Kristen McNamara | Plant Stress Physiology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Kristen McNamara | Plant Stress Physiology | Best Researcher Award

Southern Rural Water | Australia

Kristen McNamara is an environmental scientist and climate change professional with extensive experience in natural resource management, conservation, and policy implementation. She holds a Master of Environment from The University of Melbourne, where she focused on climate adaptation, mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and circular economy principles, and a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) with Honors from The University of Queensland. Currently serving as Climate Change & Environment Lead at Southern Rural Water, Kristen has led initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions, developed the company’s Climate Adaptation Plan under the Climate Change Act (2017), and facilitated multi-unit committees to drive climate action. Her international experience includes serving as a youth delegate at UNFCCC COP25, coordinating coral reef and turtle conservation projects in Malaysia, and engaging in community-led environmental programs across Australia. Kristen’s research interests span climate policy, water resource management, blue carbon ecosystems, and sustainable agricultural practices. She has published multiple papers in environmental science and conservation. Recognized for leadership and innovation, she has received awards including the Dean of Science Leadership Award, the Our Catchments, Our Communities Women in Leadership Grant, and various marine conservation prizes. Kristen continues to advance sustainable environmental solutions while mentoring future leaders in climate action.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

McNamara, K., Greet, J., Mole, B., & Jones, C. S. (2025). Livestock grazing and dense willow shading negatively impact instream plant growth. River Research and Applications.

Urjashi Bhattacharya | Agronomic Practices | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Urjashi Bhattacharya | Agronomic Practices | Best Researcher Award

The Neotia University | India

Dr. U. Bhattacharya is an agronomy scholar and educator with a doctoral degree specializing in conservation agriculture, climate-smart farming, and integrated nutrient management. Over four years as a university research scholar, she has conducted intensive research on rice–pulse cropping systems, focusing on enhancing ecosystem services (soil, air, and water) in the Gangetic Plains through sustainable agronomic practices. Her M.Sc. work examined the effects of nitrogen levels on a heat-tolerant potato variety, while her Ph.D. thesis explored the management of rice followed by lentil under conservation tillage and varying nutrient doses. She participated in the SRFSI project (in collaboration with ACIAR) in the Eastern Gangetic Plains, gaining experience in resilient farming system intensification. Dr. Bhattacharya is proficient in experiment planning, statistical analysis, instrument handling, and scientific communication, and has presented her research at several national and international seminars on soil health, sustainable agriculture, agrochemicals, climate resilience, and biodiversity. She has published multiple peer-reviewed papers in crop science and agronomy, holds an h-index of 4 with six publications and 294 citations, and has received certificates of excellence in peer review along with a design patent for a portable crop diagnostic spectrometer. Passionate about advancing agricultural education and research, she aspires to excel as a faculty member in plant science academia, inspiring students through innovative teaching and pursuing high-impact interdisciplinary research in sustainable agriculture.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bhattacharya, U., & Sarkar, S. (2018). Conservation agriculture: A climate-smart approach to achieve zero hunger. Current Advances in Agricultural Sciences, 18(2), 78–83.

Bhattacharya, U., Saha, A., & Saha, A. (2019). Response of heat tolerant variety (Kufri Surya) of potato (Solanum tuberosum) under different levels of nitrogen. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 37(1), 1–7.

Bhattacharya, U., Sarkar, S., & Dewanjee, S. (2019). Bio-efficacy evaluation of oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC for controlling weeds in potato crop. Journal of Crop and Weed, 15(3), 201–208.

Maitra, S., Hossain, A., Brestic, M., Skalicky, M., Ondrisik, P., Gitari, H., Brahmachari, K., Shankar, T., Bhadra, P., Palai, J. B., Jena, J., Bhattacharya, U., Duvvada, S. K., Lalichetti, S., & Sairam, M. (2021). Intercropping—A low input agricultural strategy for food and environmental security. Agronomy, 11(2), 1–28.

