Sangkeun Oh | Environmental | Scholarly Achievement Award

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Prof. Dr. Sangkeun Oh | Environmental | Scholarly Achievement Award 

Seoul National University and Science | South Korea

Professor Sang Keun Oh is a distinguished Korean construction engineering expert whose career spans academic leadership, international standardization, government advisory roles, and industry collaboration. As a Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University of Science and Technology and Research Professor at its Waterproofing Technology Research Center, he has made pioneering contributions to building construction and materials engineering, performance and quality engineering, waterproofing technology, safety, and construction standards. His expertise extends to facility waterproofing, defect dispute analysis, leakage safety, and the development of national and international standards. He previously served as Director of the Construction Technology Research Institute, Dean of the Graduate School of Housing, and held multiple leadership positions in construction-related organizations. Internationally, he has led major ISO initiatives as Convener and Project Leader and has advanced global waterproofing research through Korea-China-Japan academic collaborations. Professor Oh has authored 46 documents, accumulated 388 citations, and maintains an h-index of 10, reflecting his sustained scholarly impact. He has overseen large-scale national and industry research projects in waterproofing performance, earthquake-resistant materials, leakage safety diagnostics, and nuclear facility roofing systems. As a founding member and chairman of several key professional societies in Korea, he has shaped policy and practice in construction safety, environment, and waterproofing technology. His extensive public service includes committee roles in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and national standardization bodies. Widely recognized for his lifelong contributions, he has received multiple prestigious government awards, presidential commendations, and national honors, underscoring his significant influence on construction engineering and international standardization.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications 

Oh, S. K., et al. (n.d.). Breakout test for dimension stone cladding with epoxy bond. Journal of Building Engineering. (0 citations)

Oh, S. K., et al. (n.d.). Mechanical treated natural kapok fiber with Ep through oil-milling process for bio-based modified asphalt: Analysis of ageing resistance and Ep releasing. Case Studies in Construction Materials. (1 citation)

Oh, S. K., et al. (n.d.). Achieving lower temperature modification and its mechanism of SBS modified asphalt based on pre-swelling/extraction process and compositing with C9 petroleum resin. Materials and Structures. (2 citations)

Oh, S. K., et al. (n.d.). Achieving superior anti-aging properties of SBS modified asphalt through incorporating 3-methylacryloxy propyl trimethoxysilane surface functionalized MXene. Construction and Building Materials. (5 citations)

Yapi Joel Angba | Environmental | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Yapi Joel Angba | Environmental | Best Researcher Award

Institut National Polytechnique Felix Houphouet-Boigny | Ivory Coast

Dr. Yapi Joel Angba, an environmentalist and PhD candidate in Waste Recovery (CEAVALOPRO) at the Institut National Félix Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, is an emerging researcher passionate about environmental innovation and sustainability. With an academic foundation in Geoscience and Environment and Water Science and Technology from NANGUI ABROGOUA University, he has developed expertise in waste valorization, electrochemistry, and water management. His professional experience includes serving as a Teacher of Solution Chemistry and Supervisor of Technicians at the Electrochemistry and Membrane Processes Laboratory at Cheick Anta Diop University (ESP-UCAD), Dakar, Senegal, where he applied advanced experimental design and laboratory analysis. He has participated in engineering projects such as hydraulic infrastructure development on the Comoé River, improving drinking water access in Abengourou, Côte d’Ivoire. Proficient in tools like RStudio, QGIS, and Design Expert, Dr. Angba demonstrates strong technical and analytical capabilities. His research output includes 6 scientific documents, an h-index of 2, and 25 citations, reflecting his growing scholarly influence. Actively engaged in scientific writing, intellectual property, and digital publishing training, he continues to expand his research impact, focusing on innovative environmental solutions for sustainable development in Africa and beyond.

Profile: Oricd

Featured Publications

Angba, Y. J., Ba, K., Touré, A. O., Faye, M., Kane, C., Diop, M., Pene, A., Balde, I., Diaye, K., & Diop, A. (2025). Recycling urban solid waste in Senegal to produce green coal. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 13(4), Article 134001

Angba, Y. J., Touré, A. O., Abro, K. D. M., Kiari, M. N. A., Drogui, A. P., & Yao, K. B. (2025, September 1). Optimization of biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain Pa using rubber tree seed oil as sole carbon source. Discover Applied Sciences

Sharath Shyamappa | Forestry | Young Scientist Award

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Mr. Sharath Shyamappa | Forestry | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Sharath Shyamappa, Paligi University of Goettingen, Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, Goettingen, Germany.

