2026 GCSP CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
2026 Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) Annual Meeting February 13-16, 2026 , Sapienza University of Rome
The Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) Annual Meeting gathered scholars, faculty, and professionals dedicated to engineering solutions for global challenges. Hosted at Sapienza University of Rome's Engineering campus, this year’s event featured keynote speakers, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions that inspired innovation and collaboration.
Research & Development: Water, Energy, Food, Infrastructure
Within the Grand Challenge Scholars Program framework of the National Academy of Engineering, the Research & Innovation (Talent) competency requires students to develop deep technical expertise while understanding how research can address complex, interconnected global challenges. It emphasizes analytical rigor, systems thinking, and the ability to translate scientific knowledge into impactful solutions.
This workshop focuses on the technical dimensions of the Water–Energy–Food–Infrastructure nexus, exploring how research and engineering innovation can address resource interdependencies and systemic vulnerabilities. Moving beyond isolated technological advances, the session reflects on scale, integration, resilience, and sustainability as key elements of effective solutions. Through polling discussions and moderated exchange, participants will examine the balance between technical performance, governance, economic feasibility, and social impact in designing long-term responses to global challenges.
The workshop combines perspectives from energy systems research (Domenico Borello – Sapienza University of Rome), engineering education and GCSP integration (Linda Barelli – University of Perugia), energy and sustainability communication (Matteo Spagnolo – Rinnovabili.it), renewable energy market development and implementation (Francesco Roncallo – Solar Doctors, Engreen), and hydrogen innovation and industrial decarbonization (Filippo Cirilli – HYDRA IPCEI Project, RINA-CSM). Together, these profiles bridge academic research, technological development, industry practice, innovation policy, and public dissemination, offering a multi-layered view of how technical excellence can drive sustainable and scalable impact.
Speakers and companies presentations:
Domenico Borello
Professor of Energy Systems at Sapienza University of Rome. His work focuses on energy system modeling, renewable integration, and sustainable energy transition pathways. He contributes academic and research expertise on system-level analysis and long-term energy planning.
Sapienza University of Rome
Sapienza is one of Europe’s largest universities, with strong research activity in engineering, energy systems, and sustainability. Through interdisciplinary programs and international collaborations, it promotes innovation and technical excellence in energy transition studies.
🔗 Sapienza University: https://www.uniroma1.it
Linda Barelli
GCSP Director at the University of Perugia and professor with expertise in energy systems and sustainable technologies. Her work connects engineering education, research, and innovation, with a strong focus on integrating Grand Challenge competencies into academic programs.
University of Perugia
The University of Perugia is an Italian public university engaged in research and higher education across engineering, sustainability, and innovation fields. Through its participation in the Grand Challenge Scholars Program, it promotes interdisciplinary, socially responsible engineering education.
🔗 University of Perugia: https://www.unipg.it
Matteo Spagnolo
Representative of Rinnovabili.it, active in communication and dissemination of renewable energy and sustainability topics. His work focuses on bridging technical knowledge and public awareness, translating complex energy issues into accessible and impactful information.
Rinnovabili.it
Rinnovabili.it is an Italian platform dedicated to renewable energy, sustainability, climate policy, and technological innovation. It promotes informed public debate and supports the dissemination of best practices in the energy transition.
🔗 Rinnovabili.it: https://www.rinnovabili.it
Francesco Roncallo
Head of Business Development at Solar Doctors, Engreen. His work focuses on developing renewable energy solutions, expanding sustainable energy markets, and fostering partnerships that accelerate the deployment of solar and distributed energy systems.
Solar Doctors – Engreen
Solar Doctors is an initiative within Engreen dedicated to solar energy solutions and distributed renewable systems. Engreen operates in renewable energy, sustainability, and capacity building, supporting public and private actors in designing and scaling energy transition projects.
🔗 Engreen: https://engreen.world/it/
Filippo Cirilli
Representative of the “HYDRA” IPCEI Project (IT06) at RINA-CSM, working on hydrogen technologies and large-scale industrial innovation within the European IPCEI framework. His experience focuses on research, technological validation, and strategic deployment of hydrogen solutions to support decarbonization and energy system transformation.