Bhattacharya, U., Naskar, M. K., Venugopalan, V. K., Sarkar, S., Bandopadhyay, P., Maitra, S., Gaber, A., Alsuhaibani, A. M., & Hossain, A. (2023). Implications of minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management on yield and soil health of rice-lentil cropping system – being a resource conservation technology. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, Article 1225986.

Roshan Babu Adhikari | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Roshan Babu Adhikari | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Third Pole Conservancy | Nepal

Author Profile

Scopus
Orcid ID

🌟  Suitable for this Best Researcher Award

Dr. Roshan Babu Adhikari is a dedicated zoologist with over six years of experience in clinical and veterinary parasitology. His extensive research focuses on Sustainable Agriculture, particularly in understanding host-parasite dynamics that affect livestock health and agricultural productivity. Dr. Adhikari’s work has significantly contributed to developing eco-friendly farming practices by addressing parasitic challenges in agriculture.

🎓 Education 

Dr. Adhikari earned his Master of Science in Zoology (Parasitology) from the Central Department of Zoology (CDZ), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2019, achieving a GPA of 3.71. His academic journey has equipped him with a profound understanding of parasitology, molecular biology, and disease epidemiology, forming a solid foundation for his research in Sustainable Agriculture.

 💼  Professional Experience

  • Assistant Professor of Zoology at Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences (NAIHS), Kathmandu, Nepal (06/2022 – Present).

  • Wildlife Biologist at Third Pole Conservancy (TPC), Bhaktapur, Nepal (03/2019 – Present).

  • Research Assistant at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Lalitpur, Nepal (08/2018 – 12/2020).

In these roles, Dr. Adhikari has led numerous research projects focusing on Sustainable Agriculture, particularly in the areas of host-parasite dynamics, zoonosis, and disease epidemiology, contributing significantly to the field.

🏅 Awards and Recognition 

Dr. Adhikari was awarded the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund grant in 2023, recognizing his exceptional work in wildlife conservation and its intersection with Sustainable Agriculture. His research has garnered 231 citations, with an h-index of 10 and an i10-index of 10, reflecting the significant impact of his contributions to the scientific community.

🌍Research skills On Agriculture

Dr. Adhikari possesses extensive experience in conducting field surveys, including sample collection and preservation protocols. He is proficient in laboratory processing of biological samples for parasitic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. His expertise extends to data analysis and presentation, utilizing tools such as MS Office Suite, SPSS, and basic R programming, along with GIS mapping and camera trapping techniques. These skills are instrumental in advancing research in Sustainable Agriculture.

📖Publications

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758) in Central Nepal
  • Authors: Roshan Babu Adhikari; Madhuri Adhikari Dhakal; Purna Bahadur Ale; Ganga Ram Regmi; Tirth Raj Ghimire

  • Journal: Veterinary Medicine and Science

  • Year: 2025

Investigation of the Occurrence of Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites along the Karmanasa River Bank in Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Authors: Roshan Babu Adhikari; Diksha Ghimire; Tirth Raj Ghimire

  • Journal: Veterinary Medicine and Science

  • Year: 2025

Gastrointestinal parasites among Musahar Community in Balan-Bihul, Saptari, Nepal
  • Authors: Bhagwati Prasad Yadav; Janak Raj Subedi; Roshan Babu Adhikari

  • Journal: Nepalese Journal of Zoology

  • Year: 2024

Ethnozoological study of Tamang people in Konjyosom Rural Municipality, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Authors: Alisha Kunwar; Dipa Rai; Roman Pandey; Roshan Babu Adhikari; Tirth Raj Ghimire

  • Journal: Nepalese Journal of Zoology

  • Year: 2024

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in street dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) with highlights on zoonosis in Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Authors: Roshan Babu Adhikari; Madhuri Adhikari Dhakal; Tirth Raj Ghimire

  • Journal: Veterinary Medicine and Science

  • Year: 2023