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Associate Professor Alexandros Stefanakis of the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Crete participated as an invited speaker at the international Workshop titled "Statistical Physics Methods for Sustainable Energy Systems", held in the city of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The Workshop was co-organized by Stellenbosch University, the University of the Free State, Queen Mary University of London, and UK Research and Innovation and took place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Studies.

In the context of the Workshop, which was interdisciplinary and brought together scientists and researchers from different fields with the aim of exploring and developing new collaboration in fundamental research, Associate Professor Alexandros Stefanakis had the opportunity to present the science of ecological engineering, the main approach to developing ecosystem based solutions and the efforts to model ecosystem processes, along with relevant examples from applications implemented around the world.

At the same time, he held individual meetings with Professors Christian Beck (Queen Mary University of London, UK), Jacques Maritz (University of the Free State, South Africa), Chantelle van Staden (Stellenbosch, South Africa), and Monica Borunda (Mexican Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation).

Additionally, as the President of the International Engineering Society, Associate Professor Alexandros Stefanakis met with the Director of the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa, Dr. Yolandi Schoeman. They discussed and agreed upon the further strengthening of relations between the International Society and its African counterpart as well as joint actions for the immediate future.

Associate Professor A. Stefanakis also met the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and member of the Senate of the University of the Free State, Prof. Paul Oberholster, with whom he discussed deepening cooperation with the Technical University of Crete. It was also agreed that both Prof. Oberholster and Dr Schoeman will visit the Technical University of Crete, in June 2026.

Furthermore, Mr. Stefanakis was hosted by the “Future Water” Institute of the University of Cape Town, where he toured the research and pilot facilities. He also held meetings with the Institute’s Director, Prof. Kirsty Carden, Lecturer Kalpana Maraj, Senior Research Officer Dr. Amber Abrams, as well as many PhD candidates and students, to whom he delivered a short lecture.

During the meetings, it was agreed to strengthen relations with the Technical University of Crete and to delve into research collaboration on topics of mutual interest, while the University invited Mr. Stefanakis to visit the institution again the following autumn for the launch of a new research project.