Talk of Prof. Hanaa Abumarshoudh






Hanaa Abumarshoud



Optical Wireless Communications and Sensing for 6G: Enabling Intelligent Environments with Light

Abstract

Optical wireless communications (OWC), and in particular LiFi, have emerged as a compelling complement to radio-frequency technologies, offering vast unlicensed spectrum, inherent security, and the potential for ultra-high data rates. As we move towards 6G and beyond, the role of light is evolving from a communication medium to a key enabler of sensing, intelligence, and environmental awareness. This talk provides an introduction to OWC, starting from the fundamental principles of light-based communication and the evolution of LiFi systems. It then explores recent advances that extend these systems beyond data transmission, highlighting how optical signals can be leveraged for high-precision sensing, localisation, and environmental mapping. The talk will introduce the concept of intelligent optical environments, where communication and sensing are tightly integrated within programmable and adaptive infrastructures. Such environments have the potential to enhance network resilience, strengthen physical-layer security, and enable new context-aware services. Finally, the talk outlines key research challenges and future directions in the design of scalable, robust, and intelligent OWC systems, positioning optical wireless technologies as a cornerstone of next-generation wireless networks.




Biography

Dr Hanaa Abumarshoud is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow. Prior to this, she was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Strathclyde (2020–2022) and the University of Edinburgh (2017–2020). She received her MSc and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Khalifa University, UAE, in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Her cutting-edge research focuses on the design of intelligent LiFi systems, applying information theory and signal processing techniques to address fundamental challenges in optical wireless communications. The ambition of her work is to develop energy-efficient, scalable, and cost-effective light-based connectivity solutions that transform the way humans and intelligent environments interact through light. She was awarded the highly competitive EPSRC New Investigator Award (£550k+) in 2025 for her project PerceptiFi: Integrated Light Sensing and Communications for Perceptive LiFi. Dr Abumarshoud was endorsed as a “Global Talent” by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK in 2022 and was named among the “100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G” by the Women in 6G community for three years in a row (2024-2026) for her contributions to the field. She is a Senior Member of IEEE and served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Communications Letters (2022-2024). She regularly contributes as an Organising Committee Member for flagship conferences, organises and chairs technical workshops, and serves as a reviewer for leading international journals and conferences within IEEE and Optica.