Tarun Kumar Lohani | Environmental and Sustainable Materials | Best Academic Researcher Award

Prof. Tarun Kumar Lohani | Environmental and Sustainable Materials | Best Academic Researcher Award

Professor | Arba Minch University | India

Prof.  Tarun Kumar Lohani is a distinguished Professor at the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (AWTI), Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, specializing in Water Technology, hydrological modelling, groundwater systems, climate-change–induced water challenges, GIS–based environmental analysis, and machine-learning applications in hydrology. With an extensive research portfolio comprising 119 scholarly documents, 1063 citations, an h-index of 16, and 31 i10-index publications, he has established himself as a leading contributor to contemporary water resource science and sustainability research.Prof. Lohani’s early work on construction materials, particularly the highly cited study on the optimum utilization of quarry dust as a partial replacement of sand in concrete 143 citations demonstrated his ability to bridge engineering materials research with green and cost-efficient construction practices. Over the years, his scholarship has evolved toward advanced hydrological systems climate resilience and watershed modelling. His research contributions span critical themes such as flood susceptibility mapping using multi-criteria decision-making and machine learning 70 citations groundwater quality assessment in Ethiopia’s major basins sediment transport modelling using HEC-RAS and the application of the WetSpass and SWAT models for surface–subsurface water balance and sediment yield simulations.A hallmark of his career is his strong interdisciplinary and international collaboration reflected in joint publications with researchers across India Ethiopia China and multiple global institutions. His work intersects water resource engineering environmental science remote sensing and emerging computational techniques. Notable contributions include hydrodynamic modelling of climate-change scenarios reservoir operation optimization MIKE11-NAM streamflow simulations for data-scarce regions LULC change detection using SVM and ANN models and the integration of metaheuristic and machine-learning approaches in agricultural and environmental systems.Through his research Prof. Lohani has significantly advanced understanding of sustainable water management climate-induced hydrological risks and water security in vulnerable regions. His work supports government agencies local communities and international stakeholders in improving disaster preparedness groundwater sustainability and environmental planning. Recognized for scientific rigor collaborative leadership and societal impact Prof. Lohani continues to contribute meaningfully to global water research and capacity building in the Horn of Africa.

Profiles : ORCID | Scopus | Google Scholar | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

1.Lohani, T. K., Padhi, M., Dash, K. P., & Jena, S. (2012). Optimum utilization of quarry dust as partial replacement of sand in concrete. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering Research, 1(2), 391–404. Cited by : 143

2.Rakhra, M., Singh, R., Lohani, T. K., & Shabaz, M. (2021). Metaheuristic and machine learning-based smart engine for renting and sharing of agriculture equipment. Cited by : 82

3.Sharma, C., Amandeep, B., Sobti, R., Lohani, T. K., & Shabaz, M. (2021). A secured frame selection based video watermarking technique to address quality loss of data: Combining graph-based transform, singular value decomposition, and hyperchaotic. Cited By : 57

4.Yao, Q., Shabaz, M., Lohani, T. K., Bhatt, M. W., Panesar, G. S., & Singh, R. K. (2021). 3D modelling and visualization for vision-based vibration signal processing and measurement. Cited By : 57

5.Ukumo, T. Y., Abebe, A., Lohani, T. K., & Edamo, M. L. (2023). Flood hazard mapping and analysis under climate change using hydro-dynamic model and RCPs emission scenario in Woybo River catchment of Ethiopia.
Cited By : 32

Prof. Lohani’s work advances hydrological modelling and climate-resilient water management, providing scientifically robust tools that strengthen water security, disaster preparedness, and sustainable resource planning for vulnerable regions.

Maryam Heidarian | Environmental Economics | Young Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Maryam Heidarian | Environmental Economics | Young Researcher Award

Faculty Member at Economic Affairs Research Institute, Iran

Dr. Maryam Heidarian,  Iran, is a distinguished economist specializing in energy economics, public sector policy, and environmental sustainability. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Faculty Member at the Economic Affairs Research Institute, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, Tehran. With an academic journey spanning from a Bachelor’s in Business Economics to a Ph.D. in Public Sector, Urban, and Regional Economics at Razi University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Al-Zahra University, she has established herself as a leading scholar in fiscal stress, environmental economics, and regional development. Dr. Heidarian has authored numerous ISI-indexed articles in high-impact journals, contributing to fields such as governance, innovation, environmental quality, and green growth. She has taught extensively across universities including Razi University, Kermanshah University of Technology, and Al-Zahra University. Recognized for her excellence in both research and teaching, she is actively engaged in national projects, policy consulting, and peer reviewing in top-tier academic journals.

