Dr. Xiaohua Yang, Professor

School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

Topic: Suitability Evaluation, Prediction, and Optimization Regulation of the Human Settlements–Environment–Energy Coupling System

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2026 13th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Earth Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

This study is grounded in the macro context of ecological civilization construction and high-quality development in the new era, closely adhering to the people-centered core concept. It develops a theoretical framework for assessing the suitability of the Human Settlement-Environment-Energy (HSEE) coupled system. By comprehensively employing methods such as mathematical statistics, geographic information systems, deep learning, and multi-objective optimization algorithms, the study systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution patterns, future development trends, and optimal regulation pathways of the HSEE coupled system suitability across 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 1965 to 2050. This research holds significant theoretical and practical value for improving regional human settlement quality and promoting the coordinated development of resources, environment, economy, and society.

Dr. Xiaohua Yang, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at Beijing Normal University. She has served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, and a Visiting Fellow at Princeton University, Princeton, USA. She is primarily engaged in the systematic analysis of water resources, energy, and human settlement environments. She has published over 300 academic papers, authored 6 monographs, and been granted a total of 10 patents and computer software copyrights. She serves as Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Board Member for 6 international journals. Her research achievements have received one Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, two First Prizes of the Ministry of Education, and one Second Prize of the Ministry of Water Resources.

Dr. Xi Chen, Professor

Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

Topic: Addressing Climate Change: Negative Emission Based on AI-Driven Evolution of Advanced Materials

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2026 13th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Earth Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

To address the global challenge of climate change and sustainability, revolutionary solutions are needed to develop highly efficient pathway for mitigating carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. The “Holy Grail” is engineered removal of CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, known as negative emission. Conventional carbon capture method developed for power and chemical plants does not work well for air capture, due to the very different CO₂ concentration in flue gas and air. We present a disruptive approach of DAC (direct air capture of CO₂), which is enabled by unconventional reverse chemical reaction driven by water quantities in nanopores. The humidity-swing system absorbs CO₂ from the air when the surrounding is dry, whereas releases CO₂ when wet. AI-driven material and system design is employed to significantly promote DAC capacity and efficiency, leading to perhaps the world’s cheapest solution of negative emission. The carbon loop is further closed by distributed and need-based capture of CO₂ and various pathways of CO₂ conversion, forming the technological roadmap of distributed carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (distributed CCUS). The future prospects of engineering the carbon loop and grand cycles of sustainability are also discussed.

Dr. Xi Chen is Chair Professor and Dean of the Wu Jieh Yee School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Lingnan University. He received his M.S. from Tsinghua University, and Ph.D. in Solid Mechanics from Harvard University, and spent 20 years as a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, before joining Lingnan in 2023. He received numerous awards including the NSF CAREER Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), ASME Sia Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award, ASME Thomas J. R. Hughes Young Investigator Award, and SES Young Investigator Medal. He is a Fellow of ASME and has been a World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists published by Stanford University since 2019. He has published over 500 journal papers with a h-index over 80. He uses multiscale theoretical, experimental, and numerical approaches to investigate various research frontiers in engineering science addressing real-world challenges in energy, environment, nanotechnology and biology. His recent work in carbon neutrality has been recognized by many top awards, including No. 1 Award in Direct Air Capture and overall Top 10 in Tencent Carbon X Grand Competition, No. 1 Award in Carbon Neutrality in 6^th Zhongguancun Innovation Competition, and No. 1 Prize in Bluetech Carbon Neutrality Pioneers Award. He established Asia’s first direct CO₂ air capture factory, and China’s first carbon negative industrial park zone.

