Jingsong Leng
Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Professor Jinsong Leng is a globally recognized expert in smart materials
and structures, serving as a Full Professor and Director of the Center for
Smart Materials and Structures at the School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute
of Technology. He earned his BSc and PhD from Harbin Institute of Technology in
1990 and 1996, respectively, and has held research fellow positions at
prestigious institutions, including Nanyang Technological University
(Singapore), the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield University
and the Photonics Research Group of Aston University (UK).
Prof. Leng is renowned for his pioneering
contributions to shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites,
which have revolutionized applications in aerospace and biomedical engineering.
His research focuses on materials that respond to external stimuli—such as
temperature, light, or magnetic fields—enabling transformative advancements,
including the development of 4D printing technologies, which create
structures that evolve over time in response to environmental conditions.
He has an outstanding academic record, with over 410
scientific papers, 14 books/chapters, 120 patents and more
than 100 invited talks delivered globally. Prof. Leng also holds
significant editorial and leadership roles, including Editor-in-Chief of
the International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials and Associate
Editor for journals such as Smart Materials and Structures, Journal
of Intelligent Materials Systems and Structures and Composites Part A:
Applied Science and Manufacturing. He is also the Chairman of the
Asia-Pacific Committee on Smart and Nano Materials (APCSNM) and an Executive
Council Member of the International Committee on Composite Materials (ICCM).
Prof. Leng’s contributions to the scientific community
have been recognized with numerous honors. He is a Fellow of SPIE, IOP
(Institute of Physics), IMMM (Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining), FRAeS (Royal Aeronautical Society) and an Associate Fellow of AIAA
(American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). In 2021, he was
elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, further
cementing his status as a leading figure in his field.
Prof. Leng's groundbreaking research continues to
shape the future of smart materials and their transformative applications
across industries.
Tony Mcnally
The University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Professor Tony McNally is a distinguished academic at the University of
Warwick, United Kingdom, specializing in nanocomposites and polymer science. He
serves as a Chair Professor in Nanocomposites and was the founder
and first Director of the International Institute for Nanocomposites
Manufacturing (IINM) within the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
Professor McNally's research focuses on the
development and application of nanocomposite materials, particularly those
incorporating zero-dimensional, one-dimensional and two-dimensional
nanomaterials. His work emphasizes the functionalization of these materials and
the processing-structure-property relationships in polymer science. He has made
significant contributions to the understanding of polymer blends, electrical, rheological
and thermal percolation, as well as bio-nanocomposites and polymer-modified
bitumen.
As a recognized leader in the field, Professor McNally
sits on the Editorial Board of many journals and from 2025 he will be Editor-in-Chief of Advanced Composites & Hybrid Materials. His editorial roles
reflect his significant influence in advancing composites research. He has held
several visiting positions, including at the University of Rome, Italy and
latterly at the California Institute of Technology, USA.
Zhonglin Wang
Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Professor Zhong Lin Wang is a world-renowned physicist and pioneer in nanotechnology, particularly in the development of nanogenerators for energy harvesting. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Arizona State University in 1987 and currently holds the prestigious positions of Hightower Chair in Materials Science and Engineering, Regents' Professor and College of Engineering Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also the Director of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems.
Prof. Wang is celebrated as the "father of nanogenerators" for his groundbreaking innovations in piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators, which convert mechanical energy from environmental and biological sources into electrical energy. These revolutionary technologies have advanced self-powered systems for applications in personal electronics, sensor networks, biomedical devices and environmental monitoring, establishing foundational principles for energy harvesting.
Throughout his illustrious career, Prof. Wang has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, reflecting his monumental contributions to nanotechnology and energy science. Notable honors include:
· The Albert Einstein World Award of Science (2019) for pioneering work in nanogenerators and self-powered systems.
· The ENI Award in Energy Frontiers (2020) for advancing energy harvesting technologies.
· The James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials (2014) from the American Physical Society, acknowledging his achievements in new material development.
· The Global Energy Prize (2023) for inventing triboelectric nanogenerators, enabling autonomous systems and large-scale blue energy harvesting.
Prof. Wang’s work has profoundly influenced energy science and nanotechnology, driving innovations that address global challenges in sustainable energy and technology development.
Chunhui Wang
The University of New South Wale, Australia
Professor Chun Wang is a distinguished academic and researcher
specializing in advanced composite technologies. He is currently the Head of
the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and the Director of the
ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health at the University of New
South Wales (UNSW). His exceptional contributions to engineering and composites
research have earned him numerous accolades, including his election as a Fellow
of the Academy of Technological Science and Engineering (FTSE) and appointment
as a SHARP Professor, recognizing his world-leading research and leadership. In
2022, he was named a UNSW Scientia Professor, a title reserved for academics
with exceptional international eminence.
