Maha Al-Zu’bi | Sustainable Agriculture | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Maha Al-Zu’bi | Sustainable Agriculture | Women Researcher Award

Regional Researcher- Sustainable and Resilient Water Systems at University of Calgary, Jordan

Maha Al-Zu’bi is a seasoned expert in managing international development projects with a strong background in environmental design and sustainability. With over 15 years of experience, she has led and contributed to high-impact initiatives across the Middle East and Central Asia. Her research interests include climate change governance and the energy-water-food nexus. Maha is dedicated to integrating innovative solutions and fostering collaboration to address pressing global challenges. 🌍💧🌱

Profile:

Educational Background:

Ph.D. in Environmental Design with a specialization in Energy Environmental Systems from the University of Calgary, Canada.

Professional Experience:

  • Over 15 years in managing public and internationally funded projects, including those funded by major organizations like the UNDP, GGGI, World Bank, and USAID.
  • Currently co-leading the CGIAR Regional Integrated Initiative “Fragility to Resilience in Central and West Asia and North Africa” and serving as a Regional Researcher at the International Water Management Institute.
  • Previously managed major research initiatives and climate change projects, such as the Global Research Initiative in Sustainable Low Carbon Unconventional Resources at the University of Calgary.

Research Interests:

Maha’s research focuses on climate change governance, green roof policy, and the energy-water-food nexus. She is passionate about proposing local climate policies and principles for climate change adaptation and mitigation, particularly in the Arab region. Her work emphasizes fostering interdisciplinary approaches to address complex environmental challenges.

Publication Top Notes:

  • SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and Resilient Settlements
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    Emerald Publishing Limited, 32, 2018
  • Water, Energy, and Rooftops: Integrating Green Roof Systems into Building Policies in the Arab Region
    M Al-Zu’bi, O Mansour
    Environment and Natural Resources Research, 7(2), 11-36, 2017
  • Jordan’s Climate Change Governance Framework: From Silos to an Intersectoral Approach
    M Al-Zu’bi
    Environment Systems and Decisions, 36, 277-301, 2016
  • African Perspectives on Climate Change Research
    M Al-Zu’bi, SW Dejene, J Hounkpè, OL Kupika, S Lwasa, M Mbenge, …
    Nature Climate Change, 12(12), 1078-1084, 2022
  • Water-Energy-Food-Climate Change Nexus in the Arab Cities: The Case of Amman City, Jordan
    M Al-Zu’bi
    University of Calgary, 2017
  • Shifting Waters: The Challenges of Transitioning from Freshwater to Treated Wastewater Irrigation in the Northern Jordan Valley
    MH Tawfik, H Al-Zawaidah, J Hoogesteger, M Al-Zu’bi, P Hellegers, …
    Water, 15(7), 1315, 2023
  • Strengthening Climate Security in the Middle East and North Africa Region
    P Laderach, DJ Merrey, F Schapendonk, B Dhehibi, S Ruckstuhl, …
    IWMI, 2022
  • Water, Energy and Food: The Problematic Aspects of the Transition from ‘Silo Approach’ to ‘Nexus Approach’ in the Arab Region
    M Al-Zu’bi, N Keough
    Water, Energy, Food and People Across the Global South: ‘The Nexus’ in an …, 2018
  • Towards Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions Agriculture in North Africa Through Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Review
    Y Brouziyne, A El Bilali, T Epule Epule, V Ongoma, A Elbeltagi, J Hallam, …
    Climate, 11(7), 139, 2023
  • Application of Artificial Intelligence in Monitoring of Animal Health and Welfare
    AZA Ali, M Al-Zu’bi
    Indian Journal of Animal Research, 57(11), 1550-1555, 2023
  • Hydrological Modelling for Reservoir Operation: Application of SWAT Model for Kalu Ganga Catchment, Sri Lanka
    GAT Madushanka, KDW Nandalal, LP Muthuwatta
    ENGINEER, 55(03), 29-41, 2022
  • One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
    AJM Devenish, P Schmitter, NP Jellason, N Esmail, NM Abdi, SK Adanu, …
    Land, 12(10), 1879, 2023
  • Climate Security in the MENA Region
    P Läderach, DJ Merrey, F Schapendonk, B Dhehibi, S Ruckstuhl, …
    2022
  • SDG11 and the Associated Challenges to Implementation
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018
  • Cities and Key Interactions
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018
  • Mapping SDG Stories
    M Al-Zu’bi, V Radovic
    SDG11–Sustainable Cities and Communities: Towards Inclusive, Safe, and …, 2018