Dr. Mostafa Ghasemi Baboli, Professor

Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou, China

Topic: From Waste Treatment to Renewable Energy Production: A Next-generation Microbial Fuel Cell Concept

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2026 13th International Conference on Energy, Environment and Earth Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising renewable energy technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity generation; however, their practical deployment remains limited by pH imbalance, membrane cost, and long-term operational instability. In this study, a comprehensive comparative evaluation of cation exchange membranes (CEMs) and anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is conducted to elucidate their roles in governing electrochemical performance, stability, and bioelectrochemical functionality of MFCs. A low-cost PTFE-based AEM is benchmarked against the widely used Nafion 117 membrane under identical operating conditions using real palm oil mill effluent (POME) as the substrate. The results demonstrate that AEM-based MFCs exhibit superior power density, reduced charge transfer resistance, and significantly enhanced long-term stability over extended operation exceeding 600 h. These improvements are attributed to efficient OH^- transport, which enables intrinsic pH self-regulation at both electrodes, mitigates anode acidification, and promotes favorable conditions for oxygen reduction at the cathode. In contrast, CEM-based systems suffer from pronounced pH gradients and performance decay. Beyond material comparison, this work highlights a paradigm shift in MFC design, positioning membranes as active electrochemical regulators rather than passive separators. The findings provide critical insights into membrane-driven control of microbial and electrochemical processes and establish AEM-enabled MFCs as a next-generation platform for stable and scalable renewable energy recovery from wastewater.

Dr. Mostafa Ghasemi Baboli is a distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Yangtze River Delta Institute, Huzhou. He has been continuously recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Stanford University since 2020, reflecting his sustained global research impact. In 2024, he was also selected as a Provincial Talent of Zhejiang Province, highlighting his contribution to scientific innovation and regional development in China. Professor Ghasemi is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in sustainable wastewater treatment, renewable energy systems, and advanced membrane science. His work focuses on developing energy-efficient, low-carbon technologies at the water–energy nexus, with particular emphasis on microbial fuel cells (MFCs), forward osmosis (FO), and nanocomposite membranes. His innovative research on hybrid MFC–FO systems and carbon nanotube-enhanced membranes has advanced the field of energy-positive water purification and desalination, improving efficiency, fouling resistance, and resource recovery. Before joining UESTC, Professor Ghasemi served as an Associate Professor at Sohar University, Oman, for five years, where he played an active role in academic leadership and interdisciplinary research. Earlier, he held academic appointments at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) as an Assistant Professor and at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) as a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow. Professor Ghasemi has published extensively in high-impact international journals such as Energy, Renewable Energy and Desalination, and has co-authored influential studies on the intelligent optimization of bioelectrochemical systems, integrating artificial intelligence, computational modeling, and experimental validation. His research vision centers on circular water–energy systems, resource recovery, and climate-responsive technologies, positioning him as a leading figure in sustainable process engineering.

Dr. Xiaoyang Qi, Professor

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA

Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy: Impeding Hsp70–TLR2 Axis for MerTK downregulation

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2026 13th International Conference on Biology and Life Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

Despite significant advancements in cancer treatment, a major challenge remains in overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that hinders effective anti-tumor immunity. Immunosuppressive M2 macrophages (MΦs) in the TME facilitate escape from immune surveillance and promote tumor growth. One key player in this suppression is MerTK (Myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase), which promotes tumor immune evasion through various mechanisms. This study investigates a novel therapeutic approach centered on interrupting the interaction between cancer-secreted heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to downregulate MerTK expression and reverse immune tolerance. Hsp70, often found on the surface of tumor cells, engages with TLR2 on immune cells, initiating signaling cascades that ultimately lead to increased MerTK expression and the promotion of a pro-tumoral phenotype. By employing specific lipid vesicles (LVs) to impede the Hsp70–TLR2 axis, we hypothesized that the downstream signaling can be interrupted, thereby reducing MerTK levels. Our findings demonstrate that sequestering of cancer-secreted Hsp70 by tumor-targeting saposin C (SapC)-based LVs to block the M2 MΦ polarization through disrupting the Hsp70-TLR2-MerTK interaction. These results suggest that targeting the Hsp70–TLR2 axis represents a novel and effective strategy for downregulating MerTK, offering a potent adjunct to existing immunotherapies and providing a potential pathway to overcome resistance in a broad range of cancers.

