Simis is emeritus full prof., Federal U. of Pernambuco, Brazil, and presently a FAPESP Vis. Sen. Researcher at ICMC-USP. He is First Class research grant recipient from the Brazilian Research Council. He earned his PhD from Queen's U., Canada. In Brazil, he was prof. at IMPA in Rio de Janeiro until 1980. He was president of the Brazilian Mathematical Society and has been member on several occasions of international commissions of the IMU and TWAS. He has been director of 3 workshops in his field at the ICTP. He is a recipient of the Natl. Medal Grã-Cruz for Scientific Merit, Min. of Science and Technology, and was a JS Guggenheim Fellow. He has been awarded other fellowships from the Max-Planck-Institut, Japan Soc. for Promotion of Science and the Istituto Nazionale di Alta Matematica. He is a member of the Brazilian Acad. of Sciences and serves on several committees in Brazil. His mathematical work concerns the interlaciing of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry.

Sinha was educated at Presidency College, Kolkata, and the U. of Delhi. He obtained his PhD at the U. of Rochester. He is a SERB-Distinguished Fellow and Honorary Professor, JNCASR; Distinguished Associate, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. His previous positions include: Bhatnagar fellow,CSIR; distinguished scientist and Director, Indian Statistical Institute; visiting professorships at the Universities of Texas at Austin, Tennessee at Knoxville, Geneva, Switzerland, and RIMS, Kyoto. His honours include: CV Raman Medal; Ulam chair professor, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder; SS Bhatnagar Prize; Ganesh Prasad Memorial Award, Indian Mathematical Society; and PC Mahalanobis Medal, Indian Science Congress. He is a fellow of the Indian Natl. Science Academy and Indian Academy of Sciences, and life member of the Indian Mathematical Society and Intl. Assoc. of Mathematical Physicists.

Srinivas (Ph.D., 1982, University of Chicago) is a Distinguished Professor in the School of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union for two terms, and is presently Chairman of the National Board for Higher Mathematics, India. His awards and recognitions include the S.S. Bhatnagar Prize, India, the TWAS Mathematics Prize, a Humboldt Research Award, and an Einstein Visiting Fellowship from Berlin. He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Science Academy, the National Academy of Sciences, India, and of the American Mathematical Society.

Tang obtained his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Peking University in 1984, and his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Leeds, in 1989. From 2015 to 2019, he was the vice-president and provost at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). From 2019 to 2024, he served as the president of Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC). Professor Tang was widely known for his expertise in the fields of computational mathematics and computational fluid dynamics. In recent years, his research has been focusing on adaptive grid methods, high-order methods for PDEs, and numerical methods for phase-field equations. Tang is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences, and a TWAS Fellow. He is also a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. In 2018, he was asked to deliver an invited lecture at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

Tenenblat obtained her MSc (1969) at the Univ. of Michigan and PhD (1972) at the Instituto de Matemática Pura e Aplicada, Rio de Janeiro. She has served in various capacities at the Univ. de Brasilia, Brazilian Mathematical Society, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology (Brazil) and other organizations and committees. She is professor emeritus of mathematics at the Univ. de Brasilia. An expert in differential geometry, she has advanced understanding of the interaction between differential geometry and partial differential equations. With S.S. Chern and other collaborators, she helped develop the classification of systems of differential equations that describe pseudo-spherical surfaces. Her membership includes: Brazilian Mathematical Society; American Mathematical Society; Brazilian Academy of Science; and Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science. She received the Comendador de Ordem Nacional do Merito Cientifico from the President of Brazil in 1996.

Viana is professor of mathematics at IMPA, Rio de Janeiro, where he has been a researcher since his doctorate in 1990. He has written over eighty research papers and books, covering several topics of dynamical systems and ergodic theory, and supervised thirty six doctoral students. He was plenary speaker, International Congress of Mathematicians, Berlin, 1998; invited speaker, ICM, Zurich, 1994; plenary speaker, International Congress of Mathematical Physics, Paris, 1994; plenary speaker, Latin American Congress of Mathematicians, Córdoba, 2012. He was awarded the TWAS Award in Mathematics; Latin American Mathematical Union Award; Grand Croix of Scientific Merit, President of Brazil; Ramanujan Prize, ICTP/IMU; Grand Prix Scientifique Louis D. Institut de France. He is member of the Brazilian, Portuguese and Chilean Academies of Sciences, and was the Scientific Coordinator of the Latin American Mathematical Union (UMALCA), the president of the Brazilian Mathematical Society and a vice-president of the International Mathematical Union (IMU). He is the director of IMPA and the head organizer of the International Congress of Mathematicians ICM 2018.

