Keynote Speeches

Title: Smart Agrifood Systems (SmartAg): Technology Applied to the Food Supply Chain

Abstract: The IEEE SmartAg initiative has been created under the Future Directions Committee to bring together all IEEE activities in agrifood systems. Leveraging component technologies into an engineered system can generate substantial efficiencies, including attacking the 40% food waste worldwide, as well as the energy, carbon, water and other sustainability challenges required to feed 9B people worldwide on shrinking arable land, while improving safety and quality. Relevant to Smart Cities, opportunities exist to engineer food production in the urban environment using vertical farming techniques, while improving logistics to reduce energy and carbon cost and providing additional environmental and aesthetic benefits. With about 20% of food waste occurring in the wholesale retail food sector, and another 20% wasted in consumer storage, new RFID and blockchain technologies integrated with smart stores, refrigerators, pantries and mobile devices allow for improved inventory and menu management to improve health, safety, and efficiency outcomes.

Bio: John P. Verboncoeur (FIEEE) received a Ph.D. (1992) in nuclear engineering from the University of California at Berkeley (UCB). After a postdoc at Lawrence Livermore National Lab and UCB, he was appointed Associate Research Engineer at UCB. He joined the UCB Nuclear Engineering faculty in 2001 (Full Professor in 2008), where he cofounded and chaired the Computational Engineering Science program (2001-2010). In 2011, he was appointed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Professor of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (added in 2015) at Michigan State University (MSU), where he currently serves as Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Engineering. His research interests are in theoretical and computational plasma physics, with a broad range of applications spanning low temperature plasmas for lighting, thrusters and materials processing to hot plasmas for fusion, from ultra-cold plasmas to particle accelerators, from beams to pulsed power, from intense kinetic nonequilibrium plasmas to high power microwaves. He is the author/coauthor of the MSU (formerly Berkeley) suite of open source particle-in-cell Monte Carlo (PIC-MC) codes, including XPDP1 and XOOPIC, used by over 1000 researchers worldwide with over 450 journal publications in the last decade. He has authored/coauthored over 500 journal articles and conference papers, with 7,000+ citations. He was President of the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (2015-16), IEEE Director (2019-20), past Acting VP of IEEE Publications, Services, and Products Board (2020), VP-IEEE Technical Activities (2023) overseeing over $500M in revenues, and served on the Board of Directors for IEEE, the American Center for Mobility national proving ground and Physics of Plasmas Editorial Board, and serves on the US DOE Fusion Energy Science Advisory Committee and recently on the Sandia National Laboratories Grand Challenge LDRD External Advisory Board. He currently leads the IEEE Smart Agrifood Systems Initiative. He has led a number of successful startups, including computerized fitness equipment, digital health systems, distributed publication software including the consumer credit report for a big-three credit bureau, and a role in the US Postal Service mail forwarding system.

Title: Wireless Power Transfer – from Science Fiction to Reality

Abstract: Over the past 100 years, scientists have been searching for solutions to realize wireless power transfer reliably and efficiently. Their goal? A tether-free world. It is only in the past ten years that this has become reality. With the help of semiconductor devices, electromagnetic materials, and microcomputers, not only can we now charge a cell phone wirelessly, but we can also charge electric cars, body-implanted medical devices, underwater vehicles, industrial automation equipment, robots, and automatic guided vehicles, or a humongous electric ship without plugging it in. In this talk, Professor Chris Mi will look at how his work has made wireless power transfer cheaper, faster, safer, and more efficient, enabling cable-free conference rooms, battery-less drones, and factories populated by untethered robots and autonomous vehicles.

Bio: Dr. Mi is the Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at San Diego State University. He is a Fellow of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). He is also the Director of the US Department of Energy-funded Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Center for Electric Drive Transportation at SDSU. He was previously a faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn from 2001 to 2015, and an Electrical Engineer with General Electric from 2000 to 2001. He also served as the CTO of 1Power Solutions from 2008 to 2011, and CTO of EV Safe Charger, Inc. from 2021. Dr. Mi received his Ph. D from the University of Toronto, Canada, in 2001.

Dr. Mi has published five books, 200+ journal papers, 130 conference papers, and 20+ issued and pending patents. He served as Editor-in-Chief, Area Editor, Guest Editor, and Associate Editor of multiple IEEE Transactions and international journals, as well as the General Chair of over ten IEEE international conferences. Dr. Mi has won numerous awards, including the “Distinguished Teaching Award” and “Distinguished Research Award” from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, IEEE Region 4 “Outstanding Engineer Award,” IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section “Outstanding Professional Award,” and SAE “Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award.” He is the recipient of three Best Paper Awards from IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and the 2017 ECCE Student Demonstration Award. In 2019, he received the Inaugural IEEE Power Electronics Emerging Technology Award. In 2022, he received the Albert W. Johnson Research Lectureship and was named the Distinguished Professor, the highest honor given to an SDSU faculty member, and only one award is given each year. He received the 2023 IEEE PELS Vehicle and Transportation Systems Achievement Award, the IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications Best Paper Award, and the SDSU Innovator of the Year Award. In 2024, he received the prestigious SDSU Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award from SDSU. In 2025, he received the Inaugural SDSU Patent Award.

