Rinal Prasad | Renewable Energy Management | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Rinal Prasad | Renewable Energy Management | Best Researcher Award

Teacher | University of Fiji | Fiji

Mr. Rinal Rinay Prasad, an accomplished Mathematics Teacher at Thames High School, is widely recognized for his expertise in mathematics, physics, and renewable energy education. He holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy Management from the University of Fiji, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and a Bachelor of Science with double majors in Mathematics and Physics from the University of the South Pacific. With extensive teaching and leadership experience across several distinguished institutions, Mr. Prasad has served as Head of Department for Science and Mathematics, leading curriculum innovations, sustainability projects, and academic excellence initiatives. His research and professional interests center on integrating renewable energy solutions and sustainable technologies in education, demonstrated through his leadership in projects such as the Zayed Sustainability Prize-winning initiative and solar and biogas system installations in schools. Mr. Prasad’s achievements include national and international recognitions such as the Digicel “All in for Fiji” Grant, Fiji Water Grant, and multiple distinctions in mathematics competitions. Beyond his teaching excellence, he contributes actively to student mentorship, environmental advocacy, and institutional development. Certified in Occupational Health and Safety, First Aid, and CPR, and a member of academic and sustainability networks, Mr. Prasad exemplifies innovation-driven leadership and educational commitment. His outstanding service, project leadership, and dedication to advancing science education and sustainability make him a deserving candidate for this award nomination.

Profile : ORCID

Featured Publication

1. Prasad, R. R. (2025). Decarbonising island kitchens: Assessing the small-scale flexible balloon digester’s clean cooking potential in Fiji. Energy for Sustainable Development, 80, 145–156.

Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Greening Impacts | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Greening Impacts | Best Researcher Award

Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Water and Land Resource Center | Ethiopia

Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta is an accomplished Ecosystem Specialist at the Water and Land Resource Center, Addis Ababa University, recognized for his expertise in environment and natural resource management. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography specializing in Environment and Natural Resource Management from Addis Ababa University, an M.Sc. in Environment focusing on GIS and Remote Sensing from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, an M.Sc. in Biology with a focus on Plant Ecology, and a B.Sc. in Biology from Addis Ababa University. With extensive experience in academia and applied research, he has played leading roles in national and international projects such as the R4D Woody Weeds, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Landscape Restoration, Basin Development and Transformation (BRIGHT), and Green Transition initiatives. His collaborations with global institutions including the World Resources Institute, International Institute of Sustainable Development, and CABI International have advanced the use of geospatial technologies, nature-based solutions, and sustainable land management practices across Ethiopia. Dr. Hailu’s research focuses on land use dynamics, ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and invasive species management, contributing to evidence-based policymaking and environmental governance. He has authored more than thirty publications in prestigious journals such as Nature-Based Solutions, Scientific Reports, Science of The Total Environment, and Ecological Indicators, with his findings influencing restoration strategies and conservation policies. A dedicated mentor and trainer, he has conducted numerous capacity-building programs in GIS, spatial analysis, and environmental planning for professionals and institutions. His work integrates science, innovation, and community engagement to enhance ecosystem resilience and promote sustainable development. With 1,811 citations, an h-index of 18, and an i10-index of 21, Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta stands as a leading scholar and practitioner in environmental research and sustainability.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publication

1. Linders, T. E. W., Schaffner, U., Eschen, R., Abebe, A., Choge, S. K., Nigatu, L., et al. (2019). Direct and indirect effects of invasive species: Biodiversity loss is a major mechanism by which an invasive tree affects ecosystem functioning. Journal of Ecology, 107(6), 2660–2672.

2. Shiferaw, H., Teketay, D., Nemomissa, S., & Assefa, F. (2004). Some biological characteristics that foster the invasion of Prosopis juliflora (SW.) DC at Middle Awash Rift Valley Area, north-eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments, 58(2), 135–154.

3. Shiferaw, H., Bewket, W., Alamirew, T., Zeleke, G., Teketay, D., Bekele, K., et al. (2019). Implications of land use/land cover dynamics and Prosopis invasion on ecosystem service values in Afar Region, Ethiopia. Science of the Total Environment, 675, 354–366.

4. Shiferaw, H., Bewket, W., & Eckert, S. (2019). Performances of machine learning algorithms for mapping fractional cover of an invasive plant species in a dryland ecosystem. Ecology and Evolution, 9, 2562–2574.

