Bidjad Arigue | Architecture | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Dr. Bidjad Arigue | Architecture | Young Scientist Award

Assistant Researcher | University Mohamed khider of Biskra | Algeria

Dr. Bidjad Arigue is an emerging researcher in architecture and environmental design whose work reflects a strong commitment to sustainable development, vernacular heritage preservation, and innovative building envelope strategies adapted to arid climates. With citations numbering 5 and an h-index of 1, his growing academic contribution demonstrates a developing but meaningful impact in the fields of ecological architecture and climate-responsive design. His research background has shaped a deep understanding of architectural design processes, energy-efficient construction methods, and environmentally adaptive approaches inspired by traditional North African and Saharan contexts. He has contributed to numerous scientific conferences and collaborative studies examining thermal performance, ecological construction, urban heritage conservation, and the integration of smart and contemporary materials within building façades. His publications explore essential themes such as climatic adaptation in ksourian architecture, recognition and preservation of historic environments, vernacular envelope strategies, double-skin façade innovations, and sustainability-driven frameworks aimed at improving the environmental performance of buildings in hot, dry regions. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, he investigates how insights from vernacular dwellings can guide modern architectural practices toward reducing energy consumption, enhancing indoor comfort, and supporting sustainable urban development. His work also addresses participatory planning, cultural architectural identity, and the future potential of green construction materials for next-generation ecological building design. In parallel with his scientific activities, he demonstrates strong competencies in digital modeling tools, architectural project coordination, creative problem-solving, and effective multilingual communication. Overall, he represents a promising new voice in environmentally responsive architecture, contributing valuable insights that bridge traditional knowledge, modern innovation, and sustainability-centered design.

Profile: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Arigue, B., Sriti, L., Giovanni, S., Khadraoui, M. A., & Bencheikh, D. (2023). Exploring the cooling potential of ventilated mask walls in neo-vernacular architecture: A case study of André Ravéreau’s dwellings in M’zab Valley, Algeria. Buildings, 13(4), 837.

Mekki, S., Arigue, B., Giovanni, S., Sriti, L., Pace, V., & Leporelli, E. (2025). Tracing the morphogenesis and formal diffusion of vernacular mosques: A typo-morphological study of Djebel Amour, Algeria. Buildings, 15(23), 4277.

Arigue, B., Rahmani, S., Ayadi, N. E., Sriti, L., & Kaoula, D. (n.d.). Towards the ecological construction of building envelopes: A promising approach inspired by vernacular dwelling’s strategies for improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

Arigue, B., & Kadri, M. (n.d.). The participatory approach as the main axis of strategic planning towards a sustainable urban development of cities: Case of Algeria.

Isabel Vaz de Freitas | History | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Prof. Dr. Isabel Vaz de Freitas | History | Best Researcher Award

Full Professor, Portucalense University, Portugal

Prof. Isabel Vaz de Freitas is a distinguished Full Professor at Portucalense University 🇵🇹, with a PhD in History and a deep-rooted academic journey in heritage, culture, and tourism. She leads the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture and coordinates various undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. An active researcher with REMIT and CIAUD-UPT, she also collaborates with projects in Portugal and Spain. Her work spans landscape, territorial development, medieval studies, and cross-border cultural dynamics, making her a prominent voice in European heritage academia 🌍📚.

Profile

Scopus

🎓 Education

Prof. Freitas has an impressive academic trajectory, starting with a Bachelor’s degree from Universidade Portucalense in 1988 🎓, a Master’s from the University of Porto in 1993 📖, a PhD from Portucalense University in 2001 🧠, and achieving Aggregation from the University of Porto in 2016 🏛️. Her scholarly foundations support her prolific contributions to cultural and historical research.

💼 Professional Experience

With over three decades of academic service, Prof. Freitas has held roles from Guest Assistant Professor to Full Professor at Portucalense University (1991–present) 👩‍🏫. She has served as Head of Department since 2006 and has been actively involved in directing and coordinating heritage restoration and tourism initiatives. Her cross-border collaborations and project leadership have significantly advanced cultural studies in Portugal and Spain 🇵🇹🇪🇸.

🔬 Research Interest

Her research interests encompass medieval history, heritage preservation, landscape and water landscape analysis 💧🏞️, border studies, and peninsular cultural relations. Prof. Freitas emphasizes interdisciplinary and territorial valorization studies, contributing richly to projects addressing creative tourism, medieval fortifications, and sustainable development 🔍📜.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Prof. Freitas is a Correspondent Member of the Portuguese Academy of History 🇵🇹🏅 and has served on numerous scientific committees across Europe. She received funding from FCT Portugal and was honored by city councils and research institutions for her cultural promotion efforts. Her distinction as a leader in heritage research is reinforced by national and international accolades and academic appointments.

