Tamirat Wato | Environmental | Young Researcher Award

Mr. Tamirat Wato | Environmental | Young Researcher Award

Bonga University, Ethiopia

Mr. Tamirat Wato Wana is a senior lecturer and researcher at Bonga University, Ethiopia, specializing in Plant Science. He holds a BSc in Plant Science from Wachemo University and an MSc in Crop and Irrigation Agronomy from Debre Markos University. With over seven years of experience, he has served in various leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Plant Science and Director of Indigenous Knowledge. He is currently the Coordinator of Research and Director of Indigenous Knowledge at Bonga University.

Profile:

🔬 Research & Innovations:

Tamirat’s research focuses on solving socio-economic challenges related to agriculture. His work has led to significant contributions in areas such as traditional medicinal plants, crop production, and sustainable agriculture practices. Notable projects include his involvement in apple, pineapple, and coffee research. He is committed to furthering agricultural development through innovative research and collaboration with other scholars.

📚 Publications & Citations:

Tamirat has published over 28 articles in international peer-reviewed journals. His research can be found in journals such as Heliyon, Asian Journal of Science, and Agricultural Science.
Citation Index: h-index: 7

🧑‍💼 Professional Roles & Consultancy:

  • Editorial Board Member: Makira Journal of Natural Resource Management

  • Farm Consultant: Afri-herbal, Solomon Agricultural Products

  • Active Reviewer for various international journals

🌱 Areas of Research:

Tamirat’s expertise spans Agronomy, Crop Production, Sustainable Agriculture, Irrigation, Soil and Water Conservation, Horticultural Crop Production, and Herbal Plants.

🌍 Collaborations & Recognition:

He has collaborated extensively with universities such as Addis Ababa, Bonga, Debre Birhan, and Arba Minch on various projects. Additionally, Tamirat has completed over 49 certified online courses to enhance his professional development.

🏆 Contributions:

Through his extensive work in agriculture and education, Tamirat has earned recognition and awards for his significant contributions to both the academic community and his local community.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Identification of enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) Landraces and Farmers’ Preference in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    Environmental Research Communications | 2024-10-01 | DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad78bb
    Contributors: Abera Asfaw, Tamirat Wato, Alemu Andualem

  • Significance of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers in Maintaining Soil Fertility and Increasing Crop Productivity in Ethiopia: A Review
    Environmental Research Communications | 2024-10-01 | DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad79be
    Contributors: Tamirat Wato, Tilahun Negash, Alemu Andualem, Amare Bitew

  • Review of: “Growth, Instability and Trend Analysis of Rice Production Indicators in Nigeria”
    2023-12-11 | Book chapter | DOI: 10.32388/DA7YOZ
    Contributors: Tamirat Wato

  • Response of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Grain Yield to Biofertilizer Rates and Inter Row Spacings at Kaffa Zone, South Western Ethiopia
    Journal of Agricultural Sciences – Sri Lanka | 2023-05-02 | DOI: 10.4038/jas.v18i2.10253
    Contributors: Worku Alemu, Tamirat Wato

  • Study on Character Association and Path Analysis in Korarima (Aframomum corrorima (Braun) Jansen) Germplasms at Jimma Southwestern, Ethiopia
    Heliyon | 2022-01 | DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08812
    Contributors: Simegn Kinfu, Tamirat Wato, Tilahun Negash

  • Application of Logistic Regression Model for Predicting the Association of Climate Change Resilient Cultural Practices with Early Blight of Tomato (Alternaria solani) Epidemics in the East Shewa, Central Ethiopia
    Journal of Plant Interactions | 2022-01-01 | DOI: 10.1080/17429145.2021.2009581
    Contributors: Tamirat Wato, Meseret Tadelo, Tilahun Negash

  • Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc)] Grain Yield Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates in East Badewacho District, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    Cogent Food & Agriculture | 2021-01-01 | DOI: 10.1080/23311932.2021.1909203
    Contributors: Tamirat Wato, Manuel Tejada Moral

 

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.

 

Zeeshan Zafar | Climate Change | Best Researcher Award

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

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.