Prof. Dr. Maria Economou | Digital Heritage | Best Researcher Award

University of Glasgow | United Kingdom

Prof. Maria Economou is a leading scholar in Digital Cultural Heritage, serving as Professor at the University of Glasgow in a joint appointment between Information Studies and The Hunterian, where she co-founded the Digital Cultural Heritage Arts Lab. she has held the prestigious British Academy/Wolfson Professorial Fellowship, advancing innovative research on emotional engagement with museum collections through digital storytelling and participatory interpretation. Her distinguished career spans senior academic roles at the University of Glasgow , over a decade at the University of the Aegean as Director of the Museology Research Lab, and earlier positions at the University of Manchester and the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. She holds a DPhil from Oxford for pioneering work on multimedia in museums, an MA from Leicester, and a BA from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Prof. Economou is internationally recognized for her contributions to digitisation, immersive technologies, and cultural interpretation, delivering invited talks worldwide and serving as European Commission Expert for Digital Cultural Heritage. She has held leadership roles including Vice-Chair of Universeum and membership in the Europeana Impact Task Force, alongside editorial service for major journals such as Memory, Mind & Media and Museum Worlds. Her influence extends across global funding bodies, PhD examinations, scientific committees, and advisory roles for major cultural projects including Unpath’d Waters and CHARTER. With 1,555 citations, an h-index of 17, and landmark publications such as Heritage in the Digital Age and Moving Beyond the Virtual Museum, she remains a driving force in shaping digital heritage scholarship. Prof. Maria Economou is recognized for her outstanding contributions to research excellence and innovation. She is proudly nominated for the Best Researcher Award in honour of her global impact.

Publication Profile

Orcid | Google Scholar | Scopus

Featured Publications

Economou, M. (2015). Heritage in the digital age. In A companion to heritage studies (pp. 215–228).
Economou, M., & Meintani, E. (2011). Promising beginning? Evaluating museum mobile phone apps.
Economou, M. (1998). The evaluation of museum multimedia applications: Lessons from research. Museum Management and Curatorship, 17(2), 173–187.
Perry, S., Roussou, M., Economou, M., Young, H., & Pujol, L. (2017). Moving beyond the virtual museum: Engaging visitors emotionally. Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Virtual System & Multimedia (VSMM), 1–8.
Economou, M., & Tost, L. P. (2007). Educational tool or expensive toy? Evaluating VR evaluation and its relevance for virtual heritage. In New Heritage (pp. 258–276).

Assoc Prof Dr. Djamel Boussaa | Cultural Heritage | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at Qatar University, Qatar

Dr. Djamel Boussaa is an Associate Professor at Qatar University with a robust background in architecture and urban planning. His educational qualifications include a Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Liverpool, an M.Phil. from the University of York, and a B.Sc. from the School of Architecture & Urban Design in Algiers. Over the years, he has held various academic and professional roles in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Algeria, amassing significant experience in teaching, research, and consulting. Dr. Boussaa’s research interests focus on urban and architectural conservation, Islamic art and architecture, sustainable urbanism, and cultural identity. He has supervised multiple PhD and Master’s theses and has received several awards for his academic excellence and research contributions.

professional profile

Scopus Profile

Google Scholar

ORCID

Education

Dr. Djamel Boussaa holds a Doctorate in Urban Conservation from the University of Liverpool, where he specialized in heritage preservation and sustainable urban development. He earned his Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the same institution, focusing on urban regeneration and the conservation of historical cities. Earlier in his academic journey, Dr. Boussaa completed his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at the University of Algiers, Algeria, where he developed a strong foundation in architectural design and city planning. Throughout his academic career, he has participated in various professional courses and workshops, enhancing his expertise in areas like urban resilience, cultural heritage management, and architectural education. His educational background enables him to address complex challenges in urban planning, with a particular emphasis on maintaining the balance between modernization and the preservation of cultural identities.

work Experience

Dr. Djamel Boussaa has an extensive professional background spanning over two decades in architecture, urban planning, and heritage conservation. He began his career as an architect and urban planner in Algeria before moving to the Gulf region, where he worked on significant conservation projects in Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar. Dr. Boussaa joined academia as a lecturer at the University of Algiers and later became an Associate Professor at Qatar University, where he continues to teach. His professional work includes the restoration of heritage sites and the development of sustainable urban strategies in rapidly growing cities. He has consulted on projects aimed at integrating modern architectural practices with traditional urban forms, especially in historic districts. Additionally, Dr. Boussaa has contributed to numerous international workshops, conferences, and symposia, helping shape urban conservation policies that prioritize sustainable growth while preserving cultural heritage.