Dr. Xiaoyang Qi is a professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The laboratory of Dr. Qi focuses on cell membrane phospholipids and proteins as specific therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for cancer and genetic diseases. His research is focused on developing a new saposin C (SapC) coupled dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) nanovesicle which has the potential to offer a targeted, potent, broad, and safe therapeutic agent for cancer patients.

Dr. Hang Li, Associate Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

Topic: Advancing Multifunctional Hydrogels for Wound Management: Innovative Chitosan-Based Platforms

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2026 13th International Conference on Biology and Life Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

Wounds pose significant clinical challenges, requiring advanced dressings that integrate antibacterial activity, rapid hemostasis, robust tissue adhesion, enhanced mechanical properties, and promotion of tissue regeneration. This keynote presentation reviews recent developments in multifunctional hydrogels based on chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), highlighting three tailored platforms that address these multifaceted demands. The first system, a DCMC-OHA-PCMC hydrogel incorporating protamine-grafted CMC, catechol-modified CMC, and oxidized hyaluronic acid, demonstrates sustained antibacterial efficacy (>76% against E. coli and S. aureus over 5 days), superior adhesion and hemostasis driven by charged interactions, and accelerated in vivo wound healing, including enhanced collagen deposition, epidermal regeneration, and closure. The second, a one-pot PEG-CMC-THB-PRTM hydrogel formed via dynamic Schiff base crosslinking, offers excellent mechanical strength, controlled release of protamine for antibacterial and hemostatic effects, and promoted extracellular matrix remodeling in full-thickness wound models. The third, a CS-PEG-hydrocaffeic acid hybrid, achieves four-fold mechanical improvement, enhanced mucoadhesiveness, rapid hemostasis in visceral models (liver bleeding model), and significantly accelerated skin re-epithelialization with thickened epidermis within 14 days. These versatile polysaccharide-based hydrogels exemplify how strategic chemical modifications can yield comprehensive solutions for both cutaneous and internal wound management, holding substantial promise for clinical translation and improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Hang Li is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Jinan University. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Akron, USA, in 2015, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Lehigh University (PA, USA) and the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (CA, USA). Since returning to China in 2019, he has focused his research primarily on polysaccharide materials, wound healing, and tissue engineering. To date, he has authored more than 40 papers in high-impact journals such as Biomaterials, Carbohydrate Polymers, and Advanced Healthcare Materials. His research focus on functional hydrogels, antibacterial and antioxidant materials, wound repair, and regenerative medicine. He has been invited to speak or deliver keynote presentations at several international academic conferences and serves as an editorial board member for journals including PLoS ONE and Burns & Trauma, as well as a reviewer for prestigious journals such as Advanced Materials and Advanced Functional Materials.

Dr. Tianru Jin, Professor

Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Topic: Advances in GLP 1 Research: Historical Insights, Contemporary Achievements and Future Challenges

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2026 12th International Conference on Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP 1) was identified in the 1980s as the 2nd incretin, defined as gut-produced hormones which can stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. The 1st GLP-1 based therapeutic agent known as exenatide (Byetta) was approved by FDA in 2005 for diabetes treatment only. Since then, more than a dozen GLP-1-based drugs have been developed and their applications are now expanded into obesity treatment and body weight management, and potential other metabolism-related disorders. Here I will provide a historical review on the discovery of this hormone, its functional studies, as well as GLP-1-based drug development during the past two decades. More importantly, I will use liver as an example, to discuss extra-pancreatic functions of GLP-1 and its based drugs, leading to their expanded applications in the future. Finally, I will present knowledge gaps in this hormone we are facing now, and my personal perspectives on future research directions.

