Prof.
Lu Zhou
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Astronautics
Bio:
Lu Zhou is a
professor and doctoral supervisor in the
College of Computer Science and
Technology, Nanjing University of
Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing,
Jiangsu Province, China, IEEE member,
and member of the Computer Society. She
has been selected for a national-level
youth talent program. She received the
PhD degree in computer science and
technology from University of Aizu.
During her PhD, she was supported by the
Japan Academic Promotion Association
JSPS Fund and engaged in post-doctoral
research at University of Aizu. Her
research interests include applied
cryptography and IOT sercurity. She has
published 50 papers in important
international security and cryptographic
academic journals and conferences. She
currently serves as a reviewer for
multiple SCI journals such as IEEE
Transactions. Computer Journal,
Theoretical Computer Science, IET
information security, and a chairperson
or committee member of international
conference program committees such as
NSS 2019, ProvSec 2022, WASA 2022, and
Inscrypt 2023).
Dr.
Ajay Shrestha
Department of Computer Science, Vancouver Island University, Canada
Adjunct Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Bio:
Dr. Ajay Shrestha is a distinguished
Computer Science professional with a Ph.D. from the University of
Saskatchewan, Canada, and an MSc in Ethical Hacking and Computer Security
from the University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland. He is a Professor at
Vancouver Island University and an Adjunct Professor at the University of
Saskatchewan. Dr. Shrestha's research lies at the intersection of emerging
technologies, including Data Trust, Federated Learning, and Blockchain, with
specialized expertise in Smart Contracts Engineering and PLS-SEM
methodologies. His work focuses on developing and integrating
privacy-preserving technologies, emphasizing blockchain, federated learning,
ethical AI, and incentive mechanisms in data-sharing models. His research
seeks to address critical challenges in safeguarding user data, particularly
for young digital citizens, by designing frameworks that promote trust,
transparency, and user control. Dr. Shrestha leads a research initiative
funded by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), which
examines privacy concerns and expectations to guide the development of
ethical and privacy-centric AI practices. Dr. Shrestha's contributions have
received widespread recognition, earning him numerous accolades that
underscore his leadership and innovation in driving technological
advancements for the benefit of society.
Assoc. Prof. Suhail Odeh
Bethlehem University , Palestine
Bio: Suhail Odeh is an Associate Professor at the
Software Engineering Department at Bethlehem University, where he has been
an influential educator and researcher since 2006. Born in Bethlehem,
Palestine, Dr. Odeh earned his Bachelor's degree in Physics and Electronic
Technology (1996) and a Master's degree in Physics (2001) from Al-Quds
University. He later pursued his Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at the
University of Granada, Spain, completing it in 2006.
Dr. Odeh's academic journey is enriched by international experience,
including a postdoctoral research stint at the University of L'Aquila,
Italy, in 2016, and visiting professorships at the University of Cyprus,
University of Granada, and University of Salamanca. His research interests
focus on Artificial Intelligence, Pattern Recognition, Intelligent Systems,
Brain-Computer Interfaces, and Multi-Agent Systems, resulting in numerous
publications at international conferences.
Title: A Blockchain-Based Framework for Efficient and
Secure E-Certification Sharing and Verification
Abstract: The cumbersome and time-consuming process of academic certificate
validation in Palestine presents a significant challenge, which our
innovative blockchain-based solution addresses. Our system automates
certificate creation and verification, reducing manual effort and associated
costs. Universities upload certificates and data that are hashed on the
blockchain, with QR codes enabling quick verification, while cryptographic
hashing ensures data authenticity. The proposed blockchain framework
guarantees ownership control, transparency, and speed, significantly
improving processing efficiency compared to conventional methods.
Additionally, the system aligns with sustainability goals by drastically
reducing paper usage. This work presents a game-changing approach that
leverages blockchain's inherent features to streamline certification
processes, reduce bureaucracy, and support environmental preservation.
Prof. Witold Pedrycz
University of Alberta, Canada
Bio: Witold Pedrycz (IEEE Life Fellow) is Professor in the
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Canada. He is also with the Systems Research Institute of the
Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Pedrycz is a foreign member
of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of
Canada. He is a recipient of several awards including Norbert Wiener award
from the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society, IEEE Canada Computer
Engineering Medal, a Cajastur Prize for Soft Computing from the European
Centre for Soft Computing, a Killam Prize, a Fuzzy Pioneer Award from the
IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, and 2019 Meritorious Service Award
from the IEEE Systems Man and Cybernetics Society. His main research
directions involve Computational Intelligence, Granular Computing, and
Machine Learning, among others. Professor Pedrycz serves as an
Editor-in-Chief of Information Sciences, Editor-in-Chief of WIREs Data
Mining and Knowledge Discovery (Wiley), and Co-editor-in-Chief of J. of Data
Information and Management (Springer).