Hyun Je Oh | Climate Change | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Hyun Je Oh | Climate Change | Research Excellence Award

KICT/UST | South Korea

Hyun Je Oh is a seasoned civil and environmental engineer whose academic journey at Yonsei University includes a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, a master’s in Environmental Engineering, and a doctorate in Civil & Environmental Engineering. He has built a long-standing career as a Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Construction Technology (KICT), while also serving as a Professor at the University of Science & Technology (UST), contributing extensively to education and research mentorship. Over his professional tenure, he has led more than one hundred national research and development projects, focusing on advancing technologies in water treatment, wastewater management, water quality evaluation, and sustainable environmental engineering practices. His scholarly achievements include more than fifty peer-reviewed publications, most of them indexed at the SCI(E) level, and over four hundred academic presentations, demonstrating a strong impact across the scientific community. Additionally, he has driven innovation through numerous patent applications, many of which have been granted, resulting in multiple successful technology transfers to industry. He is a certified Professional Engineer in Water & Wastewater Engineering, and his research efforts continue to strengthen the development of clean water solutions, environmental policy, and infrastructure sustainability, ensuring meaningful contributions to public health and environmental protection.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

(2026). Optimal data pooling from multiple waterbodies to improve machine-learning predictions of cyanobacterial blooms. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology.

(2026). Evaluating circulation-type MCDI as a dual-function system for ion removal and enrichment. Desalination.

(2025). Comparative analysis of MCDI and circulation-MCDI performance under symmetric and asymmetric cycle modes at pilot scale. Sustainability,

(2025). Enhanced desalination performance of pilot-scale membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) system with circulation process. Desalination.

(2024). Performance optimization of a pilot-scale membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) system operating with circulation process. Separation and Purification Technology.

Kaori Shiojiri | Plant-Animal Interactions | Women Researcher Award

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,

Karim Solaimani | Remote Sensing | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Karim Solaimani | Remote Sensing | Best Researcher Award

Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

Professor Karim Solaimani is a distinguished Iranian environmental scientist and hydrologist affiliated with the Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU) under the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Remote Sensing and Hydrology from the University of Glasgow, UK, and has since established himself as an eminent scholar in the fields of remote sensing, GIS applications, hydrology, watershed management, and land use planning. His extensive academic contributions include over 85 peer-reviewed journal articles, widely cited in international scientific databases, reflecting significant impact and global recognition. Professor Solaimani’s research integrates geospatial technologies for environmental modeling, sediment yield assessment, and natural hazard mapping, focusing particularly on Iran’s complex hydrological systems. He has received the Excellent National Teaching and Research Professor Award, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to education and research. Over his career, he has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and contributed to the advancement of environmental science through innovation, mentorship, and applied research. His enduring commitment to sustainable land and water resource management continues to influence both academic and practical environmental policy developments in Iran and beyond.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Solaimani, K., Darvishi, S., & Shokrian, F. (2024). Assessment of machine learning algorithms and new hybrid multi-criteria analysis for flood hazard and mapping. Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

Solaimani, K. (2023). A new approach to landslide assessment using Depth-Number fractal model. ECOPERSIA.

Solaimani, K. (2023). Evaluation of effective criteria on flood risk based on network analysis process and GIS in Vazroud basin of Mazandaran province. Ecohydrology.

Solaimani, K. (2023). Investigating alterations in the underground water level of Ravansar-Sanjabi Plain under CIMP5 climate scenarios. Desert Ecosystem Engineering.

Solaimani, K. (2023). Monitoring and forecasting of spatiotemporal changes in land use and the growth of Kermanshah Township using remote sensing and the CA-Markov model. Urban Structure and Function Studies.