InterPore2026

Invited Speakers

We are honored to welcome these internationally recognized invited speakers whose work reflects the depth and breadth of porous media research.

	Maria Barrufet Texas A&M University, USA
From Understanding to Practice: Confined Thermodynamics and Diffusion in Tight Hydrocarbon Reservoirs Maria Barrufet's talk explores how confinement in nanometer-scale pores reshapes phase behavior, diffusion, and oil recovery in shale and tight reservoirs. By combining experiments and predictive models, it highlights key recovery mechanisms and broader implications for CO₂ storage and hydrogen containment. Read more
	Jesús Carrera IDAEA, Spain
Conceptual challenges to model biochemical processes in aquifers  Jesús Carrera explores how biofilms and porous media interact to remove pollutants from wastewater as it travels through aquifers. His work highlights the complex link between microscopic biochemical reactions and large-scale groundwater flow—key to improving soil-based treatment and addressing global pollution challenges. Read more
	Nicola Hüsing Universität Salzburg, Austria
Sol-Gel Chemistry with a Twist: Porous Materials from Unconventional Precursors Nicola Hüsing presents new sol-gel strategies using unconventional glycolated precursors to design porous materials with tailored architectures. These approaches expand structural and functional possibilities, opening pathways toward advanced applications in catalysis, separations, and energy storage. Read more
	Lara Manzocco  University of Udine, Italy
Porous pathways to improve food functionality and sustainability  Lara Manzocco investigates how food porosity—from nano- to macro-scales—affects texture, nutrient release, and sustainability. Her work explores innovative porous materials, such as cryogels and aerogels, for applications ranging from smart ingredients to biodegradable packaging. Read more
	Yves Méheust  University of Rennes, France
Immiscible two-phase flow in geological fractures Fluid flow in fractured rocks plays a key role in subsurface processes such as CO₂ storage and hydrocarbon recovery. Yves Méheust combines numerical simulations and analogue experiments to explore how viscous, capillary, and gravitational forces govern immiscible two-phase flow in naturally rough fractures. His work provides new insights into flow regimes and trapping mechanisms shaped by the complex geometry of geological fractures. Read more
	Timothy Scheibe  Pacific Northwest National Lab, USA
Scaling microbial processes in porous media Timothy Scheibe explores how microorganisms experience and shape their pore-scale environments, and the challenges of translating these microscale processes into field-scale models. Novel approaches combining biology, physics, and computation aim to bridge this gap and improve predictions of reactive transport in porous systems. Read more
	Gabriel Tobie  Nantes Université, France
Porous Media as a Means to Promote Exchange Processes in Icy Worlds of the Outer Solar System Read more
	Tiziana Tosco Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Designing the nanoremediation of contaminated aquifers: from laboratory tests to field implementation Tiziana Tosco develops integrated experimental and modeling approaches to design nanoremediation strategies for contaminated groundwater. Her research focuses on nanoparticle transport, retention, and reactivity in porous media, bridging lab-scale experiments with field-scale applications. Read more