Reza Chamani | Sustainable Development | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Reza Chamani | Sustainable Development | Best Researcher Award

Post Doctoral Researcher at Tarbiat Modares University in Iran

Dr. Reza Chamani is a dedicated researcher in Watershed Management Sciences & Engineering, currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran. With a passion for hydrological sustainability, Dr. Chamani’s work focuses on watershed health, climate resilience, and ecological security. He earned his Ph.D. from TMU, where he developed models to assess the effect of hydrologic service changes on watershed health. Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in the implementation, assessment, and design of watershed structures across South Khorasan. His research contributions include over 15 publications in reputed journals and affiliations with professional bodies like the Iran Watershed Association and the World Association for Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC). Dr. Chamani brings academic rigor, practical field experience, and visionary research on land degradation neutrality, making him a strong candidate for international recognition in sustainable water resource management.

Professional Profile

Education 

Dr. Reza Chamani holds a distinguished academic background in watershed and environmental management. He completed his Ph.D. in 2023 in Watershed Management Sciences & Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), where his research focused on evaluating the impact of hydrologic service changes resulting from watershed management measures on watershed health. He is currently pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at TMU, continuing his work on implementing land degradation neutrality-based action plans for Iran’s second-order priority watersheds. Prior to this, he earned his Master’s degree in 2015 from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, studying the role of land use management in climate change adaptation, in collaboration with the University of Jena, Germany. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Zabol University, with a focus on pasture and watershed management. His education spans interdisciplinary and international experiences, setting a solid foundation for his applied research in sustainable watershed practices.

Experience

Dr. Reza Chamani brings a wealth of practical and research-based experience in watershed management. Between 2017 and 2019, he actively contributed to Iran’s Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in South Khorasan, where he participated in detailed design, planning, and implementation of dam and watershed rehabilitation projects across the Noferst and Bisheh watersheds. His hands-on involvement included detailed structure measurements and preparing regional status reports. At the academic level, Dr. Chamani has collaborated with national and international researchers and served under the supervision of eminent scientists like Prof. Dr. S.H. Sadeghi and Prof. Dr. Mehdi Vafakhah. His experience bridges fieldwork and scientific inquiry, making his contributions especially valuable to sustainable land and water resource projects. As a Postdoctoral Researcher, he now works on strategic watershed health plans, integrating policy-relevant models and global frameworks like Land Degradation Neutrality. His dual expertise in practice and theory amplifies the applicability and impact of his research.

Research Focus 

Dr. Chamani’s research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of watershed health, climate resilience, and sustainable water resource management. He applies cutting-edge models like the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework, and the Reliability–Resilience–Vulnerability (RRV) model, to assess watershed performance under environmental stressors such as drought and climate change. His current postdoctoral research targets land degradation neutrality-based planning for Iran’s second-order priority watersheds, a concept promoted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Dr. Chamani also investigates the hydrological impacts of land use changes, evaluates ecological security through spatial modeling, and forecasts watershed behavior using GIS and remote sensing. His work is applied in scope, offering insights for policy development, infrastructure design, and adaptive land-use planning. Collaborating across institutions and disciplines, he aims to ensure that watershed interventions are both environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, contributing meaningfully to regional climate adaptation strategies and global sustainability goals.

Publication Top Notes

1. Watershed health and ecological security zoning throughout Iran

Authors: SH Sadeghi, R Chamani, MZ Silabi, M Tavosi, A Katebikord, …
Journal: Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 905, Article 167123
Cited by: 29 | Year: 2023
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive national-scale ecological zoning of Iran based on watershed health and ecological security. Using a multi-criteria decision-making approach, it identifies critical zones requiring immediate management interventions.

2. Changes in reliability–resilience–vulnerability-based watershed health under climate change scenarios in the Efin Watershed, Iran

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, SH Sadeghi
Journal: Natural Hazards, 116(2), 2457–2476
Cited by: 19 | Year: 2023
Summary: The paper evaluates watershed health in Efin under climate change using reliability, resilience, and vulnerability (RRV) indices. It highlights future risks and offers guidance for sustainable watershed management.

3. Assessment of the effect of climate change on the health status of Atrak watershed in Northeastern of Iran

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, M Tavosi, S Zare
Journal: Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(24), 1745
Cited by: 13 | Year: 2022
Summary: Investigates the impact of climate projections on the Atrak Watershed’s ecological health using scenario-based modeling. Findings suggest serious degradation under high-emission pathways.

4. Reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of Chalous Watershed based on drought index

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, M Vafakhah, M Naghdi
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 14(1), 65–75
Cited by: 9 | Year: 2022
Summary: This study evaluates the Chalous watershed’s response to drought conditions using RRV indices. Results provide insight into its adaptive capacity and inform drought mitigation strategies.

5. Flood‐oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using pressure, state, and response (PSR) approach for the Sharghonj Watershed, South Khorasan

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, S Zare, H Shekohideh, A Mumzaei, H Amini, …
Journal: Natural Resource Modeling, 37(1), e12385
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2024
Summary: Introduces a PSR-based conceptual model for assessing flood-induced impacts on watershed health. Emphasizes the need for proactive watershed and disaster management.

