this may culminate an explosive combustion event. Another closely related process is ignition by a hot surface introduced either deliberately or accidently into a flammable gas. Self-heating and ignition by hot surfaces in gases are closely related in that ignition occurs within a region of nonuniform temperature created by a combination of heat transfer, fluid motion, and energy released by chemical reactions. I will describe laboratory experiments and companion analyses using numerical simulations to illustrate the analysis of self-heating and thermal ignition thresholds in terms of the balance between chemical, thermal, and fluid motion processes for a variety of geometric and heat transfer configurations. A unifying concept is the existence of critical thermal gradient and chemical length scales leading to nondimensional parameters characterizing the threshold conditions for ignition.

Short Bio

Dr. Joe Shepherd is the C. L. “Kelly” Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA. He has been on the faculty at Caltech since 1993 and served on the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1986 to 1993. Prior to that, he was a staff member at Sandia National Laboratories from 1980 to 1986. He earned his PhD in Applied Physics from Caltech in 1981, and his BS in Physics from the University of South Florida in 1976.
Joe’s research interests have primarily been in the application of molecular and atomic physics, statistical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, fluid dynamics and solid mechanics to various aspects of combustion, shock and detonation waves, and high-speed flows. His approach is to combine laboratory experimentation using imaging and other optical methods with analytical and numerical studies to obtain fundamental insights into nature and technology.
During his career, he has worked on a number of projects to investigate and improve the safety of nuclear power plants and waste storage or treatment facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including the 1979 incident at Three Mile Island and the 2011 incidents at Fukushima Dai-ichii. His group conducted extensive research on aircraft fuel tank flammability, developing methods of characterizing ignition sources and characterizing explosive events. Researchers in the Explosion Dynamics Laboratory have made fundamental contributions to the study of detonation waves, hypersonic flow, thermal and other ignition processes, and response of piping systems to detonations and shock waves.

Personal website: http://shepherd.caltech.edu/
Research group website: http://shepherd.caltech.edu/EDL/

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025
10:00 am – 10:40 am
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

The coupling of mechanics to chemistry reveals itself in a wide range of phenomena ranging from stress corrosion cracking to the failure of Li ion batteries. For example, stress can influence diffusion by altering the thermodynamics and/or kinetics. The coupling follows directly from an Onsager-type formalism. Two examples are considered here.

Failure of Li ion batteries
Li ion batteries discharge by the transport of Li ions from an anode (such as graphite or Li metal) to a cathode comprising ceramic particles that swell upon lithiation. The next generation of batteries comprise cathode particles in the form of single crystals made from layered nickel rich materials. Recently, optical microscopy has been performed that reveal the diffusion of Li within these single crystals (“Operando visualisation of kinetically-induced lithium heterogeneities in single-particle layered Ni-rich cathodes” by Chao Xu, Alice J. Merryweather, Shrinidhi S. Pandurangi, Zhengyan Lun, David S. Hall, Vikram S. Deshpande, Norman A. Fleck, Christoph Schnedermann, Akshay Rao, Clare P. Grey, Joule 6, pp. 1-12, 2022.) This allows for a direct comparison with a fully coupled chemo-mechanical model of Li diffusion, including the role of stress. Predictions reveals that the level of induced stress in the single crystals is sufficient to induce cracking when the particles are large and the rate of discharge (lithiation) is very fast (full battery discharge in 10 minutes). Additional simulations have also been performed to explore whether a micro-architectured cathode can be designed that does not swell at the macroscopic level despite significant swelling by the active material upon lithiation.

