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Program
HIGHLIGHTS
The new edition of the EPAE Conference is currently in preparation.
This year’s program will feature a wide range of inspiring presentations and engaging panel discussions with experts from science, business, and policy.
A detailed agenda will be published soon — stay tuned!
Below we present the preliminary framework program.
Discussion Panel:
Will Artificial Intelligence Turn the Lights Off? Energy Systems in the Age of Renewables, Data Centers and AI
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Every AI query, every cloud-based service, and every data analysis consumes electricity. As artificial intelligence and data centers continue to expand at an unprecedented pace, the world faces a new challenge: how to provide sufficient, reliable, and sustainable energy to power the digital economy.
Will AI become a threat to energy security and the energy transition, or will it help create smarter, more flexible, and more efficient energy systems? This panel will explore the intersection of the digital revolution and the energy transition, discussing the impact of AI on electricity demand, power grids, energy storage, renewable energy integration, and the future resilience of energy systems.
The key question remains: will artificial intelligence become one of the largest energy consumers of the 21st century, or the technology that enables us to use energy more intelligently than ever before?
Moderator:
Jarosław
Zuwała
Professor, director for research and development at the Institute of Fuel and Energy Technology in Zabrze.
Ewelina
Magrel
Head of AI & ML Services at Future Processing, leader of initiatives that help harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning
Henryk
Kubiczek
President of the Board at
TAURON Nowa EnergiaSp. z o.o. Specialist in management, process automation, data analysis and AI.
Tomasz
Słupik
President of the Management Board of Energopomiar. Experienced measurement engineer and technical specialist.
Discussion Panel:
Can hospitals heal without harming the planet?
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Moderator:
Agnieszka
Sznyk
PhD, President of the Board at INNOWO
The healthcare sector exists to save human lives and protect health. At the same time, it is responsible for significant consumption of energy, water, and raw materials, while generating millions of tons of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. If the global healthcare system were a country, it would rank among the world's largest CO₂ emitters.
How can we reconcile the highest quality of medical care with climate and environmental challenges? Is it possible to build hospitals that are more energy-efficient, produce fewer emissions, and are better prepared for future challenges? What role will ESG, green public procurement, technological innovation, and new management models play?
During this panel, representatives from the healthcare sector, business, academia, and administration will discuss how to build a modern healthcare system that cares not only for patients but also for the environment, upon which our collective health directly depends. The green transition in healthcare is no longer a choice—it is becoming a necessity
Invited speech:
Hydrogen from the gulf states prospective
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Mohammad Alshawaf, PhD
The lecture will present a general overview of hydrogen development from the perspective of the Gulf States. It will discuss the region’s current energy position, its ambitions in low-emission hydrogen production, and the potential role of hydrogen in future energy transition, export strategies, and international cooperation.
Dr. Mohammad Alshawaf is an Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, where he has served since 2014. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. His research spans circular economy strategies, renewable energy, and energy transition pathways, with a current focus on hydrogen production. His work bridges technical research and policy on the energy transition across the GCC region, with a focus on regulatory frameworks, policy, and challenges. He represented Kuwait on the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. From 2021 to 2025, he served as Acting Chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Kuwait University.
Invited speech:
Industrial Steam Boilers on the Road to Net Zero: Energy Efficiency and Emission Performance
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Prof. Ion Dosa, PhD
Steam has long been—and remains—one of the most important energy carriers in industry. However, the global transition towards climate neutrality is fundamentally changing the way it is produced. Industrial steam generation still relies heavily on boilers powered by natural gas, oil and coal. Since these installations typically operate for several decades, many conventional boilers will remain in service throughout the energy transition. Evaluating their energy efficiency and emission performance is therefore essential—not only to identify opportunities for immediate improvement, but also to support a realistic pathway towards cleaner industrial processes and net-zero emissions.
