Leal Filho, Walter

Professor Walter Leal Filho has a PhD and a DSc in environmental technology, plus various  honorary doctorates  for his work on sustainable development. He is the Head of the Research and Transfer Centre "Applications of Life Sciences"  at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences,  where he is in charge of a number of European projects. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 70 books on the subjects of environment, technology and innovation and has in excess of 200 published papers to his credit. Prof. Walter Leal Filho teaches environmental management at many European universities. He is also the editor of the Journal "Management of Environmental Quality" and founding editor of the "International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education" and "Environment and Sustainable Development". He is a member of the editorial board of "Environmental Awareness", and "Sustainable Development and World Ecology".  His work on sustainability has primarily focused on the institutional aspects and tools for promoting sustainable development, along with he has been able to monitor the debate on water issues.

Dr. Vakur Sumer is currently a member of faculty at Department of International Relations, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. Sumer published several journal articles, and three book chapters along with a forthcoming book from I.B. Tauris (Water Dimension in EU-Turkey Relations). He has attended numerous international and national academic conferences. Sumer has received his Ph.D. on International Relations, from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He was a visiting scholar in United States, at University of California, Davis, Department of Environmental Science and Policy during 2008-2009. He was also a visiting fellow at Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg, Germany in April 2012. He has been studying water politics, transboundary rivers, and environmental problems related to water use and is convinced of the need for publications on sustainable water use and management. Sumer is a member of ISA (International Studies Association) and Environmental Studies Section. He was given an award by TUBITAK for his publication in "Water International".