 

Niloofar Akbariansaravi | Circular Economy | Best Academic Researcher Award

Dr. Niloofar Akbariansaravi | Circular Economy | Best Academic Researcher Award

Postdoctoral Researcher | University of British Columbia | Canada

Dr. Niloofar Akbariansaravi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Sessional Lecturer at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan, specializing in Applied Operations Research, Business Analytics, and Sustainable Supply Chain Management. She holds dual PhDs in Mechanical Engineering from UBC and Industrial Engineering from the University of Tehran, complemented by a master’s in Industrial Engineering and a bachelor’s degree from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Her professional experience spans academia, industry, and entrepreneurship, including leadership roles in collaborative sustainability projects with bioenergy, bioplastic, and sawmilling sectors, and the founding of SustainPro Solutions Inc., a UBC spin-off promoting circular economy analytics. Dr. Akbariansaravi’s research focuses on developing data-driven Decision Support Systems (DSS), multi-criteria optimization frameworks, and techno-economic sustainability models to support environmentally responsible manufacturing and supply chain practices. She has authored multiple refereed journal articles, book chapters, and international conference papers, earning recognition through awards such as the Best Student Paper at the IISE Conference and competitive research fellowships from UBC, MITACS, and Lab-to-Market Canada. As an educator and mentor, she has guided numerous graduate students and contributed to interdisciplinary teaching in analytics and sustainability. Her professional affiliations and achievements include serving as a journal reviewer, conference chair, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification holder, and active member of leading research networks advancing sustainable industrial systems worldwide.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Rabbani, M., Oladzad-Abbasabady, N., & Akbarian-Saravi, N. (2022). Ambulance routing in disaster response considering variable patient condition: NSGA-II and MOPSO algorithms. Journal of Industrial & Management Optimization, 18(2), 148.

2. Rabbani, M., Saravi, N. A., Farrokhi-Asl, H., Lim, S. F. W. T., & Tahaei, Z. (2018). Developing a sustainable supply chain optimization model for switchgrass-based bioenergy production: A case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 200, 827–843.

3. Akbarian-Saravi, N., Mobini, M., & Rabbani, M. (2020). Development of a comprehensive decision support tool for strategic and tactical planning of a sustainable bioethanol supply chain: Real case study, discussions and policy implications. Journal of Cleaner Production, 244, 118871.

4. Rabbani, M., Mokarrari, K. R., & Akbarian-Saravi, N. (2021). A multi-objective location inventory routing problem with pricing decisions in a sustainable waste management system. Sustainable Cities and Society, 75, 103319.

5. Rabbani, M., Momen, S., Akbarian-Saravi, N., Farrokhi-Asl, H., & Ghelichi, Z. (2020). Optimal design for sustainable bioethanol supply chain considering the bioethanol production strategies: A case study. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 134, 106720.

Ramtin Moeini | Energy Production | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ramtin Moeini | Energy Production | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | University of Isfahan | Iran

Dr. Ramtin Moeini is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Isfahan, specializing in water engineering, hydraulic systems, and optimization of water and wastewater networks. He earned his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology, followed by M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering with a focus on Water Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology, where his research concentrated on intelligent optimization algorithms for reservoir operation and network design. Dr. Moeini has extensive teaching experience across undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs in subjects including fluid mechanics, hydraulic structures, water resource system analysis, and municipal water management. His professional experience encompasses leading advanced research projects on reservoir operation, water distribution networks, and urban water management, often integrating meta-heuristic algorithms such as ant colony optimization, artificial bee colony, and hybrid computational models. He has authored numerous high-impact publications in internationally recognized journals, contributed to conference proceedings worldwide, and actively participates in research collaborations addressing water resources and hydraulic system optimization. Dr. Moeini has received multiple recognitions for his contributions, holds editorial and reviewer roles in leading journals, and is a member of professional engineering associations. His innovative work in modeling, simulation, and optimization has significantly advanced the design and management of water systems, According to Scopus, his research record includes 848 citations, 48 documents, and an h-index of 16.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. (2025). Pressure management and energy production approaches in urban water distribution networks using pumps as turbines. Energy Reports.