Wang currently holds the C.N. Yang Professorship of Institute for Advanced Study at Tsinghua University. She is President of Chinese Association for Cryptologic Research (CACR), Vice-President of Chinese Mathematical Society, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) Fellow. She has been dedicating herself to cryptology and cryptologic mathematics. Main contributions were published in over 60 papers, many of which were in international top conferences in cryptology, including Crypto, Eurocrypt, Asiacrypt, Conference on Fast Software Encryption, etc. Her honours and awards include first prize of Chinese National Science and Technology Progress Award (2020), 2005 Test-of-Time Award for Crypto (2020), Levchin Prize for Real-World Cryptography (2020), Future Science Prize in Mathematics and Computer Science (2019), Special Prize for Cryptographic Innovation of CACR (2014), the Su Buchin Prize (2010) by China Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, second class prize of Chinese National Natural Science Award (2008), Tan Kah Kee Science Award (2006), and Qiushi Outstanding Scientist Award (2006).

Yang received his PhD degree in 1993 from the University of California, Davis, United States. After a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, he joined the City University of Hong Kong in 1994 and was promoted to chair professor of mathematics in 2007. He was the president of Hong Kong Mathematical Society (2016-2020). Yang is a member of the European Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, and a foreign member of Academia Europaea. He is also a fellow of American Mathematical Society.

Yassemi is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Tehran. He completed his PhD in 1994 under supervision of Hans-Bjoern Foxby at the University of Copenhagen-Denmark. He is the Head of School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer science at the University of Tehran (2014-2020). He was the Head of the School of Mathematics at the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (2007-2009). In 2009 he received the KHWARAZMI international award in basic sciences and in the same year he received the COMSTECH international award. He was associated member of the Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste-Italy (1996-2004). He visited prestigious institutes, Max-Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn-Germany, Institute des hautes etudes scientifiques, Paris-France and Tata institute of fundamental research, Mumbai-India, several times. In 2019 he was named Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques for distinguished effort on extended multi-dimensional cooperation, including scientific research projects (Jundi-Shapur), student-and professor- exchanges, and several schools and conferences.

Ye (PhD in mathematics, Moscow State University, 1991) is a full professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Science and Technology of China. He had a postdoctoral affiliation at International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy (1991–1993). He has been engaged in the research of topological dynamic systems, ergodic theory and its applications to combinatorial number theory for nearly 40 years. With his collaborators, he has carried out in-depth research on the structure and saturation theorems of dynamical systems, convergence of multiple ergodic averages, entropy theory, complexity of dynamical systems and its applications; and obtained a series of profound results. Ye received the 14th Shiing-Shen Chern Prize issued by the Chinese Mathematical Society in 2013, the Second Prize of National Natural Sciences in 2018, and the He Liang He Li Award for Progress in Science and Technology in 2020. He was elected as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019.

Bernardo (PhD 1992, Yale, USA) is distinguished university professor and university fellow, De La Salle University, USA. His research relates to polyculturalism and intergroup relations in intercultural contexts, hope and well-being, socioeconomic and other social inequalities, and sociocultural aspects of learning and achievement. He was president, Asian Association of Social Psychology; president, ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies; president, Psychological Association of the Philippines; editor-in-chief, Asian Journal of Social Psychology; editor, The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. He received: International Prize for Literacy Research (UNESCO Institute for Education); Spencer Fellowship (US National Academy of Education); Fulbright Advanced Research Fellowship. In the Philippines, he received: Achievement Award (National Research Council of the Philippines), Outstanding Psychologist (Psychological Association of the Philippines), Outstanding Professional Psychologist (Professional Regulations Commission). Elected to National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines. He is consultant, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, et al.

