Deme Hirko l Water Engineer | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Deme Hirko l Water Engineer | Research Excellence Award

 Jimma University | Ethiopia

Dr. Deme Hirko is a motivated, results-oriented civil engineer with a PhD (defended November 2025, Stellenbosch University) and over 10 years of academic and research experience in water resources engineering, hydrology, and climate change modelling. His education spans a PhD in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, and a BSc in Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering. Professionally, Dr. Deme Hirko has served as lecturer, teaching assistant, hydrology analyst, site engineer, and departmental coordinator. His research interests include climate-resilient water allocation, hydrological modelling, and AI applications. He possesses strong skills in machine learning, WEAP, Python, GIS, and HPC, has supervised numerous theses, received institutional recognition for leadership, and is committed to advancing sustainable, data-driven water management through postdoctoral research.

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Featured Publications

Ali Ali | Artificial Intelligence and water Resources Management | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Ali Ali | Artificial Intelligence and water Resources Management | Research Excellence Award

Brunel University London | United Kingdom

Dr. Ali Ali is an emerging researcher and PhD student in Civil Engineering at Brunel University London, specializing in Artificial Intelligence applications for water resources management. He holds a BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering from Brunel University and a Diploma with Distinction from Kaplan International College, demonstrating strong academic performance. Dr. Ali has extensive experience with civil engineering and computational software, including AutoCAD, Groundwater Modelling System (GMS), ABAQUS, MATLAB, and programming languages Python and R, enabling advanced modeling, simulation, and data analysis. He has applied his expertise in designing steel and concrete structures while addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges. His professional experience includes multiple Graduate Teaching Assistant roles in Civil Engineering and Computer Science, supporting both undergraduate and master’s students with lab sessions, course material, tutoring, and programming instruction. Additionally, he gained practical industry experience through internships in project management and turbomachinery design, enhancing his skills in project coordination and operational efficiency. Dr. Ali’s research interests focus on optimizing water resources management using AI, sustainable infrastructure design, and hydrological modeling. He has contributed to academic documents, reports, and simulations, with ongoing work aimed at publication in peer-reviewed journals. His work demonstrates a commitment to bridging theoretical research and practical engineering solutions, advancing innovation in civil and environmental engineering.

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Featured Publication

Aquifer-specific flood forecasting using machine learning: A comparative analysis for three distinct sedimentary aquifers – Science of the Total Environment, 2025 | Open Access

Wentao Chen | Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Wentao Chen | Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology | China

Mr. Wentao Chen is a dedicated geography researcher currently pursuing a master’s degree with a strong academic foundation in geographical science, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis. Building upon his undergraduate training in earth science, geomorphology, meteorology, ecology, and GIS, he has developed a solid interdisciplinary background that supports his growing expertise in coastal and environmental studies. His research experience includes participation in major national projects, such as investigations into coastline evolution under global change and studies on carbonate leaching processes and carbon sequestration in coastal soil chronosequences. As the first author of a peer-reviewed article in Remote Sensing, he contributed significant insights into tidal mudflat sediment-thickness identification using ground-penetrating radar, demonstrating improved methodological accuracy through advanced signal-processing techniques. His academic performance has been recognized with multiple scholarships and awards, reflecting consistent commitment and scholarly potential. His primary research interests lie in coastal geomorphology, environmental remote sensing, and GIS-based spatial analysis, with a particular focus on coastal dynamic processes and subsurface structural characterization. Continually motivated to expand his technical and research capabilities, he aims to contribute meaningful scientific understanding to the fields of coastal environmental change and geospatial technology.

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Featured Publication

Chen, W., Zhao, C., Zheng, G., Zhu, J., & Li, X. (2025). “Identification of the Sediment Thickness Variation of a Tidal Mudflat in the South Yellow Sea via GPR.” Remote Sensing.

 

Myeong-Ho Yeo | Environmental Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Myeong-Ho Yeo | Environmental Data Analysis | Research Excellence Award

University of Guam | Guam

Dr. Chris (Myeong-Ho) Yeo is a tenured Associate Professor of Water Engineering and Hydrology and Chair of the Environmental Science Graduate Program at the University of Guam. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics from McGill University, and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Chungnam National University. His research focuses on water quality monitoring and modeling, stormwater and flood management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the fate and transport of land-based pollutants, particularly in coastal and island ecosystems. Dr. Yeo has extensive experience developing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, statistical downscaling, stochastic rainfall modeling, and integrated watershed management tools. He has led numerous research projects for agencies including USGS, NASA, FEMA, and the Department of Defense, contributing to long-term monitoring of coral reef and freshwater resources across Guam, CNMI, and FSM. He is recognized for his scientific leadership, earning the Triton Faculty of the Year Award and holding Professional Engineer licensure in Environmental Engineering. His work integrates applied research with community resilience, sustainable water management, and climate-informed decision-making. Through his scholarship, teaching, and service, Dr. Yeo advances the understanding and management of water resources under climate variability, supporting sustainable environmental planning and the protection of coastal and freshwater systems in the Pacific region.

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Featured Publications

Yeo, M.-H., Kim, Y.S., Houk, P., Chang, A., & Lugwid, A. (2026). Ridge-to-reef linkages in Apra Harbor, Guam describe spatial and temporal variation in water quality and coral reef assemblages. Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Yeo, M.-H., Patil, U.D., Chang, A., & King, R. (2023). Changing Trends in Temperatures and Rainfalls in the Western Pacific: Guam. Climate.

Yeo, M.-H., Nguyen, V.-T.-V., Kim, Y.S., & Kpodonu, T.A. (2022). An Integrated Extreme Rainfall Modeling Tool (SDExtreme) for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. Water Resources Management.