RINA-CSM
RINA-CSM (Centro Sviluppo Materiali) is part of the RINA Group and operates in advanced research, materials engineering, and industrial innovation, particularly in energy and decarbonization technologies. Through participation in IPCEI projects, it contributes to the development and scaling of strategic hydrogen and clean energy solutions at European level.
🔗 RINA Group: https://www.rina.org
VIABILITY: Communities & Shared Technologies (MiniGrids and Renewable Energy Communities)
Time: 13:45–15:00
1) Purpose and positioning in the conference
Workshop 2 was framed as the second “competence-focused” session in the conference track, moving “competence after competence” toward the overarching theme of Technologies Serving Communities. The workshop explored viability as a practical question: what makes community-oriented energy solutions work over time—technically, economically, socially, and institutionally—especially in contexts where infrastructure, governance, and resources vary widely.
The session linked the technical core (mini-grids, distributed PV, Renewable Energy Communities) to broader enabling dimensions highlighted in the workshop description: technical solidarity, south–south cooperation, and just energy transitions, as well as the role of education (schools and academia) in embedding these approaches in curricula and practice.
2) Speakers / contributors
Hosting Speaker: Luigi Martirano (Electrical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome)
Workshop lead / speaker: Marta Lupattelli (Engreen)
Roundtable participants:
- Roberto Vigotti (General Secretary, RES4Africa Foundation)
- Federico Trezza (Project Engineer, Citizen-Led Energy Communities, Engreen)
- Andres Garcia (Comillas University Madrid)
- Domenico Vito (San Diego University)
- Mauro Gaggiotti (Renewable Energy Community, èNostra)
3) Structure and flow of the session
The workshop followed a moderated roundtable format:
- Opening framing of the session as part of the competency pathway and the “viability” lens
- Short introductions of speakers and their organizational perspectives (community REC practice, academic research, Africa-focused programs, cooperative REC experience)
- Discussion on real-world conditions for viable community energy solutions, including governance and operational models
- Closing reflections oriented to GCSP students: encouragement to connect technical knowledge to community realities and action-oriented learning pathways (including service-learning examples)
4) Core discussion themes and key messages
- Viability is socio-technical (not “only engineering”)
A central message was that mini-grids and RECs succeed when technology, governance, and community stewardship align. Technical design choices (architecture, metering, storage, grid-interface) must be matched with:
- clear operational responsibilities (who runs what, with what skills)
- realistic maintenance pathways (O&M capacity and financing)
- governance and participation models that create legitimacy and continuity
The workshop repeatedly returned to viability as a long-term performance question, not a pilot-success question.
- Citizen-led Renewable Energy Communities: practical implementation issues
From the citizen-led REC perspective, the conversation highlighted how community models depend on practical implementation: community engagement is necessary, but project engineering, compliance, and operational readiness often determine whether the REC becomes durable and replicable.
- Systems thinking: “metabolism” framing for territories and cities
A systems-thinking lens was used to situate energy communities within broader flows of energy and resources. This approach helps connect community-scale generation and consumption to the wider system: infrastructures, resource constraints, and planning decisions. It also supports more realistic thinking about scale-up and integration (not treating projects as isolated demos).
- Global South / Africa: viability under constraints and the role of solidarity
The Africa-oriented perspective emphasized that “serving communities” often means working where constraints are structural—grid limitations, affordability pressures, different regulatory environments, and capacity gaps—so viability depends on:
- designing for maintainability and local capabilities
- building partnerships that strengthen local institutions rather than replacing them
- framing energy transitions through justice and access, not only decarbonization
This linked directly to the workshop’s thematic keywords: technical solidarity, south–south cooperation, and just transitions.
- Common “make-or-break” factors surfaced in the discussion
Across the interventions, the session surfaced recurring factors that determine success:
- Grid relationship and operational balancing (how local systems interact with the grid, or operate autonomously)
- O&M responsibilities and funding (preventing stranded assets and “broken projects”)
- Local capacity and training (skills as infrastructure)
- Governance clarity (roles, decision rights, accountability, conflict management)
5) Student-facing emphasis and closing segment
The moderator explicitly oriented the workshop to GCSP students, encouraging them to:
- approach community energy challenges with courage and initiative
- treat viability as a holistic design problem (technical + social + institutional)
- connect learning to real contexts through fieldwork and structured engagement
The closing segment referenced service-learning examples connected to renewable energy/PV activities, presented as practical pathways for GCSP students to translate knowledge into community benefit and measurable outcomes.
