Prof. Kwang Leong Choy
Duke Kunshan University, China

Professor Kwang-Leong Choy (DSc, FIMMM, FRSC) and her team performing pioneering research into novel, sustainable, and cost-effective processing of nanostructured thin films and thick coatings using non-vacuum and environmentally friendly Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) based methods, characterised by unique nanocrystalline microstructure and superior properties for energy, transport, functional, healthcare and biomedical applications. She has over 30 years’ experience in surface coating and nanomaterials. She has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, including 4 books and 20 patents related to CVD based nanoparticles, nanowires, nanostructured ceramic and composite thin and thick films for engineering applications. She has given over 150 keynote/invited lectures. Professor Choy obtained her D.Phil. in Materials Science from the University of Oxford, where she was awarded the Hetherington Prize and Oxford Metallurgical Society Award. She also held academic position at Imperial College London and her pioneering on the Electrostatic Spray Assisted Vapour Deposition has led to the Grunfeld Medal and Prize from Institute of Materials (UK) and a spin-out company. She helped to establish two university spin-out companies. She also held a Chair in Materials, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham (2002-2014), where she was the Research Director of University Innovation Centre and University’s Knowledge Exchange Board. Over the past four years, Professor Choy’s work has led to her participation in numerous multimillion pounds research programmes. These include research contracts funded by EU, EPSRC, HEFCE, the Royal Society, Marie Curie, Innovate UK, TSB, Regional Development Agency (RDA) and many companies. She has been the international expert reviewer. She has been awarded Guest Professorships at the University of Uppsala (2001/03), Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE, 2010/2012), and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Visiting Professorship for Senior International Scientist (2011/2013). Professor Choy is now a Director of UCL Institute for Materials Discovery and Professor of Materials Discovery at University College London since February 2014 to lead a multidisciplinary research Institute to integrate fundamental materials, chemistry, physics, engineering and biological principles across the disciplines to create new opportunities in materials creation, discovery and exploitation for the clean energy, aerospace, transport, optoelectronics, engineering, healthcare and biomedical applications. The Institute also plays an active role in materials translation and industrial engagements, linking theory with real world applications. She is also active in several UCL’s Global Engagement programmes with China, Europe and Africa.

Prof. Shinji Takeoka
Waseda University, Japan

Shinji Takeoka is a professor of Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University. He received B.S. degree(1986), M.S. degree(1988) , Ph. D. degree(1991) from Waseda University, Japan. He worked as a research associate at Waseda University School of Science and Engineering from 1991. Then he worked as Visiting Fellow, U. Pennsylvania School of Medicine for 1 year from 1998 to 1999. In 2005, he was promoted as professor of Waseda University. Prof. Shinji Takeoka is the Associate Director of Research Promotion Division, Waseda University. He is also the President of The Society of Blood Substitutes, Japan. His research interests include biomedical Engineering, biological material sciences, molecular assembling science and engineering.

Prof. Steven Y. Liang (Fellow of ASME & SME)
Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professor for Advanced Manufacturing Systems
Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

Steven Y. Liang holds a 1987 Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of California at Berkeley, USA, and was founding Director of Precision Machining Research Consortium and Director of Manufacturing Education Program and has been Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professor for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. Dr. Liang served as President of Walsin Lihwa Corp., a publicly-traded manufacturing entity with over USD6 billions of yearly revenue. Dr. Liang's technical interests lie in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, and materials-centric production, and in these areas he has supervised over 90 post-doctoral studies, Ph.D. dissertations, and M.S. theses and has authored in excess of 450 book chapters, archival journal papers, and professional conference articles. He has delivered more than 60 keynotes and invited seminars at industries, peer institutions, and conferences in over 20 countries on manufacturing science and technology. Dr. Liang served as President of North American Manufacturing Research Institution and Chair of Manufacturing Engineering Division of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing (MDPI) and Editor of International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing (Springer). Dr. Liang is the recipient of Robert B. Douglas Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award of SME, Ralph R. Teetor Education Award of SAE, Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award of ASME, Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal of ASME, etc. Dr. Liang is a fellow of both ASME and SME.