 

Mario Gonzales Santos | Foods | Best Researcher Award

Dr Mario Gonzales Santos |  Foods | Best Researcher Award

Dr Mario Gonzales Santos, Universidad Nacional de Agricultura, Honduras

Mario Josué Gonzales Santos is an accomplished food scientist with a strong academic and professional background. Born on October 27, 1986, he has dedicated his career to advancing food science and technology. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Food Science and Technology at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. Mario holds a Master’s degree in Food Science and Engineering from the University of Bio-Bio in Chile and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from the National University of Agriculture in Honduras. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including a recognition for his scientific contributions and excellence in academic performance. Mario is also actively involved in research, focusing on innovative food processing techniques and their impact on food quality and safety. His contributions to the field are well-documented through his extensive participation in conferences and publications in scientific journals.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education

Mario Josué Gonzales Santos has a comprehensive educational background in food science and technology. He is currently in the final stages of completing his Doctorate in Food Science and Technology at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2019-2023). He earned his Master of Science in Food Science and Engineering from the University of Bio-Bio, Chile, where he studied from April 2014 to April 2016. Mario’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Technology from the National University of Agriculture in Honduras, which he completed between January 2007 and December 2010. Throughout his education, Mario has been committed to expanding his knowledge and skills, participating in various improvement courses and workshops related to food science, quality control, and manufacturing practices. His dedication to education is further evidenced by the multiple scholarships he received for his undergraduate and graduate studies.

Experience

Mario Josué Gonzales Santos has a diverse and extensive professional background in food science and technology. Since October 2012, he has been a faculty member at the National University of Agriculture, where he has held various roles, including Director of the Distance Education Academic System (April 2023 to February 2024) and Secretary of the Academic Council (April 2023 to February 2024). He has also served as the Director of the Admissions Academic System (March 2017 to February 2019) and as a lecturer in the

Technology and Agronomy Engineering programs. Mario has provided guidance to final-year students as a thesis advisor and has taught courses such as Food Engineering and Experimental Design. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a Quality Control Supervisor at LACTHOSA Sula Centro in San Pedro Sula and as a supervisor at Supermercado Junior, managing product orders and ensuring quality standards.

Research Focus

Mario Josué Gonzales Santos’s research focuses on innovative food processing techniques and their impact on food quality, safety, and consumer perceptions. His doctoral research at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro explores the influence of combined ohmic heating and vacuum pulse treatment on the phenolic compounds in dehydrated blueberries. During his Master’s studies at the University of Bio-Bio, he investigated the effects of ohmic heating and pulsed vacuum on the dehydration processes and polyphenol retention in osmodehydrated blueberries. Mario is a member of the research group “Plant-Based Antioxidants and Their Role in Healthy Eating” (TECBAL), where he contributed to studies on the role of plant-based antioxidants in food. His research also includes the quantification of effluents and oil from African palm processing and evaluating the efficiency of agroindustrial plants. Mario’s work is characterized by a commitment to enhancing food processing methods to improve nutritional quality and safety.

Publication Top Notes

Mario Gonzales Santos, Amauri Rosenthal, Inayara Beatriz Araujo Martins, Marcela de Alcantara, Mariah Almeida Lima, Raíssa de Assis Carvalho, Rosires Deliza. Exploring the role of the general interest in health on the perceptions of Healthy, Industrialized, and Ultra-processed foods among Brazilians. doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.113992 📜

J. Moreno, M. Gonzales, P. Zúñiga, G. Petzold, K. Mella, O. Muñoz. Ohmic heating and pulsed vacuum effect on dehydration processes and polyphenol component retention of osmodehydrated blueberries (cv. Tifblue). doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2016.06.005 📄

 

 

Radwa El-Behairy | Agricultural Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Radwa El-Behairy | Agricultural Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

PhD student, Tanta University, Egypt

Radwa Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah El-Behairy is a dedicated PhD student at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Egypt. Her research focuses on integrating AI and GIS to evaluate soil quality and crop suitability in arid areas, aiming to enhance food security sustainably. In addition to her studies, she serves as an assistant lecturer at the Higher Institute for Agricultural Cooperation in Shubra El Kheima.

Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Education 🎓

Radwa Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah El-Behairy is a dedicated scholar in the field of agricultural and soil sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science from Tanta University, Egypt, in 2017. Building on her foundational knowledge, she pursued a Master of Science in Soil Science, also at Tanta University, which she completed in 2021. Currently, Radwa is a Ph.D. student at the same institution, where she is focusing on integrating artificial intelligence and geographic information systems to evaluate soil quality and crop suitability in arid areas. Her academic journey is marked by a strong commitment to advancing agricultural practices and sustainability through innovative research methodologies.

Experience 🏫

Radwa Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah El-Behairy is an Assistant Lecturer at the Higher Institute for Agricultural Cooperation in Shubra El Kheima and a PhD student at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Egypt. Her research focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate soil quality and crop suitability in arid regions. With a solid background in soil science and agricultural science, Radwa has published seven research articles, contributing valuable insights into soil management and crop optimization. Her work aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability through innovative technologies.

Research Interests 🔍

Radwa Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah El-Behairy’s research interests encompass a broad spectrum of fields related to agricultural and environmental sciences. Her primary focus is on agricultural sustainability and pedology, where she explores methods to enhance the resilience and productivity of agricultural systems. She employs remote sensing and GIS technologies to monitor and analyze soil and water resources, integrating these with modeling of irrigation water quality to improve resource management. Her work also addresses environmental contamination through advanced artificial intelligence techniques, contributing to assessments of crop suitability and soil quality. Radwa’s expertise in machine learning and deep learning further supports her efforts to develop innovative solutions for optimizing agricultural practices and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Awards 🏆

Training in the research project “Monitoring land and water productivity through remote sensing WaPOR II”

Publications Top Notes 📚

An Accurate Approach for Predicting Soil Quality Based on Machine Learning in Drylands Agriculture, 2024-04-18 | link

A Novel Approach for Predicting Heavy Metal Contamination Based on Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System and GIS in an Arid Ecosystem Agronomy, 2023-07-15 | link

Artificial Intelligence Integrated GIS for Land Suitability Assessment of Wheat Crop Growth in Arid Zones to Sustain Food Security Agronomy, 2023-04-29 |link

Assessment of Potential Heavy Metal Contamination Hazards Based on GIS and Multivariate Analysis in Some Mediterranean Zones Agronomy, 2022-12-19 | link

Combination of GIS and Multivariate Analysis to Assess the Soil Heavy Metal Contamination in Some Arid Zones
Agronomy, 2022-11-16 | link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maryam Yousefi | Sustainable Agriculture | Best Researcher Award

Dr Maryam Yousefi |  Sustainable Agriculture |  Best Researcher Award

Postdoc at  ZALF,  Germany

Dr. Maryam Yousefi is a prominent researcher specializing in environmental science and agricultural sustainability. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Berlin, Germany, focusing on “Living Labs in Agricultural Landscapes” under the supervision of Prof. Frank Ewert. Previously, she worked at ETH Zurich’s Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, where she explored “Enhancing biodiversity & resilience in crop production,” supervised by Prof. Jaboury Ghazoul and Prof. Johan Six.

Profile:

🎓 Education:

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Science
    Shahid Beheshti University, Iran
    2015-2021

    • Visitor, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain (2018-2019)
  • M.S. in Natural Resource Engineering – Land Use Planning and Assessment
    Birjand University, Iran
    2010-2012
  • B.S. in Natural Resource Engineering – Environmental Science
    Hakim Sabzevari University, Iran
    2008-2010
  • A.S. in Environmental Science
    Birjand University, Iran
    2004-2006

🏆 Honors and Awards:

  1. Ranked 1st among B.S. students in Environmental Science, Hakim Sabzevari University.
  2. Granted direct admission to M.S. program by Birjand University’s Talent Student Office.
  3. Active member of the Young Researchers Club (2010-2018).
  4. Ranked 3rd among ~2000 participants in the Iranian Ph.D. entrance exam.

