Paul Sutton | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

Prof Paul Sutton | Climate Change |  Best Researcher Award

Professor at  University of Denver, United States

Professor Paul C. Sutton is a leading expert in sustainability science, population geography, and ecological economics. He is a Professor of Geography at the University of Denver, where he has served since 1999. His research focuses on topics such as urban metabolism, green infrastructure, land degradation, and the development of indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sutton is also involved in international environmental initiatives, having contributed to UNEP’s Global Environmental Outlook and served as a Visiting Fellow at The Australian National University.

Profile

Academic Background:

  • Ph.D. in Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara (1999)
  • M.A. in Applied Statistics, University of California, Santa Barbara (1997)
  • M.A. in Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara (1995)
  • B.S. in Chemistry, Union College, Schenectady, New York (1983)

Career Highlights:

  • Professor of Geography at the University of Denver (2012-Present)
  • Visiting Fellow at The Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University (2020-2021)
  • Research Associate at NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center (1995-2010)
  • Lecturer at UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Geography (1992-1999)
  • High School Teacher (1983-1993) and Process Engineer (1984-1992)

Research Focus:

  • Population Geography
  • Sustainability Science
  • Ecological Economics
  • Developing Indicators for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
  • Ecosystem Services and Integrated Assessment
  • Urban Metabolism and Smart Cities
  • Green Infrastructure
  • Land Degradation
  • Applications of Nighttime Satellite Imagery

Engagement & Service:

  • Founding Member, Center for a Regenerative Future (2024)
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Morrison, CO (2018-2026)
  • Contributor to UNEP’s Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6 and GEO-7)
  • Chair, Academic Program Review Team at Texas State University (2013)
  • Proposal & Manuscript Reviewer for NSF, NASA, ESA, ARC, and other scientific foundations
  • Keynote Speaker at various international forums

Honors and Awards:

  • Best Graduate Advisor, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (2024)
  • Australian Water Award for Goyder Institute Collaboration (2022)
  • Prose Award Winner for Environmental Sciences (UNEP GEO6) (2021)
  • Best Researcher Award – IRULA (2019)
  • NASA Earth System Science Fellowship (1997-1999)

Citations:

  • Citations: 62,096 (All-time), 28,454 (Since 2019)
  • h-index: 55 (All-time), 45 (Since 2019)
  • i10-index: 102 (All-time), 92 (Since 2019)

Publication Top Notes

  1. The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital
    Costanza, R., d’Arge, R., De Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., et al. (1997). Nature, 387(6630), 253.
  2. Changes in the global value of ecosystem services
    Costanza, R., De Groot, R., Sutton, P., Van der Ploeg, S., Anderson, S. J., et al. (2014). Global Environmental Change, 26, 152-158.
  3. Twenty years of ecosystem services: how far have we come and how far do we still need to go?
    Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Braat, L., Kubiszewski, I., Fioramonti, L., Sutton, P., et al. (2017). Ecosystem Services, 28, 1-16.
  4. The coasts of our world: Ecological, economic and social importance
    Martínez, M. L., Intralawan, A., Vázquez, G., Pérez-Maqueo, O., Sutton, P., et al. (2007). Ecological Economics, 63(2-3), 254-272.
  5. The value of coastal wetlands for hurricane protection
    Costanza, R., Pérez-Maqueo, O., Martínez, M. L., Sutton, P., Anderson, S. J., et al. (2008). Ambio, 241-248.
  6. Global estimates of market and non-market values derived from nighttime satellite imagery, land cover, and ecosystem service valuation
    Sutton, P. C., Costanza, R. (2002). Ecological Economics, 41(3), 509-527.
  7. Is decoupling GDP growth from environmental impact possible?
    Ward, J. D., Sutton, P. C., Werner, A. D., Costanza, R., Mohr, S. H., Simmons, C. T. (2016). PLOS ONE, 11(10), e0164733.
  8. Radiance calibration of DMSP-OLS low-light imaging data of human settlements
    Elvidge, C. D., Baugh, K. E., Dietz, J. B., Bland, T., Sutton, P. C., Kroehl, H. W. (1999). Remote Sensing of Environment, 68(1), 77-88.
  9. Census from Heaven: An estimate of the global human population using night-time satellite imagery
    Sutton, P., Roberts, D., Elvidge, C., Baugh, K. (2001). International Journal of Remote Sensing, 22(16), 3061-3076.
  10. A global poverty map derived from satellite data
    Elvidge, C. D., Sutton, P. C., Ghosh, T., Tuttle, B. T., Baugh, K. E., Bhaduri, B., Bright, E. (2009). Computers & Geosciences, 35(8), 1652-1660.
  11. Global distribution and density of constructed impervious surfaces
    Elvidge, C. D., Tuttle, B. T., Sutton, P. S., Baugh, K. E., Howard, A. T., Milesi, C., et al. (2007). Sensors, 7(9), 1962-1979.
  12. The value of ecosystem services: putting the issues in perspective
    Costanza, R., d’Arge, R., De Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., et al. (1998). Ecological Economics, 25(1), 67-72.
  13. Shedding light on the global distribution of economic activity
    Ghosh, T., Powell, R. L., Elvidge, C. D., Baugh, K. E., Sutton, P. C., Anderson, S. (2010). The Open Geography Journal, 3(1), 147-160.
  14. Estimation of gross domestic product at sub-national scales using nighttime satellite imagery
    Sutton, P. C., Elvidge, C. D., Ghosh, T. (2007). International Journal of Ecological Economics & Statistics, 8(S07), 5-21.
  15. A comparison of nighttime satellite imagery
    Sutton, P., Roberts, D., Elvidge, C., Meij, H. (1997). Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 63(11), 1303-1313.
  16. A review of methods, data, and models to assess changes in the value of ecosystem services from land degradation and restoration
    Turner, K. G., Anderson, S., Gonzales-Chang, M., Costanza, R., Courville, S., et al. (2016). Ecological Modelling, 319, 190-207.
  17. A scale-adjusted measure of “urban sprawl” using nighttime satellite imagery
    Sutton, P. C. (2003). Remote Sensing of Environment, 86(3), 353-369.
  18. The Nightsat mission concept
    Elvidge, C. D., Cinzano, P., Pettit, D. R., Arvesen, J., Sutton, P., Small, C., et al. (2007). International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28(12), 2645-2670.
  19. Modeling population density with night-time satellite imagery and GIS
    Sutton, P. (1997). Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 21(3-4), 227-244.
  20. The future value of ecosystem services: global scenarios and national implications
    Kubiszewski, I., Costanza, R., Anderson, S., Sutton, P. (2017). Ecosystem Services, 26, 289-301.