Delamination of adhesive joints
A range of possible mechanisms lead to the progressive delamination of an interface in the presence of a corrosive species. Commonly, elucidation of the dominant mechanism requires critical experiments whereby the sensitivity of corrosion rate to the concentration of components is determined. An example is presented here by combining such experiment with detailed analysis.
The mechanism of aqueous delamination of a methyl methacrylate -based adhesive layer, sandwiched between two steel plates, is probed by starving the specimen of oxygen, by varying the aqueous environment from de-ionised water to water with a high concentration of salt, and by varying the mechanical constraint imposed by the sandwich. Sandwich construction starves the delamination crack tip of oxygen, and delamination occurs by water attack of the interface. In contrast, an adhesive coating on a steel substrate undergoes cathodic delamination when oxygen is present at the crack tip and the delamination crack is filled with salt water.
The experimental investigation is supported by a theoretical study on the initiation and growth of a crack from a pre-existing delamination; growth is due to the diffusion of a corrosive species from the side face of a sandwich layer. The corrodent diffuses along the delamination and simultaneously through the sandwich layer. It is envisaged that a chemical reaction occurs on the intact interface ahead of the delamination tip, at a rate that scales with the local concentration of corrodent. Debonding initiates at the tip of the pre-existing delamination when a critical quantity of corrodent per unit area has reacted at the interface immediately ahead of the tip. Maps are constructed to show regimes of behaviour, with axes that make use of the sandwich layer geometry and the relative diffusivity of corrodent within the delamination crack and within the sandwich layer. A number of asymptotic solutions shed light on the general numerical case. The analysis is motivated by the practical problem of delamination of adhesive joints employed in ship construction, but has much wider applicability.

Short Bio

Dr. Norman Fleck has been a Professor of the Mechanics of Materials at Cambridge University Engineering Dept., UK since 1997. He was Head of the Mechanics, Materials and Design Division 1996-2008, and was President of IUTAM 2020-2024. He is a member of several prestigious Societies such the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and a Foreign member of the US National Academy of Engineering.
He has worked on a wide range of fundamental problems in theoretical and applied mechanics, frequently motivated by industrial problems. Fleck’s main interests are in Micromechanics: the development of physically based models of deformation and fracture of engineering materials by experiment, theory and numerical analysis. The research is of broad scope and combines scientific insights and practical application. A guiding philosophy has been to condense practical engineering design problems into fundamental problems in mechanics, then generate constitutive models and implement them within finite element code.
Examples are the compressive failure of engineering composites by micro buckling, sintering of thermal barrier coatings and the dependence of their toughness and erosion resistance upon morphology of microstructure, the coupled electro-mechanical switching of ferroelectric devices, fatigue life prediction, the mechanics of metal rolling of thin foil, size effects in plasticity effects from hardness testing to cleavage at crack tips, and more recently coupled electro-mechanical phenomena in solid state lithium ion batteries.
Fleck has made particular impact upon the theory and experimental underpinning of strain gradient plasticity; the invention, synthesis, property measurement and theory of micro-architectured solids ranging from metallic foams to multi-phase, multi-scale lattices. Currently, he is working on actuation of lattice materials by liquid imbibition, and the mechanics of solid-state lithium ion batteries.
Honours and Awards
Fleck has been awarded a number of international medals in mechanics including ASME Timoshenko medal, IOM3 Platinum Medal, ICF George R. Irwin gold medal and SES William Prager medal. He is an Honorary Professor at Tsinghua University, China, and has an Honoury Doctorate at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands.

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025
1:30 pm – 2:10 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

(To be updated)

Short Bio

Dr. Américo Scotti, Mechanical Engineer, MSc and PhD in Welding Technology. He has been working in this specialty since 1982. He dedicated his career as a professor/researcher to studying the fundamentals of arc welding and wire arc additive manufacturing. He is currently a visiting professor of the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Uberlandia (Brazil).

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025
4:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

The cooling of electronic devices and, most recently, the widespread use of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and industrial heat pumps have made the study of flow boiling of organic refrigerants under high reduced pressure a major subject of research in the field of heat transfer. This demand is also driven by environmental constraints that dictate the use of refrigerants that promote high-efficiency thermodynamic cycles and have low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). In this context, the present talk initially provides an overview of these technologies, discussing their pros and cons, limitations, and research needs with a focus on the evaporation process. Next, the main findings of a comprehensive experimental study on flow boiling under high reduced pressure, conducted at the Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering Laboratory (LETeF) at the University of São Paulo (USP), are presented. This analysis revealed that the available flow boiling prediction methods failed to predict this database. This is because these methods were generally developed based on experimental data obtained under low reduced pressure, as their main focus was on refrigeration and air conditioning applications. Additionally, most of these methods do not incorporate the physics of the heat transfer phenomenon because they are based on the asymptotic sum of nucleate boiling and convective effects, rather than modeling bubble dynamics and two-phase flow characteristics. To address this gap in literature, a novel mechanistic model for heat transfer during flow boiling is introduced. This model considers liquid film behavior, bubble nucleation site density, and the bubbles life cycle and is based on a broader database obtained at LETeF comprising low and high reduced pressure experimental data.