Yeo, M.-H., Pangelinan, J., & King, R. (2022). Identifying Characteristics of Guam’s Extreme Rainfalls Prior to Climate Change Assessment. Water.

Yeo, M.-H. (corresponding author), et al. (2021). Application of a SWAT Model for Supporting a Ridge-to-Reef Framework in the Pago Watershed in Guam. Water, 13(23), 3351.

Almudena García-García | Climate Change Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Almudena García-García | Climate Change Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ | Germany

Dr. Almudena García-García is a scientist specializing in remote sensing and environmental sciences, currently affiliated with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Remote Sensing Centre for Earth System Research at Leipzig University. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland and St. Francis Xavier University, following an M.Sc. in Earth Sciences and a B.Sc. in Physics. With extensive experience as a course and lab instructor, research assistant, and project manager, her work focuses on climate extremes, soil heat dynamics, hydrology, and biodiversity under changing environmental conditions. Dr. García-García has led and contributed to multiple national and international research projects, including DFG-funded studies on soil heat extremes and ESA’s 4DHYDROLOGY initiative. She has co-authored numerous high-impact peer-reviewed publications on soil moisture, transpiration, land-surface modeling, and Earth observation data integration. Recognized for her scientific excellence, she has received the Governor General Graduate Medal, the Moire A. Wadleigh Award, and a nomination to the 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Dr. García-García has supervised bachelor, master, and Ph.D. students, fostering the next generation of environmental scientists. Her research combines remote sensing, Earth system modeling, and observational data to better understand the impacts of climate variability and extremes on terrestrial and hydrological systems.

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Featured Publications

Beltrami, H., González-Rouco, J. F., Peng, J., Cuesta-Valero, F. J., García-García, A., & García-Pereira, F. (2025, November 12). Robust increase in observed heat storage by the global subsurface. Science Advances.

Mahecha, M. D., Bastos, A., Bohn, F. J., Eisenhauer, N., Feilhauer, H., Hickler, T., Kalesse-Los, H., Migliavacca, M., Otto, F. E. L., Peng, J., et al. (2024). Biodiversity and climate extremes: Known interactions and research gaps. Earth’s Future.

Garcia-Pereira, F., Gonzalez-Rouco, J. F., Melo-Aguilar, C., Steinert, N. J., Garcia-Bustamante, E., de Vrese, P., Jungclaus, J., Lorenz, S., Hagemann, S., Cuesta-Valero, F. J., et al. (2024). First comprehensive assessment of industrial-era land heat uptake from multiple sources. Earth System Dynamics, 15, 547–2024.

Garcia-Pereira, F., Gonzalez-Rouco, J. F., Schmid, T., Melo-Aguilar, C., Vegas-Canas, C., Steinert, N. J., Roldan-Gomez, P. J., Cuesta-Valero, F. J., Garcia-Garcia, A., & Beltrami, H., et al. (2024). Thermodynamic and hydrological drivers of the soil and bedrock thermal regimes in central Spain. Soil, 10, 1–2024.

Meng, X., Hu, J., Peng, J., Li, J., Leng, G., Ferhatoglu, C., Li, X., Garcia-Garcia, A., & Yang, Y. (2024). Validation and expansion of the soil moisture index for assessing soil moisture dynamics from AMSR2 brightness temperature.

Necla Koralay | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Necla Koralay | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Karadeni̇z Technical University | Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Necla Koralay is an environmental scientist and forest engineer whose academic work focuses on watershed management, soil erosion, hydrology, and water quality. She completed her undergraduate studies in Forest Engineering at Ankara University and later earned her postgraduate and doctoral degrees from Karadeniz Technical University, where she specialized in watershed management, erosion modeling, and hydrological assessment. She also continues undergraduate education in geography to broaden her interdisciplinary expertise. Over her academic career, she has served as a research assistant, research assistant (PhD), and currently as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Forestry. Dr. Koralay has contributed extensively to the scientific literature through articles published in SCI, SCI-Expanded, ESCI, and peer-reviewed journals, focusing on RUSLE-based erosion modeling, morphometric analysis, and the effects of hydropower plants and forestry activities on water quality. She has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences and has been involved in funded research projects related to erosion–flood risk mapping and sediment dynamics. In addition to her research, she serves as an editor for the Ormancılık Araştırma Dergisi. Her academic achievements have been recognized with notable awards for outstanding performance during her undergraduate education, reflecting her long-standing dedication to environmental and forestry sciences.

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Featured Publications

Koralay, N., & Kara, Ö. (2025). “Risk assessment of soil erosion with RUSLE using geographic information system and organic carbon and total nitrogen loadings of suspended sediment in Sogutlu Stream Watershed of Trabzon, Turkey” in Environmental Earth Sciences.

Koralay, N., & Kara, Ö. (2024). “Assessment of flood risk in Söğütlü Stream Watershed of Trabzon Province in Turkey using geographic information systems and analytic hierarchy process approach” in Natural Hazards.

Koralay, N. (2024). “An Investigation into the Carbon and Total Nitrogen Content of Suspended Sediments in Değirmendere Watershed and Its Implications for Erosion Risk” in Forestist.

Koralay, N., & Kara, Ö. (2023). “Effects of morphometric characteristics on flood in Degirmendere sub-watersheds, Northeastern Turkey” in International Journal of River Basin Management.

Koralay, N., & Kara, Ö. (2022). “Trabzon Değirmendere Çatak alt havzasının erozyon risk haritasının oluşturulması ve sediment iletim oranının belirlenmesi” in Ormancılık Araştırma Dergisi.