Dr. Tianru Jin is a Professor in University of Toronto. He received his PhD from University of Toronto in 1993. He then conducted his postdoctoral research at the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre under Professor Daniel J. Drucker. Since 1997, Dr. Jin has served at the University of Toronto as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and full Professor. Professor Jin served as Board Member or editor for several scientific journals. He is currently serving as Editor for Cell and Bioscience, Associate Chief-Editor for Obesity Medicine, and Founding Editor in Chief (2025–2030) for Metabolism and Diseases. His team has long term interests on exploring functions of GLP 1 and other metabolic hormones. His team introduced Wnt signaling pathway into the GLP-1 filed. Recently, the team expanded the research interest into the metabolic functions of polyphenolic compounds recently. Major fundings for his research group comes from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA), JDRF (USA), and the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre (BBDC). Publications from Professor Jin’s group have appeared in Nature Communications, Hepatology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Endocrine Reviews, Endocrinology, Diabetes, Diabetologia, Oncogene, Molecular Metabolism, PLOS Biology, and others. As a co author, his work has also been published in PNAS, Gastroenterology, Cell Reports, Science Immunology, BioMedicine, and additional journals—over 170 publications in total. From 2017 to 2022, Dr. Jin was appointed as an Overseas Distinguished Professor by Sun Yat sen University under the Ministry of Education of PR China.

Dr. Alex Kuo, Professor

School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada

Topic: AI in Big Data Analytic for Healthcare

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2026 12th International Conference on Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

May 23-25, 2026

This keynote examines the transformative influence of artificial intelligence and big data on modern healthcare systems. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to explore breakthroughs in AI-powered diagnostics, predictive analytics, and personalized medicine. The session also delves into big data strategies for managing large-scale healthcare datasets, strengthening clinical decision-making, and streamlining operational workflows. Core themes include an overview of cutting-edge AI methodologies, the role of AI in advancing big data analytics, and practical insights into overcoming challenges in AI adoption.

Dr. Alex Kuo holds a PhD from the Department of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, UK. He is a full time professor at the School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria (UVic). He was a visiting scholar at the Department of Computer Science, Politecnico di Milano, Italy (2023), the Center for Expanded Data Annotation and Retrieval (CEDAR), School of Medicine, Stanford University, USA (2016), and the Electronic Commerce Resource Centre (ECRC), Georgia Tech (2000). Now, he is the chair of Special Interest Group on Big Data for Healthcare, Medicine and Biology at IEEE Technical Committee on Big Data. With over 20 years of programming and data analysis practical as well as research experience, he has over 170 peer-reviewed publications. His research interests include Cloud Computing & Big Data application to healthcare, health data interoperability, health database & data warehousing, data mining application in healthcare, e-health and clinical decision support system.

Dr. Hung Keung, Professor

Department of Cultural and Creative Arts, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China

Topic: Embodied Heritage in the Digital Age: Reimagining the Transmission of Tai Chi through Visual Semiotics, VR Technology, and Data-Driven Pedagogy

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2026 12th International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities

May 21-23, 2026

In the current educational landscape, the preservation and transmission of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) face a critical inflection point. Traditional somatic practices, such as Tai Chi, rely heavily on "embodied knowledge"—a depth of physical and philosophical understanding that is becoming increasingly difficult to transmit to a digital-native generation through conventional master-disciple models. This keynote address proposes a pioneering framework for the digital evolution of cultural heritage, drawing upon the ongoing research project "Tai Chi and Chinese Martial Arts VR 2.0." The core of this research posits that technology should not merely record tradition but must actively restructure how "embodied knowledge" is visualized and internalized. I will introduce an interdisciplinary approach that converges Visual Semiotics, Generative AI, and Virtual Reality (VR). A central innovation of this study is the development of "Novel Typefaces: Tai Chi Compound Characters" (複合字). By applying semiotic principles to typographic design, we have created a visual system that encodes the spatial dynamics of martial arts directly into text, effectively bridging the cognitive gap between abstract theory and physical movement. Crucially, this presentation moves beyond theoretical modeling to present empirical findings from recent school-based fieldwork. Our research team implemented a dual-track curriculum in local schools, teaching students to navigate Tai Chi through both traditional instruction and our "Novel Typefaces." I will present quantitative and qualitative data collected from these classroom interventions, analyzing how these semiotic tools impact student learning curves, form retention, and cultural engagement. The findings indicate that when students deconstruct Tai Chi through these innovative compound characters before engaging with the Immersive VR Training Program, their acquisition of the forms is significantly accelerated. By synthesizing the theoretical lens of "Embodied Heritage" with rigorous school-based data, this address demonstrates how the fusion of artistic typography and advanced VR/AI technology can create a scalable, verifiable pedagogy—ensuring that the ancient wisdom of Tai Chi remains not only preserved but pedagogically vital for future generations.