 

Thongsouk Sompouviset | Climate Change | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Thongsouk Sompouviset | Climate Change | Young Scientist Award

Teacher, NWAFU, China

Dr. Thongsouk Sompouviset is a dedicated researcher and environmental scientist from Laos, specializing in plant nutrition and climate change. With a solid academic background and hands-on experience in greenhouse gas analysis, he has contributed significantly to understanding the impacts of agricultural practices on the environment. His work, spanning from field surveys to advanced research, reflects a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental management.

Profile

Orcid

Education 🎓 

Dr. Thongsouk Sompouviset earned his PhD in Plant Nutrition with a focus on Climate Change from Northwest A&F University, China, from 2019 to 2023, achieving a GPA of 3.80. His doctoral research examined the influence of combined organic and inorganic fertilizer applications on greenhouse gas emissions in apple orchards on Weibei dryland, earning him the Outstanding Activities Student Award in 2022. Prior to his PhD, Dr. Sompouviset completed a Master’s in Plant Nutrition (Climate Change) at the same institution from 2015 to 2019, graduating with a GPA of 3.55. His Master’s thesis explored the effects of cover crops combined with manure and chemical fertilizers on greenhouse gas emissions in apple orchards, and he received the Best Student Award in 2019. Dr. Sompouviset also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from the National University of Laos (2007-2012), where he achieved a GPA of 3.48. His undergraduate thesis focused on the study process and water management of the Kaolieo water supply company, and he was recognized with awards in debate competitions, essay contests, and as an outstanding student. Additionally, he completed a Vocational Diploma in General English from Sahakitsamphan College (2008-2011) and is currently pursuing ongoing English studies (IELTS) at Vientiane College from January to August 2024.

Experience 💼

Professionally, Dr. Sompouviset has been serving as a Coordinator and Translator at Sino-Agri Potash Co., Ltd in Vientiane Capital, Laos, since January 2024. Prior to this, he managed the Environment and Social Department at Sino-Agri Potash Co., Ltd in Khammuane, Laos, from September 2012 to July 2015

Research Interests 🔬

Impact of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: This research investigates how the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers affects the emission of greenhouse gases in agricultural settings. The combination of these fertilizers can influence soil processes and plant growth, potentially altering the levels of methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) released into the atmosphere. Studies typically focus on optimizing fertilizer practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining crop yields.

Effects of Plastic Mulching and Cover Crops on Environmental Sustainability: Plastic mulching and the use of cover crops are techniques aimed at improving soil health and enhancing environmental sustainability. Plastic mulching helps in moisture retention, temperature regulation, and weed suppression, which can indirectly impact greenhouse gas emissions. Cover crops, on the other hand, contribute to soil organic matter, reduce erosion, and enhance nutrient cycling. Research in this area evaluates how these practices affect soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and overall environmental sustainability.

Climate Change Adaptation and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Strategies in Agriculture: This area of study focuses on developing strategies for agriculture to adapt to the impacts of climate change while simultaneously mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation strategies may include altering crop varieties, adjusting planting dates, and improving irrigation practices. Mitigation strategies might involve adopting more sustainable farming practices, enhancing soil carbon sequestration, and optimizing fertilizer use. The goal is to create resilient agricultural systems that can cope with climate change and reduce their carbon footprint.

Awards 🏆

Outstanding Activities Student Award (2022)
Northwest A&F University, China

Best Student Award (2019)
Northwest A&F University, China

Publications 📝

Combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers effects on the global warming potential and greenhouse gas emissions in apple orchard in the Loess Plateau Region of China. link

The effects of plastic mulching combined with different fertilizer applications on greenhouse gas emissions, intensity, and apple yield in Northwestern China. link

Evaluation of Soil and Leaf Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Micronutrient Status and Their Relationship in the Main Apple Production Areas of the Loess Plateau, China. link

Distinguishing the contribution of nitrogen fertilizer and native soil nitrogen to young apple trees . link