Shivukumar Rakkasagi | Climate Change | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Dr. Shivukumar Rakkasagi | Climate Change | Young Scientist Award

Indian Institute of Technology Indore | India

Dr. Shivukumar Rakkasagi is a dedicated researcher and educator in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the same institution, an M.Sc. in Geoinformatics from Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, and a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University. His research focuses on hydroclimatic extremes, wetland resilience, and geospatial-AI integration for climate risk assessment and sustainable environmental management. Dr. Shivukumar Rakkasagi has contributed to the understanding of climate-induced hazards affecting Ramsar wetlands and biodiversity through novel frameworks combining hydrology, AI, and socio-technical perspectives. His previous experience includes roles at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, and the Indian Space Research Organisation, where he developed expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and environmental modeling. He has co-authored numerous high-impact journal papers and book chapters published by Springer, Elsevier, and Nature, contributing significantly to climate resilience research. With 136 citations across 81 documents, 12 publications, and an h-index of 6, his scholarly impact continues to grow in the field of environmental sciences. Dr. Shivukumar Rakkasagi has been recognized with multiple prestigious honors, including national fellowships, best presentation awards, and scientific distinctions for excellence in Earth and environmental sciences. He actively serves as a reviewer for international journals such as Scientific Reports, Remote Sensing of Environment, and Water Resources Management and is a member of various professional and scientific societies. His interdisciplinary work bridges research and policy, fostering sustainable solutions for climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and water resource resilience.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar | LinkedIn | Researchgate 

Featured Publications

Goyal, M. K., Gupta, A. K., Jha, S., Rakkasagi, S., & Jain, V. (2022). Climate change impact on precipitation extremes over Indian cities: Non-stationary analysis. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 180, 121685.

Rakkasagi, S., Goyal, M. K., & Jha, S. (2024). Evaluating the future risk of coastal Ramsar wetlands in India to extreme rainfalls using fuzzy logic. Journal of Hydrology, 632, 130869.

Goyal, M. K., Rakkasagi, S., Shaga, S., Zhang, T. C., Surampalli, R. Y., & Dubey, S. (2023). Spatiotemporal-based automated inundation mapping of Ramsar wetlands using Google Earth Engine. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17324.

Rakkasagi, S., Poonia, V., & Goyal, M. K. (2023). Flash drought as a new climate threat: Drought indices, insights from a study in India and implications for future research. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 14(9), 3368–3384.

Goyal, M. K., Gupta, A. K., Das, J., Jain, V., & Rakkasagi, S. (2023). Heatwave magnitude impact over Indian cities: CMIP 6 projections. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 154(3), 959–971.

Jitendra Pandey | Climate Change | Distinguished Scientist Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Prof. Jitendra Pandey | Climate Change | Distinguished Scientist Award

Professor | Banaras Hindu University | India  

Prof. Jitendra Pandey is a distinguished Professor in the Environmental Science Division at the Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, India. With over three decades of research and teaching experience, he has become a leading authority in river ecology, environmental monitoring, sustainable agriculture, and water resource conservation. His pioneering work on the Ganga River and atmospheric deposition has contributed significantly to ecological sustainability and climate change understanding. He has supervised numerous doctoral and postgraduate students, led impactful research projects, and authored an extensive body of scientific publications, strengthening his reputation as a global environmental researcher.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education

Prof. Jitendra Pandey pursued his higher studies at Banaras Hindu University, where he earned both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Environmental Science. His academic journey was driven by a deep interest in river ecosystems and environmental sustainability. During his research years, he received prestigious fellowships from the University Grants Commission and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. These formative experiences laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to scientific inquiry, environmental monitoring, and conservation strategies. His strong academic training has equipped him to address complex challenges in river ecology, pollution assessment, and sustainable resource management.

Experience

Prof. Jitendra Pandey has accumulated rich academic and research experience, beginning as a Junior and Senior Research Fellow at Banaras Hindu University before serving as a Research Associate under CSIR. He worked as a Junior Scientific Officer at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, before joining M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, as Assistant Professor. He later returned to Banaras Hindu University, where he rose through positions as Reader, Associate Professor, and Professor. With over twenty-five years of teaching and more than thirty-three years of research experience, he has trained hundreds of students while leading impactful projects of national and global relevance.