Prof. Ion Dosa is a faculty member at the University of Petroșani with extensive academic and industrial experience in energy and mechanical engineering. He began his career in the mining industry, where he managed and supervised the operation and maintenance of electromechanical installations. From 2007 to 2018, he worked as a certified energy auditor, contributing to numerous thermal energy audits, including assessments of thermal power plants. His research and teaching focus on energy efficiency, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, and industrial thermal systems.
Invited speech:
Energy Transition and Circular Economy: A Systems Perspective on Waste Management and Sustainability Assessment
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Prof. Lidia Lombardi
The transition towards a low-carbon society and the shift to a circular economy are often presented as complementary pathways to sustainability. However, both rely on energy-intensive technologies, material recovery processes, and increasingly complex waste management systems. Recycling, resource recovery, and circular production require significant energy inputs, while the deployment of renewable energy technologies depends on large quantities of critical materials and generates new end-of-life challenges. Understanding these interdependencies is essential to avoid burden shifting and unintended environmental impacts. This speach will discuss how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and integrated sustainability assessment can support a systems-based evaluation of the environmental and economic implications of energy transition and circular economy strategies, providing evidence for more effective and resilient decision-making.
Lidia Lombardi is associate professor in “Environmental Engineering” at Niccolò Cusano University of Rome (Italy) since 2014. She graduated as environmental engineer at the University of Florence (IT) in 1997 and then she obtained her PhD in “Energy” in 2001 at the Energy Department of the University of Florence (IT), presenting a thesis about LCA comparison of technical solutions for CO2 emissions reduction in power generation”. Her research interests include: waste management, energy recovery from waste and biomass by thermal and biological processes, CO2 removal processes, energy conversion systems with low environmental impact, renewables, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and LCA-oriented methodologies for environmental analysis applied to processes, systems and products. Since 2018 she is one of the associated editors of Waste Management Journal; since March 2020 she is one of the Section Board Members of Energies.
Invited speech:
Sustainable Design: From Vision to Action
Duration 1 hour
Format: Online
Jeremy Faludi, PhD
How can ambitious sustainability goals be translated into everyday design and engineering practice? The presentation will explore practical approaches, tools and methods for developing more sustainable products, services and systems. It will address key decisions across the entire product life cycle—from material selection and energy use to circularity, design for recycling, user behaviour and innovative business models. The presentation will demonstrate how sustainable design can move beyond broad principles and become an actionable pathway towards solutions that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive and economically viable.
Jeremy Faludi is an associate professor of sustainable design engineering at TU Delft; he has also taught at Stanford, Dartmouth, and elsewhere. He is the lead author of the 2025 book Sustainable Design from Vision to Action, and the 2010 Autodesk Sustainability Workshop videos. His research and teaching focus on sustainable design tools and methods, plus green additive manufacturing. He developed the Biomimicry Institute’s first online database (now AskNature.org), the OECD’s recommendations for sustainable 3D printing, the Whole System Mapping method, and a bicycle he helped design appeared in the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.
Invited speech:
A Living Labs Framework for Labour Market Policy
Co-Creation in the Twin Transitions
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Prof. Lefteris Topaloglou
The twin transitions towards climate neutrality and digital transformation are profoundly reshaping regional labour markets, creating both new employment opportunities and significant challenges related to skills, inclusion and workforce adaptation. Addressing these dynamics requires participatory and place-based policy approaches that actively engage regional stakeholders. This contribution presents a Living Labs framework for labour market policy co-creation, developed within the Horizon Europe ISABEL project, as a methodological approach for designing adaptive and collaborative labour market policies. Grounded in the Quintuple Helix model, the framework brings together public authorities, businesses, academia, civil society and environmental organisations through four iterative phases: co-exploration, co-design, co-experimentation and co-evaluation. By integrating stakeholder knowledge, policy experimentation and continuous learning, the framework supports the development of evidence-based and context-sensitive labour market interventions. The contribution argues that Living Labs can bridge the gap between policy design and implementation, fostering more inclusive, resilient and transferable policy solutions to support regional labour market adaptation in the context of the twin transitions.
