Hesham Ghazzawy | Sustainable Agriculture | Excellence in Research Award

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Prof. Dr. Hesham Ghazzawy | Sustainable Agriculture | Excellence in Research Award

Head of the Biotechnology Program | King Faisal University | Saudi Arabia

Prof. Dr. Hesham Sayed Tawfik Ghazzawy is a Professor at the Central Laboratory for Date Palm Research and Development under the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) in Egypt and serves concurrently at the Date Palm Research Center of Excellence (DPRC), King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia. He earned his Ph.D. in Pomology from Banha University in 2010 after completing his M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Pomology and Horticulture, respectively, at Cairo University. His research focuses on biotechnology, date palm physiology, crop improvement, somatic embryogenesis, and tissue culture innovations, with additional interests in sustainable horticulture, plant stress tolerance, and agricultural by-product utilization. Over a three-decade career, he has held progressive academic and research positions including Research Assistant, Associate Professor, and Consultant to international organizations such as FAO, AOAD, and ACSAD. His major contributions include advancements in in vitro propagation of date palm, improvements in fruit quality enhancement techniques, and innovations in agricultural biotechnology demonstrated through patents such as nanocomponent-based tissue culture media and color-changing food storage wrappers. He has also contributed to strategic projects in Saudi Arabia addressing crop resilience, waste recycling, biochar production, and postharvest technologies. Prof. Ghazzawy has received competitive research grants from agencies such as King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Date Palm Research Center of Excellence, reflecting his leadership in applied plant science. He serves on editorial boards for journals such as Advances in Agricultural Technology & Plant Sciences and the Sumerianz Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary, and actively reviews manuscripts for MDPI journals, the International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, and other agricultural and biotechnology publications. His professional affiliations include the Scientific Society for Flowers and Ornamental Plants and the International Association for Plant Biotechnology, underscoring his engagement in global scientific networks. With a prolific publication record spanning plant genetics, crop physiology, postharvest sciences, and climate-resilient agronomy, his work has informed both academic research and agricultural policy. His vision focuses on strengthening food security, modernizing sustainable crop production systems, and advancing plant biotechnology to support industry, environmental resilience, and global agricultural innovation. He has 595 citations from 42 publications, with an h-index of 13.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Shabir, M. A., Khan, A. Z., Shabir, A., Jameel, I., Li, D., Al-Khayri, J. M., Ismail, M. M., Ghazzawy, H. S., Al-Mssallem, M. Q., & Almaghasla, M. I. (2025). Long term co-application of composted poultry manure and inorganic fertilizers promoted the soil fertility and productivity of maize-maize cropping system. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/202201

2. Alqahtani, N. K., Ghazzawy, H. S., Mathew, R. T., Alkhamis, Y. A., Alngada, R. S., Eissa, M. E. H., Abelnour, S. A., Ghanem, S. F., Almutairi, L. A., & Hemdan, E. (2025). Enhancing reproductive capacity in hybrid red tilapia via dietary administration of date palm pollen. Aquaculture Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102670

3. Kamara, M. M., Safhi, F. A., Al Aboud, N. M., Aljabri, M., Alharbi, S. A., Ghazzawy, H. S., Alshaharni, M. O., Fayad, E., Felemban, W. F., Abd El-Moneim, D., Hassanin, A. A., Ben Abdelmalek, I., Ali, A. M., & Mansour, E. (2024). Genetic diversity and combining ability of developed maize lines for arid conditions. Phyton – International Journal of Experimental Botany. https://doi.org/10.32604/Phyton-2024.058628

4. Elazazi, A. M. E., Awad, E.-S. A. M., Dahdoh, S. M., Hussein, A. S., Radwan, E. M. A., Hussein, E. M. E., Saeed, H. H. M., Ghazzawy, H. S., Abdelkader, M. F. M., Mahmoud, M. H., Gouda, M. M., Li, X., Abdein, M. A., & Qaoud, E.-S. M. (2024). Comprehensive evaluation of mineral and bio phosphorus fertilization on orange tree productivity. Heliyon, 10(21). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.102670

5. Mallik, S., Paria, B., Firdous, S. M., Ghazzawy, H. S., Alqahtani, N. K., He, Y., & Li, X. (2024). The positive implication of natural antioxidants on oxidative stress-mediated diabetes mellitus complications. Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 22(4), 100424.

Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu | Irrigation & Water Management | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu | Irrigation & Water Management | Best Researcher Award

Senior Researcher | International Water Management Institute | Ghana

Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu is a distinguished research scientist and Deputy Country Representative at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Ghana, with over 23 years of experience across Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central Africa, as well as Asia. He holds a PhD and MSc in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam and a BSc in Civil Engineering from Bahir Dar University. His key research areas include sustainable farming systems, water and land management, multifunctional landscapes, climate actions, and research for impact. Dr. Birhanu has made significant contributions through over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters, multiple technical reports, and several conference presentations, highlighting innovative practices in integrated watershed management, agroecological intensification, and sustainable intensification of mixed farming systems. He has played a pivotal role in major projects like Africa RISING, ResComm Tanzania, and Nature+ Solutions, advancing sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. His exemplary contributions have been recognized by several awards, such as Best Scientific Paper (ICRISAT Research Program) and Outstanding Resource Mobilizer. He holds a certificate in Leadership Essentials from Cornell University. Additionally, Dr. Birhanu serves as an editorial contributor to various scientific journals, supervises graduate research, and fosters knowledge exchange and capacity building in the water management domain. His expertise extends to hydrological modeling, GIS and remote sensing applications, and participatory research methods, contributing extensively to climate-resilient agricultural practices in sub-Saharan Africa.

Profiles: Google Scholar | ORCID 

Featured Publications

1. Awulachew, S. B., Bekele, S., Awulachew, S., & Molden, D. (2013). The Nile River Basin.
Cited 111 times.

2. Tadese, M. T., Kumar, L., Koech, R., & Zemadim, B. (2019). Hydro-climatic variability: A characterisation and trend study of the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia. Hydrology, 6(2), 35.
Cited 81 times.

3. Akinseye, F. M., Ajeigbe, H. A., Traore, P. C. S., Agele, S. O., Zemadim, B., … (2020). Improving sorghum productivity under changing climatic conditions: A modelling approach. Field Crops Research, 246, 107685.
Cited 79 times.

4. Melesse, A. M., & Abtew, W. (2016). Landscape dynamics, soils and hydrological processes in varied climates. Springer International Publishing.
Cited 66 times.

5. Schmidt, E., & Zemadim, B. (2015). Expanding sustainable land management in Ethiopia: Scenarios for improved agricultural water management in the Blue Nile. Agricultural Water Management, 158, 166–178.
Cited 58 times.

Sabab Ali Shah | Environment | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sabab Ali Shah | Environment | Best Researcher Award

Aror University of Art Architecture Design and Heritage Sukkur - Pakistan

Professional Profile

Scopus
Orcid
Google Scholar

Summary

Dr. Sabab Ali Shah is an accomplished environmental and water engineering academic, currently serving as Assistant Professor and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage, Sukkur, Pakistan. He also holds the position of Director at the Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC). His international education and diverse research experiences have significantly contributed to his scholarly footprint in hydrology, climate change, and water resource management.

Educational Details

Dr. Shah completed his MS-PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, specializing in Environmental and Water Engineering, from Hanyang University, South Korea (2017–2022). His doctoral research focused on evaluating hydrological responses to climate change and human activities. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering (Agri) degree with distinction from Sindh Agriculture University, Pakistan, in 2012.

Professional Experience

Dr. Shah has held academic and administrative roles in both national and international institutions. He worked as a Teaching Assistant and Post-Doctoral Fellow at Hanyang University, South Korea, and currently serves as Assistant Professor at Aror University. His leadership roles include Chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Director of ORIC. He has also contributed as Program Incharge, Board of Faculty member, and conference organizer, and held industry experience during his internship at Valley Irrigation Pak.

