Rawdah Whba | Energy Sustainability | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Rawdah Whba | Energy Sustainability | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Rawdah Whba | Taiz University & Inonu University | Yemen

Dr. Rawdah Abduh Ghaleb Whba is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen, and currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at İnönü University, Malatya, Türkiye. She specializes in energy storage and conversion, with a strong research focus on polymer electrolytes, electrode materials, and advanced electrochemical systems including solid-state lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. Dr. Whba completed two bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry from Taiz University with first-class honours, earning two Presidential Awards of Yemen for academic excellence (2006, 2008). She received an English and computer diploma from NODS (2007) and joined Taiz University as a lecturer in 2009. She obtained her MSc (2017) and PhD (2022) in Chemistry from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) under prestigious scholarships from the Yemeni Government and the Islamic Development Bank. She later served as a research assistant at UKM before receiving the Türkiye Scholarships Postdoctoral Award (2023–2024), completing a fellowship at Istanbul Medeniyet University. Currently, Dr. Whba works on Na-ion full-cell development, specializing in high-performance cathode materials, pre-sodiation strategies, interfacial engineering, operando analysis, and DFT-supported materials optimization. Her broader expertise includes polymer synthesis, grafted polymers, thin-film membrane fabrication, organic/inorganic materials synthesis, electrochemical characterization, kinetic studies, and materials evaluation for next-generation rechargeable batteries. Dr. Whba has authored numerous Q1 and Q2 Web of Science journals, including publications in Journal of Power Sources, Electrochimica Acta, Ionics, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Langmuir, Advanced Sustainable Systems, Energy Technology, and International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. She has also published impactful review articles and collaborative works involving operando XAS, DFT studies, and biomass-derived electrode materials. She is an active scientific reviewer, contributing to Springer, Elsevier, ACS, Ionics, Carbon Letters, and multiple high-impact journals, reviewing more than 30 manuscripts, book chapters, and conference submissions. Dr. Whba has also provided academic service at Taiz University as Secretariat of the Department and Examination Committee Member and has represented academic staff in the University Syndicate since 2014. A dedicated educator, she has taught a wide range of undergraduate chemistry courses—General, Inorganic, Organic, Analytical, Physical, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Analysis—at Taiz University and other institutions in Yemen. Dr. Whba is a member of several professional bodies including the American Chemical Society (ACS), the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE), the Polymer Ionic Group (Malaysia), and the Taiz University Staff Syndicate. Her research continues to make significant contributions in polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, and sustainable energy materials, with ongoing work advancing the performance, stability, and scalability of sodium- and lithium-ion energy storage technologies.

Profile: Orcid | Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Dogan, E., Maiga, A., Whba, R., Harfouche, M., Ozturk, Z. R., Farhan, A., Altin, E., Duygulu, Ö., Ipek, S., Kartal, R., et al. (2026). Influence of iron doping on α-NaMnO₂ lattice symmetry: Insight from operando X-ray absorption, ex-situ structural analysis, and electrochemical performance using chestnut shell-derived hard carbon. Journal of Power Sources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.238602

Ateş, M. N., Zengin, F., Whba, R., Tunaboylu, B., Aydemir, U., Peighambardoust, N. S., Karslıoğlu, N. G., Malkoç, H. C., Demiryürek, R., Güleryüz, Ö., et al. (2025). Mechanistic insights into cathode-driven capacity degradation of NMC111/graphite pouch cells under long-term cycling. Electrochimica Acta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2025.147611

Whba, R., Altın, S., Serin, S., Whba, F., Nakir, M. Y., & Sahinbay, S. (2025). Synergistic behavior of epoxidized natural rubber grafted di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-based solid polymer electrolytes: Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) study. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2025.11.038

Whba, R., Sahinbay, S., Whba, F., Nakir, M. Y., & Altin, S. (2025). Unlocking the potential of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)-based polymer electrolytes: Key strategies, bibliometric insights, and future directions. Langmuir. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00631

Dogan, E., Whba, R., Altin, E., Moeez, I., Chung, K. Y., Stoyanova, R., Koleva, V., Aktas, A., Altin, S., & Sahinbay, S. (2025). Optimized performance of Na₀.₆₇Mn₀.₅Fe₀.₅O₂@TiO₂ and presodiated hard carbon (Pre-SHC) full-cells using direct contact method. Journal of Power Sources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2025.236327

Whba, R., Su’ait, M. S., Whba, F., & Ahmad, A. (2024). Research progress on polyacrylonitrile-based polymer electrolytes for electrochemical devices: Insight into electrochemical performance. Journal of Power Sources. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.234539

Mahdi Salehi | Energy Sustainability | Editorial Board Member

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Prof. Dr. Mahdi Salehi | Energy Sustainability | Editorial Board Member

