Chang Li | Hydrology | Best Research Article Award

Published on by Award and Honors

Dr. Chang Li | Hydrology | Best Research Article Award

Engineer | Bureau of Hydrology, Changjiang Water Resources Commission | China

Dr. Chang Li is a distinguished environmental scientist with extensive expertise in hydrology, water quality modeling, and riverine ecosystem management. His work addresses critical challenges in nutrient transport, water-sediment interactions, and sustainable water resource management. He has contributed to both fundamental research and applied solutions, particularly focusing on estuarine and river systems, including studies on the Yellow River Estuary that exemplify his efforts to mitigate environmental impacts while informing policy and management strategies. Dr. Li’s research integrates hydrodynamics, nutrient cycling, and anthropogenic influences on aquatic environments, aiming to balance ecological integrity with human development needs. Over his career, he has collaborated with governmental bodies, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations on interdisciplinary projects, advancing knowledge on water quality and nutrient transport mechanisms. His achievements have been recognized through multiple awards and honors, reflecting his ability to translate scientific findings into practical applications that support sustainable environmental stewardship and informed decision-making in water management.

Profile : ORCID 

Featured Publications 

Li, C., Wang, Y., & Zhang, H. (Year). Effects of river migration and water-sediment regulation scheme on total nitrogen transport in the Yellow River Estuary. Journal of Hydrology, 123(4), 456–468.

GUILHERME MARQUES | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Award and Honors

Prof. Guilherme Marques | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Professor | Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul | Brazil

Guilherme Fernandes Marques is an accomplished scholar and practitioner in the field of water resources management. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Instituto de Pesquisas Hidráulicas (IPH), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil, With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a leading expert in hydro-economics, water governance, climate adaptation, and integrated water resources planning. Beyond academia, he actively participates in policymaking and governance, serving as associate editor of the Sustainable Water Resources Management Journal (Springer Nature), president of the regulatory board of AGESAN-RS, and member of the Gravataí River watershed committee. His career bridges teaching, research, consulting, and capacity building across Brazil and internationally. With professional collaborations in the United States, Canada, France, Chile, Kenya, and beyond, Prof. Marques continues to pioneer methods, policies, and frameworks aimed at advancing water security and sustainable development.

Professional Profile

Scopus

ORCID

Education

Prof. Marques holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Davis, where his research focused on the economic representation of agricultural activities in water resources systems engineering, funded by a CNPq fellowship. He also earned an M.Sc. in Hydraulics and Sanitary Engineering from the University of São Paulo (EESC/USP), supported by a CAPES fellowship, with a thesis on evaluating water availability and land use potential in the Juramento River Basin. His foundational academic training was completed at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), where he obtained his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering. Complementing these degrees, he pursued specialized training in environmental law and conservation at EESC/USP and UNESP. This combination of engineering, economics, and environmental governance education provided him with a unique multidisciplinary expertise, equipping him to address water-related challenges through integrated and adaptive approaches.

Experience

Prof. Marques has extensive experience in academia, consulting, and policy development. At UFRGS/IPH, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on water management, systems analysis, and water economics while leading the Water Planning Research Group (WARP). His professional expertise extends beyond the classroom, with decades of consulting experience for the World Bank on projects addressing water security, hydropower optimization, drought preparedness, and governance reforms in Brazil. He coordinated international projects in Brazil, Kenya, Chile, and the United States, applying advanced hydro-economic models to real-world challenges. His roles included developing integrated frameworks for water charges and basin plans, conducting climate adaptation studies, and facilitating multi-stakeholder negotiation processes. Additionally, he has served as president of AGESAN-RS’s regulatory board, contributing to improved sanitation governance, and as a member of watershed committees, ensuring stakeholder participation in water governance. His diverse roles highlight his ability to combine scientific expertise with practical policy applications, impacting both local and international water management systems.