6. Effect of drought on temporal-spatial changes of the Efin Watershed health

Authors: R Chamani, M Vafakhah, SHR Sadeghi
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 15(1), 1–12
Cited by: 7 | Year: 2023
Summary: Analyzes spatial and temporal drought effects on Efin Watershed health, proposing adaptive water management strategies.

7. Evaluation and variability of flood-oriented health of Shiraz Darwazeh Quran Watershed from watershed management structures

Authors: SH Sadeghi, M Tavoosi, S Zare, V Beiranvandi, H Shekohideh, …
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management
Cited by: 6 | Year: 2022
Summary: Evaluates the effectiveness of structural measures on flood-related watershed health using empirical data and modeling.

8. Hydrological response to future climate changes in Chehelchay Watershed in Golestan Province

Authors: R Chamani, M Azari, S Kralisch
Journal: Watershed Engineering and Management, 12(1), 72–85
Cited by: 6 | Year: 2020
Summary: Assesses the impact of climate change on hydrological patterns in Chehelchay Watershed using SWAT model simulations.

9. Flood-oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using PSR approach for the Sharghonj watershed, South Khorasan Province, Iran

Authors: R Chamani, SH Sadeghi, S Zare, H Shekohideh, A Mumzaei, H Amini, …
Journal: Natural Resource Modeling, Article e12385
Cited by: 5 | Year: 2023
Summary: Duplicate entry of #5 with minor variation in title. Focus remains on flood-driven ecological health modeling using the PSR framework.

10. Health variability based on SPI and estimating median and mean health indices in watersheds and townships of Kermanshah Province, Iran

Authors: SH Sadeghi, R Chamani, M Kalehhouei, K Haji
Journal: Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–21
Cited by: 4 | Year: 2024
Summary: Uses the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to evaluate watershed health across Kermanshah, providing a new method for spatial health estimation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Reza Chamani is not only a qualified but also a highly deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award. His innovative, data-driven contributions to watershed health, resilience modeling, and ecological security have significantly advanced both the scientific understanding and applied practices in watershed management in Iran and beyond. With a forward-looking research agenda and demonstrated scientific rigor, Dr. Chamani exemplifies the qualities of a modern environmental scientist and is a strong candidate to be honored with this distinction.

Saheed Ganiyu | Geophysics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr Saheed Ganiyu | Geophysics | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, Nigeria

Dr. Ganiyu Saheed Adekunle is a Nigerian geophysicist and Senior Lecturer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Born in Ibadan, he specializes in environmental geophysics, hydrogeology, and subsurface contamination studies. With a Ph.D. in Geophysics and multiple international training programs, Dr. Ganiyu has emerged as a leading researcher in groundwater quality and environmental monitoring using integrated geophysical and statistical techniques. He is known for his commitment to sustainable development through applied geophysics and has collaborated across multidisciplinary teams to address Nigeria’s critical water issues. His scholarly impact includes numerous high-ranking publications and peer-review roles with leading journals. Dr. Ganiyu has earned national and international recognition, including awards and funded training by ICTP in Italy. His work continues to drive academic excellence, innovation, and environmental resilience in the geosciences.

Profiles

🎓 Education

Dr. Ganiyu obtained his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Physics (Geophysics) from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 2015 and 2011 respectively. He earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics from the same institution in 2005 and completed a specialized Diploma in Geophysics at the Abdus Salam ICTP, Italy, in 2007. His foundational studies began at Ikolaba High School, Ibadan, where he received his WASSC in 1995. His academic journey reflects a consistent dedication to Earth sciences and geophysics, with additional exposure to international research environments that have broadened his theoretical and practical understanding of environmental geophysics and data-driven groundwater assessments.

🏢 Professional Experience 

Dr. Ganiyu’s academic career spans over 15 years at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He has held positions including Senior Lecturer (2021–present), Lecturer I (2018–2021), Lecturer II (2015–2018), and Assistant Lecturer (2012–2015). His journey began as a Junior Research Fellow from 2009 to 2011. He has contributed to curriculum development, mentored students, and led geophysical research projects involving groundwater exploration, soil property analysis, and environmental pollution detection. His teaching portfolio includes geophysics, numerical methods, and Earth resource analysis. Known for his integration of field surveys with multivariate data analytics, he has applied his skills in real-world contexts such as landfill pollution studies and urban water quality monitoring in Nigeria’s major cities.

🔬 Research Focus 

Dr. Ganiyu’s research bridges applied geophysics, environmental monitoring, and hydrogeochemistry. His core interest lies in groundwater quality assessment using electrical resistivity imaging, multivariate statistical modeling, and geochemical techniques. He has advanced the understanding of leachate plume migration, heavy metal pollution, and water pipeline corrosion through field-based studies in urban Nigeria. His work contributes to solving real-world environmental challenges like aquifer contamination and soil degradation. His interdisciplinary collaborations span geology, civil engineering, and environmental science, driving forward sustainable development in water resource management. His approach blends classic geophysical methods with modern computational tools, offering holistic solutions to subsurface characterization and pollution mitigation.