🔬 Sharath Shyamappa Paligi is a dedicated forest scientist and PhD researcher at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany. With expertise in forest eco-physiology, he specializes in tree-water relations, drought tolerance, and canopy research. His work involves field and lab experiments, data analysis, and scientific supervision. Sharath has published 8 peer-reviewed papers and presented at international conferences. Passionate about climate-resilient forestry, he actively mentors students and collaborates on cutting-edge research. 🌿📚

Professional Profile

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Sharath Shyamappa Paligi embarked on his academic journey with a strong foundation in forestry, earning his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the College of Forestry, Sirsi, Karnataka, India (2013-2017), where he graduated with a commendable GPA of 8.37/10. Demonstrating leadership, he was elected as a Class Representative (2014-2017). His academic prowess led him to pursue a Master of Science in Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany (2017-2020), where he graduated with a GPA of 1.5 (Max:1.0). His thesis focused on xylem vulnerability curves in temperate tree species, reflecting his early interest in eco-physiological research. Continuing his academic excellence, he is currently completing his PhD in Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology at the same institution (2021-2025, expected), focusing on water status dynamics, water consumption, and drought response of European beech, Douglas fir, and Norway spruce.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Sharath has been actively involved in research and academic roles, gaining experience across multiple institutions. His career highlights include:

  • Scientific Assistant (2024-present) at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, where he teaches, supervises theses, and manages research projects.
  • PhD Researcher (2021-2023) in the RTG2300 project, overseeing sap flow and soil moisture studies.
  • Research Assistant (2020-2021), analyzing global productivity data for the CRC300 project in Indonesia.
  • Research Assistant (2019-2021) at Würzburg University, specializing in eco-physiological techniques.
  • Student Assistant (2018-2019), working on socio-ecological systems in India’s rural-urban interface.
  • Intern (2014) at ATREE, Bangalore, contributing to Myristica malabarica conservation efforts.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus On Forestry

Sharath is an innovative researcher specializing in forest eco-physiology, tree water dynamics, and climate resilience of forests. His work has significantly contributed to understanding drought tolerance in temperate tree species. He has developed methodologies to assess xylem safety and efficiency, installed and maintained sap flow monitoring systems, and conducted large-scale field and lab experiments. His research is pivotal in addressing climate change challenges in forestry.

🌍 Impact and Influence

His research has provided valuable insights into forest ecosystems’ response to environmental stressors. Through his collaborations and mentoring of students, he has played a crucial role in shaping the next generation of eco-physiologists. His findings on xylem vulnerability and water stress adaptation inform forestry management practices.

📚 Academic Citations

harath has 8 peer-reviewed publications, with a h-index of 4 and 56 citations. His notable works include studies on water potential measurements, competition intensity on tree architecture, mycorrhization under drought conditions, and comparative xylem embolism resistance.

🏅 Awards and Honors 

  • Recognized for outstanding research contributions in forest sciences.
  • Multiple poster and oral presentations at prestigious international conferences like EGU, Copernicus Meetings, and Xylem International Meeting.
  • Successfully mentored 14 bachelor’s and master’s students, contributing to the academic community.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

Sharath aims to further ecological research on forest resilience, expand interdisciplinary collaborations, and develop innovative solutions for sustainable forest management. His work in forest eco-physiology will continue to shape global forestry policies, ensuring climate-resilient forest ecosystems.

Publications Top Notes

1️⃣ Accuracy of the pneumatic method for estimating xylem vulnerability to embolism in temperate diffuse-porous tree species (📜 BioRxiv) – 19 citations 🏅 (📅 2021)

2️⃣ Branch xylem vascular adjustments in European beech in response to decreasing water availability across a precipitation gradient (🌳 Tree Physiology) – 14 citations 🔬 (📅 2022)

3️⃣ Water status dynamics and drought tolerance of juvenile European beech, Douglas fir and Norway spruce trees as dependent on neighborhood and nitrogen supply (🌱 Tree Physiology) – 5 citations 🌿 (📅 2024)

4️⃣ Assessing the agreement between the pneumatic and the flow‐centrifuge method for estimating xylem safety in temperate diffuse‐porous tree species (💧 Plant Biology) – 5 citations 📊 (📅 2023)

5️⃣ Influence of juvenile growth on xylem safety and efficiency in three temperate tree species (🌲 Forests) – 5 citations 📈 (📅 2022)

6️⃣ Variability in growth-determining hydraulic wood and leaf traits in Melia dubia across a steep water availability gradient in southern India (🌳 Forest Ecology and Management) – 5 citations 🌾 (📅 2022)

7️⃣ Mycorrhization, root tip vitality and biomass of Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies and Pseudotsuga menziesii in monospecific and mixed combinations under water stress (🌱 Trees) – 3 citations 🔍 (📅 2024)

8️⃣ Effect of competition intensity and neighbor identity on architectural traits of Fagus sylvatica (🌿 Trees) – 2 citations 📐 (📅 2024)

9️⃣ Continuous Monitoring of Stem Water Potential in Deciduous Forests: Assessing a Novel Microtensiometer for Ecosystem Hydraulics Research (📡 EGU General Assembly Abstracts) – 📅 2024

🔟 Water consumption of mature European beech and Douglas fir trees growing in pure and mixed stands (💦 EGU General Assembly Abstracts) – 📅 2024

1️⃣1️⃣ Water uptake depth of European beech, Douglas fir and Norway spruce—species-specific patterns, seasonal dynamics and mixture effects (🌊 EGU General Assembly Abstracts) – 📅 2024

1️⃣2️⃣ Trockentoleranz alternativer Baumarten auf Versuchsflächen (🌲 LWF aktuell) – 📅 2022

1️⃣3️⃣ In-situ xylem water potential measurements using microtensiometers (🧪 Protocol) – 📅 2022