Biekpe is currently Professor of Development Finance and Econometrics, and Program Director of the MCom in Development Finance at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. He is also President of Africagrowth Institute and Executive Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Development Finance. He has an MSc in Applied Statistics and Operational Research (London) and PhD in International Finance (Queens, UK). Biekpe is a Chartered Statistician and Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society of Great Britain and a Chartered Scientist of the Science Council of the United Kingdom. He is the Executive Editor of the African Finance Journal, Executive Editor of Review of Development Finance and Managing Editor Africagrowth Agenda Journal and Managing Editor of the Development Finance Agenda Magazine. Biekpe is a member of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf), a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS) and a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

BouJaoude joined the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1993 where he is now professor of science education. At AUB he served as chairman of the Department of Education, director of the Science and Math Education Center, and is now director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. He has published in local, regional, and international education journals, written chapters in books in English and Arabic, and co-edited a book on science education in the Arab States. He serves on the editorial boards of regional and international science education journals and has been a presenter at local, regional and international science education conferences. He has also served as international coordinator, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, and is a member of the executive board, Supreme Education Council, State of Qatar.

Cerda is prof. at the College of Business Administration, U. de Talca, Talca, Chile. He obtained his PhD (1991), MSc (1989), and MBA (1991) at Oregon State U., USA. At the U. de Talca, he is Director of The Graduate School (University of Talca) and former dean of Faculty of Economic and Business Administration and served as dir. of the Entrepreneurial Development Center. He was also head of the Department of Economics and director of the Center of Resource Economics and Master Degree Program on Environmental and Resource Economics at the Univ. de Concepción, Chile. He is the leading environmental and resource economist in Latin America. His work on the theory and practice of valuation of environmental and econometrics is world class. He has also been instrumental in building capacity in environmental economics in Latin America and was president of the Latin American and the Caribbean Assoc. of Environmental and Natural Resources Economics (2007-09).

Chakraborti (PhD, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Jadavpur University, India, 2003; and Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France, 2013) is professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. He was: registrar, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU); dean, School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, JNU; dean of research and development, BML Munjal University, India; professor, chair of quantitative finance, Ecole Centrale Paris, France (now CentraleSupélec); lecturer in theoretical physics, Banaras Hindu University, India. He had postdoctoral tenures at Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, and Helsinki University of Technology, Finland (now Aalto University). He is Founding Member, Center for Complexity Economics, Applied Spirituality and Public Policy, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, OP Jindal Global University, India; International Member, Centro Internacional de Ciencias A.C., Cuernavaca, Mexico; council member of Centre for Quantum Social and Cognitive Science, Memorial University, Canada. He was awarded the Young Scientist Medal of the Indian National Science Academy (2009) for work in econophysics.

Cheung (PhD, University of Minnesota 1975; BA, UC Berkeley 1970) is currently Emeritus Professor and formerly Choh-ming Li Professor of Psychology and Vice-President (Research), Chinese University of Hong Kong; Founder, Gender Research Centre at CUHK; Past-President and Fellow of International Test Commission, Board of Directors of International Association of Applied Psychology; Fellow of American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, and Hong Kong Psychological Society. Academic awards include IAAP Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology, Distinguished International Psychologist Award of APA Division 52, and Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals from the University of Minnesota. She served as Founding Chairperson of Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission. Community honours include Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Silver Bauhinia Star Award from the HKSAR Government.

Chopra (PhD, Delhi School of Economics,1969). She was formerly director, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University, where she was professor (1980-2009). She has been on the editorial and policy boards of several international journals including Environment and Development Economics, and Ecological Economics, and was Senior Associate of the Ecological and Environmental Economics Programme hosted by the ICTP, Trieste, Italy (2002-2006). She was member, Assessment Panel of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2001-2005) and co-chair of its Working Group on Response Options. She is a fellow of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, Stockholm and of the South Asia Network of Development and Environmental Economics. She was President of the Indian Society for Ecological Economics (2010-2012 and 1998-2000) and President of the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (2004). Currently, she co-edits " Ecology, Economy and Society: the Journal of the Indian Society for Ecological Economics

Anthony Clayton is the Professor of Caribbean Sustainable Development at the University of the West Indies, Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey and Affiliated Scholar at Florida International University. He was formerly a Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh, Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology (Jamaica), and an International Associate at the University of St Andrews. He is a Fellow of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences and Distinguished Fellow of the Caribbean Association of Eastern European Trained Professionals. He has over thirty years of international experience in policy development in national security and policing, energy security, environment and resources, and planning and development. He is the Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica. In 2015 he was awarded Jamaica's Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander.

