Jelena Zagorska | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Jelena Zagorska | Sustainable Agriculture | Research Excellence Award

Latvia university of Life Sciences and Technologies | Latvia

Dr. Jelena Zagorska is a Dr.sc.ing. and Associate Professor at the Latvia University of Life Science and Technology (LBTU), where she has served as a leading researcher since 2016, following previous roles as Assistant Professor and Lecturer. She holds a Doctoral degree in Engineering Sciences (Food Science), a Master’s degree in Sociology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Latvia University of Agriculture. Her research focuses on dairy science, plant-based functional foods, sustainable food biotechnology, valorization of by-products, fermentation technologies, and lactobionic acid applications. Dr. Zagorska has led multiple national and international research initiatives, including projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia, and Norwegian collaborations promoting innovative food solutions. She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and international journals, along with a patent related to legume flour applications in sausage production. Her scholarly impact includes a Google Scholar h-index of 13, Scopus h-index of 8. She contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer and invited editor for journals such as Rural Sustainability Research and Dairy. Dr. Zagorska remains dedicated to advancing sustainable food systems through innovative research and academic leadership.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Illarionova, V., Ciprovica, I., Kruma, Z., Tomsone, L., Feldmane, J., & Zagorska, J. (2025). Impact of fermentation patterns on functional properties of legume-based spreads.

Tlevlessova, D., Ospanov, A., Zagorska, J., Makeeva, R., Nurmukhanbetova, D., & Mambeshova, A. (2024). Development of curd for children from sheep milk with berries: Improvement of nutritional and functional properties. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies.

Zagorska, J., Ruska, D., Radenkovs, V., Juhnevica-Radenkova, K., Kince, T., Galoburda, R., & Gramatina, I. (2024). The impact of biotechnologically produced lactobionic acid on laying hens’ productivity and egg quality during early laying period. Animals.

Rakhmatulina, A., Dikhanbayeva, F., Tlevlessova, D., Zagorska, J., Aralbayev, N., Majore, K., & Yessenova, A. (2024). Advancements in camel milk drying technology: A comprehensive review of methods, chemical composition, and nutritional preservation. Dairy.

Riekstiņa-Dolģe, R., & Zagorska, J. (2022). Siera tirdzniecības nosaukums un tā interpretācija: Tilzītes pret Krievijas. Akadēmiskā Dzīve,

Angela Hecimovic | Climate Change | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Angela Hecimovic | Climate Change | Research Excellence Award

The University of Sydney Business School | Australia

Dr Angela Hecimovic is Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School (Accounting, Governance & Regulation discipline). She earned her PhD in 2017 from Macquarie University (thesis: “Assurance of Natural Resource Management”), and holds a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (2017). With teaching experience spanning two decades, she has served in roles including Lecturer (2010–2023), Industry Placement Coordinator and Unit Convenor, and now Dalyell Program Director. She has been honoured with numerous teaching awards, such as the inaugural Students’ Choice Award, the Wayne Lonergan Excellence in Teaching Award, multiple Dean’s citations, and the 2019 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her research investigates how contemporary developments — especially digital auditing, adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in auditing, sustainability reporting, non-financial reporting, and global supply-chain assurance — are transforming the auditing profession. Using qualitative case-studies and interview-based research methods (sometimes complemented by surveys), she explores audit quality, assurance in public/non-financial contexts and the impact of technology on audit practices. She has contributed around 13 documented works (articles, conference papers, reports), accumulating about 355 citations and an assumed h-index of 8. Her work contributes to both academic discourse and the practical employability of graduates, bridging theoretical developments and real-world auditing and assurance challenges.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Hecimovic, A., & Canestrari-Soh, D. (2025). Strategies for internal auditors to expand their role in ESG assurance. The British Accounting Review.

Hecimovic, A., & Martinov-Bennie, N. (2023). Audit report construction: Public sector organisation perspectives within a non-financial information context. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management,

Hyun Je Oh | Climate Change | Research Excellence Award

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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.

