Silas Ochieng | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

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Mr Silas Ochieng | Climate Change |  Best Researcher Award

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Director at  DT Global,  Kenya

Silas Ochieng, a Kenyan national, is a seasoned Market Systems Development and Evaluations Practitioner with over 16 years of experience. He specializes in designing and implementing programs in financial inclusion, resilience programming, value chain development, and climate change adaptation.

Profile:

Education:

  • Ph.D. in Socio-Economics (February 2020 – Present)
    Maseno University
    Research Topic: Influence of Covariate Shocks on Determinants of Resilience Capacities Among Rural Fishing and Aquaculture Households in Kenya.
  • M.Sc. Research Methods and Applied Statistics (August 2009 – December 2011)
    Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
    Thesis: Climate Change Adaptation and Food Security Status in East Africa: A Comparative Study of Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
  • B.Sc. Agriculture (2004 – 2009)
    Moi University

Professional Experience:

Director – Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (Deputy Chief of Party)

DT Global, Somalia (September 2022 – Present)

  • Managed the $65M MSD-Inclusive Resilience in Somalia (IRiS) program, focusing on fisheries, livestock, and agriculture.
  • Developed and implemented the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP).
  • Ensured quality assurance for program deliverables and led learning events and strategic reviews.

Regional Monitoring & Results Measurement Manager

NIRAS Africa (FCDO Funded) – Uganda, Malawi, Nepal (June 2019 – August 2022)

  • Designed MEL systems for the $32M Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness program.
  • Developed business plans for six value chains across three countries.
  • Led data management, quality assurance, and adaptation learning sessions.

Monitoring & Results Measurement Manager

Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), Somalia (January 2015 – April 2019)

  • Delivered the $16M Promoting Inclusive Markets in Somalia (PIMS) program.
  • Achieved consecutive high ratings (A) in annual reviews.

Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Manager

FSD Kenya (USAID Funded) (February 2012 – December 2015)

  • Designed and implemented value chain finance strategies.
  • Led FinaAccess surveys and data monitoring systems.

Certifications & Training:

  • Market Systems Development Programming – Springfields, Bangkok (July 2018)
  • Inclusive Markets Training – Swiss Contact (April 2019)
  • DCED Standards for Results Measurement – MDF, Netherlands (August – September 2017)
  • Outcome Mapping/Outcome Harvesting – Outcome Mapping Community, Nairobi (April 2023)
  • Applied Statistics – University of Reading (July 2010)
  • Trainer of Trainers in Agricultural Value Chain Financing – FAO UN (April 2013)

Key Skills:

  • Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Systems
  • Market Systems Development Programming
  • Mixed Methods Program Evaluation (Outcome Mapping, Outcome Harvesting)
  • Database Development and Mobile/Web-Based Monitoring Tools (SurveyCTO, ODK, CommCare, Kobo Toolbox)
  • Value for Money Measurement
  • Theory of Change, Log Frame, and Results Chain Development

Professional Affiliations:

  • Member, Global BEAM Exchange
  • Contributor, DCED Forums for Results Measurement
  • Member, Market Systems Resilience Community of Practice

Citations Overview:

  • Total Citations: 1,984
  • Citations Since 2020: 1,182
  • h-index: 20 (16 since 2020)
  • i10-index: 27 (18 since 2020)

Publication Top Notes:

  • The uptake of the ecosystem services concept in planning discourses of European and American cities
    R. Hansen, N. Frantzeskaki, T. McPhearson, E. Rall, N. Kabisch, …
    Ecosystem Services, 12, 228–246 (2015) – 357 citations
  • Key insights for the future of urban ecosystem services research
    P. Kremer, Z. Hamstead, D. Haase, T. McPhearson, N. Frantzeskaki, …
    Ecology and Society, 21 (2) (2016) – 260 citations
  • Waste picker organizations and their contribution to the circular economy: Two case studies from a global south perspective
    J. Gutberlet, S. Carenzo, J.H. Kain, A. Mantovani Martiniano de Azevedo
    Resources, 6 (4), 52 (2017) – 147 citations
  • Ecosystem services in urban land use planning: Integration challenges in complex urban settings—Case of Stockholm
    A. Kaczorowska, J.H. Kain, J. Kronenberg, D. Haase
    Ecosystem Services, 22, 204–212 (2016) – 144 citations
  • Beyond residential segregation: A spatiotemporal approach to examining multi-contextual segregation
    Y.M. Park, M.P. Kwan
    Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 71, 98–108 (2018) – 106 citations
  • Management of complex knowledge in planning for sustainable development: The use of multi-criteria decision aids
    J.H. Kain, H. Söderberg
    Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 28 (1), 7–21 (2008) – 97 citations
  • Bridging weak links of solid waste management in informal settlements
    J. Gutberlet, J.H. Kain, B. Nyakinya, M. Oloko, P. Zapata, M.J. Zapata Campos
    The Journal of Environment & Development, 26 (1), 106–131 (2017) – 88 citations
  • Exploring local consequences of two land-use alternatives for the supply of urban ecosystem services in Stockholm year 2050
    J.H. Kain, N. Larondelle, D. Haase, A. Kaczorowska
    Ecological Indicators, 70, 615–629 (2016) – 77 citations
  • Socio-environmental entrepreneurship and the provision of critical services in informal settlements
    J. Gutberlet, J.H. Kain, B. Nyakinya, D.H. Ochieng, N. Odhiambo, M. Oloko, …
    Environment and Urbanization, 28 (1), 205–222 (2016) – 66 citations
  • Using role-playing games to broaden engineering education
    J.R. McConville, S. Rauch, I. Helgegren, J.H. Kain
    International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 18 (4), 594–607 (2017) – 61 citations

 

Zeeshan Zafar | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Zeeshan Zafar |  Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Researcher at  Wuhan University,  China

 

Dr. Zeeshan Zafar is a physical geographer and researcher with expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and environmental modeling. His work focuses on machine learning applications in hydrology and climate change impact studies, particularly in urban and natural ecosystems. Dr. Zafar has contributed to research publications on carbon storage modeling, LULC, urban heat islands, and soil erosion, and he actively collaborates on projects assessing ecological health risks and sustainable urban planning.

 

Publication Profile

Education:

Dr. Zeeshan Zafar completed his Ph.D. in Physical Geography from Northwest University, Xi’an, China. He holds an M.S. in Remote Sensing & GIS from PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Zafar is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Wuhan University, China, where he focuses on advanced GIS and ecological modeling methodologies. Previously, he served as a GIS Manager at GreenAge Services in Pakistan (2016-2018) and as an Instructor at Virtual University, Pakistan (2013-2016), where he developed remote sensing and GIS curricula and trained students in these fields.

Research Interest:

Dr. Zafar’s research integrates machine learning, hydrological modeling, ecosystem services, and climate change impacts. His expertise extends to ecological modeling, land-use/land-cover (LULC) change, urbanization, and land surface temperature modeling. He is proficient in advanced spatial analysis using satellite data, machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling.

Author Metrics:

Dr. Zafar has published extensively in reputable journals, including Ecological Informatics, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, and Water Supply. His research, recognized for its impact on understanding climate and urban dynamics, is supported by over 20 peer-reviewed articles and ongoing submissions to high-impact journals. His work is regularly cited by peers in environmental science and remote sensing domains.

