Fernando Pinto Coelho | Renewable Energy | Best Innovation Award

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Prof. Dr. Fernando Pinto Coelho | Renewable Energy | Best Innovation Award

Professor, Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil 

Fernando Pinto Coelho is a distinguished environmental professor and multidisciplinary researcher, actively contributing to sustainability across Brazil and internationally 🌍. Currently serving at the Federal University of Alagoas, he’s involved in groundbreaking research in biomass, marine crop energy, and low-carbon agriculture 🌿. With decades of academic and environmental policy experience, he has significantly impacted renewable energy innovation, environmental management, and scientific education on both national and global scales 📚.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Fernando earned his PhD in Energy and Nuclear Technologies from the Federal University of Pernambuco (2018), with a focus on renewable energies and biomass energy 🌞. He holds two master’s degrees—one in Water Resources and Sanitation from UFAL (2008), and an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (2002) 📘. His academic journey began with a full degree in Geography from UFAL in 1999 🗺️. His expertise bridges geography, climatology, energy, and environmental sciences.

🧪 Experience

Since 2011, Fernando has been a professor at the Federal University of Alagoas, focusing on Geography and Surveying Engineering 📏. He served as Technical Director of the Caatinga Biome Social Carbon Credits Association (2022), and was Director of R&D at the Proalga Brazil Institute 🌾. He’s also an expert environmental analyst for the Alagoas State Court of Justice and has represented the university in river basin environmental committees 💧.

🔬 Research Interest

Fernando’s research explores the interface of biomass, seaweed, marine crop energy, and renewable energy systems 🧫⚡. His work emphasizes sustainable energy production from macroalgae, ecosystem restoration, and carbon credit innovation. He contributes to national initiatives like Brazil’s Low Carbon Agriculture Project (ABC+), focusing on clean energy technologies and sustainable marine biomass use 🌱🌊.

🏆 Award & Distinctions

Honored as a full professor with a PhD title at UFAL in 2018, Fernando also leads a CNPq-recognized research group on energy in semi-arid regions (NUPRES–AL) 🥇. He has served as an Ad Hoc Consultant to Brazil’s Ministry of Education and is a Federal Pedagogical Residency Program Advisor 👨‍🏫. His leadership in environmental policy and academic excellence has earned him national and institutional recognition 🏅.

📚 Publications

Renewable Energy from Beach-Cast Seaweed: Calorific Power Heating Studies with Macroalgae (2025) – Published in Plants, exploring the energy potential of seaweed biomass.
📖 Cited by: forthcoming studies in renewable biomass assessments.

Biorefinery of Beach Cast Seaweed in Brazil: Renewable Energy and Sustainability (2024) – Published in Phycology, discussing sustainable seaweed utilization.
📖 Cited by: marine biomass circular economy frameworks.

Microbiota Fúngica em sistema de ar condicionado de automóveis (2024) – Published in Revista Ouricuri, a study on fungal microbiota in auto air-conditioning systems.
📖 Cited by: fungal ecology and public health research.

🏁 Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Fernando Pinto Coelho exhibits innovative excellence in renewable energy, particularly through the novel use of seaweed biomass in energy and environmental systems. His integrated approach, international engagement, and leadership in environmental innovation make him a strong contender for the Best Innovation Award. Highlighting tangible impacts through patents or commercial applications would further solidify his case, but his current contributions already reflect a forward-thinking innovator reshaping the landscape of renewable energies.

Homère ISHIMWE | Energy engineering | Young Scientist Award

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Mr Homère ISHIMWE | Energy engineering | Young Scientist Award

University of Rwanda – college of science and technology, Rwanda 🌟

Homère ISHIMWE, born on November 27, 2000, in Rwanda, is a passionate Energy Engineer with expertise in clean energy solutions and sustainable development. With a strong academic foundation and diverse professional experience, he seeks to contribute to a greener future through innovation, research, and practical applications. 🌍⚡

Profile

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🎓 Education

Homère holds a Bachelor of Science in Energy Engineering (2019–2024) from the University of Rwanda – College of Science and Technology (UR-CST). He previously attended Groupe Scolaire St. Joseph KABGAYI (2016–2018), excelling in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 📘🔧

💼 Experience

Currently, Homère serves as a Research Assistant, Grant Writer, and Operator at Hello Renewables Ltd (2024–Present). He interned at the African Centre of Excellence for Energy and Sustainable Development (ACE-ESD) in early 2023, gaining hands-on experience in sustainable energy. Previously, he managed stock and sales at Schillo Phones GOMA-DRC (2019), showcasing his versatility across industries. 🔋🛠️

🔬 Research Interests

Homère’s research focuses on clean energy systems, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. He aims to drive innovation in sustainable development and contribute to global energy transformation. 🌞♻️

🏆 Awards

Homère ISHIMWE has demonstrated exceptional prowess in his field through numerous accolades. He clinched first place at Hackatom Rwanda 2023 🥇, showcasing his innovative energy solutions. His global perspective is reflected in his participation in the Climate Academy workshops in Germany 🌍📚, where he gained insights into sustainable energy practices. Homère’s hands-on expertise was further acknowledged with an Internship Certificate from ACE-ESD 📜, underscoring his commitment to clean energy development. Additionally, he contributed to the GREATER project, funded by Erasmus+, which focused on advancing solar energy technologies 🌟. These achievements reflect his dedication to energy innovation and sustainability.

