Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Jowkar is an associated Professor of Horticultural Science at the Islamic Azad University in Iran, since 2005. His research focuses on Biotechnology and Physiology of Ornamentals and Medicinal Plants. He is an active member of various scientific societies.
Having numerous publications in the field of horticulture, he has presented the findings of his research team in more than 35 international meetings and symposiums. He has the experience of working in the leading laboratories as a visiting researcher at universities such as Leibniz University of Hannover (Germany), The University of Georgia (USA) and Polytechnical University of Cartagena (Spain). Dr Jowkar is an internationally well-known Iranian scientist. He has been the editor of Acta Horticulture issue on ornamentals and a Guest Editor of a special issue of Horticulture on Edible Flowers. He has been the organiser of several international conferences and a convenor of an ISHS (the International Society of Horticultural Science) symposiums on ornamentals.
His administrative leadership activities include responsibilities such as: University President, Vice president of Research and Technology, founder of several research laboratories and research centres.
Professor Patrícia Duarte De Oliveira Paiva has been a Professor at the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, since 1997, where she teaches Floriculture and Landscaping. During her extensive career, she has supervised numerous postgraduate students, focusing their research on ornamental plant propagation, production, and postharvest technology. Dr. Paiva's influence extends beyond research and teaching. She is editor for esteemed scientific journals including Ornamental Horticulture, Frontiers in Plant Science, and Frontiers in Horticulture. Her contributions also span the realm of authorship, with notable books such as Floriculture and Landscaping, as Produção de Flores de Corte [Cut Flower Production],
vol 1 and 2, Paisagismo - conceitos e aplicações [Landscaping - Concepts and Applications]; Árvores do campus UFLA [Trees of UFLA Campus]; besides 14 brochures detailing Brazil's square histories, and several book chapters.
Actively engaged, Dr. Paiva holds board positions in prominent organizations such as the Brazilian Society of Floriculture and Ornamental Plant (SBFPO) and the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS).
Prof. Dr. Silvana Nicola is a professor and researcher in Horticulture at the University of Turin, Italy. Her areas of expertise include vegetables, herbs, hydroponics, protected cultivation, postharvest handling, quality management, and supply chain efficiency. As a professor since 1996, she has taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, introduced new teaching methods, and incorporated soft skills training.
Her research focuses on pre/post-harvest physiology of produce, fresh-cut products, and aromatic plants. She has coordinated projects on vertical farming, urban horticulture, biodiversity, and restoration of historical sites. She held visiting professorships internationally, a Fulbright scholarship in the USA, and FAO appointments.
Dr. Nicola has served extensively as an editor, including: Editor-in-Chief of a book series with Springer; Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Horticulture; Associate Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science; Section Board Editor for Horticulture; and Advisory Board member for multiple journals.
Her leadership activities include: immediate past Secretary and past Vice President of the International Society for Horticultural Science; President of the European Vegetables Research Institutes Network; and expert evaluator for the EU, FAO, and others. She has published over 400 papers and is an invited speaker at international conferences.