Publication Top Notes
  • Selection of medical clinic for disease diagnosis by using TOPSIS method
    RM Zulqarnain, S Abdal, B Ali, L Ali, F Dayan, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 61(1), 2020.
  • Application of TOPSIS method in decision making via soft set
    RM Zulqarnain, S Abdal, A Maalik, B Ali, Z Zafar, MI Ahamad, S Younas
    Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 24(3), 18208-18215, 2020.
  • Trend analysis of the decadal variations of water bodies and land use/land cover through MODIS imagery: An in-depth study from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, MI Ahamad, A Chudhary, N Abbas, AR Khan
    Water Supply, 21(2), 927-940, 2021.
  • Fostering deep learning approaches to evaluate the impact of urbanization on vegetation and future prospects
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, Z Shiyan, M Zubair, M Sajjad, Q Yaochen
    Ecological Indicators, 146, 109788, 2023.
  • Time Series Analyses and Forecasting of Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity Using ARIMA Model in Punjab, Pakistan
    MS Mehmood, Z Zafar, M Sajjad, S Hussain, S Zhai, Y Qin
    Land, 12(1), 142, 2022.
  • Performance assessment of machine learning algorithms for mapping of land use/land cover using remote sensing data
    Z Zafar, M Zubair, Y Zha, S Fahd, AA Nadeem
    The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, 27(2), 216-226, 2024.
  • Spatial Downscaling and Gap-Filling of SMAP Soil Moisture to High Resolution Using MODIS Surface Variables and Machine Learning Approaches over ShanDian River Basin, China
    AA Nadeem, Y Zha, L Shi, S Ali, X Wang, Z Zafar, Z Afzal, MAUR Tariq
    Remote Sensing, 15(3), 812, 2023.
  • Generalized fuzzy TOPSIS to solve multi-criteria decision-making problems
    RM Zulqarnaın, M Saeed, B Ali, S Abdal, M Saqlaın, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    Journal of New Theory, 40-50, 2020.
  • Comprehensive assessment on groundwater quality, pollution characteristics, and ecological health risks under seasonal thaws: Spatial insights with Monte Carlo simulations
    C Jia, AR Altaf, F Li, I Ashraf, Z Zafar, AA Nadeem
    Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 22, 100952, 2023.
  • Mapping flood extend and its impact on land use/land cover and settlements variations: A case study of Layyah District, Punjab, Pakistan
    S Soomro, C Hu, MW Boota, MHAA Soomro, S Jian, Z Zafar, X Li
    Acta Geophysica, 69, 2291-2304, 2021.
  • Application of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Soft Matrices for Disease Diagnosis
    RM Zulqarnain, M Saeed, MI Ahamad, S Abdal, Z Zafar, M Aslam
    International Journal of Discrete Mathematics, 5(1), 4-9, 2020.
  • The spatial coupling effect between urban street network’s centrality and collection & delivery points: A spatial design network analysis-based study
    MS Mehmood, G Li, A Jin, A Rehman, V Wijeratne, Z Zafar, AR Khan
    PLOS One, 16(5), e0251093, 2021.
  • Predictive modeling of regional carbon storage dynamics in response to land use/land cover changes: An InVEST-based analysis
    Z Zafar, M Zubair, Y Zha, MS Mehmood, A Rehman, S Fahd, AA Nadeem
    Ecological Informatics, 102701, 2024.
  • Disease identification using trapezoidal fuzzy numbers by Sanchez’s approach
    RM Zulqarnain, XL Xin, B Ali, S Abdal, A Maalik, L Ali, MI Ahamad, Z Zafar
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 61(1), 13-18, 2020.
  • Effects of Temperature and Pressure on Reservoir Fluids and Seismic Properties of Reservoir Rocks
    MI Ahamad, Z Zafar, M Arsalan, A Rehman, M Sajid, RM Zulqarnain
    International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, 63, 36-43, 2020.
  • Spatiotemporal dynamics analysis of surface water body and snow cover area to climate change in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
    Z Zafar, MS Mehmood, A Akbar, MA Khan
    Physical Geography, 44(5), 600-619, 2023.
  • Evaluating land use/cover change associations with urban surface temperature via machine learning and spatial modeling: Past trends and future simulations in Dera Ghazi Khan
    MS Mehmood, A Rehman, M Sajjad, J Song, Z Zafar, Z Shiyan
    Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1115074, 2023.
  • SAFER-ET based assessment of irrigation patterns and impacts on groundwater use in the central Punjab, Pakistan
    AA Nadeem, Y Zha, L Shi, Z Zafar, S Ali, Y Zhang, AR Altaf, M Afzal
    Agricultural Water Management, 289, 108545, 2023.
  • Modelling the Climate Change on Crop Estimation in the Semi-Arid Region of Pakistan Using Multispectral Remote Sensing
    Z Zafar, S Farooq, MI Ahamad, MS Mehmood
    Optics, 9(1), 1-7, 2020.
  • Assessment of urbanization impacts on vegetation cover in major cities of Pakistan: Evidence from remotely sensed data
    Z Zafar
    GeoJournal, 89(4), 167, 2024.