6) Outcomes and takeaways (for Proceedings)
Key takeaways from WS2:
- Viability is socio-technical: mini-grids and RECs require governance, financing, O&M planning, and community agency as much as technical performance.
- Implementation matters more than slogans: grid-interface, maintenance models, and capacity-building are decisive for long-term success.
- Systems thinking improves design: linking local solutions to territorial and urban infrastructure realities strengthens design choices and scalability.
- Solidarity and justice are design constraints, not add-ons: in Global South contexts especially, viability depends on maintainability, affordability, and institutional strengthening.
- Service learning is a delivery mechanism: structured field engagement can convert GCSP learning into replicable community energy impact.
Polling & Audience Interaction - Workshop 2 (WS2)
After the roundtable presentations, the moderator shifted the room into an interactive segment using a QR-code live poll. Participation was slightly constrained by limited Wi-Fi access in the venue (reported as restricted after a recent cyberattack), but the poll still generated visible results that guided immediate comments from the panel.
7) Suggested follow-up actions (optional add-on for Proceedings)
- Produce a short “Viability checklist” for student projects (governance/O&M/finance/capacity/grid-interface).
- Capture 2–3 concrete REC/mini-grid cases (EU + Africa) as comparative learning notes for future cohorts.
Link workshop insights to GCSP training modules on community engagement, O&M planning, and system integration.
MULTICULTURAL: Engineering for Solidarity and Global Partnership - Field Study Abroad
Moderator: Marta - Engreen (5min)
Tempi: 1 h 15 min [16:30 - 17:45]
Hosting Speaker: Francesca Campana, Mechanical Engineering President, Sapienza
Speakers:
Roundtable participants:
- Sergio André Jordàn Villena, Uni. Pontificia de Peru, TUM Seed Centre (3-5 min)
- Enrico Azzone, CHIEAM Bari - Med Area Agronomy (3-5 min)
- Giulio Mancini, Studio Galli Ingegneria (3-5 min)
- Stefanija Hrle Aiello, Eutropian / Energy4All (3-5 min)
- Gaia Lombardi, Project Engineer, Building Capacity to power the energy transition, Engreen (3-5 min)
16:30 - 17:00 / 00:00 - 30:00 [20-30 MIN] - TIMER
Polling Questions:
- Who should primarily define priorities in global engineering projects? (10-15 min)
- Funding agencies
- Universities
- NGOs
- Local institutions and communities
- Joint governance bodies
- What role should GCSP play in global partnerships? (10-15 min)
- Knowledge hub
- Ethical reference point
- Partnership facilitator
- Training platform
- Global advocacy actor
- Questions Time (In presence) (5min)
- Questions Time (Online) (5min)
17:00 - 17:40 / 30:00 - 70:00 [40 MIN] - TIMER
- What is the main risk in international engineering projects?
- Technical failure
- Cultural misunderstanding
- Power imbalance
- Lack of continuity
- Weak local ownership
- Which approach most effectively supports equitable partnerships?
- Technology transfer
- Capacity building
- Co-design with communities
- Long-term institutional presence
- South–South collaboration
17:40 - 17:50 / 70:00 - 80:00 [10 MIN] - TIMER
Introduzione:
WS3 – MULTICULTURAL
Engineering for Solidarity and Global Partnership – Field Study Abroad
Within the Grand Challenge Scholars Program framework of the National Academy of Engineering, the Multicultural competency requires students to develop the ability to work effectively across cultures, disciplines, and global contexts, recognizing diverse perspectives, power dynamics, and social realities. It emphasizes meaningful engagement beyond one’s own cultural and institutional environment, preparing engineers and researchers to operate responsibly in interconnected and diverse settings.
The workshop combines perspectives from academic research (PUCP and TUM SEED Center), international cooperation and agro-food systems (CIHEAM Bari), professional engineering practice (Studio Galli Ingegneria), and community-led energy transition and inclusive governance (Eutropian / Energy4All, Engreen). Together, these profiles provide concrete insights from field studies, international projects, and real-world implementation, showing how engineering education, research, and practice can support solidarity-based and long-term global partnerships.