📚 Publication Top Notes

  • Evaluation of seasonal variation of water quality using multivariate statistical analysis and irrigation parameter indices in Ajakanga area, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Badmus, B.S., Olurin, O.T., & Ojekunle, Z.O. (2018). Applied Water Science, 8, 1–15.
    Cited by: 111
    Summary:
    This study evaluated seasonal fluctuations in groundwater quality using multivariate statistical tools. The analysis revealed contamination from both natural and anthropogenic sources and assessed suitability for irrigation through various indices.

  • Effects of industrialization on groundwater quality in Shagamu and Ota industrial areas of Ogun state, Nigeria

    Citation:
    Zacchaeus, O.O., Adeyemi, M.B., Adedeji, A.A., Adegoke, K.A., Anumah, A.O., et al. (2020). Heliyon, 6(7).
    Cited by: 81
    Summary:
    The work examined the effect of industrial growth on aquifer contamination. Physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations exceeded WHO limits, highlighting public health risks.

  • Assessment of physicochemical characteristics of groundwater within selected industrial areas in Ogun State, Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ojekunle, Z.O., Adeyemi, A.A., Taiwo, A.M., Ganiyu, S.A., Balogun, M.A. (2020). Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability, 32(1), 100–113.
    Cited by: 51
    Summary:
    Investigates how industrial waste affects groundwater quality, using pollution indices and multivariate methods to evaluate spatial variability and potential health risks.

  • Assessment of groundwater contamination around active dumpsite in Ibadan Southwestern Nigeria using integrated electrical resistivity and hydrochemical methods

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Badmus, B.S., Oladunjoye, M.A., Aizebeokhai, A.P., Ozebo, V.C., et al. (2016). Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 1–19.
    Cited by: 50
    Summary:
    Combines geophysical and hydrochemical data to delineate contamination plumes from dumpsites, identifying leachate impacts on surrounding aquifers.

  • Physico-chemical properties of soil samples and dumpsite environmental impact on groundwater quality in South Western Nigeria

    Citation:
    Badmus, B.S., Ozebo, V.C., Idowu, O.A., Ganiyu, S.A., Olurin, O.T. (2014). The African Review of Physics, 9.
    Cited by: 49
    Summary:
    Explores how open dumpsites alter soil and groundwater chemistry, particularly with heavy metals, suggesting significant ecological and health concerns.

  • Delineation of leachate plume migration using electrical resistivity imaging on Lapite dumpsite in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Badmus, B.S., Oladunjoye, M.A., Aizebeokhai, A.P., Olurin, O.T. (2015). Geosciences, 5(2), 70–80.
    Cited by: 47
    Summary:
    Utilizes 2D resistivity imaging to monitor leachate infiltration and migration, aiding waste management and groundwater protection strategies.

  • Upward continuation and reduction to pole process on aeromagnetic data of Ibadan Area, South-Western Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Badmus, B.S., Awoyemi, M.O., Akinyemi, O.D., Olurin, O.T. (2013). Earth Science Research, 2(1), 66.
    Cited by: 47
    Summary:
    Presents geophysical data enhancement techniques for mapping subsurface structures in Ibadan, contributing to mineral exploration.

  • Assessment of heavy metals contamination and associated risks in shallow groundwater sources from three different residential areas within Ibadan metropolis, southwest Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Oyadeyi, A.T., Adeyemi, A.A. (2021). Applied Water Science, 11(5), 81.
    Cited by: 46
    Summary:
    Analyzes contamination levels and calculates health risk indices for residents using groundwater with varying exposure levels to heavy metals.

  • Investigation of soil moisture content over a cultivated farmland in Abeokuta Nigeria using electrical resistivity methods and soil analysis

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Olurin, O.T., Oladunjoye, M.A., Badmus, B.S. (2020). Journal of King Saud University-Science, 32(1), 811–821.
    Cited by: 25
    Summary:
    Combines geophysical surveys and soil testing to assess soil moisture distribution for agricultural planning.

  • Assessment of microbial and heavy metal contamination in shallow hand-dug wells bordering Ona River, Southwest Nigeria

    Citation:
    Ganiyu, S.A., Mabunmi, A.A., Olurin, O.T., Adeyemi, A.A., Jegede, O.A., Okeh, A. (2021). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(3), 126.
    Cited by: 24
    Summary:
    Focuses on waterborne pathogens and toxic metal levels near riverbanks, identifying health hazards and poor sanitation.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Ganiyu Saheed Adekunle is highly suitable for a Best Researcher Award. His rigorous academic output, domain relevance, reviewer roles, and international exposure position him as a key contributor to the field of environmental geophysics and water resource management in Nigeria and beyond.