📚 Publications

Ishimwe, H. et al. (2023). “Sustainable Energy Auditing for Off-Grid Communities,” Renewable Energy Journal. Read here. Cited by: 15.

Ishimwe, H. (2022). “Optimizing Solar Panel Efficiency in Rural Rwanda,” Clean Energy Reports. Read here. Cited by: 10.

Conclusion

Homère Ishimwe is an outstanding candidate for the Young Scientist Award with his strong academic record, leadership skills, and practical experience in energy engineering and sustainable development. His achievements demonstrate a deep commitment to contributing to clean energy solutions and sustainability. With a focus on furthering his research contributions and expanding his professional network, he will undoubtedly continue to make significant strides in the field of energy engineering.

Prof. Helena Pereira | Biorefineries | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Helena Pereira | Biorefineries | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Helena Pereira, University of Lisbon, Higher Institute of Agronomy, Portugal

Prof. Helena Pereira is a distinguished chemical engineer who has made significant contributions to forestry products, specifically cork and eucalypt research. After obtaining her engineering degree from the Technical University of Lisbon (UTL) in 1972 and completing her doctorate at the University of Hamburg in 1976, she embarked on an illustrious academic career. She has held prominent positions in Portuguese and international institutions, including vice-rector and rector of UTL. Prof. Pereira’s pioneering research has led to major advancements in cork and eucalyptus technologies, making her an influential figure in forest product sciences. She is currently an emeritus professor at UTL’s School of Agriculture (ISA) and remains actively involved in scientific projects and evaluations for A3ES, the national accreditation agency.

🌟📋 Profile

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Googlescholar

Prof. Helena Pereira’s extensive experience in the fields of chemical engineering, forest products research, and management of national and international scientific projects makes her a strong candidate for the “Best Researcher Award.” She has contributed significantly to science through her research on cork, cork oak, and eucalypt technological quality, publishing over 135 papers and receiving numerous prestigious awards.

💪🏆 Strengths for the Award

Profound contributions to the fields of cork chemistry, eucalypt technological quality, and forest product innovation.

Strong leadership in research projects, having supervised 40 PhD students and coordinated numerous EU and national projects.

A career-long focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, which has influenced international industry practices.

🚀📈 Areas for Improvement

While her achievements are notable, a possible area for development could be further expanding her research focus to more emerging fields such as sustainable bioenergy technologies. Additional attention to more public science communication could also boost broader societal impacts.

🎓 Education

1972: BSc in Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Lisbon (UTL)

1976: Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of Hamburg

1984: Habilitation in Engineering, UTL

💼 Experience

Prof. Pereira’s career has spanned over four decades, beginning at the Polytechnic Engineering School of Lisbon (1976-1980). She later became an influential figure at UTL’s School of Agriculture, where she taught and conducted research from 1980 to 2022. She has held several leadership roles, including president of ISA’s Scientific Council (2014-2019), vice-rector, and rector of UTL (2007-2011). Additionally, she played a vital role as the president of the Forest Research Centre at ISA (1998-2019) and served as president of the national science funding agency, FCT (2019-2022). Her work has shaped policies and advancements in forestry research across Portugal.

🔬 Research Interests

Prof. Pereira’s research focuses on forest product technology, with an emphasis on cork and eucalyptus quality, chemical composition, and utilization. Her work bridges fundamental and applied research, investigating forest biomass, bioenergy, and biorefineries. Her studies in cork have become internationally recognized, influencing both the scientific community and industry. She also delves into the technological quality of eucalyptus wood, including its pulping potential and biorefinery applications.

🏆 Awards

2021: Science Merit Award by the Minister for Science, Technology, and Higher Education

2020: Maria de Lourdes Pintassilgo Award

2016: ULisboa/Santander Scientific Award

2011: ISA Merit and Distinction Award

2008: Amorim Academy Award

📚 Publication Top Notes

Wood modification by heat treatment: A review

Effects of short-time vibratory ball milling on the shape of FT-IR spectra of wood and cellulose

Cork: biology, production and uses

Chemical composition and variability of cork from Quercus suber L.

Influence of steam heating on the properties of pine (Pinus pinaster) and eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) wood

Production of oligosaccharides by autohydrolysis of brewery’s spent grain

The chemical composition of exhausted coffee waste

Chemical changes of heat treated pine and eucalypt wood monitored by FTIR

Determination of Lignin Content of Eucalyptus globulus Wood Using FTIR Spectroscopy

Heat-induced colour changes of pine (Pinus pinaster) and eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) wood

✨🔍 Conclusion

Prof. Pereira’s extraordinary academic, research, and leadership accomplishments make her an ideal nominee for the award. However, exploring new research frontiers and engaging more with public science could further elevate her impact.