Dr. Hung Keung is a Professor in the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts of The Education University of Hong Kong. Professor Hung Keung is an internationally renowned digital media artist, researcher, scholar and designer. He graduated from the Swire School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Department of Fine Arts at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Later, he pursued further studies in film and video at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London, where he obtained a master's degree. He then earned a doctoral degree from the Planetary Collegium, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, Switzerland and the University of Plymouth. Professor Hung Keung has served as a visiting scholar, artist, and guest lecturer at various international universities, including the Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie, Germany (2001-2002), Kolding Design College, Denmark (2002), University of California Berkeley, USA (2006), the University of Oregon (2011), the Australian National University (2015), Western University, Canada (2019), and the University of Hawai'i (2022). He has been engaged in cultural and academic exchanges and promotion activities, involving research, creation, and exhibitions in different fields and interdisciplinary media art.

Dr. Martin Zhao, Associate Professor

Computer Science Department, Mercer University, Macon, USA

Topic: CharActER: A Proposed AI System for Teaching Chinese the WRITE Way

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2026 10th International Conference on Education and Information Technologies

May 21-23, 2026

Despite increasing global interest in learning Chinese, the character writing system presents a major barrier to both heritage and non-heritage learners due to its visual complexity, symbolic design, and lack of phonetic transparency. Most AI and language-learning tools focus on conventional speech-based methods, bypassing the structural richness of Chinese script. A teaching app CharActER is proposed to use Chinese the WRITE Way approach to teach Chinese through telling “stories” about the design of the characters. It follows an approach like the traditional Expert System and utilizes LLMs (such as ChatGPT) to generate personalized “explanations” to users. This system aims to bridge visual form, semantic meaning, and historical structure through storytelling as embedded in ancient Chinese scripts. A knowledge base, missing in chat-oriented AI systems, will be added to annotate essential stroke codification, stroke-pattern and etymology-inspired narratives on top of traditional databases for Chinese characters. Strategies of teaching characters utilize the “knife” and “lens” tools to analyze meaning (and/or sound) carrying patterns in a story-telling style. Initial efforts focused on using CHN123, an introductory course with about 123 characters divided into two dozen lessons of 5 characters each. Stories regarding strokes or other meaning carrying modules are annotated using a JSON format. Composition-based inferencing rules are employed to generate prompts to ChatGPT and responses in specified formats are used to generate animated visuals to enhance story-telling effects. Rooms for CHN123, and other courses (such as Learn Chinese with Mulan) and game-like exercises (such as Char Slicer, Calendar/Planner, Map) will be added. Moving beyond superficial memorization, this approach enables learners to internalize the underlying logic and interconnectedness of Chinese characters. The implications extend beyond mere efficiency; “Chinese the WRITE Way” promises to cultivate a deeper, more intuitive grasp of the Chinese language, fostering true linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.

