Sustainable Biocomposites for Key Industrial Applications

Dr. J Jefferson Andrew is a highly accomplished researcher in the field of composites and materials science. Holding a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, he serves as a Research Scientist at Khalifa University, UAE, where he contributes significantly to the research sector. His areas of expertise include composites, impact engineering, additive manufacturing, and smart materials. Dr. Andrew has received numerous honors, including the Anna Centenary Research Fellowship and IPDF, which reflect his dedication to advancing engineering knowledge. He co-authored the book "Repair of Polymer Composites: Methodology, Techniques, and Challenges," published by Woodhead Publishing Limited. Additionally, he has contributed chapters to books such as "3D Printing using Cellulose Nanoparticles" and "Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube–Polymer Composites." Dr. Andrew boasts a remarkable track record of published journal articles, covering topics such as energy absorption in FRP composites, impact behavior of nanoengineered 3D printed plate-lattices, and the sustainable use of biobased composites.

Prof. Manjusri Misra is a world-renowned and is among the top highly cited materials researchers in the world. Dr. Manju Misra is a professor in the School of Engineering and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. She holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Sustainable Biocomposites from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Research Program Director of the Bioeconomy Panel for the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance a program between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE).

Dr. Misra’s current research focuses primarily on novel bio-based composites and nanocomposites from agricultural, forestry, and recycled resources for the sustainable bio-economy moving towards a Circular Economy. She has authored more than 850 publications, including 470 peer-reviewed journal papers, 30 book chapters, and 60 patents.

Dr. Mohanty is an internationally recognized leader in the field of sustainable polymer science & engineering. He made exceptional contributions in advancing the utilization of renewable, recycled and waste materials. His extensive research program has made world-leading discoveries in bioplastics, natural fibre composites, biocarbon, waste valorization, biomaterial functionalization, nanocomposites, and high-barrier biodegradable packaging. He is one of the highly cited researchers (Google Scholar Citations: 58,367 with h-index: 111 as on June 7, 2024).

Dr Hom Nath Dhakal is a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, England, UK. He leads as the Director of the Portsmouth Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing within the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering at the University of Portsmouth (UoP). He is a Docent (Visiting) Professor of Biobased Composite Materials at the Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Borås, Sweden.