Dani Sarsekova | Agricultural Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Dani Sarsekova | Agricultural Science | Best Researcher Award

Kazakh National Agrarian Research University | Kazakhstan

Prof. Dani Nurgisaevna Sarsekova is a distinguished Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and Professor, currently serving as Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at Kazakh National Agrarian Research University. She completed her forestry education at the Kazakh Agricultural Institute, pursued postgraduate studies at the Kazakh Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry, and later earned her doctoral degree at the Ural Forest Engineering University. With an h-index of 7, more than 29 scientific documents, and over 153 citations, she has made notable contributions to forestry science and environmental sustainability. Her research covers intensive mini-rotational forest plantations for energy purposes, carbon sequestration, shelter-belt agroforestry, and artificial mycorrhization of forest tree seedlings. She has co-authored significant works on ectomycorrhizal fungi in northeastern Kazakhstan and the role of artificial mycorrhiza in improving Siberian spruce growth. As the leader of major national and international projects—including Astana’s green-belt development, landscape-ecological assessments, and environmental cooperation within the Silk Road Economic Belt—she has advanced ecological restoration and climate-resilient forest management. Her achievements include securing third place in an international competition for the “Best Textbook” in agricultural and forestry sciences, underscoring her lasting impact on forestry education and research.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Wang, G., Ge, X., Lü, D., Zhang, Z., Wang, L., Sun, S., Jia, X., Zhang, B., Kuanysh, K., Sarsekova, D., et al. (2025).
Insecticidal activity of Angelica archangelica essential oil and transcriptomic analysis of Sitophilus zeamais in response to oil fumigation. Biology, 14(11), 1606. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14111606

Wang, G., Lü, D., Ge, X., Zhang, Z., Meng, F., Chen, L., Kuanysh, K., Li, X., Zhang, B., Sarsekova, D., et al. (2025).
Insecticidal activity of Eupatorium fortunei essential oil against Schizaphis graminum and its effects on detoxification enzymes. Insects, 16(11), 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111141

Sarsekova, D., & Satybaldiyeva, G. (2025). Field assessment and functional evaluation of agricultural shelterbelts in Akmola Region of Kazakhstan. SilvaWorld, 4(2), Article 373. https://doi.org/10.61326/silvaworld.v4i2.373

Aishuk, Y., Sarsekova, D., Sezai, E., & Shegenov, S. (2024). Bactericidal properties of phytoncides of Cotoneaster melanocarpus Fisch. ex. Blytt of the Akmola Region. 3i Intellect Idea Innovation, 4, 128. https://doi.org/10.52269/22266070_2024_4_128

Sarsekova, D. N., Perzadayeva, A. A., Sagin, J., Toktasynov, Zh., & Satybaldieva, G. (2024). Monitoring of forest shelter belts on agricultural lands of KazGer LLP and determining places of accumulation of melt drainage water. Bulletin of the Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University,

Grazia Ietto-Gillies | Economics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Grazia Ietto-Gillies | Economics | Best Researcher Award

London South Bank University | United Kingdom

Grazia Ietto-Gillies is an Italian-born economist and emerita Professor of Applied Economics at London South Bank University, also serving as a Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She studied in Rome at the Istituto Leonardo da Vinci and then at La Sapienza University under the supervision of Bruno de Finetti, followed by a year of graduate studies at MIT (1966–67) funded by a CNR scholarship. Early in her career she worked as a researcher at ISCO in Rome and then at the University of Siena before moving to London in 1971, where she joined London South Bank Polytechnic (now University). Her research spans investment in the Italian economy, de-industrialization in the UK, transnational corporations (TNCs), innovation, absorptive capacity, indices of transnationality, labor fragmentation (e.g., in FIAT), and the digital economy. She has published extensively, including books, journal articles, working papers, and book chapters; her major book Transnational Corporations and International Production (Edward Elgar) is widely cited. According to her RePEc/CitEc profile, she has an h-index of 11 with around 800 citations and over 47 research documents. She has received recognition as a leading figure in applied economics, especially in globalisation and innovation policy. In addition to her academic work, since retirement she has written literary pieces, including a memoir of her Calabrian childhood and essays. Her long and influential career bridges rigorous economic analysis and personal reflection, highlighting both her intellectual and human depth.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Filippetti, A., Frenz, M., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2011). Are innovation and internationalization related? An analysis of European countries. Industry and Innovation.

Filippetti, A., Frenz, M., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2017). The impact of internationalization on innovation at countries’ level: The role of absorptive capacity. Cambridge Journal of Economic.

Frenz, M., Girardone, C., & Ietto-Gillies, G. (2005). Multinationality matters in innovation: The case of the UK financial services. Industry & Innovation.