Dr. Martin Zhao is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Mercer University in Macon, GA, USA. His interests are mainly in applied aspects of computing, including software engineering, data modeling and analytics, machine learning and AI applications. Dr. Zhao’s R&D projects have been funded by external sources including AFRL and NSF. Recently, he worked with a team of experts in anthropology, biology, biomedical and data sciences on a collaborative project supported by NSF grants and developed CSViewer for Analysts. This innovative computer application provides researchers with user-friendly data exploration and analytics tools backed by an integrated database of the Cayo Santiago Rhesus Colony, maintained on the “Monkey Island” off Puerto Rico for 87 years. Since 2020, this series of studies have produced a dozen publications (https://www.csviewerforanalysts.org), as well as presentations and workshops at AABA conferences (AABA 2023 through 2025). Another ongoing project focuses on developing a teaching app designed to address the difficulty of learning Chinese characters. Using the “Chinese the WRITE Way” approach, the app teaches characters through storytelling about their structure and history. It combines a knowledge base with LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT) to generate personalized explanations.

Dr. Vojko Potocan, Professor

Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

Topic: Redesigning Problem-Based Learning: Innovativeness and Artificial Intelligence

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2026 10th International Conference on Education and Information Technologies

May 21-23, 2026

Background: The pervasive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization significantly alters problem-based learning (PBL) in higher education, raising concerns about its impact on critical thinking and fundamental learning outcomes. Purpose: This article investigates AI's influence on PBL content and evaluates a modified PBL model designed to optimize AI's utility while safeguarding core pedagogical objectives like innovativeness and individual responsibility of participants. Methodology: Grounded in educational theory, we first analyzed existing AI support in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through PBL using a series of workshops. This leads to the development of a modified PBL framework in which initial solution ideation occurs without AI, followed by AI use during the implementation phase. A subsequent survey of workshop participants then assessed the effects of this model. Results: Initial workshop findings indicated that extensive use of AI in PBL can diminish critical thinking, in-depth learning, and individual responsibility. In contrast, the modified PBL approach strengthened brainstorming, enhanced understanding of AI's possibilities and limitations, and fostered ethicality and academic integrity. Solutions developed within this model were simpler, but also more diverse and innovative than those generated solely with AI. Conclusion: Structuring AI integration in PBL is crucial to improving core educational objectives. The modified model effectively promotes innovative education and responsible AI use by segmenting AI's role. Theoretical implications underscore the need for diversified assessment and evolving PBL goals, emphasizing self-direction and critical evaluation of AI in practice.

Dr. Vojko Potocan is a Full Professor of Management and Organization at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), University of Maribor (Slovenia). He earned his doctoral degree from FEB Maribor. He teaches at three universities in Slovenia and at three universities abroad (Germany, Croatia, and Poland). He is also the head of the doctoral studies in Management and Organization at FEB. He has participated in various international scientific conferences and conducted several study visits abroad. He has published over 500 texts (over 350 in foreign languages in 45 countries), including 15 books with leading publishers Pearson, IGI, Palgrave Macmillan, and Routledge, edited proceedings, and textbooks. Dr. Potocan has published over 80 articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Dr. Yacob Khojasteh, Professor

Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

Topic: Innovation Management in Supply Chains: Digital Transformation with Cutting-Edge Technologies

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2026 9th International Conference on Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

May 21-23, 2026

In an era of global volatility and rapid technological advancement, innovation management has become central to supply chain transformation. This keynote explores how cutting-edge technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, advanced analytics, and digital twins, serve as enablers of systemic innovation across supply chain networks. Drawing on multiple case studies of leading global organizations, it examines how firms orchestrate digital initiatives to enhance visibility, resilience, and operational efficiency. A key focus is placed on “digital transformation maturity,” highlighting the integration of real-time data, predictive capabilities, and intelligent decision-making systems. The talk further addresses managerial challenges, including implementation complexity and change management, emphasizing the human and organizational dimensions of innovation. It concludes by outlining strategic principles for building adaptive, intelligent, and future-ready supply chains through effective innovation management.