🔬 Academic and Project Experience:

  • Collaborator – Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines (Iran)
    2020-2021
  • Project Manager – Agricultural Planning (Qazvin Province, Iran)
    2020
  • Project Manager – Land Use Planning (Gilan & Qazvin Provinces, Iran)
    2015-2018
  • Research Assistant – Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
    2016-2017
  • Lecturer – Payam Noor University, Iran
    2013

🌿 Sustainable Agriculture Research Focus:

    • Biodiversity & Resilience: Enhancing biodiversity and resilience in crop production systems to improve sustainability and productivity.
    • Ecosystem Services: Evaluating and optimizing ecosystem services provided by agricultural landscapes, such as pest control and soil health.
    • Agri-environmental Schemes: Assessing the effectiveness of intercropping and other agri-environmental schemes to support sustainable farming practices.
    • Living Labs: Implementing and studying living labs in agricultural landscapes to test and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
    • Landscape Ecological Modeling: Using landscape ecological models to understand and manage landscape carrying capacity and environmental impacts of agricultural activities.
    • Social-Ecological Systems: Exploring the interactions between social and ecological systems to develop integrated approaches for sustainable land use and management.

Citations:

  • Total Citations: 255
  • Citations Since 2019: 235
  • h-index: 9
  • i10-index: 9

Publication Top Notes:

  • Modelling Landscape Ecological Assessments of Land Use and Cover Change Scenarios: Application to the Bojnourd Metropolitan Area (NE Iran)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, J Marull
    • Journal: Land Use Policy
    • Citations: 62
    • Year: 2020
  • Convenient Landfill Site Selection by Using Fuzzy Logic and Geographic Information Systems: A Case Study in Bardaskan, East of Iran
    • Authors: A Khorram, M Yousefi, SA Alavi, J Farsi
    • Journal: Health Scope
    • Citations: 45
    • Year: 2015
  • Land Use Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and Artificial Neural Network: Application to Birjand, Iran
    • Authors: M Ahmadizadeh, M Yousefi
    • Journal: Computational Ecology and Software
    • Citations: 28
    • Year: 2014
  • An Energy-Landscape Integrated Analysis to Evaluate Agroecological Scarcity
    • Authors: M Yousefi, A Darvishi, R Padró, S Barghjelveh, NM Dinan, J Marull
    • Journal: Science of the Total Environment
    • Citations: 21
    • Year: 2020
  • Assessing Levels, Trade-offs, and Synergies of Landscape Services in the Iranian Province of Qazvin: Towards Sustainable Landscapes
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, NM Dinan, P Angelstam
    • Journal: Landscape Ecology
    • Citations: 16
    • Year: 2022
  • Comparison of Two Biophysical Indicators Under Different Landscape Complexity
    • Authors: M Yousefi, A Darvishi, E Tello, S Barghjelveh, NM Dinan, J Marull
    • Journal: Ecological Indicators
    • Citations: 14
    • Year: 2021
  • Assessment and Spatial Planning of Landscape Ecological Connectivity for Biodiversity Management (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, NM Dinan, S Barghjelveh, M Yousefi
    • Journal: Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology
    • Citations: 14
    • Year: 2020
  • Investigating the Effect of Socio-economic Disturbance Resulting from Human Activities on Landscape Ecological Function Using HANPP Index (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, NM Mobarghei Dinan
    • Journal: Journal of Natural Environment
    • Citations: 13
    • Year: 2020
  • Evaluating the Correlation Between Pollination Ecosystem Service and Landscape Pattern Metrics (Case Study: Qazvin Province)
    • Authors: A Darvishi, M Yousefi, DN Mobargae
    • Journal: Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology
    • Citations: 10
    • Year: 2021
  • Assessment of Light Pollution in Bojnord City Using Remote Sensing Data
    • Authors: A Khorram, M Yousefi, M Fardad
    • Journal: International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
    • Citations: 6
    • Year: 2014