The 24th biennial conference EcoBalt2025

National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia

Monika Mortimer is a Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator at the Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology in the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics in Estonia. Before her current role, she conducted research at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and China Jiliang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Her research centers on the environmental and health impacts of engineered nanomaterials. At present, she is working on applying ecotoxicological assays to develop a safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) strategy for utilizing nanocomposites in metal recycling. She served as the chair of the organizing committee for EcoBalt2023 in Tallinn, Estonia.

Director, Chemical Engineering Master's Program, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

Jonas Baltrusaitis is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lehigh University, in Pennsylvania, USA. His work focuses on many aspects of the sustainable chemical engineering discipline with emphasis on conventional and electro- or plasma-assisted catalysis for energy feedstock processing, and the development of mechanochemical synthesis routes for plant nutrient extraction, processing, and delivery. He is a coauthor of more than 300 publications and a series of patents as well as an editor-in-chief of IOP Sustainability Science and Technology.

School of Natural Sciences, Physics Unit, Ryan Institute,
Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies,
University of Galway, IRELAND

Dr. Darius Ceburnis received his PhD degree in Natural Sciences in 1997 from the Institute of Physics, Lithuania and has been working at the University of Galway (formerly National University of Ireland Galway) since 2001. Their most significant work on marine aerosols has been recognized by three Nature publications. Their other novel idea was developed around carbon isotopes for an unambiguous determination of organic matter origin in atmospheric aerosols which later helped to elucidate organic matter cycling in the marine environment with the recent publication in Nature Scientific Reports.
Recently, his research focus shifted toward polar regions under collaboration with the Korean Polar Research Institute with two accomplished summer campaigns in Antarctica and the upcoming one to the Arctic Ocean on the icebreaker ARAON. Darius Čeburnis published over 130 peer-reviewed publications to-date, and he is among the top 1% of cited authors in the Geosciences discipline (Clarivate Analytics) with nearly 2000 total citations in the last decade. Darius Čeburnis has provided critical technical and research support for Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station which has significantly contributed towards the establishing Mace Head infrastructure as the top atmospheric research infrastructure in the world.

Faculty of Science and Technology
University of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands

Prof. Karin Habermehl-Cwirzen is a materials scientist currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University of the Faroe Islands, within the Faculty of Science and Technology. She holds a Diplom-Ingenieur (Master’s degree in Engineering) in Materials Science from TU Darmstadt Germany, a Ph.D. in Physics from Aalto University in Finland and also possesses a teacher education degree from Finland.

Her research focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials. At the University of the Faroe Islands, she leads projects such as:

Mechanochemical Activation of Faroese Basalt: This project explores the potential of local basalt as a component in green construction materials.
From Landfill to Building Material: This initiative investigates how local waste like old concrete can be repurposed into sustainable building materials.

In addition to her role in the Faroe Islands, she maintains an affiliation with Luleå University of Technology in Sweden, where she has been involved in research on nanomodified cementitious composites and self-healing materials.

Prof. Habermehl-Cwirzen has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and actively participates in Nordic and European research initiatives.