Ietto-Gillies, G. (2009). Conceptual issues behind the assessment of the degree of internationalization. Transnational Corporations.

Chesnais, F., Ietto-Gillies, G., & Simonetti, R. (2003). European integration and global corporate strategies. Routledge.

Yu Hu | Plant Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Yu Hu | Plant Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Hanjiang Normal University | China

Professor Yu Hu is a distinguished researcher at Hanjiang Normal University, specializing in green chemistry and phytochemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, under the mentorship of Professor Hou Zhenshan in 2010. With over 15 years of academic and research experience, Dr. Hu has made significant contributions to the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using plant extracts, particularly for water pollution treatment. Her pioneering work on the phytogenic synthesis of iron nanoparticles using pomegranate leaf extract has demonstrated efficient degradation of toxic dyes such as malachite green, offering eco-friendly alternatives to conventional remediation methods.  Dr. Hu has authored a forthcoming book with China Science and Technology Press and holds three published patents with one under process. She has also led funded projects under the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China. Her ongoing research integrates nanomaterials, plant biochemistry, and environmental catalysis to promote sustainable development. Through her innovative contributions and academic excellence, Dr. Yu Hu continues to advance green nanotechnology and environmental protection.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Hu, Y., Zhou, F., Zhang, N., Pan, X., Li, S., Zhang, D., Li, L., & Zhang, L. (2024). Green synthesis of iron (II, III)-polyphenol nanoparticles and their adsorption of malachite green. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials Science Education.

Hu, Y., Zhou, S., Pan, X., Zhou, F., Sun, Y., Liu, M., Zhang, D., & Zhang, L. (2022). Fe nanoparticles synthesized by pomegranate leaves for treatment of malachite green. Journal of Wuhan University of Technology-Materials Science Education.

He, C., Hu, Y., Lou, S., Liu, X., Zhang, W., & Zhang, L. (2020). Synthesis of segregative, reusable, and high-efficiency spherical chitosan/zirconium macro-biocomposite for removal of aqueous As(V). Separation Science and Technology.

Hu, Y., Yu, Y., Zhao, X., Yang, H., Feng, B., Li, H., Qiao, Y., Hua, L., Pan, Z., & Hou, Z. (2010). Catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds by functionalized ionic liquids-stabilized nickel nanoparticles in aqueous phase: The influence of anions. Science China Chemistry.

Hu, Y., Yu, Y., Hou, Z., Yang, H., Feng, B., Li, H., Qiao, Y., Wang, X., Hua, L., Pan, Z., & Hou, Z. (2010). Ionic liquid immobilized nickel(0) nanoparticles as stable and highly efficient catalysts for selective hydrogenation in the aqueous phase. Chemistry – An Asian Journal

Sohail Abbas | Crop Science | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sohail Abbas | Crop Science | Best Researcher Award

Henan university | China

Dr Sohail Abbas is a dedicated climate-science researcher currently serving as a National Young Talent Researcher at the College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China, with more than eight years of experience in academia and research. He holds a DPhil in Geography/Climate Science from Konkuk University (South Korea), an MPhil in Environmental Science from University of Punjab (Pakistan), and earlier degrees in Science and related fields. His work explores climate change dynamics, extreme precipitation, land-use impacts, geo-environmental modeling, and food-security outcomes—illustrated by studies such as his analysis of extreme precipitation trends in Pakistan’s warming climate. Throughout his career he has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, and currently his indices reflect an h-index of 13 with 604 citations across 34 documented publications. He is proficient in methods ranging from GIS/RS, statistical and econometric modeling, to numerical and physical climate simulation, and he has engaged widely in teaching, lecturing, research-assistancy and referee duties in Pakistan, Korea and China. His academic journey is marked by a strong commitment to interdisciplinary approaches and rigorous frameworks that link climate-variability, hydrology, agriculture, and socioeconomic systems. He continues to push towards enhanced understanding of climate-agriculture-resource interactions and to contribute to resilient, sustainable development in vulnerable regions.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Abbas, S., Haider, A., Kousar, S., Lu, H., Lu, S., Liu, F., Li, H., Miao, C., Feng, W., & Ahamad, M. I. (2025). Climate variability, population growth, and globalization impacting food security in Pakistan. Scientific Reports.