Profili Speakers e aziende:
Sergio André Jordàn Villena
Researcher at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and affiliated with the TUM SEED Center. His work focuses on engineering solutions for sustainable development, bridging academic research with community-based and international projects in the Global South.
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) / TUM SEED Center
PUCP is one of the leading universities in Latin America, with a strong commitment to research, social impact, and sustainable development. The TUM SEED Center supports research and capacity building for sustainable energy and entrepreneurship in the Global South, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and local communities.
🔗 PUCP: https://www.pucp.edu.pe
🔗 TUM SEED Center: https://www.seed-center.de
Enrico Azzone
Affiliated with CIHEAM Bari, with a focus on agronomy and Mediterranean agro-food systems. He works at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and capacity building, contributing to research and cooperation initiatives addressing food security and environmental challenges.
CIHEAM Bari
CIHEAM Bari is an international organization dedicated to agricultural development, food security, and sustainable rural systems in the Mediterranean and beyond. It combines research, education, and international cooperation to support resilient agro-food systems and inclusive development.
🔗 CIHEAM Bari: https://www.iamb.it
Giulio Mancini
Engineer at Studio Galli Ingegneria, with professional experience in engineering design and consultancy. His work connects technical innovation with real-world applications, particularly in infrastructure and environmental engineering projects.
Studio Galli Ingegneria (SGI S.p.A.)
Studio Galli Ingegneria (SGI S.p.A.) is an engineering and consulting company working across infrastructure and complex technical projects, operating at the interface between design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks, with increasing attention to sustainability and innovation in the built environment.
🔗 SGI S.p.A.: https://www.sgi-spa.it/en/
Stefanija Hrle Aiello
Representative of Energy4All, a cooperative active in renewable energy and energy communities. She works on citizen-led energy projects, promoting inclusive governance models and community participation in the energy transition.
Eutropian / Energy4All Project
Eutropian is a policy, research, and urban development organization working on community-led approaches, inclusive governance, and sustainable urban and territorial transformation. Stefanija contributes through Eutropian’s involvement in the Energy4All project, supporting shared visions and collaboration on energy communities and the energy transition.
🔗 Eutropian: https://eutropian.org/
🔗 Energy4All Project (reference page): https://energy4allproject.eu/blog/event/sharing-our-vision-at-the-energy-and-communities-in-transition-conference/
Gaia Lombardi
Project Engineer at Engreen, working on capacity building and technical support for the energy transition. Her experience focuses on empowering local actors, developing practical skills, and supporting sustainable energy projects through applied engineering and training.
Engreen
Engreen is a company specialized in renewable energy, sustainability, and capacity building for the energy transition. It works with public and private actors to design, implement, and scale sustainable energy solutions, with a strong focus on training and knowledge transfer.
🔗 Engreen: https://engreen.world/it/
SOCIAL: Service Learning GCs for Homeland and International Experiences
Moderator: Daniele
Speakers:
Hosting Speaker:
- Emiliane Rubat Du Mérac, Experimental Pedagogy Professor (Service-Learning, Sapienza)
Roundtable participants:
-
Simona Fernandez, Comunità Salam, CER Isola del Gran Sasso
-
Ismail - Tennesee - Maua Group Brazil–U.S. GCSP team share their best practices
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Doroty Okello, Francis Mujuny, Makerere (Uganda) TUM Seed Center
-
Simone Scarlata, Campus Bio Medico
-
Jasdeep Bahra, University of Pwani, in Kenya
Polling Questions:
- To what extent is service learning integrated into study programs at your institution?
- Not included at all
- Offered only through voluntary or extracurricular activities
- Available as elective courses or modules
- Integrated into selected core courses
- Fully embedded across the curriculum
- How should service learning be positioned within curricula?
- Optional extracurricular activity
- Elective courses
- Integrated in selected core courses
- Capstone experiences
- Required curriculum component
- What is the greatest risk service learning faces today?
- Becoming symbolic
- Losing academic rigor
- Overburdening communities
- Fragmentation of initiatives
- Limited evaluation capacity
- What is the main barrier to implementing service learning at scale?