📚 Publications

“The Border and Water Landscape in the Iberian Peninsula” (2021), Journal of Heritage Studies – Link – Cited by 15 articles 📄

“Territory, Memory and Identity in Northern Portugal” (2019), Cultural Geography Review – Link – Cited by 20 articles 🗺️

“The Role of Heritage in Cross-border Cooperation” (2017), International Journal of Heritage and Sustainable Development – Link – Cited by 12 articles 🤝

“Medieval Tourism and Valorization of Historic Centers” (2015), Tourism and Culture Journal – Link – Cited by 9 articles 🏰

🏁 Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Isabel Vaz de Freitas is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her academic excellence, multidisciplinary and applied research in heritage and tourism, international engagement, and leadership in EU-funded projects position her as a leading figure in the Humanities and Social Sciences research landscape. While minor areas for broader outreach and metric-based validation exist, her overall contribution is both significant and impactful.

Muhammet Karabulut | Structural Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Environmental Scientists

Dr Muhammet Karabulut | Structural Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Post Doctoral Researcher, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Turkey 🏗️

Dr. Muhammet Karabulut is a dedicated Research Assistant specializing in Structural Engineering. His research focuses on earthquake-resistant structures, composite materials, and concrete dam analysis. With extensive academic and professional experience, he has contributed significantly to seismic performance evaluation and structural stability assessments. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Berlin Technical University, Germany (2024-2025), supported by the TÜBİTAK 2219 scholarship. His international training includes research stays in Sweden, Spain, and Germany, further enriching his expertise in civil engineering and disaster resilience. Dr. Karabulut actively engages in scientific research, publishing impactful studies in top-tier journals.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Karabulut obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (2016-2022) from Bulent Ecevit University, focusing on strengthening reinforced concrete frame systems using composite panels. His research was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Tuna Ülger and Asst. Prof. Necati Mert. Prior to this, he completed his M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (2014-2016) at the same university, where he studied the effect of galleries on roller-compacted concrete dams under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Murat Emre Kartal. Additionally, he pursued a Master’s degree in Earthquake Engineering at Istanbul Technical University. His B.Sc. in Civil Engineering (2011) was earned at Karadeniz Technical University, where he researched optimal railway traverse distances.

Experience 🏢

Dr. Karabulut has extensive academic and professional experience in structural analysis and seismic engineering. He has been a Research Assistant since 2013, contributing to numerous engineering projects, earthquake assessments, and structural stability analyses. His international exposure includes Erasmus training at Lulea University of Technology, Sweden (2022), and the University of Seville, Spain (2018). His expertise extends to advanced computational modeling, structural testing, and software applications such as ANSYS, SAP2000, and Plaxis2D.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Karabulut’s research focuses on earthquake-resistant structures, composite material applications, and dam engineering. His studies emphasize seismic performance enhancement, nonlinear structural analysis, and the integration of advanced materials in civil engineering. His recent work includes machine learning applications in structural engineering and dynamic analysis of concrete structures.

Awards & Recognitions 🏆

Dr. Karabulut has received multiple awards for his contributions to civil engineering and earthquake research. He was granted the prestigious TÜBİTAK 2219 scholarship (2024-2025) for his postdoctoral research in Germany. His academic achievements and innovative research have been recognized through various conference presentations, journal publications, and collaborations with international researchers.

Publications 📚

Nonlinear Load-Deflection Analysis of Steel Rebar-Reinforced Concrete Beams – Buildings 2025 (Cited by X articles)

Mechanical and quasi-static puncture behavior of hybrid composites – Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 2024 (Cited by X articles)

Dynamic Analysis of Almagrera Tailings Dam – Sustainability 2024 (Cited by X articles)

Lateral Load Performance of Reinforced Concrete Frames with GFRP Braces – Journal of Structural Engineering & Applied Mechanics (2022) (Cited by X articles)

Seismic Analysis of Roller-Compacted Concrete Dams – Computers and Concrete 2020 (Cited by X articles)

Conclusion

Dr. Muhammet Karabulut is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his significant contributions to structural engineering, international research exposure, and technical expertise. Strengthening industry collaborations and expanding his research leadership could further solidify his impact in the field. 🏆