Angeliki Paraskevopoulou | Landscape Architecture | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Angeliki Paraskevopoulou | Landscape Architecture | Best Researcher Award

Associated Professor | Agricultural University of Athens | Greece

Ms. Angeliki Paraskevopoulou is a distinguished researcher in landscape architecture, urban green infrastructure, and ornamental plant science, with extensive experience in academia and professional practice across Greece and the UK. Her work bridges agricultural science, environmental design, and landscape management, focusing on resilient public spaces, historical parks, therapeutic landscapes, and climate-responsive planting strategies. She has contributed significantly to sustainable landscape planning through numerous research projects funded by European, national, and local organizations, addressing themes such as urban heat mitigation, nature-based solutions, agroecology, and ecological restoration. Her research portfolio includes studies on schoolyard greening, healing gardens, post-fire landscape perceptions, visitor needs in historical parks, and the impact of environmental features on human wellbeing, employing innovative tools such as biosensors and perception analysis. Her publication record in reputable international journals showcases her interdisciplinary expertise and her ability to integrate scientific evidence into practical design approaches. With an early career shaped by agronomy and landscape architecture, she developed strong foundations in plant science, horticulture, and community-centered design, complemented by award-winning contributions at major horticultural exhibitions. She continues to enhance academic excellence through teaching, supervising research, and reviewing scientific manuscripts. Paraskevopoulou’s leadership in collaborative initiatives underscores her dedication to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and culturally informed landscape transformations, supporting greener cities and climate-adaptive public spaces, as reflected in her academic footprint with 430 citations by 399 documents, 49 documents, and an h-index of 13.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Kotsiris, G., Nektarios, P. A., & Paraskevopoulou, A. T. (2012). Lavandula angustifolia growth and physiology is affected by substrate type and depth when grown under Mediterranean semi-intensive green roof conditions. HortScience, 47(2), 311–317.

Akoumianaki-Ioannidou, A., Paraskevopoulou, A. T., & Tachou, V. (2016). School grounds as a resource of green space to increase child-plant contact. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 20, 375–386.

Gkoltsiou, A., & Paraskevopoulou, A. (2021). Landscape character assessment, perception surveys of stakeholders and SWOT analysis: A holistic approach to historical public park management. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 35, 100418.

Paraskevopoulou, A. T., & Kamperi, E. (2018). Design of hospital healing gardens linked to pre- or post-occupancy research findings. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 7(3), 395–414.

Paraskevopoulou, A. T., Kamperi, E., Demiris, N., Economou, M., Theleritis, C., & others. (2018). The impact of seasonal colour change in planting on patients with psychotic disorders using biosensors. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 36, 50–56.

Rifat Olgun | Landscape Architecure | Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof. Dr. Rifat Olgun | Landscape Architecure | Best Researcher Award

Landscape Architecture, Akdeniz University, Turkey

🌿 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rifat Olgun is an expert in Landscape Architecture, currently serving at Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey. With a strong academic background and over a decade of experience in both teaching and research, Dr. Olgun has significantly contributed to the field of urban planning, landscape design, and sustainability. His research primarily focuses on sustainable green spaces, urban ecology, and public satisfaction with green areas. Dr. Olgun’s dedication to his work is reflected in his numerous publications and his commitment to fostering future landscape architects.

Profile

Googlescholar

Strengths for the Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rifat Olgun has a diverse and interdisciplinary educational background in landscape architecture and public administration. His Ph.D. research focused on sustainable urban green space planning, which is highly relevant to environmental research. He has extensive teaching experience and a strong publication record in urban sustainability, green spaces, and public satisfaction, with multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals. His expertise in GIS-based analysis and sustainable design solutions, as well as his leadership roles in projects, demonstrate significant contributions to his field.

Areas for Improvement

While Dr. Olgun’s work in landscape architecture and green space sustainability is commendable, expanding his research into more global or cross-disciplinary collaborations could further strengthen his candidacy. Additionally, focusing more on practical implementations and measurable impacts of his sustainability strategies at a larger, international scale would enhance his portfolio.

Education

🎓 Dr. Rifat Olgun has a comprehensive academic background in Landscape Architecture, which includes a Ph.D. from Istanbul Technical University (2014-2018), an MSc from Akdeniz University (2011-2013), and a BSc from Istanbul University (2006-2010). In addition to his focus on landscape architecture, he expanded his expertise with degrees in Public Administration from Anadolu University (2012-2016) and Justice from AtatĂĽrk University (2020 – Ongoing).

Experience

đź’Ľ Dr. Olgun has served as an Associate Professor at Akdeniz University since 2020, where he also worked as a Doctor Lecturer from 2019 to 2020. His earlier academic journey included being a Research Assistant at both Akdeniz and Nigde University. In addition, Dr. Olgun gained practical experience as a landscape architect at Cekirdek Landscape Design Office (2010-2012). His professional development began with internships at the Antalya-Kepez Municipality and Fidan Botanic Garden.

Research Interest

🔍 Dr. Olgun’s research interests revolve around sustainable urban planning, strategic green space development, and landscape ecology. He explores innovative design solutions to combat urban issues such as vandalism in green areas and advocates for accessible, ecologically viable urban spaces. His work also includes developing sustainable cycling paths and improving user satisfaction with urban parks and playgrounds.

Awards

🏆 Dr. Olgun has received recognition for his impactful research and academic contributions, which include various citations and commendations from international journals and conferences. His leadership in environmental and urban studies has been instrumental in shaping green spaces in medium-sized cities in Turkey.

Publications

📝 Key Publications

BENLIAY, A., YILMAZ, T., OLGUN, R., & AK, M. K. (2020). NDVI Indicated Changes in Vegetation and Their Relations to Climatic Comfort Factors in Demre-Akçay Sub Basin Turkey. Journal of Environmental Biology, 41(2), 344-350. [Cited by 12 articles]

OLGUN, R. (2020). Sustainable Bicycle Path Planning for Medium-Sized Cities Using GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision-Making Analysis: A Case Study from Turkey. Turkish Journal of Science and Technology, 15(1), 19-28. [Cited by 8 articles]

YILMAZ, T., OLGUN, R., & GUL, S. (2020). Evaluation of Antalya Konyaaltı Coastline in Terms of User Satisfaction. IBAD Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), 245-257. [Cited by 5 articles]

ERDOGAN, R., KAYA, M., & OLGUN, R. (2020). Evaluation of Children’s Playgrounds in Parks in Terms of User Opinions: The Case of Sivas City. Journal of Human Sciences, 17(1), 117-130. [Cited by 4 articles]

OLGUN, R., & YILMAZ, T. (2019). A WOT Method in Determination of Sustainable Strategic Objectives Towards Open Green Areas in Medium-Sized Cities: The Case of Nigde, Turkey. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 28(7), 5188-5194. [Cited by 9 articles]

OLGUN, R., & YILMAZ, T. (2019). Evaluation of Zoning Plans with Landscape Ecology Approach: The Case of Nigde City. SĂĽleyman Demirel University Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 23(3), 770-779. [Cited by 6 articles]

OLGUN, R. (2019). Urban Green Space System Proposal for Medium-Sized Cities: The Case of Nigde City. Artium, 7(1), 57-69. [Cited by 5 articles]

OLGUN, R. (2019). Landscape Design Approaches to Improve Accessibility of Urban Parks for Visually Impaired People. Turkish Journal of Forest Science, 3(2), 170-181. [Cited by 7 articles]

Conclusion

Dr. Olgun is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his comprehensive research and dedication to sustainable urban design. By expanding his international collaborations and impact, his work could further influence global landscape architecture and urban sustainability practices.