Lefteris Topaloglou is an Associate Professor at the Chemical Engineering Department of the Polytechnic School of the University of Western Macedonia, in the field of "Energy Transition & Development Transformation Policies". Ηe holds the position of Director of the Institute of Energy Development & Transition to the Post-Lignite Era, UCRI TEMENUS of the University of Western Macedonia. Ηe serves as the Head of the Laboratory of Energy Transition and Developmental Transformation - ENTRA Lab of the Department of Chemical Engineering. Lefteris is a Member of the European Commission’s (DG Regio) Academic Sounding Board (ASB) for Cohesion for Transition (C4T). His research interests currently focus on just energy transition, spatial justice, place-based approaches and analysis, and issues related to the governance of energy transition.
Invited speech:
Critical and Strategic Raw Materials in Poland: Assessing Demand and Domestic Supply Potential for Resource Security
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Prof. Joanna Kulczycka
In recent years, the European Union (EU) has consistently developed a comprehensive raw materials policy aimed at ensuring the security of supply of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), which are essential for the development of modern technologies, the energy transition, and maintaining industrial competitiveness. The growing global demand for selected mineral raw materials, together with the EU's increasing dependence on imports from outside the Union, has led to the development of a series of regulatory initiatives that now form the framework of the European raw materials policy. These initiatives have a direct impact on the. Polish economy, which is a major importer of many of these materials. The aim of this presentation is to assess the demand for critical and strategic raw materials and to evaluate the potential for meeting this demand from domestic sources, taking into account the development of selected sectors of the Polish economy. The analysis will cover planned development pathways arising from national and European strategies and policies, including the implementation of circular economy principles, as well as documents and position papers published by industry organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that identify the barriers and challenges associated with the development of these sectors.
Prof. Joanna Kulczycka is the Head and Founder of the Division of Strategic Research and the Department of Circular Economy at the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEERI PAS), and a Professor at the Academy of Krakow, Faculty of Management, where she delivers lectures on economics, circular economy, eco-innovation in industry, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). She also serves as Director of the IATI Bureau—the largest virtual research institute in Poland—and as President of the Waste Management and Recycling Cluster, a Key National Cluster in Poland. She is the author of over 250 publications, including the first Polish-language book on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the first Polish Minerals Yearbook, and more than 120 peer-reviewed scientific articles addressing raw materials, the circular economy, energy and waste management, eco-efficiency of industrial processes, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and just transition. She is a member of the UNEP International Resource Panel (IRP) and a co-author of two flagship reports: Global Resources Outlook 2024 and Global Environment Outlook 7, and as well co-author of Diagnostic Analysis for Circular Economy Interventions in Poland (World Bank).
Invited speech:
Waste Management and Circular Economy: From Separation at Source to Modern Biorefineries
Duration 1 hour
Format: Hybrid
(On-site and Online).
Konstantinos Moustakas, PhD
The introduction of the presentation refers to the recent developments in European Union towards circular economy. It presents the EU Action Plan for Circular Economy including the key action areas and the priority waste streams. The objectives and the key actions are presented. Furthermore, main research initiatives and achievements of the working team of the Unit of Environmental Science & Technology of the School of Chemical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens within the last 15 years in the field of circular economy and bioeconomy are presented and indicative results are presented with emphasis on food waste and biowaste (including biorefineries), recyclable materials & water and brine.
Konstantinos Moustakas is Senior Researcher, with PhD in waste management. He works as senior researcher with long publication record in the field of waste management and circular economy in the Unit of Environmental Science & Technology (www.uest.gr) of the School of Chemical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens. He has actively participated in more than 85 projects in many countries. He has long teaching experience and considerable international experience as senior researcher and project manager. He has cooperated with the European Commission directly, as he acted as TAIEX expert (institutional building) in many countries. He has had the key role in the organisation of a large number of international conferences. Indicatively, he is the Head of the Organising Committee and key member of the Scientific Committee for the successful series of conferences on Sustainable Solid Waste Management (13 conference events until now, the 14th in under development) and summer schools on waste management and circular economy. He has also been Secretary General of the Hellenic Solid Waste Management Association for five years.