Professional Profile

Scopus Profile

Education 

Dr. Maryam Heidarian educational path reflects deep specialization in economic sciences. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics  from Razi University, Kermanshah, where she built strong foundations in economic theory and applied analysis. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Energy Economics , producing a thesis on the impacts of fuel efficiency in the transportation sector, awarded top distinction. Advancing further, she completed her Ph.D. in Economic Sciences  with a focus on the spatial and threshold effects of fiscal stress on regional growth and employment, achieving outstanding results. Her postdoctoral research at Al-Zahra University, Tehran expanded into the intersection of fiscal stress, environmental quality, and the knowledge-based economy. Alongside formal degrees, she has obtained certifications in business, entrepreneurship, and banking services. This educational trajectory, combined with her excellence as an outstanding student researcher, has equipped her with advanced expertise in econometrics, fiscal policy, and sustainable economic development.

Experience 

Dr. Maryam Heidarian has extensive academic and professional experience spanning teaching, research, and policy advisory roles. At Razi University, she taught microeconomics, economic thought, tourism economics, and energy economics, while also mentoring Olympiad students in econometrics. She later joined Kermanshah University of Technology, teaching econometrics, macroeconomics, and general economics, before moving to Al-Zahra University, where she continues to lecture on economics and management-related courses. Professionally, she holds the position of Assistant Professor and Faculty Member at the Economic Affairs Research Institute, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, contributing to national-level economic research and policymaking. She has collaborated on projects for the Tax Office, Social Security Organization, Governorate, Cultural Heritage Organization, and Management and Planning bodies. Additionally, she serves as a peer reviewer for several leading journals, including Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Innovation and Green Development, and Quality & Quantity. Her dual expertise bridges academic rigor with applied policy solutions.

Research Interest

Dr. Maryam Heidarian research lies at the intersection of fiscal policy, regional development, energy economics, and environmental sustainability. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research explored fiscal stress and its threshold effects on growth, employment, and environmental quality, reflecting a deep interest in policy-driven economic challenges. She actively investigates the role of governance, innovation indices, and knowledge-based economy components in shaping green growth and sustainable development. Her studies further analyze technology spillovers, human development indicators, and international cooperation, particularly within developing and science-producing countries. She has published in prestigious journals such as Area Development and Policy, Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Social Indicators Research, and Quality & Quantity. Beyond theory, her work focuses on applying econometric and panel regression models to real-world issues like energy efficiency, pollution, and inequality. Overall, her research contributes to advancing evidence-based policymaking and aligning economic systems with long-term sustainability goals.

Award and Honor

Dr. Maryam Heidarian  academic journey is marked by significant honors and recognitions. she secured admission to the Ph.D. program at Razi University under the brilliant talents quota, a testament to her exceptional performance. she was honored as the Outstanding Student Researcher by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Razi University for her innovative contributions. Earlier, she earned recognition from the National Elite Foundation during the academic year, highlighting her status among Iran’s most promising scholars. Throughout her studies, she achieved top scores in her theses, including a perfect  in her Master’s research. Her research excellence has been further validated through the acceptance of multiple ISI-indexed articles derived from her doctoral and postdoctoral projects. In addition, she has received certifications in entrepreneurship, business skills, and banking services, demonstrating her broad commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and applied economic impact at national and international levels.

Research Skill

Dr. Maryam Heidarian possesses advanced research skills that integrate theoretical economics with applied econometric analysis. She is proficient in using econometric software such as Stata, Matlab, IViews, Macrofit, and Microsoft Office, enabling her to conduct rigorous quantitative modeling and policy simulations. Her skills encompass panel data econometrics, regression analysis, spatial econometrics, and threshold modeling, which she applies to study fiscal stress, governance, and environmental economics. Beyond methodological expertise, she has a strong track record in data-driven policy research, having contributed to provincial and national projects addressing taxation, social security, labor, tourism, and planning. She is also adept at translating complex findings into practical recommendations for decision-makers. With experience in writing and publishing in ISI and Scopus-indexed journals, she demonstrates strong academic communication and peer-reviewing capabilities. Combined, these skills position her as a versatile researcher, bridging academic inquiry with practical solutions for sustainable economic and environmental challenges.

Publication Top Notes

Title: “Cogitating the role of technological innovation and institutional quality in formulating the sustainable development goal policies for E7 countries: Evidence from quantile regression”
Authors: Ahsan Anwar, Summaira Malik, Paiman Ahmad
Journal: Global Business Review (abbreviated as Glob. Bus. Rev.)
Year: 2022

Conclusion

Dr. Maryam Heidarian highlights the crucial role of governance in promoting green growth across both emerging (E-7) and advanced (G-7) economies. Using panel quantile regression, the results confirm that the quality of governance measured through institutional effectiveness, regulatory capacity, and control of corruption exerts heterogeneous impacts across the distribution of green growth. For lower-performing countries, stronger governance serves as a foundational driver to overcome structural barriers to sustainability, while in higher-performing economies, good governance reinforces technological innovation and environmental policy effectiveness.