Prof. Sabu Thomas is a renowned professor who is serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. He is also a full professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences, a role which he has held since 1998. He was previously Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University 2017-2018, Director of School of Chemical Science during 2010-2013, Hon. Director of International & Inter-University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2009-2015 and 2016-17. In 2015, Prof. Thomas received his first Docteur Honoris Causa from University of Souther Brittany in Lorient, France. In 2016, he received his second Doctorate honoris causa from University of Lorraine, France. He was awarded the Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, London, FRSC in 2012. He received the Bronze Medal of the Chemical Research Society of India and the MRSI Medal of the Material Research Society of India in 2013. He was the recipient of Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administrators Award 2017. He also received TRiLA Academician of the year 2018 award. Prof. Thomas has published more than 1000 publications, and more than 100 books. Professor Yves Grohens is the Director of the LIMATB (Material Engineering) Laboratory of Universite de Bretagne Sud, France. His master's and PhD degrees were from Besancon University, France. After finishing his studies, he worked as assistant professor and later professor in various reputed universities in France. He is an invited professor to many universities in different parts of the world as well. His areas of interest include physicochemical studies of polymer surfaces and interfaces, phase transitions in thin films confinement, nano and bio composites design and characterization, and biodegradation of polymers and biomaterials. He has written several book chapters, monographs, and scientific reviews and has published 130 international publications. He is the chairman and member of advisory committees of many international conferences. Guillaume Vignaud is Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of South Brittany, France. His research focuses on the optical properties of nanoscale thin films. Dr. Nandakumar Kalarikkal is an Associate Professor at the School of Pure and Applied Physics and Joint Director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. His research activities involve applications of nanostructured materials, laser plasma, and phase transitions. He is the recipient of research fellowships and associateships from prestigious government organizations such as the Department of Science and Technology and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of the Government of India. He has active collaborations with national and international scientific institutions in India, South Africa, Slovenia, Canada, France, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, and the United States. He has more than 130 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He also co-edited nine books of scientific interest and co-authored many book chapters. Dr Jemy James obtained his Phd from University of South Brittany, France, and is presently working at WITec GmbH, Germany. He was earlier Junior Research Fellow at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottyam, India.