Prof. Dr. Mahdi Salehi | Ferdowsi University of Mashhad | Iran

Dr. Mahdi Salehi is a highly respected Professor of Accounting at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, known for his extensive scholarly contributions to the fields of auditing, financial management, and corporate governance. Born in Hidaj City, Zanjan Province, he has established a strong academic presence through a combination of rigorous research, influential teaching, and active engagement in the professional accounting community. Dr. Salehi’s academic background includes degrees in business management, financial management, and accounting. His early academic work explored the role of financial intermediaries in supporting companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, while his doctoral research examined the corporate audit expectation gap in Iran. These foundational studies helped shape his research trajectory and continue to inform his scholarly outlook. His research interests encompass financial management, ownership structure, auditing, banking, corporate governance, and capital markets. He has authored an extensive body of publications in well-regarded refereed and indexed journals. His work addresses key issues such as audit expectations, audit independence, fraud detection, capital market behavior, financial distress prediction, customer satisfaction in banking and insurance, and the relationship between corporate governance structures and organizational performance. Dr. Salehi’s research often focuses on emerging markets, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of financial systems, regulatory environments, and organizational behavior. His comparative studies—particularly those examining audit practices across different countries—have contributed to a deeper global understanding of audit quality and stakeholder expectations. He is fluent in English, Farsi, and Turkish, enabling him to collaborate widely and contribute to international academic dialogue. With active profiles on major scholarly platforms such as Google Scholar and Scopus, Dr. Salehi is recognized for the reach and impact of his research. Through continuous publication, academic leadership, and engagement with diverse research themes, he has become a prominent and influential voice in the field of accounting.

Profile: Google scholar

Featured Publications

Salehi, M., & Rostami, V., & Mogadam, A. (2010). Usefulness of accounting information system in emerging economy: Empirical evidence of Iran. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 2(2), 186–195.

Salehi, M., & Alipour, M. (2010). E-banking in emerging economy: Empirical evidence of Iran. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 2(1), 201–209.

Alipour, M., Salehi, M., & Shahnavaz, A. (2009). A study of on the job training effectiveness: Empirical evidence of Iran. International Journal of Business and Management, 4(11), 63–68.

Hemmatfar, M., Salehi, M., & Bayat, M. (2010). Competitive advantages and strategic information systems. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(7), 158–168.

Salehi, M., Fakhri Mahmoudi, M. R., & Daemi Gah, A. (2019). A meta-analysis approach for determinants of effective factors on audit quality: Evidence from emerging market. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 9(2), 287–312.

Luis Martin Pomares | Renewable Resources | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Luis Martin Pomares | Renewable Resources | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Luis Martin Pomares | DEWA R&D | United Arab Emirates

A distinguished solar energy expert and research scientist, with over two decades of professional experience spanning solar resource assessment, satellite-based irradiance modeling, and renewable energy forecasting. His career bridges applied research, data analytics, and large-scale solar project development, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy systems worldwide. Currently serving as a Principal Scientist and Program Director at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) R&D Center, he leads initiatives in solar resource assessment, satellite image processing, and deep learning-based solar forecasting. His work includes developing data pipelines for solar forecasting using modern AI frameworks such as TensorFlow and Keras, and managing BSRN radiometric stations for high-precision solar measurements. Previously, he was a Scientist at Qatar Foundation’s QEERI, where he directed the development of the Solar Atlas of Qatar and applied remote sensing methods for regional solar mapping. Earlier, as President and Project Developer at Investigaciones y Recursos Solares Avanzados (IrSOLaV), he managed multi-megawatt PV and CSP projects across several continents and pioneered forecasting systems integrating Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and satellite-based nowcasting models. His expertise encompasses radiative transfer modeling, atmospheric physics, GIS-based solar mapping, and energy system simulation. He has contributed extensively to IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Tasks 36 and 46, COST Action 1002, and EU FP7 projects on solar nowcasting. He is also an active reviewer for leading journals such as Solar Energy, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, and Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. Academically, he holds a Ph.D. in Physical Sciences (Cum Laude) from the Complutense University of Madrid, with a dissertation on solar radiation prediction using statistical methods. His publication record includes numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters on solar resource modeling, machine learning applications in energy forecasting, and site adaptation of solar datasets.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Valappil, V. K., & Martin-Pomares, L. (2025). Characterizing solar attenuation for concentrated solar power plants in Dubai using AERONET data and libRadtran. Solar Energy, 302, 114082.

Sanfilippo, A., Martin-Pomares, L., & Polo, J. (2025). Solar resources mapping: Fundamentals and applications. Springer Nature.