Research Interest

His research interests lie in Civil and Environmental Engineering with an emphasis on Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, Climate Change Adaptation, Hydro-environmental Modelling, Rainfall-Runoff Modelling, Stochastic Processes, and Hydrologic Risk Assessment. He actively explores the impacts of hydrological extremes like floods and droughts, with a focus on integrated watershed and water management under changing climatic conditions.

Author Metrics

Dr. Shah has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and conference papers. His citation metrics are noteworthy: 3,330 citations on Google Scholar, 302 on ResearchGate, 234 on Web of Science, and 222 on Scopus. He also serves as an editorial board member and guest editor for multiple international journals and has completed over 100 verified peer reviews.

Awards and Honors

He has received numerous accolades, including the Annual Excellent Research Award (2024) from Aror University, the Research Fellowship at INTI International University, Malaysia (2023), and the Excellence Achievement Award (2022) from the Sindh Education Foundation. He is a recipient of the HEC Pakistan PhD Scholarship and earlier merit-based awards such as the Quaid-e-Azam and Diya Foundation scholarships.

Publication Top Notes

1. A Fascinating Exploration into Nitrite Accumulation into Low Concentration Reactors Using Cutting-Edge Machine Learning Techniques

  • Authors: Hareef Ahmed Keerio, Sabab Ali Shah, Zouhaib Ali, Salahuddin Panhwar, Ghulam Shabir Solangi, Amjad Ali, Rizwan Wahab, Yang-Chun Yong

  • Journal: Process Biochemistry

  • Year: 2024

  • Abstract : This study employs advanced machine learning techniques to model nitrite accumulation in low-concentration reactors, offering insights into biochemical optimization for wastewater treatment.

2. Lithological Exploration for Potable Water Lens in the Indus Delta and Their Connectivity with Freshwater Seepage and Environment

  • Authors: Zamir Abro, Sabab Ali Shah, Abdul Latif Qureshi, Abdul Soomro, Muhammad Ali Jamali, Tae-Woong Kim, Raeid Saad Alharbi

  • Journal: Water Practice & Technology

  • Year: 2024

  • Abstract: The research focuses on identifying potable water lenses in the Indus Delta through lithological assessments and connects their behavior with freshwater seepage patterns and environmental implications.

3. Evaluating the Impact of Climate Variability and Anthropogenic Activities on Streamflow Condition in Large River Basin Using Budyko-Based Functions

  • Authors: Sabab Ali Shah, Darya Memon, Raeid Saad Alharbi, Tae-Woong Kim

  • Conference: 9th FRIEND-Water Global Conference 2023, Dakar, Senegal

  • Publisher/Organizer: Institut Confucius, Université

  • Year: 2023

  • Abstract : This study applies Budyko-based hydrological modeling to separate the effects of climate variability and human activities on river streamflow, providing a critical tool for water management in large basins.

4. Decomposition of Hydrological Response to Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities

  • Authors: Sabab Ali Shah, Darya Memon, Raeid Saad Alharbi, Tae-Woong Kim

  • Conference: 40th IAHR World Congress

  • Location: Vienna, Austria

  • Year: 2023

  • Abstract : The paper introduces a methodological framework for decomposing hydrological responses to climate change and anthropogenic pressures, aiding decision-making in watershed planning and resilience building.

5. Application of Drone Surveillance for Advanced Agriculture Monitoring by Android Application Using Convolutional Neural Network

  • Authors: Sabab Ali Shah, Ghulam Mustafa Lakho, Hareef Ahmed Keerio, Muhammad Nouman Sattar, Gulzar Hussain, Mujahid Mehdi, et al.

  • Journal: Agronomy

  • Year: 2023

  • Abstract : This research presents a novel drone-based agricultural monitoring system powered by a CNN-integrated Android app, enhancing real-time field surveillance and precision farming strategies.

Conclusion

Dr. Sabab Ali Shah clearly demonstrates the hallmarks of a leading researcher—productivity, innovation, impact, leadership, and service to the academic community. His interdisciplinary approach, commitment to addressing climate change and water security, and ongoing international contributions make him exceptionally suited for the Best Researcher Award. Recognizing his work will not only celebrate individual excellence but also promote research excellence within emerging academic institutions in Pakistan.