International Distinctions of the Editors-in-Chief of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journal
1.International distinction for Professor Gloria Phillips-Wren, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journal.
Professor Maria Virvou, Head of the Department of Informatics of the School of Information and Communications Technologies of the University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece, presented the Department’s Honorary Award to Professor Gloria Phillips-Wren, Editor-in-Chief of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journal, in honour and recognition of her outstanding scholarly achievements and contributions to the field of Intelligent Decision Technologies.
Dr. Gloria Phillips-Wren is a Professor in the Department of Information Systems, Law, and Operations Management (ISLO) at Loyola University Maryland, USA. Prior to coming to Loyola, she had a career in the federal government researching advanced weapons systems and holding senior leadership positions. She has been a visiting professor at University College Cork in Ireland, in Chile, and in Mexico, where she has collaborated on technology to support decisions related to emergencies and healthcare. She has gained international recognition as an expert in intelligent decision support technologies through her publications and leadership. She is founder and co-editor-in-chief of Intelligent Decision Technologies (IDT), now in its 17th year, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Decision Systems (JDS, a Q1 journal). Dr. Phillips-Wren is past-chair of the Special Interest Group on Decision Support and Analytics (SIGDSA) under the Association of Information Systems (AIS), a current Board member of SIGDSA, Secretary of IFIP WG8.3 Decision Support, and an associate chair and leader of a focus group for Knowledge Engineering Systems (KES) International in intelligent decision technologies. She has received numerous awards, including the KES Outstanding Service Award, awarded to two members annually from a group of 1000 researchers. She has also received awards from IFIP, AIS, Loyola, and the US government. Her research interests and publications are in decision making and support, analytics, business intelligence, healthcare IT, and strategic uses of technologies such as generative AI. She has published numerous scholarly journal articles, government reports, and books along with book chapters and conference proceedings.
2.International distinction for Professor Robert J. Howlett, Honorary Editor of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journa.
Professor Maria Virvou, Head of the Department of Informatics of the School of Information and Communications Technologies of the University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece, presented the Department’s Honorary Award to Professor Robert J. Howlett, Honorary Editor of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journal, in honour and recognition of his outstanding scholarly achievements and contributions to the field of Knowledge-based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems.
Professor Robert Howlett has over 30 years’ experience in Higher and Further Education. He has achieved international recognition from the world-wide applied intelligent systems research community and national recognition from the UK knowledge and technology transfer community. He is Academic Chair of KES International (www.kesinternational.org), a non-profit organisation which facilitates knowledge transfer and the dissemination of research results in areas including Intelligent Systems, Sustainable Energy, Buildings, Design and Manufacturing. He is also Director of KES International Research which provides research and consultancy in those areas. Professor Howlett’s technical expertise is in the use of various artificial intelligence paradigms in the solution of industrial problems. His current interests center on the application of intelligent systems to sustainability, particularly renewable energy, smart/micro grids and applications in housing and glasshouse horticulture. Previously he has been successful in applying neural networks, expert and fuzzy methods, and related technology to energy efficiency and renewable energy systems; condition monitoring, diagnostic tools, and systems; automotive electronics and engine management systems. By setting up and managing many collaborative projects with SMEs and other companies, managing the University of Brighton Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Centre for several years, Chairmanship of the KTP National Forum, and Directorship of the Institute for Knowledge Transfer, he made a national contribution in the fields of innovation, knowledge and technology transfer, and the commercialization of research. Through KES International Research, Professor Howlett works with a number of universities on the supervision teams of PhD students and provides technical input to projects. His contributions to international research and knowledge transfer have been recognized by his appointment as Visiting Professor to two universities.
3.Doctorate in Informatics (Honoris Causa) awarded to Professor Lakhmi Chand Jain by the Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece.
Professor Lakhmi Chand Jain, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Intelligent Decision Technologies Journal, was awarded a Doctorate in informatics (Honoris Causa) by the Department of Informatics of the School of Information and Communication Technologies of the University of Piraeus, Greece. Professor Jain was welcomed to the University of Piraeus by Professor Michail E. Sfakianakis, Rector of the University, while the career and works of Professor Jain were outlined in a laudatio by Professor Maria Virvou, Head of the Department of Informatics of the University of Piraeus. Among the many attendants of the award ceremony were Professors Gloria Phillips-Wren (Loyola University Maryland, USA), Professor Jie Lu (University of Technology Sydney, Australia)), Shuichiro Yamamoto (International Professional University in Nagoya, Japan), Robert J. Howlett (Bournemouth University, UK and University of Arad, Romania) and George A. Tsihrintzis (University of Piraeus, Greece).
LAUDATIO
by
Professor- Dr. Maria Virvou
Head of the Department of Informatics
School of Information and Communication Technologies
University of Piraeus, Greece
on the awarding of Doctorate in Informatics (Honoris Causa) of the University of Piraeus
to Professor – Dr. LAKHMI CHAND JAIN
“
Mr. Rector of the University,
Dear Senate Members,
Dear Distinguished Guests,
Dear Colleagues,
Dear Students,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, it is a very important day as we gather on this very special occasion for the University of Piraeus, the School of Information and Communication Technologies and the Department of Informatics which celebrates 30 years since its foundation. The purpose of our assembly is to honour the brilliant career of Professor Lakhmi C. Jain, a true visionary and leading academic figure in the fields of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Knowledge-based Systems. Professor Jain’s contributions to these disciplines have not only shaped the way we understand and apply technology but they have also inspired countless individuals, me included, on their academic and professional journeys.
