I have a BS in Earth Sciences and a PhD in Resource and Environmental Economics. I have more than 25 years of experience doing research and teaching and advising students in systems thinking, scenario development, simulation, and ecological economics. Presently, I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Computational & Data Sciences at George Mason University, and a member of the Center for Social Complexity. I teach the introductory courses on Computational Social Sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as beginning and advanced courses in complex systems, modeling, and simulation. My current research focuses on the use of scenario development and integrated modeling as applied to social-ecological systems. My recent work has focused on applying these to issues related to climate change economics and policy, including new technologies for greenhouse gas removal and solar radiation management.

Lu Ping is a dedicated researcher in interdisciplinary fields including artificial intelligence (AI), digital economy, technological innovation, and industrial economics. Currently serving as an Associate Research Fellow at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), Lu Ping focuses on examining the impacts of digital technologies (e.g., AI, big data, and IoT) on economic growth, industrial ecosystems, policy formulation, and societal ethics through multidimensional data modeling and empirical research.
Representative Academic Contributions:
1. AI Development and Societal Implications
A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence Development in China (2017): Explored the technological evolution and policy-driven pathways of China’s AI industry.
Ethical Dilemmas Faced by AI Algorithms (2018): Analyzed ethical challenges such as algorithmic bias and data privacy, proposing governance frameworks.
A Brief History of the Evolution of Smart Hardware in China (2018): Systematically reviewed the technological iterations and market dynamics of China’s smart hardware sector.
2.Technological Innovation and Industrial Economics
An Empirical Analysis of Technological Innovation Driving Growth in Internet Companies: Evidence from A-Share Listed Internet Firms in Shanghai and Shenzhen (2019).
Research on Competitiveness Measurement of Frontier Emerging Industries Based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Models (2019).
3.Digital Economy and Market Behavior
Correlation Analysis of Crowdfunding Behavior and Funding Performance for Internet Products: A Bayesian Approach Based on JD.com Crowdfunding Data (2018): Uncovered nonlinear relationships between user participation and project success rates using crowdfunding platform data.
Analyzing the Effects of Developer and User Behavior on Mobile App Downloads (2019): Built predictive models for app market performance based on user behavior data.
4.Policy Simulation
General Equilibrium Analysis of Beijing’s Water Supply and Consumption Policies: A Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Model-Based Approach (2015).
Impact Analysis of EU Food Safety Standards on China’s Food Industry: A Dynamic Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Model-Based Study (2015).
Academic Contributions:
Pioneered interdisciplinary paradigms in industrial economics research by integrating perspectives from econometrics, data science, and sociology. Published high-impact research in AI ethics, digital economy policies, and resource-environmental economics, providing decision-making references for academia and policymakers.

Bashar Ourabi is a principle consultant at arabianconsult of Syria where he has been chairman since 2003. He holds Bsc. Eng., A Grad. Certificate in Project engineering from the University of Central Florida; and a MS. in Public Administration from the Doha Graduate Institute in Qatar.

Bashar completed his graduate studies at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and his undergraduate studies at the Unversity of Central Florida. His research interests lie in the area of systems modelling, ranging from theory to design to implementation. He has collaborated actively with researchers in several other disciplines of computer science, system design, and bigData Artificial Intellegence, particularly BigData Expert System and Automated decision Making.

He has served on many international posts overlooking public infrastructure design and operations, varying from public transport, urban design and operations management. These posts spanned over the the US and the Middle East including Florida, UAE and Qatar.

Bashar has served on many conferences and workshop program committees and has succesfully delivered many corporate training programs..