Ioannis N. Athanasiadis

Ioannis N. Athanasiadis serves as Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at Wageningen University & Research, where he leads innovative research combining AI with agricultural and environmental sciences. His academic journey began with a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by work at the Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Switzerland before joining Wageningen University. His research portfolio spans machine learning, big data analytics, and knowledge engineering, with particular focus on environmental informatics, digital twins, and precision agriculture. He has published over 100 scientific papers and leads several major European research projects including AgrifoodTEF, PHENET, and SmartDroplets. At Wageningen, he teaches advanced courses in machine learning and big data for agri-food systems while leading the WUR theme on data-driven discoveries in a changing climate. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition in the 2024 Stanford/Elsevier List of Top 2% Scientists in the World for artificial intelligence. He serves as founding managing editor of Socio-Environmental Systems Modelling and as an editor for Environmental Modelling and Software, while actively contributing to major AI conferences and journals. His work particularly focuses on developing AI solutions to address global challenges in food security, agriculture, and environmental sustainability, making him a key figure in the application of artificial intelligence to agricultural and environmental sciences.