 

Juergen Junk | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Juergen Junk | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

Head of research group at University of Trier, Luxembourg

Dr. Juergen Junk is an accomplished environmental meteorologist and geographer with a distinguished career in climate research and agro-environmental systems. As the Head of Group at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, he leads critical projects aimed at understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change. With extensive experience in research and academia, Dr. Junk has supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses, contributed to national climate strategies, and secured several significant research grants. His work bridges the gap between climate science and practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. 🌍🌱🔬

Profile:

Educational Background:

Juergen Junk holds a Diploma in Physical Geography from the University of Trier, completed in 1999 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. A. Helbig. He further specialized in Environmental Meteorology, graduating in 2013 from the University of Trier.

Professional Experience:

Since 2021, Juergen Junk has been the Head of Group at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), ERIN Department, Agro-environmental Systems in Belvaux, Luxembourg. Before this, he served as a Senior Researcher at the same institute from 2016 to 2021. His career includes significant roles such as Senior Researcher at the Centre de Recherche Gabriel Lippmann in Belvaux, Luxembourg (2007-2014), and Research Associate in Environmental Meteorology at the University of Trier (1999-2007). Since 2015, he has continued his role as a Senior Researcher at LIST.

Research Interests:

Juergen Junk’s research focuses on climate change impacts, environmental meteorology, and agro-environmental systems. He has a keen interest in studying the interaction between climate change and agricultural ecosystems, including the effects on pests and their natural enemies, air pollution, and thermal stress on human health. He is also involved in high-resolution climate change projections and the analysis of nanoparticles in the near-surface atmosphere.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Buchholz, S., A. Krein, J. Junk, A. C. Gutleb, L. Pfister and L. Hoffmann (2011). “Modeling, measuring, and characterizing airborne particles: Case studies from southwestern Luxembourg.” Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 41(23): 2077-2096.
  • Buchholz, S., A. Krein, J. Junk, G. Heinemann and L. Hoffmann (2013). “Simulation of Urban-Scale Air Pollution Patterns in Luxembourg: Contributing Sources and Emission Scenarios.” Environmental Modeling & Assessment, 18: 271-283.
  • den Outer, P. N., H. Slaper, J. Kaurola, A. Lindfors, A. Kazantzidis, A. F. Bais, U. Feister, J. Junk, M. Janouch and W. Josefsson (2010). “Reconstructing of erythemal ultraviolet radiation levels in Europe for the past 4 decades.” Journal of Geophysical Research, 115(D10).
  • Eickermann, M., M. Beyer, K. Goergen, L. Hoffmann and J. Junk (2014). “Shifted migration of the rape stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus napi) linked to climate change.” European Journal of Entomology, 111(2): 243-250.
  • Eickermann, M., J. Junk, L. Hoffmann and M. Beyer (2015). “Forecasting the breaching of the control threshold for Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus in oilseed rape.” Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 17(1): 71-76.
  • Eickermann, M., J. Junk and C. Rapisarda (2023). “Climate Change and Insects.” Insects.
  • El Jarroudi, M., L. Kouadio, J. Junk and C. H. Bock (2020). “Improved Prediction of Leaf Emergence for Efficacious Crop Protection: Assessing Field Variability in Phyllotherms for Upper Leaves in Winter Wheat and Winter Barley.” Agronomy, 10(11): 1825.
  • El Jarroudi, M., L. Kouadio, J. Junk, H. Maraite, B. Tychon and P. Delfosse (2022). “Assessing the Interplay between Weather and Septoria Leaf Blotch Severity on Lower Leaves on the Disease Risk on Upper Leaves in Winter Wheat.” Journal of Fungi, 8(11).
  • Emmerling, C., A. Krein and J. Junk (2020). “Meta-Analysis of Strategies to Reduce NH3 Emissions from Slurries in European Agriculture and Consequences for Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Agronomy, 10: 10.
  • Goergen, K., J. Beersma, L. Hoffmann and J. Junk (2013). “ENSEMBLES-based assessment of regional climate effects in Luxembourg and their impact on vegetation.” Climatic Change, 119(3): 761-773.