Paraskevas Koukaras is a postdoctoral scientific associate
at the Information Technologies Institute (ITI) of the Centre for Research and
Technology Hellas (CERTH). He studied Computer Science at the Department of
Informatics of the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of
Thessaloniki (ATEI), graduating in 2013. In 2017, he received his Master’s
degree in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) from the
International Hellenic University (IHU). In 2021, he completed his doctoral
studies in Data Science at IHU, focusing on interdisciplinary knowledge
extraction approaches in social media and in the energy sector using machine
learning methods. Since 2019, he has been participating in H2020 and LIFE-CET
research projects, developing web applications/interfaces and demand-response
technologies for improved decision-making regarding energy ecosystems and
enhanced energy efficiency and well-being in buildings. His research interests
include machine learning, data analysis, information modeling, correlation
mining, sentiment analysis, forecasting, multi-layer information networks,
heterogeneous information networks, graph-based approaches, and hybrid
functionality algorithms.
Byron Ioannou is a Professor of Urban Planning, Head of the
Department of Architecture, and Director of the Urban Planning and Development
Unit (UPDU) at the School of Engineering of Frederick University. He studied
Architecture (Dip. Eng.) and Urban & Regional Planning (MSc and Ph.D.) at
the National Technical University of Athens. He has also studied Planning Law
(PG Cert) at Leeds Beckett University. He has worked as research and teaching
staff in several institutions in the Mediterranean Region. He has extended
professional and research experience in spatial planning, built environment
assessment, design, and urban development issues. He is a member of ETEK (CY),
TEE (GR), and the Royal Institute of Town Planners (UK), and has served as a
member of the Planning Board and of the Committee for the Environmental
Assessment of Plans and Projects of the Republic of Cyprus. His current
research focuses on urban design and urban development plans, environmental and
sustainable mobility aspects of planning, built environment risk assessment,
and renewable building energy systems. He is also an award-winning professional
in several international planning and urban design competitions. He is a
reviewer and an editorial board member at several scientific journals, TandF,
MDPI, etc. He is an external expert/evaluator at the European Commission
Research Agency, the European Parliament, COST Research Organisation, and AIKA
Latvia.
Paris Fokaides is an Associate Professor at Frederick
University in the School of Engineering in the field of thermo fluids, as well
as in the field of process engineering. He teaches undergraduate and
postgraduate level courses in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Civil
Engineering, and Architecture. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki (2002), and he is a PhD holder from Karlsruhe
University, Germany (2009) in the field of sustainable energy technologies (combustion).
Since 2012, he has been at Frederick University, Cyprus, serving as Associate
Professor and Senior Researcher, and founding the Sustainable Energy Research
Group. He has also been a Chief Researcher at Kaunas University of Technology,
Lithuania, since 2017. Previously, he worked as a Research Associate at
Karlsruhe University (2002–2007) and the University of Cyprus (2008–2012). In
2021, he founded Euphyia Tech, a spin-off focusing on smart and sustainable
building assessment. He has led and participated in research and consultancy
projects with work spanning sustainable energy systems, smart and sustainable
buildings, and renewable energy technologies. He has also featured since 2020
in the World’s Top 2% Scientists in the field of Energy, Building, and
Construction, according to the Stanford ranking. As of 2022, he has assumed the
prestigious role of Editor in Chief for the International Journal of
Sustainable Energy.
