Speakers

Prof. GIUSEPPE CARBONE, University of Calabria, Italy

Research Area: Robotics and Mechatronics; IEEE Senior Member

Prof. Giuseppe Carbone is with University of Calabria, Italy, since 2018. From 2020 he is Chair of the IFToMM TC on Robotics and Mechatronics and Editor in Chief of Robotica. His research interests include Manipulation and Grasp, Assistive Robotics, Mechatronics with about 500 published papers. He has been coordinating FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects. He currently is involved in several Next Generation EU PNRR projects. Among others he currently serves as Vice President of the Italian Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Member of the Board of Directors for the Society of Bionics and Biomechanics ISBE, Treasurer of the IFToMM Italy Society, Editor-in-Chief of Robotica (Cambridge Univ. Press), Section Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Bionic Engineering (Springer), Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transaction of Mechatronics, Associate Editor of several International Journals.

Giuseppe Carbone has got his PhD degree in Robotics from the University of Cassino, Italy, in 2004 where he has been Assistant Professor and Key Member of the Laboratory of Robotics and Mechatronics for about 15 years. He has been visiting professor at Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, Beihang University, Waseda University, and several other well-reputed International Research Institutions. From 2018 he has joined University of Calabria, Italy as Associate Professor. From 2020 he is Chair of IFToMM TC on Robotics and Mechatronics. From 2018 to 2021 he has been Visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University, UK where he served as Senior Lecturer and member of the Executive board of Sheffield Robotics from 2015 to 2017. From 2021 he is also Scientific Director of the International Research Laboratory Intelligent Robotic Systems and Technologies, University of Belgorod with State assignment of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation under Grant FZWN-2020-0017. Among others he is Treasurer of the IFToMM Italy Member Organization, Editor-in-Chief of Robotica Journal (Cambridge Univ. Press), Section EIC of Journal of Bionic Engineering, MDPI Robotics, MDPI Machines, Technical Editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. He has been PI or co-PI of more than 20 projects including 7th European Framework and H2020 funds. He has received more than 30 Best Paper awards and more than 10 International Best Patent awards. His research interests cover aspects of Engineering Design, Mechanics of Robots, Mechanics of Manipulation and Grasp, Mechanics of Machinery with over 500 research paper outputs, 20 patents, and 16 Phd completions (6 ongoing). He has been also member of 20 PhD evaluation Commissions and viva in Italy, Spain, Finland, UK, Romania, Mexico. He has been invited to deliver Keynote speeches and lectures on his research activity at more than 30 International events. He edited/co-edited four books that have been published by Springer and Elsevier International Publishers. h-index 36 n. citations >5000 (source google scholar). Among other honors, he has received two Honoris Causa Doctoral Degrees.

A. Prof. CHING KUAN YONG, University of Reading Malaysia, Malaysia

Research Area: Nanocomposites

Ts. Dr. Ching Kuan Yong is Associate Professor and Deputy Director of Research Management Centre at the University of Reading Malaysia. She obtained her PhD in Engineering Sciences from the University of Southampton, UK. Her research focus is polymer nanocomposites and biomaterials, with special interest in the processing-strcuture-properties of polymers at nanometre scale. Currently she is working in the research of polymer nanocomposites for high voltage power insulation applications. She has secured fundings from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Nippon Sheet Glass Foundation, Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and the Royal Society of Chemistry, with a total amount of approximately RM500k.

She is a Chartered Chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK, Professional Technologist of Malaysia Board of Technologists. She is also the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Panel Assessor for Chemical Sciences cluster. 

A. Prof. CHING YERN CHEE, Universityof Malaya, Malaya

Research Area: Biocomposite materials, Nanocomposite, Polymer Technology, Biomaterials; IEEE Member