Short Bio

Dr. Gherhardt Ribatski is a Full Professor of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer at the São Carlos School of Engineering at the University of São Paulo (USP). He received his Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MSc), and Doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from USP. He held postdoctoral positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), and the University of La Coruña.
Professor Ribatski is a member of the Congress Committee of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) and the Brazilian delegate to the Assembly for International Heat Transfer Conferences. Prof. Ribatski is also a member of the Assembly of the World Conferences on Experimental Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, and Thermodynamics; the Virtual Institute of Two-Phase Flow and Heat Transfer; and the Scientific Council of the International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer (ICHMT). Prof. Ribatski is an associate member of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering and served as Director Secretary from 2016-17 and President from 2018-21. He has served as coordinator of the CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—Brazil) committee in Engineering III since 2021. He is a member of the Engineering area panel of FAPESP (the São Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil). Prof. Ribatski was the chair of COBEM-2013, co-chair of ExHFT-9, and vice chair of IHTC-2026.
He has advised fifteen doctoral theses, supervised twelve postdoctoral researchers, and presented more than fifteen keynote lectures at national and international conferences. Dr. Ribatski has over 130 refereed journal publications, six book chapters, one book, and over 140 refereed papers in conferences, with nearly 5,000 citations according to Scopus.
His research interests include pool boiling, falling-film evaporation and condensation, two-phase flows, flow-induced vibration, flow boiling and condensation in external and internal flows, heat transfer enhancement, heat exchangers, phase change in microchannels, infrared thermography, wastewater treatment, and the thermohydraulic of nuclear reactors and solar energy.

Thursday, Nov 13, 2025
10:00 am – 10:40 am
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Making Aero Parts production processes more environmentally friendly is the prime focus of aerospace manufacturers round-the-globe. Use of carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), titanium alloys and super alloys are the challenging aerospace materials to work with. Making aircraft lighter to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions is at the centre stage of the aviation industry. This keynote presents an overview of sustainable manufacturing techniques targeting reduction in material wastage, improved productivity, lowering energy consumption while machining the challenging materials produced by conventional and additive manufacturing processes.

Short Bio

Dr. Navneet Khanna is a Dean, Faculty Aff airs and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management, Ahmedabad, India. He is a specialist in building a strong pool of trained engineering graduates and is involved in solving Manufacturing related problems of Indian Industries and Government Organizations. He bagged the Early Career Research Award of SERB (Government of India) and successfully completed the project. He has successfully led90+ projects defined by the Indian industries and published 100+ research papers in renowned (SCI/SCIE) peer-reviewed (Q1 & Q2) journals. In addition to this core competence, he has created several avenues of collaborative work with ISRO, DRDO, IPR, IITs, and renowned institutions round-the-globe. He has been invited by several renowned institutions worldwide to deliver invited talks and lectures. Dr. Khanna’s name figured among the top 2% of researchers and scientists of the world in a report published by Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier of the Netherlands for the years of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Dr. Khanna is listed among the World’s Best Engineering and technology Scientists by Research.com. Dr. Khanna also featured among top 0.05% of scholars worldwide in the specialty of Cryogenics and Tribology by ScholarGPS.

Thursday, Nov 13, 2025
1:30 pm – 2:10 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV) are well-known for characteristics like high strength-to-weight ratio, toughness, and weather resistance. Their overall improved performance compared to metals enables significant weight savings, which is driving growing worldwide demand in applications such as CNG and hydrogen cylinders for vehicles, gas transport, and others. Despite these advantages, and their use abroad for more than two decades, COPV have not yet entered the Brazilian market. This keynote will explore the general challenges (both technical and non-technical) and present recent developments by the group in manufacturing Type IV COPV using glass-fiber and carbon-fiber composites via the filament winding technique. The group’s work on raw-material development and the design of COPV through numerical studies to identify optimal laminate sequences will also be discussed.

