Laleh Kalankesh | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award

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Assist Prof Dr. Laleh Kalankesh | Environmental Science | Women Researcher Award 

Medical science university | Iran

Dr. Laleh R. Kalankesh is an accomplished environmental health engineer and academic whose research integrates environmental engineering, public health, and environmental epidemiology, with a strong emphasis on water quality, pollution control, and human health risk assessment. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Iran, where she is actively involved in teaching, mentoring postgraduate students, and leading multidisciplinary research projects addressing critical environmental and health challenges in Iran and comparable arid and semi-arid regions. Dr. Kalankesh earned her PhD in Environmental Health Engineering from Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, where her doctoral research focused on monitoring disinfection by-products (DBPs), including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water distribution networks. Her work also advanced membrane technology by developing graphene oxide–modified polyamide nanofiltration membranes to enhance the removal of DBPs and total organic carbon (TOC). This research built on her earlier MSc and BSc training in environmental health engineering, with a strong foundation in nanoparticle applications for wastewater treatment and heavy metal removal. Her research portfolio spans water and wastewater treatment, membrane processes, nanomaterials, air pollution, and environmental epidemiology. She has made notable contributions to understanding DBP formation and health risks, desalination using microbial desalination cells, photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and the application of nanoparticles and composites as bactericides and adsorbents. In parallel, her epidemiological studies examine the health impacts of air pollution, meteorological factors, and socio-environmental inequalities, including contributions to large-scale Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies published in leading journals such as The Lancet Planetary Health and The Lancet Global Health. Dr. Kalankesh has authored 45 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 21, and is recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists (2025). She has served as principal investigator on numerous nationally funded research projects and is an active peer reviewer for international journals. Her innovative capacity is further reflected in a patented portable device for sterilizing fruits and vegetables. Through her interdisciplinary research and academic leadership, Dr. Kalankesh continues to contribute significantly to advancing environmental health science and evidence-based policy for sustainable development and public health protection.

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Featured Publications

Shohei Katsuya | Biology and Life Sciences | Excellence in Research Award

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Mr. Shohei Katsuya | Biology and Life Sciences | Excellence in Research Award

OSAKA GAS Co., Ltd. | Japan

Mr. Shohei Katsuya is a dedicated Researcher at the Advanced Technology Research Institute of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., where he has been contributing to cutting-edge scientific advancements since April 2021. He holds a Master of Agriculture degree from Kyoto University, earned in March 2021, and has since developed a strong research focus on the physiological functions of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). His work revolves around understanding how BHB influences metabolic regulation, ketone body pathways, and physiological responses related to obesity and visceral fat accumulation. As metabolic disorders continue to rise globally, his research addresses critical scientific questions with direct implications for human health, nutrition, and disease prevention. Shohei has played an active role in developing nutritional strategies aimed at improving metabolic outcomes, collaborating with academic institutions, and supporting multidisciplinary projects that advance metabolic health science. Between 2023 and 2025, Shohei has authored five peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals, including Obesities, Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, and Nutrition. These publications collectively reflect his commitment to scientific rigor and his growing influence in the fields of nutritional science and metabolic physiology. His research output has received 18 citations to date, according to Scopus metrics (as of November 2025), and his current h-index of 2 indicates early yet solid scholarly impact within a short timeframe. His contributions provide valuable insights into ketone-body-driven metabolic pathways, opening possibilities for new therapeutic and dietary approaches. Shohei’s research activities align strongly with the mission of advancing evidence-based nutrition and metabolic science, demonstrating originality, societal relevance, and a high level of research integrity. His projects emphasize translational potential—particularly in dietary interventions for visceral fat reduction—and reflect an understanding of both biochemical mechanisms and practical applications for health improvement. Through continuous collaboration with academic partners, Shohei has strengthened his ability to transform scientific concepts into meaningful innovations that address modern health challenges. His commitment to excellence, ethical research practice, and impactful scientific contribution make him a strong candidate for the Excellence in Research Award. Shohei declares that all information provided in this application is accurate and authentic to the best of his knowledge, and he remains fully committed to upholding the values and standards of the International Research Awards.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Aisyah, R., Katsuya, S., Miyata, K., Chen, Z., Horii, M., Kudo, A., Kumrungsee, T., Tsubota, J., & Yanaka, N. (2025). β-hydroxybutyrate attenuates diabetic renal and muscular pathologies in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. Nutrition, 112792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.112792

Katsuya, S., Kawata, Y., Kawamura, Y., Kawamura, J., & Tsubota, J. (2025). Effect of d-β-hydroxybutyrate on sleep quality in healthy participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbaf017