Abbas, S., Kashif, U., Kousar, S., Noor, S., Lu, H., & Lu, S. (2025, September). Machine learning-based prediction analysis for Australia sustainable transport: Optimal transportation mix equation for long-term policy planning and environmental impact mitigation. Energy.

Kashif, U., Abbas, S., Kousar, S., & Lu, H. (2025, June). Linking of bio-energy and carbon neutrality: Navigating economic policy uncertainty and climate change policy in the USA. Energy.

Ashraf, T., Ahamad, M. I., Mahmood, S., Fu, J., Mehmood, M. S., Rehman, A., Abbas, S., Naqvi, S. A. A., & Zulqarnain, R. M. (2025, January 27). Exploring hotspots of traffic accidents in Chiniot–Sargodha Road, Punjab, Pakistan. Environment, Development and Sustainability.

Yaseen, M., Abbas, S., & Latif, Y. (2024). Evaluating the effects of soil physicochemical properties under different land use types in the arid zones of Pakistan. Environment, Development and Sustainability.

Yang Hu | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Yang Hu | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Central South University of Forestry and Technology | China

Hu Yang is a researcher specializing in artificial intelligence applications in agriculture and forestry, currently with the Artificial Intelligence Application Research Institute at Central South University of Forestry and Technology. With a focus on multi-modal data fusion, computer vision, and deep learning, Hu has contributed to over 10 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, including Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, The Plant Journal, Information Fusion, and European Journal of Agronomy, with several manuscripts under revision or review. His work has achieved a total of 5documents, over 13 citations, and an h-index of 2, reflecting a strong influence in AI-driven plant disease recognition, image segmentation, and data augmentation techniques. Hu has led multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation and university-level innovation programs, including multimodal agricultural and forestry disease assessment systems and forest area road crack detection using reinforcement learning. His research interests include multi-modal machine learning, image-based disease detection, precision agriculture, and smart forestry monitoring. Recognized with numerous awards such as the National Scholarship (2025) and Outstanding Graduate (2024), Hu continues to advance AI frameworks that bridge cutting-edge computational methods with practical applications, aiming to improve crop health, sustainable forestry, and environmental protection through intelligent, data-driven solutions.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publication

Mendes, L. de C., et al. (2025). AMF: A multi-modal framework for crop leaf diseases segmentation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture.

Debashree Borthakur | Plant Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Debashree Borthakur | Plant Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Assam Don Bosco University | India

Dr. Debashree Borthakur is a research scholar in Microbiology at Tripura University, with a strong foundation in microbial biotechnology and environmental microbiology. She holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology from Bangalore University and ranked 5th in her university. With a CSIR-NET qualification (AIR-31), her research work focuses on microbial applications in health, environment, and biotechnology, including screening of aroma-producing microbes, microbial remediation of plastic toxicity, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. She has authored several research articles and has two national patents filed—on an OCR pen and a deep convolutional neural network model for colon cancer detection. With an h-index of 3, 5 Scopus-indexed documents, and over 12 citations, her contributions are growing steadily in the scientific community. She has served as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals and technical program committee (TPC) member for reputed international conferences like CSNT, IEEE TALE, and CICN. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the National Biotech Youth Award and General Proficiency Award. Actively engaged in academic seminars, FDPs, and national/international conferences, she bridges interdisciplinary knowledge in life sciences and engineering. Her research integrates innovation, microbiology, and AI, aiming for impactful solutions in health, agriculture, and sustainability.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Borthakur, D. (2024). Screening and Characterization of Aroma and Flavour Producing Bacteria and Yeast from Traditional Fermented Food and Beverages of Northeast India. Proceedings of the International Conference on Communications, Electronics and Digital Technologies (NICEDT).

Borthakur, D. (2023). Evaluation of Tea Rhizospheric Microbes in Promoting Seed Germination and Plant Growth – An Alternative Strategy Using Biofertilizer. Proceedings of the International Conference on Modern Trendz in Microbiology.

Borthakur, D. (2022). Bioprospectation of Plant-Associated Endophytes in Plastic Degradation. Proceedings of the International Conference at NIT Jalandhar.

Borthakur, D. (2022). Microbial Pathogenesis and Recent Advances in Diagnosis of Omicron. Proceedings of the International Conference by Palamuru University.

Borthakur, D. (2020). Microremediation: A Natural Technology Towards Remediation of Plastic Toxicity. Proceedings of BIOINVENTION’20 – Advances in Biosciences.