Research Interests

Prof. Jitendra Pandey research interests span multiple interdisciplinary domains, including river ecology, water resource conservation, sustainable agriculture, and cross-domain carbon linkages. He has extensively studied the ecological functioning of the Ganga River, with a focus on nutrient cycling, carbon fluxes, and anthropogenic impacts on aquatic systems. His investigations also address air and water pollution, atmospheric deposition, and ecosystem responses to climate change. Additionally, his work explores the relationship between ecological health and food security. Through his studies, he emphasizes the integration of ecological principles with practical conservation and sustainable management strategies to mitigate human-induced environmental degradation.

Awards

Prof. Jitendra Pandey has received numerous national and international awards for his contributions to environmental science. His early recognition includes the prestigious “INTER Research Essay Grand Prize” (Japan) for a new hypothesis on ozone layer destruction. He later received the Ibaraki Kasumigaura Prize (Japan) for outstanding work in lake conservation. His accolades also include the World Green Award (INGP, New Delhi), the Twenty First Century Development Award, and the First Best Article Award by IMSA. Additionally, he earned research fellowships from UGC and CSIR and was fully sponsored to participate in the Planet under Pressure Conference at Oxford University, London.

Top Noted Publications

Title: Impact of DOC trends resulting from changing climatic extremes and atmospheric deposition chemistry on periphyton community of a freshwater tropical lake of India
Year: 2013
Cited by: 37

Title: Impact of changing atmospheric deposition chemistry on carbon and nutrient loading to Ganga River: integrating land–atmosphere–water components to uncover cross-domain carbon linkages
Year: 2014
Cited by: 76

Title: Alternative alert system for Ganga River eutrophication using alkaline phosphatase as a level determinant
Year: 2017
Cited by: 42

Title: An ecological response index for simultaneous prediction of eutrophication and metal pollution in large rivers
Year: 2019
Cited by: 46

Title: Benthic hypoxia in anthropogenically-impacted rivers provides positive feedback enhancing the level of bioavailable metals at sediment-water interface
Year: 2020
Cited by: 14

Conclusion

Prof. Jitendra Pandey demonstrates a rare combination of scientific excellence, leadership, and commitment to environmental sustainability. His pioneering studies on river ecology and ecosystem linkages, his sustained mentorship of future scientists, and his recognized global contributions make him a highly deserving candidate for the Research for Distinguished Scientist Award. While there remain opportunities for broader translation of his findings into policy and global partnerships, his achievements reflect both depth and breadth of scholarship. In conclusion, his career exemplifies the qualities of a distinguished scientist, making him eminently suitable for this recognition.

Aurele Ayemele Kenfack Gnetegha | Climate | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Assist. Prof. Dr. Aurele Ayemele Kenfack Gnetegha | Climate | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer, Kunming Institute of Botany Chine, China

Dr. Ayemele Aurele is an accomplished early-career researcher specializing in ruminant nutrition, sustainable livestock production, and feed innovation. With a dynamic career shaped by global collaboration, he has served as a Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Lecturer, and Visiting Professor across Africa and Asia. Currently affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, he leads transformative research that enhances animal productivity while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. 🌍🐄💡

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Aurele earned his PhD in Ruminant Nutrition and Feed Science from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (in collaboration with Ohio State University, USA) in 2021. His research focused on improving nitrogen efficiency in ruminants using novel plants. He also holds a Master’s in Agroforestry & Fisheries and a Bachelor’s in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Dschang, Cameroon. 📘🧪🌿

💼 Professional Experience

Dr. Aurele brings over a decade of multidisciplinary experience in teaching, research, and policy advising. As a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bamenda and Visiting Professor in China, he has supervised students, led research projects, and taught advanced courses in animal production and nutrition. Previously, he advised national climate policy under UNFCCC and worked with CIFOR on sustainable agriculture. 🌐👨‍🏫📊

🔬 Research Interest

Dr. Aurele’s research focuses on sustainable livestock nutrition, climate-smart feeding strategies, and microbial ecology in ruminants. His innovative work includes developing new forages and feed additives, reducing methane emissions, and enhancing rumen microbial efficiency using bioactive phytochemicals. 🌱🧬🐐

🏆 Awards and Honors

He has secured funding from prestigious institutions such as the Chinese government and the EU, leading projects on forage innovation and climate-resilient livestock systems. His Marie Curie fellowship proposal received the EU’s “Seal of Excellence” in 2024. He coordinated over five major research initiatives, influencing feed science policy and practice. 🏆🌏📈