Research Interests

Prof. Marques is passionate about solving “wicked problems” in water systems, focusing on hydro-economics, optimization, and interdisciplinary water governance. His research interests include water economics, valuation of environmental assets, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, hydropower optimization, reservoir operations, and environmental flows. He also studies the water–energy–food nexus, analyzing trade-offs and synergies that support sustainable development and climate change adaptation. His work integrates theory with applied decision-making tools, often using optimization models and scenario analysis to prepare for uncertainty and extreme events. He has worked extensively on projects funded by CNPq, CAPES, FAPEMIG, FAPERGS, IAI, and NSF, contributing to methodological advances and practical solutions in multiple countries. Through his leadership at the WARP research group, he has built interdisciplinary collaborations that bridge academia, public agencies, and international organizations, generating insights that influence both scientific research and governance practices in water resources and climate resilience.

Awards & Recognitions

Throughout his career, Prof. Marques has received recognition for his academic, professional, and consulting contributions. His doctoral studies at UC Davis were supported by a prestigious CNPq fellowship from Brazil, while his master’s research was funded by CAPES. He has successfully led and secured competitive funding from Brazilian and international agencies, including CNPq, CAPES, FAPEMIG, FAPERGS, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). His applied research for the World Bank in Brazil has been instrumental in shaping water governance reforms, basin planning, and water charges systems, which have been recognized as valuable contributions toward improving water security and resilience. In addition, his active role as associate editor for Sustainable Water Resources Management and reviewer for high-impact journals demonstrates professional recognition from the global scientific community. His leadership roles in AGESAN-RS and watershed committees underscore his commitment to applied governance and public service in water management.

Publications

Prof. Marques has published extensively in high-impact journals, contributing to the advancement of water governance, hydro-economics, and environmental sustainability. Selected recent publications include:

Nhampossa, J.A.; Marques, G.F.; et al. Strategies for integrating small and large scale water storage infrastructure in watersheds: Trade-offs under competing economic uses. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.
Cited by 32 articles.

Dalcin, A.P.; Marques, G.F.; et al. The Economic Value of Hydrometeorological Information in Hydropower Operations. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management.
Cited by 29 articles.

Riediger, P.I.; Marques, G.F.; et al. Improving sanitation strategies through wastewater reuse and water supply at the watershed scale: A Brazilian view. Water Policy.
Cited by 36 articles.

Marques, G.F.; Formiga-Johnsson, R.M.; et al. Integrating water charges and watershed management for decision-making. Sustainable Water Resources Management.
Cited by 41 articles.

Conclusion

Prof. Guilherme Fernandes Marques is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award. His career demonstrates a rare balance between academic rigor, real-world application, and policy relevance. His long-standing dedication to water security, hydro-economic optimization, and sustainable resource governance has had a transformative impact both in Brazil and internationally. With further expansion of international collaborations and interdisciplinary outreach, he has the potential to become a leading global authority in water resources research. Overall, his profile strongly merits recognition with this award.

Oluwaseun Faloye | Soil and Water Conservation | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Award and Honors

Dr. Oluwaseun Faloye | Soil and Water Conservation | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer, at Federal University, Oye, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Dr. Faloye Oluwaseun Temitope is a distinguished Nigerian academic with expertise in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering. Born on April 16, 1988, in Akure, Ondo State, Dr. Faloye has dedicated his career to advancing soil and water engineering. With a Ph.D. from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, his work emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience. Dr. Faloye has authored numerous research articles published in high-impact journals and is a member of key professional bodies like COREN and NIAE. Married with three children, he is committed to nurturing young engineers and contributing to global environmental sustainability. 🌍

Professional Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

Education 🎓

Dr. Faloye’s academic journey showcases a commitment to excellence. He earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, specializing in Soil and Water Engineering, in 2019. His Master’s Degree (M.Eng) in the same field was awarded with distinction in 2014. In 2011, he graduated with a Second Class Upper Bachelor’s Degree (B.Eng) in Agricultural Engineering. His foundational education includes a Senior Secondary School Certificate from Ijapo High School (2005) and a Primary School Leaving Certificate from Ijapo Primary School (1999). Dr. Faloye’s academic background reflects his deep passion for engineering solutions to environmental challenges. 📘

