Jennifer Turner – educational leadership – Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Jennifer Turner - educational leadership - Best Researcher Award 

University of Calgary - Canada

Author Profile

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Jennifer Turner's academic journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a dedication to advancing educational leadership and mental health promotion. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) from the University of Calgary, with a dissertation focusing on district leadership in mental health promotion within a British Columbia school district. Complementing her doctoral studies, she has pursued various certifications and advanced clinical certificates, including Business Intelligence Analytics, School Leader Qualification Standard, and Superintendent Leadership Qualification.

Professional Endeavors

  • Dr. Turner's professional trajectory is distinguished by her leadership roles and extensive service in the field of education, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia. She currently serves as the Director of the Centre for Wellbeing in Education at the Werklund School of Education, Calgary, where she spearheads initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing in educational settings. Prior to this, she held pivotal positions such as Superintendent of Schools at Fort McMurray Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent at Rocky Mountain School District 6, and District Principal at Boundary School District 51, among others. These roles underscore her breadth of experience in educational leadership, governance, policy development, and program implementation.

Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Turner's scholarly pursuits revolve around leveraging research and theory to inform educational leadership practices aimed at enhancing teaching, learning, and student wellbeing. Her research interests encompass K-12 leadership, governance, mental health promotion, and early intervention. Noteworthy contributions include authored research reports, peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and presentations at international, national, and regional conferences. Her seminal work in mapping education leadership of mental health promotion exemplifies her commitment to bridging research and practice to address critical issues in education.

Accolades and Recognition

Throughout her career, Dr. Turner has garnered numerous accolades and achievements, highlighting her significant contributions to the field of education. Awards such as the Outstanding Women of the Boundary Award and her roles in various professional organizations underscore her leadership, expertise, and dedication to advancing educational practices and policies.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Turner's influence extends beyond her professional roles, shaping educational practices and policies at the provincial and district levels. Her leadership in mental health promotion, collaborative initiatives, and engagement with diverse stakeholders have contributed to the development of a critical knowledge base within the educational landscape. Through her research, advocacy, and strategic leadership, she has played a pivotal role in fostering positive school environments and supporting the holistic wellbeing of students and educators alike.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Dr. Turner's legacy lies in her ongoing commitment to advancing educational leadership, mental health promotion, and student wellbeing. Her multifaceted expertise, scholarly contributions, and collaborative endeavors position her as a driving force for positive change in educational practices and policies. With a keen focus on research-informed practices and strategic leadership, she continues to shape the future of education, leaving an indelible mark on the field and inspiring future generations of educational leaders.

Notable Publication

Francesco Scala – Active Learning – International Data Evolution Achievement Award 

Dr. Francesco Scala - Active Learning - International Data Evolution Achievement Award 

Unical University  - Italy

Author Profile 

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr Francesco Scala, born on September 14, 1991, in Cirò, Italy, embarked on his academic journey with a strong foundation in engineering. He obtained his Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Informatica (Master's in Computer Engineering) from the University of Calabria in April 2018, showcasing proficiency in various fields, including agent-based programming, video game development, artificial intelligence, and embedded systems.

His academic journey continued with a Ph.D. in Information and Communication Technologies at the same institution, focusing on machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), with a particular emphasis on active learning. Francesco's research during his Ph.D. involved developing models and algorithms to optimize office processes, demonstrating his commitment to practical applications of his academic pursuits.

Professional Endeavors

Dr Francesco's professional career is marked by a diverse range of experiences, spanning academia and industry. Notably, he served as a Borsista di Ricerca (Research Fellow) at the University of Calabria, actively contributing to a startup-focused research project aimed at modeling and optimizing office processes.

His roles as a Ph.D. student, Professor, and Assegnista di Ricerca (Research Fellow) showcased his versatility. Francesco's contributions extended to the European energy market, where he played a key role in developing predictive models for electricity markets. His work included forecasting prices, consumption, and market coupling flow based on meticulous research.

In the corporate sector, Francesco demonstrated his skills as a Mobile App Developer and Web Platform Designer, contributing to projects involving Unity, iOS development, and web application creation. His involvement with various technologies and frameworks underscores his proficiency in the software development landscape.

Contributions and Research Focus

Dr Francesco's academic contributions extend beyond his roles. His research papers, conference papers, and articles have been featured in renowned publications and conferences, showcasing his expertise in areas like probabilistic argumentation frameworks, active learning, and forecasting energy production with uncertainty quantification.

His research focus also extends to the development of machine learning tools and frameworks, including Keras, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn. His deep understanding of these tools is complemented by his practical experience in implementing algorithms, as evidenced by his work on the ABOD algorithm in C and Assembly.

Accolades and Recognition

Dr Francesco's academic and professional achievements are reflected in accolades such as an H-index of 2 in Scopus and an ORCID iD (0009-0007-5224-0910). These metrics underscore the impact of his research and scholarly contributions.

Impact and Influence

Dr Francesco's influence is not limited to academia. His development of various mobile apps, web platforms, and video games has left a mark on the industry. The SmartGlasses project, iOS apps, and participation in Global Game Jams showcase his innovative approach to technology.

Legacy and Future Contributions

As of February 2024, Francesco Scala continues to make strides in academia and industry. His legacy includes a wealth of knowledge in machine learning, active learning, and software development. Looking ahead, Francesco is poised to contribute further to these fields, potentially leaving a lasting impact on the intersection of technology and human experiences.

In conclusion, Francesco Scala's journey from early academic pursuits to his current professional endeavors reflects a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the practical application of cutting-edge technologies. His impact on the fields of machine learning, active learning, and software development is evident in his extensive body of work and contributions to both academia and industry.

Notable  Publications