Title: Trust by Design: How Explainable AI Strengthens Local Digital Platforms in Smart and Caring Cities

Abstract: As cities become smarter, the systems that guide our decisions – especially in healthcare, social services, and community planning—grow more complex and data-driven. But with complexity comes a crucial challenge: How can we ensure that people not only use these systems, but understand and trust them? This keynote explores the intersection of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) and locally grounded digital infrastructures such as LOKAL-digital—open-source platforms designed to support knowledge sharing, social services, and collaborative governance at the municipal and regional level. By embedding explainability into AI-supported recommendation and decision processes, local platforms can move beyond opaque automation toward transparent, human-centered digital public services. The goal is not only to deliver efficiency, but to foster trust, accountability, and participation, especially for vulnerable populations like older adults, for whom familiarity, local relevance, and comprehensibility are essential. Smart Cities must not only be connected and data-rich; they must also be caring and inclusive. By integrating XAI into local digital systems, we can create environments where algorithmic recommendations are no longer black boxes but meaningful dialogues—where digital systems become companions, not controllers. Drawing from real-world experience with LOKAL-digital, this talk offers a vision for how explainable, ethical AI can reinforce the fabric of local communities and serve as a catalyst for trustworthy digital transformation in public services

Bio: Madjid Fathi is a professor in department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Siegen. He is the director of Institute of Knowledge Based Systems and Knowledge Management (KBS & K). He is the founder and director of Research Center for Knowledge Management and Intelligent Systems (KMIS). His research interests are AI & XAI focused on applied and management of Urban sustainability, Knowledge Management applications in Medicine and Engineering, Computational Intelligence and Knowledge Discovery from Text (KDT).

Madjid is the editor of Integrated Systems, Design and Technology published by Springer, and also 3 textbooks and 7 edited books. With his student he has more than 250 publications including Journal and conference papers, 5 best paper awards the last one in May 2024 bei IEEE-EIT. His recently published Book by Springer: Integrated systems: Data driven Enginnering-10/2024).He got the European award “qute” prize „Currently he has 2 books under preparation. He is a senior member of IEEE and member of editorial board in several journals. He has delivered more than 35 keynote speeches since 2008, covering Applied AI & and KBS /Knowledge Based System) in Smart Urban infrastructure, Health monitoring and semiconductor technology.

Title: Smart technologies for a sustainable energy system in urban environments

Abstract: Today, humanity is facing unprecedented challenges, related to the exponential growth of the world population, the depletion of natural resources, climate change, etc. In this context, the growing demand for energy can no longer be tackled with a traditional approach, since the paradigms have changed dramatically. Renewable energy sources should progressively replace traditional sources, and they should be fully integrated into the existing power system even in the short term. Moreover, the global trend toward urbanization introduces new variables and constraints in the general problem. However, it is evident that there are no alternatives to sustainable development. But what is the exact definition and meaning of this concept? What is the role of smart technologies in the transition towards a sustainable energy system? How does the fast growth of urban population influence the design and application of sustainable energy technologies? To answer these crucial questions, it is necessary to adopt a holistic approach.

Bio: Chiara Boccaletti C. Boccaletti (M’04, SM’14) was born in Bologna (Italy) in 1967. She received the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Energetics from Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) in 1991 and 1995, respectively. Prof. Boccaletti has been a member of ASME until 2004 and is member of the Italian Engineering Board since 1992 (SM’02). She has been Member-at-large of IEEE-IAS Executive Board in 2016, IAS Treasurer 2017-2020, and IAS Meetings Dept. Chair 2021-2024. She is currently member of the IEEE Conference Finance Committee and Nominations Chair of the IEEE Smart Cities Technical Community. Since 2000, she has been an independent Expert and Reviewer for the European Commission, for several foreign governments and institutions and for the Italian Ministry of University and Research and regional entities. She is Associate Professor with Habilitation Degree at the Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energetic Engineering of Sapienza University of Rome. Her teaching interests cover power plants based on renewable sources, cogeneration and trigeneration. Her current research interests include design, analysis and optimization of electrical machines, condition monitoring and diagnostics of electrical machines and drives, and systems based on renewable energies. She is Associate Editor of IEEE Open Journal of Industry Applications and member of the Editorial Boards of other International Journals; she authored or co-authored more than 130 published papers in technical journals and conference proceedings and two books.

Title: Battery Lifetime Management for Sustainable Cities

Abstract: This lecture will summarize efforts in on-board diagnostics and state of health (SOH) estimation in batteries. Due to the importance of battery degradation throughout use and storage, numerous legislative actions are underway for battery durability and SOH estimation accuracy. We point to advances in predicting the remaining useful life for the fair resale of battery electric vehicles or in extending their utilization by supporting home or grid loads when parked. We will present thermal management solutions associated with cold & hot weather charging and range/life reduction, which are important for transit and fleet operations. We will conclude this presentation with an overview of the challenges and advances in fault detection for safer battery management, highlighting our efforts with community college faculty to co-develop educational material for auto technicians.