- Time constraints
- Institutional support
- Faculty engagement
- Community continuity
- Funding stability
Questions Time (In presence of online):
Emiliane Rubat Du Mérac
Experimental Pedagogy Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, with a focus on Service-Learning and transformative education. Her work explores how experiential and community-based learning can strengthen students’ competencies, linking academic rigor with social impact and reflective practice.
Sapienza University of Rome
Sapienza is one of Europe’s largest universities and a major hub for research and higher education. It supports innovation in teaching and learning through interdisciplinary approaches and initiatives that connect university education with societal challenges.
🔗 Sapienza University: https://www.uniroma1.it
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Simona Fernandez
Representative of Comunità Salam and involved in the Renewable Energy Community (CER) of Isola del Gran Sasso. Her contribution brings a community-based perspective on local energy initiatives, highlighting governance, participation, and social inclusion dynamics in real territorial contexts.
Comunità Salam / CER Isola del Gran Sasso
Comunità Salam is a community-based organization active in social inclusion and local development initiatives. The CER Isola del Gran Sasso represents a local Renewable Energy Community experience, linking citizen participation with sustainable energy solutions and community benefits.
🔗 Comunità Salam (reference): https://www.comunitasalam.it
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Ismail (Tennessee) – Maua Group Brazil–U.S. GCSP Team
Member of the Brazil–U.S. GCSP collaboration (Maua Group), contributing best practices from international teamwork and cross-institution educational models. His experience supports discussion on how GCSP can operationalize multicultural collaboration through concrete project structures and student engagement formats.
Maua Group – Brazil–U.S. GCSP Team
The Maua Group Brazil–U.S. GCSP collaboration connects institutions and students through joint learning experiences and shared project work. It functions as a practical example of how GCSP networks can generate sustained international engagement and co-learning pathways.
🔗 GCSP Network: https://gcspnetwork.org/
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Dorothy Okello
Affiliated with Makerere University (Uganda) and connected to the TUM SEED Center ecosystem. Her work is rooted in engineering for sustainable development, supporting capacity building and innovation pathways that link academic research with local needs and implementation in Global South contexts.
Makerere University / TUM SEED Center
Makerere University is Uganda’s flagship public university and a leading research and education institution in East Africa. The TUM SEED Center supports research, training, and entrepreneurship capacity building across the Global South, fostering partnerships between universities and local ecosystems.
🔗 Makerere University: https://www.mak.ac.ug
🔗 TUM SEED Center: https://www.seed-center.de
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Francis Mujuny
Affiliated with Makerere University (Uganda) and involved in initiatives linked to the TUM SEED Center. His contribution focuses on engineering-driven development pathways, emphasizing how research and education can be structured to support local innovation, skills development, and sustainable implementation.
Makerere University / TUM SEED Center
Makerere University is a major academic and research institution in East Africa, active in engineering, sustainability, and development-oriented programs. The TUM SEED Center strengthens institutional capacity and entrepreneurship-driven solutions through international collaboration and applied education models.
🔗 Makerere University: https://www.mak.ac.ug
🔗 TUM SEED Center: https://www.seed-center.de
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Simone Scarlata
Affiliated with Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, contributing expertise at the intersection of education, applied research, and institutional innovation. His perspective supports the discussion on how universities can structure impactful learning experiences and partnerships, linking engineering competencies with real-world challenges.
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
Campus Bio-Medico is an Italian university with strong emphasis on applied research, innovation, and interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in engineering, biomedical sciences, and technology. It supports collaboration with external stakeholders to translate research and education into societal value.
🔗 Campus Bio-Medico University: https://www.unicampus.it
Respiratory consultant at campus bio medico teaching hospital and director of the emergency and critical care school of medicine at campus bio medico university in rome
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Jasdeep Bahra
Affiliated with Pwani University (Kenya), contributing experience from an East African academic context focused on local development challenges and international collaboration. His perspective enriches discussions on how global partnerships and field-based learning can support capacity building and locally grounded innovation.
Pwani University
Pwani University is a public university in Kenya with programs supporting education, research, and community engagement, contributing to regional development priorities. It provides an important perspective on university–community collaboration and the role of higher education in sustainable development pathways.
🔗 Pwani University: https://pu.ac.ke
Emergency medicine and critical care attending doctor Kilifi County referral hospital. Head of emergency medicine programme
9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:30-10:30 AM: NC State University Campus Tour
11:00 AM: Adjourn meeting