Short Bio

Dr. Sandro Amico graduated from UFRN, did his Masters at UNICAMP and the PhD at the University of Surrey (England). He is Full Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Department of Materials Engineering. He has published 340+ journal papers, 550+ conference papers, 25 book chapters and 4 patents, and has supervised 72 Master/Doctorate students. He was the Chair of the 3rd Brazilian Conference on Composite Material and received the Pesquisador Gaúcho Award from FAPERGS (2021) and the Technological Innovation Award from ANP – Category III (2020) with his team. He has an H-index of 49 (Scopus) and 58 (Google Scholar) and is associate editor of the Materials Research Ibero-American Journal. He leads a Composites group (www.ufrgs.br/gcomp)and the development of a free composite mechanics software (www.ufrgs.br/mechgcomp). His ongoing international collaborations include Politecnico di Milano and IPF-Dresden.
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56439261300

Thursday, Nov 13, 2025
4:00 pm – 4:40 pm
Technology Sector Auditorium

Abstract

In recent years, the effects of heredity on dynamical systems have been analyzed using the fractional order derivative. But, another way of considering the heredity is the integral formulation proposed by Volterra in 1912 and later almost forgotten. Bio-inspiration is the design of technical and technological devices working almost as biological entities for medical or other practical purposes. The seminar will consist of three main steps: (i) presentation of some bio-inspired electronic oscillators, (ii) analysis of the Volterra’s integral formulation of the heredity on the behaviors of nonlinear mechanical oscillators, (ii) presentation of some theoretical and experimental results obtained when using bioinspired electronic oscillators to power micro/macro electromechanical systems with and without heredity consideration.

Short Bio

Dr. Paul Woafo, professor of Physics at the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon, is holder of a “Doctorat de troisième cycle” and a “Doctorat d’Etat” both obtained in Cameroon in 1992 and 1997 in Nonlinear Dynamics analyzing the effects of discrete nature of solids on the propagation of topological waves in ferroelectric materials, surface physics and biological molecules.
He is presently managing a research group on Modeling and Simulation in Engineering, Biomimetics and Prototypes (www.lamsebp.org). He is member of various scientific organizations at the national and international levels including Cameroon Academy of Sciences (Fellow and Dean of the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences), Cameroon Physical Society (past founding President), African Physical Society, European Physical Society, American Physical Society, Humboldtian (Germany) since 2007 and has been an associate member of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Trieste, Italy) from 1995 to 2005. Winner of the TWAS Prize for Young Scientists in 2004, 2020 award of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) for his achievements as a scientist, academic teacher, science manager and for the development of physics within Cameroon and Africa, and the enhanced integration of the Cameroonian Physics community into the global scientific discourse. In 2022, he was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (presented by the APS Forum on Education).
His present research activities cover both fundamental and applied research in the following main topics:
-Macro/micro/nano-electromechanical and mechatronic systems: fundamental studies and applications in robotics, structural vibrations monitoring, bio-inspired devices and energy harvesting,
– Electronic/electrical circuits analysis and applications in telecommunications and natural/artificial heart pacemakers,
– optoelectronic oscillators (for optical chaos cryptography, optical power amplification and optical pulse generation) and optomechanical oscillators (for the analysis of squeezing and cooling states, and sensors technologies).
– Biological oscillators with the effects of diseases (calcium waves, enzymatic reactions, transition to pathogenicity, nervous signals, artificial pacemakers, artificial hearts),
– Fundamental studies on complex dynamics of excited and self-excited oscillators of mechanical and electrical/electronic types (hysteresis, sub- and super-harmonic states, chaos, bursting oscillations, chaos control, synchronization).

Some past research projects include the propagation of short topological waves in ferroelectric materials and nonlinear waves in transmission lines made of semiconductor components or superconducting components.
These research activities have led to several articles in Physics and Engineering journals and supervision of 70 Ph.D thesis since 1999.
He is Reviewer for some physics and engineering journals of the following publishers: Elsevier, American Physical Society, American Institute of Physics, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Springer, World Scientific Publishing and others.
He is also engaged in various outreach activities for the promotion of physics and engineering education/research.
Paul Woafo is member of several organizations including: Fellow Cameroon Academy of Sciences, founding president Cameroon Physical Society, Fellow American Physical Society, Humboldt foundation fellow, Associate member of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, etc. He is also recipient of Winner of the TWAS Prize for Young Scientists and IUPAP C13 commission on Physics for Development 2020 prize.

Friday, Nov 14, 2025
10:00 am – 10:40 am
Technology Sector Auditorium