Inês Flores-Colen – Environmental – Women Researcher Award

Inês Flores-Colen - Environmental - Women Researcher Award

Instituto Superior Técnico - Portugal

AUTHOR PROFILE

SCOPUS

👷‍♀️ CIVIL ENGINEERING EXPERTISE

Inês Flores-Colen is a Full Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, specializing in the Construction Scientific Area of the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Environment. With a career starting in 1996, she has earned her MSc in 2002 and PhD in Civil Engineering in 2009. Her professional journey has been marked by significant contributions to the fields of construction and civil engineering, making her a leading expert in her domain.

📚 PROLIFIC PUBLISHER AND EDITOR

Inês has an extensive publication record that includes 3 books, 8 book chapters, and over 100 papers in international journals. She has also contributed 60 technical-scientific reports and 35 international congress papers. Her editorial experience includes serving as Editor of International Techitt (2014-2017), and she is currently the Editorial Board Member of three international journals and the Director of the magazine Pedra e Cal, which focuses on conservation and rehabilitation.

🧪 RESEARCH PROGRAM PARTICIPATION

Inês has actively participated in 15 competitively financed research programs, with 4 ongoing international projects. Notably, she is involved in DG4HEALTH (a digital twin platform for hospital facility management) and SHELLTER, which focuses on the reuse of aquaculture waste for construction materials. As a Principal Investigator, her projects include WGB_Shield and Nanorender, and she has led the Instituto Superior Técnico team in two subcontracted projects related to smart roofing systems and advanced waterproofing technologies.

🎓 SUPERVISION OF RESEARCHERS

Inês has a wealth of experience in guiding future engineers and researchers, having supervised 4 Post-doc researchers, 12 PhD students, and 102 Masters students. Her leadership in mentoring emerging scholars has played a vital role in advancing research in civil engineering and construction.

🏗️ RESEARCH INTERESTS IN CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION

Her research interests are diverse and cutting-edge, focusing on innovative and sustainable construction, pathology, inspection, in-situ testing, and rehabilitation of buildings. Inês is a pioneer in the development of aerogel-based renders for thermal rehabilitation, contributing to advancements in mortars and ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems). Her work is vital in improving building performance and sustainability.

🏅 INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND STANDARDIZATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Inês is an active member of European and international standardization committees, including CEN/TC348, ISO TC 267, and CEN/TC318. She is also part of national committees CT 94 and CT 192, showcasing her influence in shaping industry standards. Her national patent on aerogel-based thermal render, published in 2019, further underscores her innovative contributions to civil engineering.

🔬 LEADER OF THE PERCOAT RESEARCH GROUP

Inês founded the PERCOAT - Performance of Coatings and Buildings Solutions research group in 2020. Through this initiative, she continues to drive forward research in the field of building maintenance and innovative construction solutions. Her leadership has positioned PERCOAT as a key player in developing sustainable building technologies.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION

Blue Circular Economy—Reuse and Valorization of Bivalve Shells: The Case of Algarve, Portugal
Authors: Magalhães, F.C., Bellei, P., Flores-Colen, I., da Costa, E.M.
Journal: Recycling
Year: 2024

Effects of hygrothermal and natural aging on the durability of multilayer insulation systems incorporating thermal mortars with EPS and aerogel
Authors: Parracha, J.L., Veiga, R., Nunes, L., Flores-Colen, I.
Journal: Cement and Concrete Composites
Year: 2024

Characterization and performance of building composites made from gypsum and woody-biomass ash waste: A product development and application study
Authors: Pedreño-Rojas, M.A., Porras-Amores, C., Villoria-Sáez, P., Morales-Conde, M.J., Flores-Colen, I.
Journal: Construction and Building Materials
Year: 2024

An Evaluation of the Luminous Performance of a School Environment Integrating Artificial Lighting and Daylight
Authors: Miranda, D.T., Barreto, D., Flores-Colen, I.
Journal: Sustainability (Switzerland)
Year: 2024

Guidelines to reduce the effects of urban heat in a changing climate: Green infrastructures and design measures
Authors: Pereira, C., Flores-Colen, I., Mendes, M.P.
Journal: Sustainable Development
Year: 2024

Hamid Balali – Water Management – Best Sustainable Development Project Award

Hamid Balali - Water Management - Best Sustainable Development Project Award

New Mexico State University - United States

AUTHOR PROFILE

SCOPUS

🎓 ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Hamid Balali holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Policies and Development from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. His doctoral research involved modeling the impacts of pricing and agricultural policies on groundwater resource conservation and balance, utilizing GAMS. He also completed a Sabbatical at Bologna University, where he explored linear and nonlinear dynamic programming of groundwater. Balali earned his MSc in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics from Tarbiat Modares University, with research on labor economics and agricultural investment impacts.

📝 RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

Balali’s research spans a range of topics in water economics, including the spatial analysis of water stress, groundwater market development, and resilience of water-community systems against climate change. His work integrates system dynamics and socio-ecological frameworks to address complex environmental and economic challenges. Notable publications include studies on groundwater sustainability, resilience assessment, and the impacts of economic sanctions on energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

🌍 SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH PAPERS

His published work includes influential papers such as “Economic Sanctions, Energy Consumption, and CO2 Emissions: A System Dynamics Model,” and “Fallowing Strategy and Its Impact on Surface Water and Groundwater Withdrawal.” These studies are crucial in understanding the intersection of environmental policy, economic sanctions, and resource management.

📚 CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS

Balali has actively participated in conferences, presenting papers on topics such as groundwater sustainability and socio-ecological systems. His contributions to conferences underscore his commitment to advancing knowledge in water resource management and environmental economics.

🔬 ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Balali’s ongoing research projects include exploring resilience concepts for social-ecological systems and developing frameworks for groundwater governance. These projects reflect his dedication to addressing the evolving challenges in water resource management and environmental sustainability.

🌐 INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

His research has had a significant international impact, with studies submitted and published in renowned journals such as "Groundwater for Sustainable Development" and "Water." Balali’s work is instrumental in shaping global discussions on water resource management and agricultural economics.

🏆 PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Balali’s expertise and contributions have been recognized in the field of agricultural economics and water resources. His research has received acclaim for its innovative approach and practical implications in managing groundwater resources and addressing environmental challenges.

NOTABLE PUBLICATION

Importance of good groundwater governance in economic development: The case of western Iran
Authors: T.S. Foroushani, H. Balali, R. Movahedi, I.J. Stamenkovska, H. Azadi
Year: 2023
Journal: Groundwater for Sustainable Development

The impact of water-pricing policies on water productivity: Evidence of agriculture sector in Iran
Authors: O. Zamani, H. Azadi, S.A. Mortazavi, S.M. Moghaddam, L. Jurik
Year: 2021
Journal: Agricultural Water Management

Applying a system dynamics approach for modeling groundwater dynamics to depletion under different economical and climate change scenarios
Authors: H. Balali, D. Viaggi
Year: 2015
Journal: Water (Switzerland)

Groundwater balance and conservation under different water pricing and agricultural policy scenarios: A case study of the Hamadan-Bahar plain
Authors: H. Balali, S. Khalilian, D. Viaggi, F. Bartolini, M. Ahmadian
Year: 2011
Journal: Ecological Economics