Ir. Dr. Ching Yern Chee is an Assoc. professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Malaya. She graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, UTM. She is a Chartered Engineer registered by the Engineering Council (UK). Her research focus is Environmental Friendly Products and Technologies; and she has secured more than RM 5 million research grants. Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Ching Yern Chee has contributed immensely to the development and enhancement in science & technology in Malaysia, particularly in the field of green polymer composite. Her significant achievement is the development of a novel composite lacquer with high FIR effectiveness and UV blocking properties for agricultural greenhouse film. This invention has successfully provided multi-functional roles to agricultural film in a cheaper processing cost and allows for optimum growing conditions. The development of green and biodegradable mulch film from oil palm fiber/biopolymer composite has contributed to the reduction of landfill plastic mulch film from algricultural farms. She has provided solutions to industrial problems and have developed new composite materials that exhibit enhance performances and reliabilities as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Ching has filed numerous patents for her inventions and received many accolades as a distinguished scholar. Ching has won >20 awards at international/national exhibitions pertaining to her research and inventions. Ching was the recipient of “Leaders in Innovation Fellowship 2017” by the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK for her notable contribution in the field of engineering education and advancement in composite field. Ching is the recipient of “Top Research Scientists Malaysia 2020” (TRSM) from Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). Dr. Ching was selected as one of UM Researchers Among The World's Top 2% Scientists 2022 and 2023 by Elservier. She is also a recipient of the “Hitachi Fellowship 2019” with a tenure at the The University of Kitakyushu, Japan as a visiting scholar. The international awards bestowed on Dr. Ching have opened new doors for her research through collaborations and consultation.

Speech Title: Enhancing Emulsion Stability with Surface-Modified Nanocellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse

Abstract:Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a widely available agro-industrial waste, typically discarded through decomposition or combustion, which contributes to environmental pollution. However, SCB's high cellulose content makes it a valuable resource for various applications. Recent research has focused on converting SCB into nanocellulose, a non-toxic and eco-friendly material with significant potential as a Pickering stabilizer in oil-water emulsions. These stabilizers enhance emulsion stability by preventing droplet coalescence and forming a protective barrier between the immiscible phases, ensuring a stable emulsion. Despite cellulose's natural hydrophilicity, its surface properties can be modified to improve its emulsifying capabilities. In this study, researchers modified SCB-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with quaternary ammonium salts to increase their hydrophobicity, resulting in modified CNCs (m-CNCs). These m-CNCs retained their needle-like structure, with an average length of 534 nm and a width of 20 nm, and exhibited enhanced ability to stabilize oil-water emulsions at low concentrations (3 wt%). The m-CNCs maintained the stability of these emulsions for over three months, achieving an emulsion index exceeding 80%. When compared to unmodified CNCs and standard quaternary ammonium salt (STAC), m-CNCs demonstrated superior emulsifying properties, producing emulsions with smaller droplet sizes, higher emulsion indices, and improved rheological characteristics. These findings suggest that STAC-modified CNCs derived from SCB are promising as sustainable, green Pickering stabilizers with potential applications in various industries, offering an eco-friendly solution to reduce agricultural waste and environmental impact.

A. Prof. FengmingDu, Dalian Maritime University, China

Du Fengming, associate professor, doctoral supervisor, postdoctoral fellow of Marine and Marine Engineering Mobile Station, mainly engaged in transportation engineering, marine engines, and material design. He has won the titles of "Ten Million Talents Project" talents in Liaoning Province, "Dalian Youth Science and Technology Star", "Dalian High-level Talents - Young Talents", and one Liaoning Natural Science Academic Achievement Award. He has presided overthree special sub-project of the National Defense Bureau of Science and Industry, one key project of the Liaoning Provincial Natural Science Foundation, one joint project of the Liaoning Provincial Shipping Fund, one general project of the China Postdoctoral Fund, one project of the Dalian High-level Talent Innovation Support Program, two special funds for basic scientific research business expenses of the central university, and one horizontal project. He has participated in more than 10 projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the pre-research project of the Ministry of Equipment Development, the project of the National Defense Bureau of Science, Technology and Industry, the high-tech ship project of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the horizontal project. More than 50 academic papers have been published, more than 40 have been retrieved by SCI, and 1 invention patent has been authorized. He is senior member of the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the reviewer of Journal of Materials Processing Technology, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Steel Research International, International Journal of Engine Research and other journals.

Speech Title: Research on Heat Transfer, Deformation, and Friction Behavior in Continuous Casting Process

Abstract: Continuous casting is a significant technological revolution in the field of casting. Through continuous innovation and improvement, it has gradually formed a modern advanced continuous casting technology that integrates automation, mechanization, and informatization. At present, the continuous casting ratio has become an important indicator for measuring the level of a country's steel industry. The complex behaviors of heat transfer, solidification, flow, and mechanics occur inside the crystallizer, which are interrelated and interact with each other. They are key links in the quality control of continuous casting billets and are prone to various billet defects. Given the limited research on combining measured data with numerical simulations, this study establishes a calculation model for heat transfer, solidification, and mechanical behavior of a crystallizer based on measured data. The model aims to investigate the non-uniform characteristics of heat transfer, solidification, shrinkage, deformation, and friction, which is of great significance for online monitoring, billet quality prediction, and process optimization in continuous casting processes.