Katsuya, S., Kawata, Y., Sugimoto, M., Nishimura, T., & Tsubota, J. (2024). Determination of the safety of Halomonas sp. KM-1-derived d-β-hydroxybutyric acid and its fermentation-derived impurities in mice and Japanese adults. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbae088

Ip, C.-H., Higuchi, H., Wu, C.-Y., Okuda, T., Katsuya, S., Ogawa, J., & Ando, A. (2024). Production of docosahexaenoic acid by a novel isolated Aurantiochytrium sp. 6-2 using fermented defatted soybean as a nitrogen source for sustainable fish feed development. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1093/bbb/zbae035

Katsuya, S., Kawata, Y., Goto, T., & Tsubota, J. (2023). Daily intake of D-β-hydroxybutyric acid (D-BHB) reduces body fat in Japanese adult participants: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 69(2), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.69.121

Shimelash Molla Kassaye | Environmental Science | Editorial Board Member

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Dr. Shimelash Molla Kassaye | Environmental Science | Editorial Board Member

Mattu University | Ethiopia

Dr. Shimelash Molla Kassaye is a highly dedicated scholar and researcher specializing in Hydrology and Water Resources Management, with an extensive academic background and a strong record of scientific contributions in the field of environmental and water sciences. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Mattu University, Ethiopia, where he continues to advance research and teaching in hydrology, climate change, and watershed management. His professional journey reflects consistent excellence and commitment to solving pressing environmental and water-related challenges affecting the African continent. Dr. Kassaye earned his Ph.D. in Water Management (Hydrology and Water Resources Management) from the African Centre of Excellence in Water Management (ACEWM) at Addis Ababa University in 2024. His doctoral research, titled “Evaluating the Hydrological Dynamics under Land Use/Cover and Climate Change in the Baro River Basin, Ethiopia,” focused on understanding the complex interactions between climate variability, land use change, and hydrological responses in one of Ethiopia’s key river basins. His research offers vital insights into sustainable water resource management and policy planning under changing climatic conditions. Prior to his Ph.D., he obtained an M.Sc. in Hydraulic Engineering from Jimma University in 2017 with an outstanding CGPA of 3.88/4.00 and a B.Sc. in Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering from Arbaminch University in 2011. His professional experience spans over a decade of teaching, research, and academic service. Before assuming his current position, Dr. Kassaye worked as a Researcher and Lecturer at Mattu University (2014–2021) and as a Graduate Assistant at Arbaminch University (2012–2014). Through these roles, he has contributed significantly to the training of young engineers and scientists, supervising research projects, and integrating innovative technologies into water resource education and management practices. Dr. Kassaye’s research expertise covers a broad range of topics, including hydrologic modeling, climate change and variability, drought monitoring and prediction, integrated watershed management, natural resource management, and hydrometeorological risk assessment. His multidisciplinary approach, combining remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and hydrological modeling, enables comprehensive assessments of environmental systems under stress from both natural and anthropogenic factors. He has published multiple peer-reviewed scientific papers in high-impact international journals such as Water, Environmental Earth Sciences, Environmental Systems Research, and Earth. His publications have explored critical themes such as the sensitivity of meteorological dynamics to catchment variability, the integrated impact of land use and topography on hydrological extremes, and the quantification of climate change effects on streamflow dynamics. His academic excellence, combined with practical expertise and a strong publication record, positions him as a leading early-career researcher contributing to Ethiopia’s and Africa’s sustainable water resource management efforts. His dedication to advancing hydrological science underscores his commitment to building climate resilience and fostering sustainable development in vulnerable regions.

Profiles: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Kassaye, S. M., Tadesse, T., Tegegne, G., & Hordofa, A. T. (2024). Quantifying the climate change impacts on the magnitude and timing of hydrological extremes in the Baro River Basin, Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 13(1), 1–15.

Belay, H., Melesse, A. M., Tegegne, G., & Kassaye, S. M. (2025). Flood inundation mapping using the Google Earth Engine and HEC-RAS under land use/land cover and climate changes in the Gumara Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Remote Sensing, 17(7), 1283.

Malede, D. A., Elumalai, V., Andualem, T. G., Mekonnen, Y. G., Yibeltal, M., Kassaye, S. M., & others. (2025). Understanding flood and drought extremes under a changing climate in the Blue Nile Basin: A review. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 100638.

Kassaye, S. M., Tadesse, T., & Tegegne, G. (2024). Quantifying the climate change impacts on the magnitude and timing of hydrological extremes in the Baro River Basin, Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research, 13(2).

