Joseph Ovwemuvwose | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Mr. Joseph Ovwemuvwose | Plant Ecology | Research Excellence Award

Imperial College | United Kingdom

Dr. Joseph Ovwemuvwose is a Ph.D. candidate in next-generation global biogeochemical cycle modelling at Imperial College London (2022–2026), supervised by Prof. Ian C. Prentice and Dr. Heather Graven. He holds an MSc in Crop Improvement from the University of Nottingham and a BSc in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Benin. His research focuses on global carbon flux modelling, land-use change impacts, terrestrial biosphere models, and carbon cycle feedbacks under rising CO₂. He has developed algorithms in Python to classify global vegetation by carbon use, evaluated and compared multiple global models for land-use and CO₂ sensitivity, and is author of a manuscript (under review) on uncertainty in land carbon fluxes simulated by CMIP6 models. Beyond modelling, he has conducted experimental work on plant water uptake and carbon allocation using portable NMR during a post-graduate stint in Montpellier/IRD. His experience spans project coordination (including a pan-African modelling-training initiative), science communication (working with the Science Museum Group), and teaching at Imperial College. He has presented at multiple international conferences and secured funding for collaborative research. Recipient of a fully-funded Chevening MSc scholarship and a Shell Petroleum Development Company undergraduate scholarship, he combines strong academic credentials, interdisciplinary experience, and a passion for bridging science, education, and public engagement.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Prof. Dr. Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

Ryukoku University | Japan

Prof. Dr. Kaori Shiojiri is a distinguished ecologist recognized for her expertise in chemical ecology and plant–insect interactions. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Agriculture from Kyoto University, specializing in Environmental Science and Technology. Following her doctoral training, she completed prestigious JSPS Research Fellowships, including international research work at the University of California, Davis and further research at Kyoto University’s Center for Ecological Research. She later served as an Assistant Professor under the Hakubi Project at Kyoto University’s Institute for Advanced Study before joining Ryukoku University, where she progressed from Lecturer to Associate Professor and currently serves as Professor in the Graduate School of Agriculture. Her research focuses on plant volatile–mediated communication, tritrophic interactions, ecological signaling, and sustainable agricultural systems. According to Google Scholar, she holds an h-index of 28 with 2881 citations, reflecting her strong publication record and scientific impact. She has received multiple honors, including awards from the Ecological Society of Japan, the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology, the Japan Prize for Agricultural Science (Young Scientists), the Tachibana Award for Outstanding Women Researchers, the Morita Award, and the Miyadi Award. Her work continues to advance ecological understanding and strengthen environmentally sustainable agricultural innovation.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Shiojiri, K., & Karban, R. (2006). Plant age, communication, and resistance to herbivores: Young sagebrush plants are better emitters and receivers. Oecologia.

Tanaka, T., Ikeda, A., Shiojiri, K., Ozawa, R., Shiki, K., Nagai-Kunihiro, N., … Arimura, G. (2018). Identification of a hexenal reductase that modulates the composition of green leaf volatiles. Plant Physiology.

Shiojiri, K., & Takabayashi, J. (2003). Effects of specialist parasitoids on oviposition preference of phytophagous insects: Encounter–dilution effects in a tritrophic interaction. Ecological Entomology.

Shiojiri, K., Ozawa, R., Matsui, K., Sabelis, M. W., & Takabayashi, J. (2012). Intermittent exposure to traces of green leaf volatiles triggers a plant response. Scientific Reports.

Sukegawa, S., Shiojiri, K., Higami, T., Suzuki, S., & Arimura, G. (2018). Pest management using mint volatiles to elicit resistance in soy: Mechanism and application potential. The Plant Journal,

Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Plant Scientist

Prof. Dr. Jose González-Andújar | Invasive Plant Species | Editorial Board Member

Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (CSIC) | Spain

Dr. José Luis González Andújar is a leading researcher in weed science and agroecology, currently serving as a senior scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Córdoba, Spain. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid and has built an outstanding academic career. His scientific impact is reflected in an approximate, including the Weed Science Group and the Weed Agroecology Research Group (AGR-271), and has held major administrative roles such as Scientific Director of the International Laboratory on Global Change. His research focuses on weed ecology, population modelling, integrated weed management, decision-support tools, and climate-change impacts on agroecosystems. He has supervised numerous PhD and MSc theses, taught in more than 30 international courses, and served as guest or visiting professor across Europe and the Americas. Recognized widely for his contributions, he has received prestigious honors including the WSSA Honorary Member Award, OECD Fellowship, and several national research merit distinctions.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Kattge, J., Bönisch, G., Díaz, S., Lavorel, S., Prentice, I. C., Leadley, P., … González-Andújar, J. L. (2020). TRY plant trait database–enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Fernández-Quintanilla, C. (1991). Modelling the population dynamics of Avena sterilis under dry-land cereal cropping systems. Journal of Applied Ecology.

Dorado, J., Sousa, E., Calha, I. M., González-Andújar, J. L., … (2009). Predicting weed emergence in maize crops under two contrasting climatic conditions. Weed Research.

Perry, J. N., & González-Andujar, J. L. (1993). Dispersal in a metapopulation neighbourhood model of an annual plant with a seedbank. Journal of Ecology.

González-Andújar, J. L., & Saavedra, M. (2003). Spatial distribution of annual grass weed populations in winter cereals. Crop Protection,

Xiaodong Yan | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Scholar Award

Published on by Plant Scientist

Mr. Xiaodong Yan | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Scholar Award

Business School | China

Dr Xiaodong Yan is a doctoral candidate at the Business School of Hohai University in Nanjing, China, following an M.S. in Geographical Sciences from Liaoning Normal University and a B.S. in Hydraulic & Electric Power from Heilongjiang University. His research focuses on the coupling and spatial-transfer dynamics of the water-energy-food nexus, particularly in the context of Chinese provinces and inter-regional networks, as evidenced by several published articles including one in Resources, Conservation & Recycling. As of now, he has an h-index of 5, with 191 citations and 12 academic publications, reflecting his growing impact in the fields of environmental systems and sustainable development. Through his master’s research he demonstrated proficiency in tools such as ArcGIS, EViews and MATLAB, published five papers during that period, and received multiple honours including “Outstanding Graduates of Liaoning Province 2020”, “Outstanding Master’s Thesis” and “Outstanding Student Cadre”. His strong self-regulation, rigorous research attitude and critical-thinking skills underpin his work bridging resource-system modelling, input-output frameworks and ecological network analysis. Going forward he aims to deepen understanding of resource-system security and spatial nexus interdependencies, contributing to sustainable regional development.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Wang, F., Cao, Y., & Yan, X. (2025). A novel prediction framework for the impact of climate change on spring maize yield in major grain producing areas. Environment, Development and Sustainability.

Chen, J., Wang, Y., Ding, T., & Yan, X. (2025). Evaluation and analysis of urban ecosystem health with an optimized machine-learning model to promote ecological differentiated management in metropolitan areas. Journal of Urban Planning and Development.

Yan, X., Wang, F., Wan, X., Han, M., & Xu, J. (2025). Promotion or inhibition? Pathways and impact characteristics analysis of carbon emissions in urban water systems under water-carbon-society multi-factor interactions. Sustainable Cities and Society.

Guo, S., & Yan, X. (2025). Investigation of industrial structure upgrading, energy consumption transition, and carbon emissions: Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China. Sustainability.

Wan, X., Tian, G., Xia, Q., Yan, X., Ban, Q., & Zhao, Q. (2025). Spatial and temporal evolution of the physical-virtual water cycle and its economic coupling effects in China: A material flow analysis perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production