Dr. Paloma Ferreira-Aparicio's primary research focus has been the development of materials and catalysts for energetic applications and hydrogen production and conversion processes since she initiated her scientific career in 1994 in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and surface science. She graduated in Chemistry (Physical-Chemistry, 1989-1994) by the Autonomous University of Madrid, where she was also awarded her PhD in Physical-Chemistry in 1999 Her research activity between 1994-and 2004 was carried out at the Institute of Catalysis (CSIC) and at some research centers in Europe (IRC-CNRS, IEM-CNRS-UMII, Dundee University, Keele University) and the USA (WPI-Mass.) during several research stays. Her current research is focused to the development of components for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The innovation in the operation and design of completely passive air breathing micro-fuel cell and in the application of novel materials and structures for PEMFC electrodes are now her primary areas of interest. She has authored more than 50 publications in SCI international specialized journals, a patent on passive air-breathing micro-fuel cells, and over 50 communications to international congresses, workshops and forums.

Dr. Antonio Chaparro received his Doctorate in Chemistry from the Universidad. Complutense de Madrid in 1995 ( cum laude' with Premio Extraordinario) with a thesis on the development of a technique for photoelectrochemistry studies with spatial resolution. After a postdoctoral year working on EPR technique applied to catalysis, he worked during two years at Hahn Meitner Institut (now Helmholtz Zentrum, Berlin) on semiconductors electrochemistry. In 1998 he joined the Renewable Energies Department at Ciemat as a post-doctoral fellow to work on the preparation and characterization of semiconductor thin films for photovoltaic applications. Later, in 2002, he took a position as staff researcher within the Fuel Cell Unit, where he currently conduces his research in the Low Temperature Fuel Cells Group, dedicated to the study of fuel cells of proton exchange membrane type (PEMFC). Dr. Chaparro also spent short periods for research work of relevance at University of Southampton, UK (1992), University of Bath, UK (1993) and Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland (2005). He is member of the Electrochemical Society, International Electrochemical Society, and the Spanish Fuel Cells Association. He also participates in normatization activities for fuel cells within the International Electrotechnical Commission group IEC/TC 105.