Professor Jain’s remarkable journey in the field of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence is a witness to his untiring dedication and passion for advancing the boundaries of human knowledge. Throughout his brilliant career, he has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to excellence, innovation, and the pursuit of novel solutions to complex problems.
The most significant points from the rich curriculum vitae of Professor- Dr. Lakhmi C. Jain include the following:
• He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
• He is the Co-Founder of the research professional organization “Knowledge-based and Intelligent Engineering Systems International,” a global community of over 5,000 researchers aimed at collaboration, knowledge exchange, and research dissemination in the fields of Artificial and Computational Intelligence and their applications, such as Complex Systems, Systems Security, Educational Technologies, Healthcare Technologies, Autonomous Systems, and Vehicles, Intelligent Agents, and more.
• He has held the position of Professor and Acting-Dean of the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of South Australia
• He has served as a Visiting Professor at various universities in Europe and Australia, including the University of Canberra, the University of Technology Sydney, Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom, and the University of Arad in Romania.
His extensive research work encompasses:
• Automated Information System Design using conventional and computational intelligence techniques, including Artificial Neural Networks, search techniques, approximate reasoning, machine learning, and evolutionary computing paradigms,
• Modelling, Design, and Implementation of Knowledge-based Intelligent Information Systems.
• Intelligent agent learning, coordination, collaboration, and web-based agents.
• According to Google Scholar, his publications have received approximately 20,000 citations (more than 7,500 in the last five years), resulting in an h-index of 60 and an i-10 index of 276.
• He has authored/co-authored/edited/co-edited more than 500 volumes
• He is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the international scientific journals “International Journal of Knowledge-based Intelligent Engineering Systems” (IOS Press, 1997-) and “Intelligent Decision Technologies” (IOS Press, 2007-).
• He is the Co-Founder and/or Chief Editor of several scientific series for publishing houses such as Springer, Elsevier, IOS Press, among others.
• He is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Steering Committee for four significant international conferences: the International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES), Agents and Multi-Agent Systems - Technologies and Applications (AMSTA), Intelligent Interactive Multimedia Systems and Services (IIMSS), and Intelligent Decision Technologies (IDT).
• He has been an Invited Speaker at numerous important international conferences in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
One of the most striking aspects of Professor Jain’s career is his solid commitment to education and mentorship. He has served as a distinguished professor at numerous universities, spreading his vast knowledge and cultivating the talents of countless students and researchers. I am deeply honoured to count myself among the fortunate individuals who have had the privilege of considering him a mentor and learning from him throughout twenty years of collaboration that we have had. Let me add to all of this vast scientific contribution of Professor Jain, that I was honoured to act as a Co-Editor in Chief with Professor Jain together with Professor George A. Tsihrintzis in two Springer Book Series, entitled “Learning and Analytics in Intelligent Systems” and “Artificial Intelligence-enhanced Software and Systems Engineering” and have co-edited with him 40 books, while I was honoured to have acted as General Chair and Keynote Speaker in KES conferences.
Professor Jain’s influence extends far beyond the lecture halls and research labs. His visionary leadership has also had a significant impact on the broader scientific community. He has played a pivotal role in organizing international conferences and workshops, creating platforms for scholars and experts from around the world to exchange ideas and collaborate on groundbreaking research.
What makes Professor Jain’s journey even more remarkable is his deep-rooted connection to philanthropy and ethical values, which he inherited from a family legacy of generosity. Originating from a wealthy family in India, Professor Jain’s ancestors were known for their philanthropic endeavours, dedicating their wealth to uplift the lives of impoverished individuals in their country. Professor Jain, in continuing this family tradition, has extended his virtue of kindness and philanthropy to the academic environment of science. As Professor Jain yesterday shared with me, his name, “Lakhmi,” carries the meaning of “very wealthy” in India. However, when I reflect upon his personality and virtues, allow me to offer an alternative interpretation: “Very wealthy in wisdom and charisma”.
In all times, science must go hand in hand with philanthropy and ethics to ensure that all scientific advancements are harnessed for the benefit of mankind. This ethos is particularly needed in the field of Artificial Intelligence, where ethical considerations are of paramount importance since the field affects critical aspects of human society. Professor Jain’s dedication to combining scientific excellence with a strong moral compass sets a shining example for us all.
Professor Lakhmi C. Jain is a model of excellence in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Knowledge-Based Systems. His outstanding achievements are an inspiration to us all, and his commitment to philanthropy and ethics underscores the importance of using scientific advancements for the betterment of society. On behalf of all, who have had the privilege of knowing him, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to Professor Jain for his remarkable contributions to our field and for being a true role model and mentor to so many of us. His career, characterized by undoubted dedication, innovation, and global impact, serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities of those who dream and pursue knowledge with diligence. We look forward to witnessing the continued brilliance and impact of his work in the years to come.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us applaud Professor Lakhmi Chand Jain, who not only contributes constantly to novel scientific advancements and carries forward the legacy of philanthropy, but also inspires new scientists through this remarkable and visionary academic path of his.
”