Workshops:
Can This Project Gain Social Acceptance? A PRO-SLO Case Study Challenge
Duration 1 hour
Format: On-site
Olga Janikowska, PhD
The aim of the workshop will be to introduce participants to the practical application of the Social Licence to Operate concept in raw materials projects. Particular attention will be given to stakeholder identification, the analysis of potential sources of conflict, trust-building, and the planning of communication and engagement activities.
Following a short introduction to the main principles of SLO, participants will be divided into interdisciplinary groups representing different perspectives, including companies, local authorities, local communities, non-governmental organisations, and the research community.
Each group will receive a short case study describing a raw materials project facing challenges such as community opposition, insufficient transparency, environmental concerns, conflicting interests, or a low level of trust.
The task of each group will be to identify the key stakeholders and their expectations, recognise the main social risks, assess the current level of project acceptance, and propose actions that could improve dialogue and strengthen the project’s Social Licence to Operate.
Each group will then present its three key recommendations. The workshop will conclude with a joint discussion and comparison of the proposed solutions.
The expected outcome of the workshop will be to provide participants with practical experience in stakeholder mapping, social risk analysis, and the design of engagement activities that support trust, dialogue, and the responsible development of raw materials projects.
Olga Janikowska is an Assistant Professor at the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on the energy transition of post-mining regions, just transition, energy poverty, and the social and institutional conditions affecting the development of the energy and raw materials sectors. She participates in national and international research projects, particularly those related to stakeholder engagement, social acceptance of investments, and the Social Licence to Operate.
Workshops:
Immersive and Inteligent Systems: XR-AI Value for Environment and Energy Practice
Duration 1 hour
Format: On-site
Atilla Arda
Beşen
This presentation examines the value XR (Extended Reality) and AI technologies bring to environmental engineering and energy operations, focusing on the tangible operational, educational, and environmental benefits they generate rather than technology adoption for its own sake. Drawing on applied deployments, including digital twin monitoring for water/electrodialysis treatment processes and adaptive VR training platforms for industrial and energy personnel, it presents a modular XR-AI architecture designed to strengthen decision-making, workforce readiness, and process oversight. The approach combines a review of current XR-AI implementations in environmental and energy contexts with field-level insights from ongoing pilot projects. Results show measurable gains in training effectiveness, faster risk detection, improved process transparency through digital twins, and stronger alignment between operational practice and sustainability targets. The presentation concludes that XR-AI convergence delivers concrete, evidence-based value across the environmental and energy value chain, and proposes a framework for how industry, academia, and public institutions can translate this technology into sustained operational and scientific benefit.
Atilla Arda Beşen is an entrepreneur and researcher building technology companies across Europe, Türkiye, and the Gulf. He is Founder and CEO of VolareVers Technologies, developing XR and AI-driven training, simulation, and digital twin solutions for the oil and gas, defence, environmental protection, and aviation sectors, operating through entities in Türkiye, Qatar, Poland, Montenegro, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. He also serves as Poland Country Sales Director at Invelon Technologies Group, Co-Founder of Entegra Poland and AZRAK Teknoloji, and Founder and Chair of XR Polska, Poland's national XR association. Beşen is currently pursuing his PhD and lecturing at the University of Warsaw on emerging technologies in international relations, researching how technology companies act as norm entrepreneurs in AI, XR, and technology governance across the EU, US, and China. He has spoken at the International Studies Association (ISA) Summit, the European International Studies Association (EISA) Pan-European Conference, the Accelerating Investment in Montenegro EU Summit,
Horizon4Poland (organized by Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs), and TEDx, where he delivered a talk titled "Recoding Reality: Intelligent Realities in Virtual Society."
