Melkamu Abere Erku | Ecology | Best Research Article Award

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Mr. Melkamu Abere Erku | Ecology | Best Research Article Award

Ethiopian Forestry Development Bahir Dar Center | Ethiopia

Mr. Melkamu Abere Erku is a dedicated forest researcher with extensive expertise in forest ecology, biodiversity, and sustainable forest resource management. His work spans a wide range of topics, including tree species composition, forest structure, growth performance, biomass assessment, and the utilization of non-timber forest products such as gum, resin, and wild fruits. He has conducted in-depth studies on African baobab (Adansonia digitata), exploring its population status, phenological characteristics, germination responses, and traditional uses among different ethnic groups, as well as research on highland and lowland bamboo species in Ethiopia. Melkamu applies advanced field survey techniques and statistical analyses using software such as SPSS, SAS, and R to derive insights from ecological and forest management data. His research contributes to understanding species-site suitability, forest regeneration, climate change mitigation, and sustainable utilization practices. He has a strong record of scientific publications in international journals and actively disseminates his findings through conferences and workshops. Beyond research, Melkamu is passionate about knowledge sharing, conservation education, and community engagement, including volunteering to support children in need. With skills in project management, data analysis, and forest inventory, he combines scientific rigor with practical strategies for forest conservation and climate-resilient resource management.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Tesema, H. A., Abere, M., & Yimer, H. (2025). Identification and utilization of underutilized gum‐ and resin‐bearing tree species in two districts of Somali Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research.

Mengistu, M. A., Abere, M., Gasheye, D., Asfaw, M. J., & Ayana, D. A. (2025). Germination response and seedling growth performance of Adansonia digitata L. tree seeds under innocuous pre-treatment techniques for efficient seedling production. Rhizosphere.

Gasheye, D., Abere, M., Ayal, M., Yilma, Z., Getahun, A., Getnet, A., & Worku, T. (2025). Population structure, phenological characteristics, and fruit yield potential of Ximenia americana in Quara district, Alitash National Park, West Gondar Zone of Ethiopia. Discover Plants.

Worku, T., Abere, M., Guday, S., Getie, S., Teshager, Z., Agidie, A., & Eshete, A. (2025). Growth performance and biomass of selected indigenous tree species in the permanent nursery, Addis Zemen, Northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research.

Abere, M., Yilma, Z., Tsegie, T., Eshete, A., & Alemu, A. (2023). Population structure and phenological attributes of Adansonia digitata L. (baobab) in northwestern lowland area of Ethiopia. Heliyon.

 

Nikola Janikova | Forestry | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Nikola Janikova | Forestry | Best Researcher Award

Student of doctoral study at Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology Mendel University | Czech Republic

Nikola Janíková is a dedicated researcher and doctoral candidate at Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, specializing in Furniture Technology. Her research focuses on optimizing furniture design and dimensioning to enhance structural performance, emphasizing mechanical behavior, joint strength, and deformation analysis in wood-based furniture systems. She has published influential works in renowned journals such as Wood Material Science and Engineering and Materials, where her studies explore comparative analyses of innovative and traditional furniture joints, bending moment capacity, stiffness performance, and multi-criteria evaluation methods for structural optimization. Her work integrates scientific precision with practical applications, contributing to the development of sustainable, durable, and efficient furniture technologies. In addition to her academic achievements, she maintains strong engagement with the professional furniture industry, applying research insights to real-world design and manufacturing practices. Her outstanding research was recognized with first place in the “Wood Science and Related Technical Disciplines – Individual Student Projects” category at SilvaNet-WoodNet 2023. With 5 citations by 4 documents, 3 publications, and an h-index of 1, Nikola Janíková demonstrates growing scholarly influence and commitment to advancing wood science, materials engineering, and sustainable furniture design through innovative and interdisciplinary research.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Janíková, N. (2025, October). Furniture carcass deformation concerning to design and type of back panel. Wood Material Science and Engineering.

  • Janíková, N. (2025, May). Comparative study on strengths of ready-to-assemble and eccentric furniture joint. Materials, 18(9), 2114.

  • Janíková, N. (2025, January). Comparing furniture joint variants using a multi-criteria analysis. Wood Material Science and Engineering.

  • Janíková, N. (2024, August). Comparative study on the bending moment capacity and stiffness of innovative and traditional furniture corner joints. Wood Material Science and Engineering.

 

 

Namita Das Saha | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research

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Dr. Namita Das Saha | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research

Senior Scientist at NIRCA, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India

Dr. Namita Das Saha is a Senior Scientist at ICAR-CTRI, RS-Dinhata, West Bengal, India. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Her research focuses on the impact of anthropogenic stressors like agricultural management practices, elevated CO2, temperatures, and ozone (O3) pollution on soil ecosystems, particularly soil biota and nutrient mineralization. She has contributed extensively to areas like microplastic contamination in soil, microbial mitigation techniques for greenhouse gas emissions, and biochar-based soil reclamation. She has also worked on enhancing the production and quality of crops like chili and turmeric using microbial interventions.

Publication Profile : 

Scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Das Saha completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi (2011), with a focus on climate change variables affecting plant pathogenesis. She earned her M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-IARI in 2007 and a B.Sc. (Ag.) Hons. from Uttar Banga Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, West Bengal, in 2004.

Professional Experience💼

Dr. Saha has a diverse career in academia and research. She currently serves as a Senior Scientist at ICAR-CTRI, Dinhata, West Bengal. Prior to this, she held various positions at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, including Senior Scientist and Scientist. She has also contributed to teaching at Central University of South Bihar and the Central University of Rajasthan.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Saha’s research interests span soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, climate change, and environmental science. She focuses on understanding how agricultural practices, such as organic farming, interact with elevated CO2 and ozone levels to affect soil microbial communities, enzymes involved in nutrient cycling, and soil health. Her work also delves into mitigating GHG emissions from agricultural soils and understanding the effects of microplastic contamination in farm soils.

Awards 🏅

Dr. Saha has received several prestigious awards throughout her career, recognizing her contributions to environmental science and agriculture. These include awards for her work on soil microbial diversity and contributions to sustainable agriculture practices under climate change.

Publications Top Notes 📚

  1. Das Saha, Namita et al. (2024). Vis-NIR spectroscopy based rapid and non-destructive method to quantitate microplastics: An emerging contaminant in farm soil. Science of the Total Environment Link. (Impact Factor: 9.8)
  2. Bhattacharyya, Ranjan et al. (2023). Elevated CO2 alters aggregate-carbon and microbial community but does not affect total soil organic C in the semi-arid tropics. Applied Soil Ecology Link. (Impact Factor: 5.31)
  3. Dutta, A. et al. (2023). Conventional and Zero Tillage with Residue Management in Rice–Wheat System in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Impact on Thermal Sensitivity of Soil Organic Carbon Respiration and Enzyme Activity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health Link. (Impact Factor: 4.54)
  4. Das, Sourav et al. (2022). Soil aggregate associated carbon and organic carbon pools as affected by conversion of forest lands to agriculture in an acid soil of India. Soil and Tillage Research Link. (Impact Factor: 7.42)
  5. Das Saha, Namita et al. (2021). Evaluation of Bt cotton effects on belowground microbial community structure and function in tropical western India. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Link. (Impact Factor: 2.86)