Nie, Y., Paletta, Q., Scott, A., Martin-Pomares, L. M., Arbod, G., Sgouridis, S., Lasenby, J., et al. (2024). Sky image-based solar forecasting using deep learning with heterogeneous multi-location data: Dataset fusion versus transfer learning. Applied Energy, 369, 123467.

Rezk, M., Tiwari, V. K., Manandhar, P., Krishnan, V., & Martin-Pomares, L. M. (2024). A CNN-based classifier for quality image selection from sky cameras. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ICSPIT).

Manandhar, P., Tiwari, V. K., Rezk, M., Krishnan, V., & Martin-Pomares, L. M. (2024). Convolutional deep learning hierarchical classifier to identify synoptic sky conditions based on sky images. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ICSPIT).

Martin-Pomares, L., Ghaoud, T., Al Khaja, T. T., Alemadi, A., Ahmed, M. S. M. M., et al. (2024). Sea water salinity estimation over Dubai using satellite imagery & WASI empirical model approach: Application to SpaceD DEWASAT-2 nanosatellite. Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Signal Processing and Information Technology (ICSPIT).

Achieford Mhondera | Climate Solutions | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Achieford Mhondera | Climate Solutions | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Achieford Mhondera | University of Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe

Achieford Mhondera is a Ph.D. candidate in Climate Change Communication at the University of Zimbabwe, serving as a Junior Lecturer in the Department of Languages, Literature, and Culture, and as the Deputy Head of the Climate Action Directorate at the Africa Network of Youth Policy Experts. He is an experienced communication strategist and passionate climate justice advocate with a strong background in environmental communication, policy engagement, and youth-led climate activism. His work centers on amplifying voices from the Global South and advancing meaningful climate action through strategic communication and advocacy. At the University of Zimbabwe, he teaches courses in communication, research methods, and corpus linguistics, combining academic rigor with real-world engagement. He has been recognized for his innovative research and commitment to bridging policy and practice across Africa. As a guest columnist for leading publications such as Newsday, The Herald, and China Daily, he contributes to public discourse on climate change and sustainability. His scholarly output includes several book chapters, journal articles, and conference presentations focusing on climate communication and ecological civilization. Certified in climate diplomacy, governance, and negotiation, he brings a multidisciplinary perspective to global climate dialogues. A proud alumnus of Tsinghua University’s School of Journalism and Communication, he is also the founder of the Climate Research and Advocacy Trust and an active member of international networks promoting biodiversity, food sovereignty, and environmental justice across Africa and beyond.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Xue Li | Energy Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Xue Li | Energy Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Xue Li | Wuhan Institute of Technology | China

Dr. Li Xue received her Ph.D. in Thermal Engineering from Dalian University of Technology in 2021. She is currently a faculty member at the School of Optical Information and Energy Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology. Her core research focuses on the near-wall collisions of microscale particles and the fundamentals of particle dynamics. She investigates how microscale interactions influence fluid flow, heat transfer, and energy conversion processes. Her studies contribute to advancing knowledge in microfluidics, aerosol science, and particulate system behavior. By integrating theoretical modeling with experimental validation, she addresses key challenges in microscale transport phenomena. Her work aims to improve the design of energy systems with higher efficiency and better control of particle interactions. She is also interested in the application of microscale particle research in thermal management and engineering systems. Through her academic contributions, she supports interdisciplinary advancements bridging thermal engineering and energy science. Dr. Xue continues to expand her research portfolio while mentoring students in innovative areas of energy and particle engineering.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Li, X., Xie, J., Dong, M., Chen, S., & Dong, W. (2024). Could the rebound characteristics of oblique impact for SiO₂ particles represent the ash particles? ACS Omega, 9(9), 10564–10574.

Li, X., Dong, M., Zhang, H., Li, S., & Shang, Y. (2020). Effect of surface roughness on capillary force during particle-wall impaction under different humidity conditions. Powder Technology, 369, 253–261.

Li, X., Dong, M., Jiang, D., Li, S., & Shang, Y. (2020). The effect of surface roughness on normal restitution coefficient, adhesion force and friction coefficient of the particle-wall collision. Powder Technology, 361, 311–320.

Li, X., Dong, M., Li, S., & Shang, Y. (2019). Experimental and theoretical studies of the relationship between dry and humid normal restitution coefficients. Journal of Aerosol Science, 130, 67–76.

Dong, M., Mei, Y., Li, X., Shang, Y., & Li, S. (2018). Experimental measurement of the normal coefficient of restitution of micro-particles impacting on plate surface in different humidity. Powder Technology, 334, 52–60.

Dong, M., Li, X., Mei, Y., & Li, S. (2018). Experimental and theoretical analyses on the effect of physical properties and humidity of fly ash impacting on a flat surface. Journal of Aerosol Science, 117, 121–131.