2. (2025). Optimal operation of the non-drinking water distribution network considering future conditions: Case study of Isfahan University non-drinking water distribution network. Results in Engineering.

3. (2025). Graph theory-based algorithm to define district metered areas considering hydraulic conditions. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.

4. (2025). Quality simulation of dam reservoir using GP model: Case study of ZayandehRoud dam reservoir. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Diana Berman | Tribology | Best Academic Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Diana Berman | Tribology | Best Academic Researcher Award

Associate Professor | University of North Texas | United States

Dr. Diana Berman, Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of North Texas and Director of the Tribology Center at the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute, is a leading expert in functional nanostructured materials and tribology. She earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Physics from North Carolina State University and her B.S. in Applied Physics and Mathematics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Her professional trajectory spans key research roles at Argonne National Laboratory and leadership in academia, where she has directed transformative projects on multicomponent ceramics, carbon-based materials, and advanced coating technologies for friction and wear reduction. Dr. Berman’s research focuses on synthesis, structure–property relationships, and environment–material interactions, with a prolific record of publications, patents, and invited talks contributing significantly to the advancement of superlubricity and nanomaterials. Her work has earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the NSF CAREER Award, Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award, and recognition among the Top 2% of scientists worldwide. She actively serves on editorial boards such as Nature Scientific Reports and Tribology Letters, and holds leadership positions in professional organizations including the American Vacuum Society and the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. A dedicated mentor and innovator, she has supervised graduate and undergraduate researchers, contributed to major research funding initiatives, and advanced international collaborations. Professionally: 7,091 Citations, Documents 119, Documents 33 in Scopus.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Berman, D., Erdemir, A., & Sumant, A. V. (2014). Graphene: A new emerging lubricant. Materials Today, 17(1), 31–42.

2. Berman, D., Deshmukh, S. A., Sankaranarayanan, S. K. R. S., Erdemir, A., & Sumant, A. V. (2015). Macroscale superlubricity enabled by graphene nanoscroll formation. Science, 348(6239), 1118–1122.

3. Berman, D., Erdemir, A., & Sumant, A. V. (2013). Few layer graphene to reduce wear and friction on sliding steel surfaces. Carbon, 54, 454–459.

4. Berman, D., Erdemir, A., & Sumant, A. V. (2013). Reduced wear and friction enabled by graphene layers on sliding steel surfaces in dry nitrogen. Carbon, 59, 167–175.

5. Berman, D., Erdemir, A., & Sumant, A. V. (2018). Approaches for achieving superlubricity in two-dimensional materials. ACS Nano, 12(3), 2122–2137.

 

Monika Sharma | Engineering | Best Academic Researcher Award

Dr. Monika Sharma | Engineering | Best Academic Researcher Award

Associate Professor | The Technological Institute of Textile and Sciences | India

Dr. Monika Sharma, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The Technological Institute of Textile & Sciences, Bhiwani, is a distinguished academic specializing in computer engineering with a strong focus on big data, computer networks, web engineering, and programming. She holds a Ph.D. and Pre-Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Baba Mast Nath University, along with a Master of Technology in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology, both with honors from Maharshi Dayanand University. With over seventeen years of teaching and mentoring experience, she has guided postgraduate scholars, supervised research projects, and actively contributed to academic leadership, including mentoring student societies and organizing technical events. Her research contributions span peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, complemented by authorship of book chapters and active engagement in professional development programs. She is a lifetime member of the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) and an active member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), with significant involvement in knowledge dissemination through guest lectures, workshops, and conferences. Dr. Sharma’s dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering academic excellence has earned her recognition as a respected educator and researcher. Her scholarly impact is demonstrated through 1,740 citations, 103 documents, and an h-index of 21, as indexed in Scopus.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

1. Transition from hard to soft Co-Ni ferrites with Cr incorporation: Novel insights into cation distribution and ferromagnetic resonance. (2025). Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.

2. Indoor particle number concentration measurements across different income group households in urban region. (2025). Urban Climate.

3. A systematic study of polytypism in melt & solution grown crystals of cadmium iodide doped with anionic & cationic impurities. (2025). Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics.

4. Impact of the odd–even scheme on particulate matter reduction in Delhi traffic intersections. (2025). Particulate Science and Technology.

5. Indoor air pollution and exposure analysis in different residential dwellings of a South Asian urban city. (2025). Particulate Science and Technology.