Kassaye, S. M., Tadesse, T., Tegegne, G., Hordofa, A. T., & Malede, D. A. (2024). Relative and combined impacts of climate and land use/cover change for the streamflow variability in the Baro River Basin (BRB). Earth, 5(2), 149–168.

Kassaye, S. M., Tadesse, T., Tegegne, G., & Tadesse, K. E. (2022). The sensitivity of meteorological dynamics to the variability in catchment characteristics. Water, 14(22), 3776.

Kassaye, S. M., Tadesse, T., Tegegne, G., & Hordofa, A. T. (2024). Integrated impact of land use/cover and topography on hydrological extremes in the Baro River Basin. Environmental Earth Sciences, 83(2), 49.

Kassaye, S. M., Ebissa, T. N., Gutema, B. G., & Gurmesa, G. T. (2020). Site selection and design of mini hydropower plant for rural electrification in Keber River. American Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 9(5), 82–96.

Ebissa, T. N., Kassaye, S. M., & Malede, D. A. (2024). Hydrological response to climate change in Baro Basin, Ethiopia, using representative concentration pathway scenarios. Environmental Systems Research, 13(1), 42.

Waheed, A., Kousar, S., Khan, M. I., & Fischer, T. B. (2025). Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators.

Naseraldeen Asadalla | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

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Naseraldeen Asadalla | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research | Kuwait

Dr. Naseraldeen Asadalla’s research has focused on arid land ecology, invasive alien species, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity assessment in the Arabian Peninsula and the GCC region. He has developed specialized expertise in species distribution modeling (MaxEnt), remote sensing, ecological indicators, and machine learning-based environmental data analysis. His Ph.D. research examined the dynamics of alien bird species, particularly the Common Myna in Bahrain, providing foundational insights into biodiversity trends in urban ecosystems. Building on this work, his recent research has concentrated on ecological modeling of plant and animal species in desert environments, with a focus on the influence of abiotic factors such as precipitation and dust storms on species distribution and habitat suitability. Dr. Asadalla has authored and co-authored over 12 peer-reviewed scientific publications in reputable journals including Restoration Ecology, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, and the Journal of Arid Environments. His work has received over 185 citations (as of September 2025) and he holds an h-index of 7 (Scopus). His research has directly contributed to regional conservation strategies, such as the identification of green water zones using annual plants as ecological indicators and the development of habitat suitability models for native desert flora and vulnerable species like the Asian Houbara Bustard. In addition to his academic contributions, he is an active member of multi-disciplinary research teams at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), playing a key role in nationally funded projects and the formulation of regional environmental policies. Dr. Asadalla continues to pursue applied ecological research by integrating remote sensing tools with conservation science to address environmental challenges associated with climate change, species displacement, and urban expansion across the Arabian Peninsula.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications  

Asadalla, N. B. A., Abdullah, M., Gharabi, Y., Mohan, M., Al Naabi, S., Al Ali, Z., Al Hashash, N., Srinivasan, S., Al Awadhi, T., & Abulibdeh, A. (2024). Predictive modeling of green water availability: The role of annual plants as an ecological indicator in dryland ecosystems. Journal of Arid Environments, 223, 105179.

Asadalla, N. B. A., & Marafi, M. (2023). Overlooked Colotis phisadia (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) – A new record for the butterfly fauna of Kuwait with remarks on host plant. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, 159(1), 66–72.

Asadalla, N. B. A., Abdullah, M. M., Gharabi, Y., Mohan, M., Al Naabi, S., Srinivasan, S., & Al Awadhi, T. (2022). The use of annual plants as ecological indicators to identify locations with high levels of green water in arid ecosystems using remote sensing and MaxEnt modeling. SSRN Electronic Journal.

Asadalla, N. B. A., Abdullah, M. M., Al-Ali, Z. M., & Abdullah, M. T. (2021). Vegetation restoration targeting approach to identify the optimum environmental conditions for the restoration of native desert plants using remote sensing and MaxEnt modeling. Restoration Ecology, 29(6), e13425.

Al-Ali, Z., Abdullah, M., Asadalla, N. B. A., & Gholoum, M. (2020). A comparative study of remote sensing classification methods for monitoring and assessing desert vegetation using a UAV-based multispectral sensor. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192, Article 370.

Abdullah, M. M., Assi, A. T., & Asadalla, N. B. A. (2019). Integrated ecosystem sustainability approach: Toward a holistic system of thinking of managing arid ecosystems. Open Journal of Ecology, 9(11), 493–508.

Asadalla, N. B. A., Abido, M. S., Abahussain, A., & Shobrak, M. (2015). Assembly of optimum habitats for Asian Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) in the Arabian Peninsula: The vegetation aspects. International Journal of Biodiversity, 2015, Article 925093.