Professor Wang’s research focuses on advanced
composite materials, with particular emphasis on load-carrying
high-performance structures and soft composites for applications
such as wearable sensors, actuators and energy storage devices.
One of his team's notable achievements includes breakthroughs in toughening carbon
fiber-reinforced composites at cryogenic temperatures, enabling the
development of lightweight, all-composite vessels for liquid hydrogen storage
and transportation at minus 253°C. This innovation addresses a critical
challenge, allowing composite vessels to operate without matrix cracks and
advancing the adoption of such materials for hydrogen storage.
In addition to his research, Professor Wang
contributes significantly to the professional community. He serves on the Editorial
Advisory Boards of leading journals such as Composites Science and
Technology and Composites Part A. His leadership roles include
serving as a member of the ARC College of Experts (2013–2015), Chair
of the National Committee on Applied Mechanics (2013–2015) and President
of the Australian Fracture Group (1997–2003). He has also chaired and
co-chaired prestigious international conferences, including the 11th
International Fatigue Congress and the 22nd International Conference on
Composite Materials.
Yuliang Zhao
National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China
Professor Yuliang Zhao is an
internationally acclaimed pioneer in nanosafety research, renowned for his
groundbreaking contributions to the study of nanomaterial safety and
toxicology. In 2001, he proposed the innovative concept of investigating the
safety of engineered nanomaterials and established the world’s first laboratory
dedicated to nanotoxicity, focusing on the in vivo ADME/T processes and
biochemical mechanisms of nanoscale materials. His transformative work earned
him recognition as a "leading scientist" in nanosafety by Nature
Nanotechnology in 2016.
Professor Zhao’s contributions have been acknowledged with numerous
prestigious awards, including the TWAS Prize in Chemistry (2016) and the National Prize for Natural Sciences (2012, 2018). He was elected as an Academician
of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017) and a member of TWAS (2018).
His extensive body of research has garnered over 37,000 citations (H-index ~100) and recognition for multiple groundbreaking "firsts"
by scientists from more than ten countries. His work ranked among the "Top
25 Hottest Papers" in pharmacology and toxicology for 32 consecutive
seasons between 2005 and 2015 and was highlighted as one of Scientist
Magazine's "Top Technical Advances of 2018."
Beyond academic achievements, Professor Zhao has been instrumental in
establishing international standards for nanoscience, leading the creation of ISO/TS
13278:2011, the first nanotechnology standard developed by China. His
research has profoundly advanced the understanding of bio-nano interactions,
enabling safer applications of nanomaterials and driving innovations such as
cancer nanomedicines.
Professor Zhao has also played a pivotal role in shaping the global
nanosafety landscape as an expert advisor to the UNEP, EU, and OECD.
In China, he founded the Chinese Committees of Nanotoxicology, Nanomedicine,
and Nanochemistry, fostering the growth of nanoscience and promoting
responsible and sustainable research practices. Earlier in his career, he
contributed to the discovery of Nihonium (Nh), the first
Asian-discovered chemical element added to the Periodic Table.
Professor Dusan Losic is a distinguished researcher and leader in
nanotechnology, renowned for his pioneering work in graphene and 2D materials.
He completed his PhD in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Flinders University
in 2003, one of Australia’s first in this field. After postdoctoral work, he
was awarded an ARC Research Fellowship (2007–2011) to establish
independent research at the University of South Australia. In 2012, he joined
the University of Adelaide, where he received an ARC Future Fellowship
(2012–2017) and has since led groundbreaking programs in advanced
materials.
Professor Losic established and directed Australia’s
first ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation (2017–2023)
and currently serves as Deputy Director of the ARC Research Hub for Advanced
Manufacturing with 2D Materials (2022–2027). His prolific research output
includes over 510 peer-reviewed publications (including 4 edited books and 400
journal articles), 11 patents and contributions to more than 250 presentations
globally, including plenary, keynote and invited talks. His work has attracted
over 29,000 citations (h-index: 98), with features on 20 journal covers.
With over $30 million in research funding,
including national grants and industry collaborations, Professor Losic has
completed more than 50 research projects, half in partnership with industry,
leading to six licensed technologies. His innovative approaches span
fundamental, applied and translational research, resulting in the creation of
advanced nanoscale materials, particularly in graphene. These materials have
driven the development of transformative solutions in healthcare, energy,
agriculture, environment and industry.