Research Focus

Dr. Djamel Boussaa’s research focuses on urban conservation, heritage preservation, and sustainable urban planning, particularly in the context of rapidly developing cities in the Middle East and North Africa. His studies explore the challenges of balancing modernization with the conservation of cultural and architectural heritage, emphasizing the role of local communities in heritage management. Dr. Boussaa is deeply interested in how heritage-led development can contribute to the sustainability of cities, and he advocates for integrating traditional urban forms with modern infrastructure. His work also investigates the impact of globalization on historic cities and the strategies necessary to protect their unique identities. Through a combination of field research, case studies, and policy analysis, Dr. Boussaa has developed a comprehensive understanding of urban resilience and regeneration, contributing to global discussions on how to preserve cultural heritage in rapidly urbanizing environments.

Awards and honors

Dr. Djamel Boussaa has received numerous accolades for his outstanding work in urban conservation and architectural education. He was awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture for his work on sustainable urban regeneration in the Middle East. In recognition of his academic contributions, he was also honored with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Qatar University, where he has been instrumental in shaping the architecture and urban planning curriculum. Dr. Boussaa has received several research grants from leading institutions to support his studies on heritage conservation in rapidly urbanizing contexts. Additionally, he has been recognized by UNESCO for his contributions to cultural heritage preservation, particularly in the Gulf region. His awards reflect his commitment to blending modern architectural practices with the preservation of historic cities, ensuring that urban growth is balanced with the conservation of cultural and historical identities.

Conclusion

Dr. Djamel Boussaa is a highly qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a strong academic background, a diverse portfolio of research in architecture and urban planning, and significant teaching and supervisory experience. His work in urban conservation and cultural heritage aligns with global sustainability goals, making him a valuable contributor to the architectural discipline. However, to further strengthen his candidacy, increased international collaboration and interdisciplinary research engagement could elevate his profile in the academic community.

Publications to Noted

Urban regeneration and the search for identity in historic cities
Authors: D. Boussaa
Citations: 139
Year: 2017
Published in: Sustainability 10 (1), 48

Development of a new methodology to optimize building life cycle cost, environmental impacts, and occupant satisfaction
Authors: E. Mostavi, S. Asadi, D. Boussaa
Citations: 97
Year: 2017
Published in: Energy 121, 606-615

An adaptive relationship of thermal comfort for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: The case of offices in Qatar
Authors: M. Indraganti, D. Boussaa
Citations: 63
Year: 2018
Published in: Energy and Buildings 159, 201-212

Comfort temperature and occupant adaptive behavior in offices in Qatar during summer
Authors: M. Indraganti, D. Boussaa
Citations: 58
Year: 2017
Published in: Energy and Buildings 150, 23-36

A method to estimate the heating and cooling degree-days for different climatic zones of Saudi Arabia
Authors: M. Indraganti, D. Boussaa
Citations: 54
Year: 2017
Published in: Building Services Engineering Research and Technology 38 (3), 327-350

Building energy model calibration using automated optimization-based algorithm
Authors: S. Asadi, E. Mostavi, D. Boussaa, M. Indraganti
Citations: 42
Year: 2019
Published in: Energy and Buildings 198, 106-114

Al Asmakh historic district in Doha, Qatar: from an urban slum to living heritage
Authors: D. Boussaa
Citations: 40
Year: 2014
Published in: Journal of Architectural Conservation 20 (1), 1-14

The past as a catalyst for cultural sustainability in historic cities; the case of Doha, Qatar
Authors: D. Boussaa
Citations: 33
Year: 2021
Published in: International Journal of Heritage Studies 27 (5), 470-486

Dubai: The search for identity
Authors: D. Boussaa
Citations: 28
Year: 2003
Published in: People, places, and sustainability, 51-60

Urban Conservation and Sustainability; Cases from Historic Cities in the Gulf and North Africa
Authors: D. Boussaa
Citations: 24
Year: 2010
Published in: Conference On Technology & Sustainability in the Built Environment, 306-326

Maria Economou | Digital Heritage | Best Researcher Award