Invited speech:
Building Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Integrating Engineering, Technology, and Disaster Risk Reduction
Duration 1 hour
Format: On-site
Prof. Selcuk Toprak
The presentation will explore how engineering, technology, and disaster risk reduction can contribute to building more resilient and sustainable cities. Drawing on research and practical experience related to natural hazards, critical infrastructure, urban risk assessment, and disaster preparedness, it will highlight the need to move from the assessment of individual hazards and infrastructure components toward more integrated approaches to urban resilience. Particular attention will be given to the role of engineering knowledge, digital and GIS-based tools, field observations, and interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding risk and supporting informed decision-making. Examples from recent disasters, research studies, and international projects will be used to illustrate lessons learned and emerging approaches for reducing risk, strengthening infrastructure and community resilience, and supporting sustainable urban development.
Prof. Dr. Selcuk Toprak is Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at Gebze Technical University, Türkiye. He received his PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and subsequently worked as a Research Civil Engineer at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California. His research interests include geotechnical earthquake engineering, natural hazards and disaster risk reduction, resilience of critical infrastructure and lifeline systems, liquefaction and ground failures, GIS-based hazard and risk assessment, and urban resilience. He has coordinated and participated in numerous national and international research and education projects involving disaster resilience, infrastructure systems, digital technologies, and sustainable development. His work combines engineering analysis, field investigations, technological approaches, and interdisciplinary collaboration to better understand disaster impacts and contribute to safer and more resilient communities.
Invited speech:
Reloved Yourself – Equip Yourself with the Skills of the Future
Duration 1 hour
Format: On-site
Prof. Małgorzata Dobrowolska
The presentation will focus on the development of soft skills that are essential for functioning effectively in a world of rapid change, increasing pressure, information overload, and ongoing technological transformation. Today’s reality requires not only knowledge and experience, but also the ability to manage stress, conduct difficult conversations, and consciously manage our time, energy, and attention. The presentation will cover three complementary future skills: a strong mindset and psychological resilience; modern communication – Good Dialogue 5.0; super-efficiency and working without overload.
Prof. Małgorzata Dobrowolska is an academic professor, business psychologist, psychotherapist, personal development trainer, and motivational speaker, specializing in personal development and psychological resilience. She is a professor at one of the leading technical universities in Poland and Director of its Business School, where she leads prestigious MBA programmes focused on preparing leaders for digital and energy transformations. She combines advanced psychological knowledge with extensive practical business experience, supporting leaders in developing their potential and essential soft skills. She has more than 50,000 hours of experience in training and public speaking and is the author and co-author of 19 books and over 150 articles. Her expertise has been applied in areas including aviation, Industry 4.0, and modern energy. She has managed more than 30 personal development projects supported by the European Social Fund and works with international universities and business organizations. She is also the creator and coordinator of TalentHUB, an initiative supporting the personal and professional development of young people, and the author of numerous national and European patents related to modern technologies. Her work has received numerous awards for contributions to psychology, technology, and socio-economic development.
All three will be presented as interconnected elements that together form a practical system for functioning effectively in situations involving pressure, uncertainty, conflict, and an excessive workload. Participants will learn how to recognize their own stress responses, maintain clarity of thought in difficult situations, and make decisions despite tension, anxiety, and a lack of complete certainty. The presentation will cover practical techniques for dealing with pressure and emotions, strengthening a sense of agency, and recovering more quickly from crises and setbacks. The aim of this part will not be to eliminate stress, but to develop the ability to function in a way that prevents stress from taking control over behaviour and decision-making. The second part will focus on modern communication, conducting difficult conversations, and protecting one’s own boundaries and interests. Participants will learn the principles of clearly communicating their needs, expectations, and positions without aggression, manipulation, or compromising their own values.
Showcase:
Meet ReXio - a robot dog!
Duration 15 mi
Format: On-site
ReXio is an advanced four-legged robotic platform developed by members of the AI-METH Student Research Club, which operates at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology of the Silesian University of Technology.
The platform is used for research and development of autonomous systems and human–robot interaction. Members of the AI-METH Student Research Club are also exploring its potential applications in robot-assisted therapy and working with children with disabilities.
On December 4, ReXio will make an appearance at the EPAE Conference, including during the opening ceremony. Participants will have the opportunity to see the robot up close and learn more about its capabilities.
Photos: Łukasz Gałeczka