Bio: Anna G. Stefanopoulou is the William Clay Ford Professor of Technology at the University of Michigan. She was the Director of the Automotive Research Center, a multi-university U.S. Army Center of Excellence of Ground Vehicles, and the Michigan Energy Institute. She was also an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a technical specialist at Ford Motor Company. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the ASME (08), IEEE (09), and SAE (18).  Her recent awards are the 2019 AACC Control Engineering Practice Award (“for the modeling, analysis, and control of advanced vehicle powertrain systems”), the 2018 ASME Charles Stark Draper Innovative Practice Award (for advancing engine, fuel cell, and battery management), and the 2017 IEEE Control System Technology award (for advanced battery management system accounting for electro-thermo-mechanical phenomena). She has served on two U.S. National Academy committees (2015 and 2020), which were formed upon the request of the U.S. Congress to report on vehicle fuel economy standards and the transition to electrification. She has advised and mentored more than 50 Ph.D. students and co-authored with them a book, 25 U.S. patents, and more than 400 publications (seven of which have received awards) on the estimation and control of engines, fuel cells, and batteries.

Title: Energy Democracy empowering Smart and Sustainable City

Abstract: The 17 sustainable development goals along with policy-encouragement advise the city ecosystem to embrace technology in achieving all ambitious targets resulting in the development and growth of a city. Electricity industry is one of its kind in transforming the paradigm of smart grid operations and management. The regulatory policies are carved out thoughtfully to increase citizen participation in the journey of energy transition, decarbonization, green and energy-efficiency initiatives. Today in the era of energy democracy, the active participation of customers is a key to successful, energy efficient and resilient grid operations. The increase in the prosumer category along with EV adaptation has decarbonized the city level environmental impact.

Energy democracy has unlocked the opportunities of building a strong ecosystem of community-driven green and low carbon generation, virtual power plants and engaging into a very robust business model at city level. This liberates the flexibility of operations and legal openness to reclaim the joint ownership of the energy economy. India Energy Stake is the very recent announcement from Govt of India, Ministry of Power to build public digital infrastructure for the energy ecosystem, integrating clean renewable energy with consumer-centric services, ensuring a unified, secure and interoperable platform allowing consent-based data-exchange. The talk aims to provide insights on technology-enablement, policy-deployment and citizen-ownership in making the city smarter and sustainable.

Bio: Dr. Surekha Deshmukh did BE- Electrical, ME- Power Systems and PhD in Electrical Engineering. She has over 28 plus years of professional experience. Her current role is Domain Consultant, IoT and Digital Engineering, TCS, Pune, India. Dr Surekha is an expert in Energy and Sustainability. At TCS she plays the role of advisory to Electricity Utility, Oil and Gas and Manufacturing industry in transforming their business into Sustainable Industry 4.0. She is instrumental in developing technology solutions using deep tech tools such as Data analytics-, AI-ML, Computer vision, Digital Twin and Optimization methodologies to achieve operational optimization, asset management, energy transition, decarbonization, circular economy.

Dr Surekha is conferred with “TCS Contextual Master award” in 2023 for her significant technical contribution in enhancing customer relationship and delivering business outcomes. She is a winner of “TATA Innovista Special Mention Award” in year 2023. As Energy and Sustainability expert, she represents TCS at various industry forums at National and International level. Dr Surekha is a senior member of IEEE and immediate past Chair of IEEE Pune Section. Currently she serves as a Vice Chair- Outreach Committee India Council, Chair -WIE IEEE Smart Cities, Member of R10 Industry Relations Committee., Member IEEE Smart Cities Committee. Till date she shouldered many responsibilities as IEEE PES R10 West Zone Representative, Chair- PES India Chapters Council., Chair- PES- IAS Chapter IEEE Pune Section, Secretary and Treasurer of IEEE Pune Section.

She served as a Member of IEEE’s Climate Change Committee and chair of Sub Committee of CCIRCC–Global Visibility. Dr Surekha was nominated to represent IEEE at United Nations Climate Change Conference -COP 28 at Dubai. Her areas of interest are Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Electrical Safety, Electric Vehicles, Power Market, Power System Operation and Control, Reliability Analysis and Smart Grid, Sustainability, Climate Change. She is passionate about publishing work and has more than 35 papers and 3 book chapters till date on her record. With wide technical experience, she contributes as a reviewer of IEEE PES publications, Elsevier and Springer journals. Dr Surekha is awarded with “Bozenna Pasik-Duncan Humanitarian Mentorship Award 2024”, “Women In Engineering” Recognition by IEEMA-from ELECRMAMA in Feb 2023, “Outstanding Engineer Award” 2022, “Women in Power” Award- 2021, IEEE PES “Outstanding Volunteer Award” of IEEE India Council-2020. IEEMA recognized her contribution with conferring “Women in Energy Award” in 2022, and IESA awarded her “Most Influential Woman Leader in Indian Power Sector” award in 2023.