Roger Falconer | Water Science | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Roger Falconer | Water Science | Best Researcher Award

Emeritus Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering, Cardiff University, United Kingdom 

Roger Falconer is an internationally renowned expert in Hydro-Environmental Modelling 🌊 and Flood Risk Modelling 🌧️. He serves as Emeritus Professor of Water and Environmental Engineering at Cardiff University and holds professorial roles in leading Chinese institutions 🇨🇳. As a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering 🏅 and a Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he has shaped water security strategies globally 🌍. With 7000+ Scopus citations and over 70 supervised PhDs, his contributions span academic, policy, and industrial applications in water systems, flooding, and tidal renewable energy ⚡.

Profile

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🎓 Education

Roger Falconer’s academic journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from King’s College London 🎓, followed by a Master’s (MSCE) from the University of Washington 🇺🇸. He earned a PhD DIC from Imperial College London and later received prestigious higher doctorates: DEng from the University of Birmingham and DSc(Eng) from Imperial College London 📘. In 2022, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Engineering by the University of Bradford in recognition of his distinguished engineering leadership 🏗️.

💼 Experience

Roger Falconer began his academic career as a Lecturer in Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Birmingham (1977–86), advancing to Professor of Environmental Hydraulics and Department Head at the University of Bradford (1986–97) 🏫. At Cardiff University, he served as Professor (1997–2018) and now holds the title of Emeritus Professor. Internationally, he has held honorary roles in leading Chinese universities and advised major institutions on hydro-environmental issues 🌐.

🔬 Research Interest

His research focuses on Hydro-Environmental Modelling, Flood Risk Modelling, Tidal Renewable Energy, and Global Water Security 🌐. Roger pioneered modelling tools such as DIVAST, a key engine in the widely used Flood Modeller software 💻. His models support over 100 global environmental impact assessments and are used by 60+ academic institutions worldwide 🌍. His recent work expands to tidal lagoons and barrages, helping shape sustainable water infrastructure for the future 🌊.

🏆 Awards

Roger Falconer is a Fellow of four prestigious academies, including the Royal Academy of Engineering (1997) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (2019) 🌟. He has received multiple honorary memberships and chaired the REF2014 Civil Engineering panel in the UK 🇬🇧. As a prolific speaker, he’s delivered 40+ keynotes and held lectures at 570+ institutions worldwide. His impact on water engineering has been recognized globally through awards, lectureships, and scientific advisory roles 🥇.

📚 Publications

Modelling and Forecasting Processes in Urban Environments (2025) – Hydrology
📑 Cited by: TBD

An Approach for IoT-Based Smart Sensors Placement (2025) – EGU
📑 Cited by: TBD

Monsoonal Extreme Rainfall in Southeast Asia: A Review (2024) – Water
📑 Cited by: TBD

Impact of West Somerset Lagoon on Water Renewal (2024) – EGU
📑 Cited by: TBD

The Influence of Open Boundary Location on Tidal Lagoon Modelling (2023) – EGU
📑 Cited by: TBD

Dynamic Tracing of Fecal Bacteria Using 2D/3D Models (2022) – River
📑 Cited by: TBD

A Unified Formula for Discharge Capacity of Street Inlets (2022) – Journal of Hydrology
📑 Cited by: 5+

Flood Risk Assessment of People and Vehicles (2022) – Science of The Total Environment
📑 Cited by: 10+

Water Security: Why We Need Global Solutions (2021) – Engineering
📑 Cited by: 25+

Tidal Energy Generation Schemes Using Genetic Algorithms (2021) – Applied Energy
📑 Cited by: 15+

Conclusion

Roger Falconer is highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award due to his remarkable contributions to hydro-environmental modelling, his substantial academic output, and his leadership within the field. His models and research have global relevance, especially in addressing complex issues related to water security and sustainable development. With continued collaboration in interdisciplinary fields, Falconer has the potential to influence future water management strategies and policies on a global scale.

Hans Jørgen Henriksen | Water Resources | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen | Water Resources | Best Researcher Award

Hydrologist at Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland GEUS, Denmark

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen is a seasoned hydrologist with extensive experience in both national and international research. He earned his M.Sc. in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Hydrology from the Technical University of Denmark in 1982 and later completed a Master’s in Psychology of Organization from Roskilde University in 2005. Since 1993, he has been working as a Senior Advisor in the Department of Hydrology at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS). Mr. Henriksen has also held positions at organizations such as Rambøll and Hedeselskabet earlier in his career. He has led and participated in numerous high-impact projects related to climate change adaptation, groundwater modeling, and disaster risk reduction. With a publication record of 39 papers and over 2,600 citations, Mr. Henriksen’s work is highly regarded in the field of hydrology and environmental science.

Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

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Education 🎓

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Hydrology from the Technical University of Denmark, which he completed in 1982. In addition to his technical expertise in hydrology, he pursued further interdisciplinary education and earned a Master’s in Psychology of Organization (MPO) from Roskilde University in 2005. This combination of engineering and organizational psychology equips Mr. Henriksen with a unique perspective on both the technical and managerial aspects of hydrological research and projects.

Experience 💼

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen has a distinguished career in hydrology, spanning several decades with significant contributions to both national and international research projects. Since 1993, he has served as a Senior Advisor in the Department of Hydrology at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), where he has been instrumental in advancing hydrological research and climate change adaptation strategies. His past roles include working as a Hydrologist at Rambøll (1989-1993), Tage Sørensen (1987-1989), and Hedeselskabet (1982-1987), where he focused on hydrological and environmental assessments. Mr. Henriksen has been the project leader and a key participant in various high-profile projects, such as the NORDRESS project (2014-2019) on resilience and societal security, the AquaClew project (2017-2020) focused on advancing climate services for European water systems, and the NAIAD project (2017-2019), which assessed nature-based insurance values. Additionally, he has contributed to the development of the Hydrological Information and Prognosis System (HIP) as part of Denmark’s Digital Strategy. His leadership and expertise have been central to the success of multiple EU research initiatives, including NEWATER (2006-2009), which addressed adaptive management strategies under uncertainty.

Research Interests 🔍

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen’s research interests are deeply rooted in hydrology, climate change adaptation, and the integration of advanced modelling techniques for water management. His primary focus is on hydrological modelling, particularly the effects of climate change on groundwater and extreme runoff. He has explored innovative approaches in shallow groundwater level modelling and integrated assessment, utilizing advanced tools such as the HUGIN QGIS plug-in for machine learning. Mr. Henriksen is also involved in developing digital twin technologies for climate change adaptation, water management, and disaster risk reduction. His work emphasizes the use of high-resolution water table modelling and knowledge-guided decision-making using machine learning algorithms, such as gradient boosting decision trees. Additionally, he has conducted significant research on climate projections, aquifer resilience, and river basin management, with an aim to improve the management and sustainability of water resources under changing environmental conditions.

Publications Top Notes 📚

Title: Selecting among five common modelling approaches for integrated environmental assessment and management

  • Authors: RA Kelly, AJ Jakeman, O Barreteau, ME Borsuk, S ElSawah, SH Hamilton, et al.
  • Journal: Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Volume: 47
  • Pages: 159-181
  • Cited by: 833
  • Year: 2013

Title: Modelling guidelines––terminology and guiding principles

  • Authors: JC Refsgaard, HJ Henriksen
  • Journal: Advances in Water Resources
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 1
  • Pages: 71-82
  • Cited by: 590
  • Year: 2004

Title: Methodology for construction, calibration and validation of a national hydrological model for Denmark

  • Authors: HJ Henriksen, L Troldborg, P Nyegaard, TO Sonnenborg, JC Refsgaard, et al.
  • Journal: Journal of Hydrology
  • Volume: 280
  • Issue: 1-4
  • Pages: 52-71
  • Cited by: 478
  • Year: 2003

Title: Quality assurance in model based water management–review of existing practice and outline of new approaches

  • Authors: JC Refsgaard, HJ Henriksen, WG Harrar, H Scholten, A Kassahun
  • Journal: Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue: 10
  • Pages: 1201-1215
  • Cited by: 244
  • Year: 2005

Title: Public participation modelling using Bayesian networks in management of groundwater contamination

  • Authors: HJ Henriksen, P Rasmussen, G Brandt, D Von Buelow, FV Jensen
  • Journal: Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue: 8
  • Pages: 1101-1113
  • Cited by: 236
  • Year: 2007

Title: Assessment of exploitable groundwater resources of Denmark by use of ensemble resource indicators and a numerical groundwater–surface water model

  • Authors: HJ Henriksen, L Troldborg, AL Højberg, JC Refsgaard
  • Journal: Journal of Hydrology
  • Volume: 348
  • Issue: 1-2
  • Pages: 224-240
  • Cited by: 206
  • Year: 2008

Title: Bayesian networks in environmental and resource management

  • Authors: DN Barton, S Kuikka, O Varis, L Uusitalo, HJ Henriksen, M Borsuk, et al.
  • Journal: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue: 3
  • Pages: 418-429
  • Cited by: 205
  • Year: 2012

Conclusion

Mr. Hans Jørgen Henriksen’s long-standing contributions to hydrology, climate change research, and water management, alongside his ability to integrate innovative tools like digital twins and machine learning into his research, make him a prime candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His career is marked by influential research, leadership in high-profile projects, and a commitment to addressing global environmental challenges through science and technology.