📚 Publications

Rumen microbiota for cattle performance and greenhouse gas mitigation across the world
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2024 (IF: 9.8)
🔗 Link – Accepted for publication
Scientific impact: Demonstrated roles of microbial groups in improving milk yield and reducing methane.
📑 Cited by: In press

Feeding strategies for cattle performance and greenhouse gas mitigation across the world
Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 2024 (IF: 12)
🔗 Link – Under review
Scientific impact: Recommends feed additives for sustainable dairy farming.
📑 Cited by: In review

Giant milkweed: A new plant resource…
Science of the Total Environment, 2020 (IF: 9.754)
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140665
📑 Cited by: 52 articles
Use of phytochemicals to inhibit protozoa and reduce ammonia without increasing CH₄.

Identification of bioactive phytochemicals…
Biology, 2021 (IF: 5.168)
🔗 https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101055
📑 Cited by: 18 articles
First-time analysis of six forest plants inhibiting rumen ammonia and protozoa.

Turning weeds into feed: Ensiling Calotropis gigantea…
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2024 (IF: 6.8)
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116292
📑 Cited by: 4 articles
Revealed detoxification strategy that makes GM palatable and safe for dairy cows.

🏁 Conclusion

Dr. Ayemele Aurele exemplifies the qualities of an emerging scientific leader in sustainable ruminant production and climate-smart agriculture. With high-quality publications, international teaching and research experience, and demonstrated innovation in feed science, he is a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. 🏅🌟

Rodica Siminiuc | Climate Change and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr Rodica Siminiuc | Climate Change and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Director of Doctoral School, Technical University of Moldova, Moldova 🌟

Rodica Siminiuc is a highly accomplished academic and researcher from Moldova, currently serving as the Director of the Doctoral School at the Technical University of Moldova (UTM). With an extensive career in academia, she has held numerous roles including Head of the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Directorate and Vice-Dean for Scientific Activity at UTM. Her dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and food safety research has made her a respected leader in her field.

Profile

Orcid

Education 🎓

Rodica earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2005, followed by a Master’s in Food Quality in 2007, and a Doctorate in Engineering Sciences in 2011 from the Technical University of Moldova. She recently obtained her Habilitated Doctorate in 2024, specializing in “Exploratory Analysis of Food Security in the Republic of Moldova,” adding to her impressive academic portfolio.

Experience 💼

Rodica has been an integral part of UTM since 2011, starting as a lecturer and progressing to her current role as Director of the Doctoral School. Her leadership has shaped many research initiatives, including projects on personalized nutrition, sustainable food security, and digital transformation in doctoral studies. Her expertise spans food safety, product technology, and public food management.

Research Interests 🔬

Rodica’s research focuses on food safety, personalized nutrition, and sustainable food security, particularly in the context of Moldova. She has been involved in various state and international research projects, such as the analysis of food security metrics and gluten-free nutrition. Her work aims to enhance nutritional quality and promote health through innovative food technology.

Awards 🏆

Rodica has received numerous accolades for her exceptional contributions to research. She was awarded the Merit Diploma by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research for outstanding work in promoting women in science. Additionally, she received a Diploma from UTM for her professional achievements and significant contributions to scientific progress.

Publications Top Notes 📚

“Exploratory Analysis of Food Security in the Republic of Moldova Based on Sustainable Nutritional Quality (CNuD) Metrics of Food Products”

Published: 2024

Journal: Research and Innovation Project (2024-2025)

Cited by: N/A

“Personalized Nutrition and Smart Technologies for My Well-being”

Published: 2020-2023

Journal: State Project No. 20.80009.5107.10

Cited by: N/A

“University Governance and Digital Transformation – Support for the Digital Transformation of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies at UTM”

Published: 2021-2023

Journal: AUF-Funded Project

Cited by: N/A

Conclusion

Rodica Siminiuc is an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With her extensive experience in food security, nutritional science, and academic leadership, she has made significant contributions to advancing the research landscape in Moldova and beyond. Her research achievements, coupled with her leadership roles, demonstrate her profound impact on both the academic and scientific communities. While there is potential for even greater international collaboration and multidisciplinary work, her track record and dedication to improving food safety and security make her a strong contender for this prestigious award.