Dr. Yacob Khojasteh is a Professor of Operations Management at the Graduate School of Global Studies, Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. He was a Visiting Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, in Toronto, Canada, during 2021–2022. He is the author or editor of several books, including Digital Transformation of Supply Chains (2026, Springer), Emerging Technologies in Supply Chains (2026, Springer), Supply Chain Risk Mitigation: Strategies, Methods, and Applications (2022, Springer), etc. He has several years of professional experience in industry and consulting. His research interests include production and operations management, supply chain management, systems modeling and optimization, digital transformation, and business analytics.

Dr. Zhimin Luo, Professor

Institute of China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China

Topic: Creating a "Possibility Space": The Mechanism and Framework for the Integrated Construction of the University Innovation System

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2026 9th International Conference on Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

May 21-23, 2026

As an important subject of national scientific research and innovation, the realization and emergence of innovative talents and achievements in universities are first constrained by the premise of whether they have established a suitable innovation system. Based on in-depth interviews with fifty-five senior experts, this study reveals that the successful implementation and efficacy of the integrated construction depend on three core elements—"Actors" "Guidance and Rules" and "Relations and Platforms"—and their dynamic interrelationships. Consequently, the core tasks of integrated construction involve: strengthening value-driven motivation, clarifying goal-oriented direction, and perfecting institutional safeguards for the actors, while simultaneously forging relational networks and building collaborative platforms. Further analysis indicates that despite the inherent complexity of integrating a university innovation system, its essence and ultimate direction lie in creating a "possibility space" for actors—a space designed to fully unleash imagination and creativity. This maximizes the potential for transforming the innovative capabilities of faculty and students into tangible results. Cultivating this possibility space requires universities to adopt an actor-centered approach, strategically focusing on enhancing the "agency" and "accessibility" necessary for faculty and students to enter and utilize this space effectively. This guiding framework not only transcends the "designism" myth prevalent in traditional innovation system research, but also provides a clear and actionable practical pathway for the integrated construction of university innovation systems.

Dr. Zhimin Luo is the Associate Director of the Institute of China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education at Hangzhou Normal University, where he is also a Third-Level Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Postdoctoral Supervisor. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from Wuhan University and completed postdoctoral research in Education at Zhejiang University. He is a recipient of the Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Leading Talent award and serves as the Chief Expert of the Innovation Team in Henan Province. He holds concurrent positions as Executive Director of the National Higher Education Professional Committee of the China Higher Education Association, Executive Director of the Education Policy and Planning Committee of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy, and Vice Chairman of the Education Statistics and Management Committee of the Chinese Association of Applied Statistics. In recent years, he has led 4 projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China and 5 major and key provincial-level research projects. As the principal investigator, he has received 1 award from the Ministry of Education for Humanities and Social Sciences, 2 National Education Science Awards, 2 First Prize awards for Provincial Social Science Achievements, 1 Special Prize for University Humanities and Social Sciences in Henan Province, and 3 Special Prizes for Provincial Education Science Achievements. He has published over 130 academic articles in CSSCI journals such as Educational Research and Higher Education Research, in authoritative newspapers such as People's Daily and Guangming Daily, as well as in top-tier Q1 SSCI journals.

Dr. Li Chen, Professor

Faculty of College of Business, Delaware State University, Dover, USA

Topic: Perceptual Differences of Esports: Comparative Study of Consumer Behaviors Across Nation and Gender

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2026 11th International Conference on Economics, Finance and Management Science