Dasgupta is Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics at the Univ. of Cambridge and fellow of St John's College, Cambridge. Memberships include: fellow, British Academy and the Royal Society; member, Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences; hon. fellow, London School of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge, for. hon. member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences; for. assoc., US National Academy of Sciences; and for. member, American Philosophical Society and Royal Swedish Academy of Science. His honours include: Volvo Environment Prize (2002), John Kenneth Galbraith Prize of the American Agricultural Economics Association (2007), Zayed International Prize for the Environment (2011), Blue Planet Prize (2015), and Tyler Prize (2016). He was made Knight Bachelor in 2002, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by, among other universities, University of Bologna in 2012 and Harvard University in 2013.

Ghosh is Distinguished James McGill Prof. and Macdonald Prof. of Education, McGill University, Montréal, Canada. Dean of Education (1998-­‐2003), she is Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (chaired the Standing Committee: Advancement for Women in Scholarship for two terms); Member, Order of Canada (2000); Officer, Order of Quebec (2005); and Full Member, European Acad. of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Paris (1999). A recipient of several national and international awards she is past pres., American Comparative and International Education Society (2011-­‐12) and former pres., Shastri Indo-­‐Canadian Institute (1988-­‐90). Her research spans Asia, Africa, Latin America and Canada. Author of several books including Education and the Politics of Difference (2004, 2013), Redefining Multicultural Education (1996, 2004, 2014), on editorial boards of several international journals, and was featured in Time Magazine, Canadian Ed., (13.10.2003) in an article on 'Canada's Best in Education'. Her current research on the role of education in countering violent extremism (religious and right-wing) has resulted in several important publications, grants, conference presentations and keynote speeches.

Gingrich is full professor at the Department for Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Vienna. Real member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and Director of the Institute for Social Anthropology of the ÖAW. Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Member of the Publishing House Committee of the ÖAW. He obtained his PhD in 1979 at the University of Vienna. He has served as a Delegate in the Assembly of the Austrian Science Fund. He was a founding member of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) and he was a Panel Chair for the European Research Council, Advanced Grant SH2. His awards include the Wittgenstein Prize, City of Vienna Award in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Cultural and Legal Studies.

Hamid is a distinguished social scientist and a pioneering figure in gerontology, renowned for her contribution to gerontology education, research, and policy development in Malaysia and the surrounding region. She established a multi- and trans-disciplinary research institute at Universiti Putra Malaysia, in 2002, and was appointed as its founding director. The Institute was awarded the national status of Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, in 2015, and Hamid remained as its first director until 2020. The institute spearheaded research programmes and established postgraduate programmes in social gerontology, medical gerontology, and gerontechnology, which attracted local and international students. As a professional in the field of gerontology, Hamid sits in several national and international committees related to population aging. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia and is actively involved in civil society organisations related to older persons and social welfare development in Malaysia. She was an independent director of the Private Pension Administration Malaysia (2020–2024), and was appointed as chairperson from 25 June 2024 until 2026.

Dr. Jikun Huang is Professor at School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Honorary Director of China Center for Agricultural Policy (CCAP) and Director of New Rural Development Institute in Peking University, Fellow TWAS, Honorary Life Member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), and Fellow of Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA). He is vice-president of Chinese Association of Agro-technology Economics. He received his BS degree from Nanjing Agricultural University in 1984 and PhD in agricultural economics from University of the Philippines at Los Banos in 1990. His research covers a wide range of issues on China's agricultural economics, policies and rural development. He received Award for China’s Outstanding Youth Scientists in 2002, Outstanding Achievement Award for Overseas Returning Chinese in 2003, Fudan Prize for Eminent Contributor to Management Science in 2008, and IRRI’s Outstanding Alumni Award in 2010. He has published more than 600 journal papers, including the papers published in Science, Nature and many leading journals in development economics. He is co-author of 20 books.