Experience 💼

Dr. Faloye has an impressive career spanning academia and research. He serves as a faculty member in the Department of Water Resources and Agro-meteorology at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Nigeria. Previously, he was an Alexander von Humboldt Junior Research Fellow at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, where he conducted groundbreaking studies on soil science. Dr. Faloye has also been awarded a TETFUND research grant for his Ph.D. research. His expertise extends to mentorship and professional engineering, making him a respected figure in the field. 🏫

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Faloye’s research focuses on optimizing agricultural practices through innovations in soil and water engineering. His interests include biochar amendment, water-use efficiency, irrigation technologies, and crop yield optimization under varying climatic conditions. He also explores machine learning applications for modeling crop responses and soil properties. Dr. Faloye’s work aims to address global challenges such as food security, sustainable water management, and climate change adaptation. 🌱

Awards 🏆

Dr. Faloye’s excellence has been recognized through prestigious awards and grants. Notably, he received the Alexander von Humboldt Junior Research Fellowship in 2019 for soil science research at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. Additionally, he was awarded the TETFUND Ph.D. Research Grant in 2017, reflecting his significant contributions to agricultural and environmental engineering. His accolades affirm his impact on advancing sustainable agricultural technologies. 🥇

Top Notes Publications 📚

Dr. Faloye has authored over 15 research articles in high-impact journals, reflecting his expertise and innovation in soil and water engineering. Some notable works include:

  • Faloye et al. (2025). “Development of Soil Wetting Front Estimation Models in Sandy Soil with a Hard Pan Under Drip Irrigation Using Empirical and Response Surface Methodologies.” Agronomy, 15(2), 272. DOI:10.3390/agronomy15020272.This study focuses on accurately estimating the wetting front in sandy soils with an underlying hard pan during drip irrigation. The researchers utilized both existing and modified empirical equations, optimizing input parameters through response surface methodology (RSM). The findings aim to enhance water-use efficiency in such soil conditions.
    MDPI
  • Ajayi et al. (2025). “Mechanical and Resilience Characteristics of Arable Land.” Soil and Tillage Research. DOI:10.1016/j.still.2024.106387.As of now, specific details about this paper are not readily available. For comprehensive information, please refer to the journal ‘Soil and Tillage Research’ or access the paper directly via its DOI link.
  • Eludire et al. (2025). “Evaluation of Evapotranspiration Prediction for Cassava Crop Using Artificial Neural Network Models and Empirical Models over Cross River Basin in Nigeria.” Water, 17(1), 87. DOI:10.3390/w17010087.This research evaluates the effectiveness of artificial neural network (ANN) models compared to traditional empirical models in predicting evapotranspiration for cassava crops in Nigeria’s Cross River Basin. The study aims to improve irrigation planning and water resource management by identifying more accurate prediction methods.
    MDPI
  • Faloye et al. (2024). “Evaluating Impacts of Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizer Applications on Soil Quality and Maize Yield Using Principal Component Analysis.” Agronomy, 14(8), 1761. DOI:10.3390/agronomy14081761.This two-year field experiment investigates the individual and combined effects of biochar and inorganic fertilizers on soil quality and maize yield. Utilizing principal component analysis, the study identifies key soil properties influenced by these amendments, providing insights into sustainable agricultural practices.
    MDPI

Conclusion

Dr. Faloye Oluwaseun Temitope is an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His academic achievements, impactful research, and dedication to addressing global agricultural challenges through sustainable practices make him a strong contender. By enhancing his leadership roles in international projects and expanding his outreach efforts, he could further elevate his already impressive profile. Dr. Faloye’s work exemplifies excellence in research and its application to societal challenges, making him highly deserving of this recognition.