May 21-23, 2026

Esport has been a multibillion-dollar industry with professional sporting competition and increasing engagement for participants across university campuses internationally. Chen and colleagues (2022) constructed a valid Profile of Esports Perception (PEP) with five critical factors (Attraction, Economics, Socialization, Recognition, Technicity) affecting perceptions of Esports derived from relative theories. They indicated that perceptions of university students could be affected by either one or all factors accordingly. There has been insufficient evidence and quantitative support in the literature of Esports consumer behavior regarding the individuals’ perceptions toward Esports. What could be perceptual deviations across cultural impact and gender difference on perceptions toward Esports among university students? Therefore, the purpose of study would be determining interactive effects of perceptions toward Esports across nation and gender. An international survey was conducted among a convenient student sample selected from 10 American and Chinese universities. A total of 1200 survey packages were distributed equally to the selected Chinese and American universities and 1008 effective packages (return rate of 84.33%) were collected and verified for statistical analysis. A significant interaction effect was found in 2 x 2 factorial MANOVA and univariate ANOVAs for each factor on independent variables (nation, gender) to examine simple main effects were followed. The findings demonstrated significant (p < .01) differences between male and female participants on Attraction, Economics, Recognition, and Socialization, Technicity, and Socialization across America and China. The study explored that Chinese participants preferred Attraction more important than American participants due to cultural impact, and the males were more favorable on Attraction than the females between nations because of gender difference. While American males rated higher than females on Economics, Recognition, and Socialization based on gender preferences, Chinese females recommended all factors, but Attraction, higher than American females. However, Chinese males liked more than American males on Technicity impacted by their perspective cultures. The research provides empirical evidence for the organizers to continuously improve their managerial system of collegiate Esports. The study has inserted an investigative insight into the literature of consumer behavior in Esports, and could serve as a meaningful reference to researchers and practitioners in Esports business.

Dr. Li Chen is a well-known tenured professor of sport business with college of business at Delaware State University, USA. He has served as a department chair, president and chairs of international associations, and editor of international journal of sport marketing and management. His research has been on consumer behavior, motivation and perception of consumers in sports industry with publications over 80 and served as keynotes speaker and presenter more than 100 times in international conferences.

Dr. Mohamad Alsaleh, Associate Professor

College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China

Topic: Digital Economy and Big Data in Marine Resources Economics and Environmental Governance

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2026 11th International Conference on Economics, Finance and Management Science

May 21-23, 2026

The digital economy and big data have emerged as transformative forces reshaping global industries, and the marine sector—an indispensable pillar of the blue economy—stands at the intersection of this technological revolution and sustainable development imperatives. This speech focuses on the synergies between digital innovation, marine resources economics, and marine environmental management, addressing how big data-driven tools can optimize the allocation of marine fishery resources, enhance the economic efficiency of aquaculture systems, and mitigate the ecological risks posed by climate change and overexploitation. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from marine economics, resource economics, and environmental science, we argue that digitalization is not merely a technical upgrade but a strategic enabler for balancing the dual goals of blue economic growth and marine ecological conservation. Specifically, we explore three core dimensions: first, the application of big data analytics in dynamic monitoring of fishery stocks and aquaculture supply chains, which improves the precision of resource management policies; second, the role of digital platforms in facilitating stakeholder collaboration—including fishermen, enterprises, and regulators—to resolve the collective action dilemma in marine environmental governance; third, the challenges of digital divide and data security in coastal and island regions, which require targeted policy interventions to ensure inclusive and sustainable digital transformation. By linking these discussions to global blue economy agendas and national strategies such as China’s “Blue Granary” initiative, this speech concludes that leveraging the digital economy and big data is critical to building a resilient, equitable, and prosperous marine economy for future generations.

Dr. Mohamad Alsaleh is an Associate Professor of the College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Ocean University. He obtained his Ph.D. in economics from University Putra Malaysia which now ranks ^134th based on QS World University Rankings for 2026. Currently, he is also an International Associate Researcher at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture & Food Security (ITAFoS), Malaysia. He have published more than 70 research papers in reputable international journals indexed by SSCI and SCI. He was ranked by ScholarGPS, USA, in the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide. In China, he was rewarded by Lingang Special Area with the “Top 10 Science & Technology Pioneer Nomination Award”. Also, he was rewarded by Hebei Yangtze River Culture Research Institute as “Yangtze River Cultural Ambassador”. In 2023, he was rewarded by the Shanghai Human Resource and Social Security Bureau as “Shanghai High-End Level Talent”. In 2024, he was rewarded by Liaoning University as the Best “Teacher Award” for outstanding performance.