Mr. Noel Isack Kaaya | Environmental and analytical chemistry | Research Excellence Award

Mr. Noel Isack Kaaya | Environmental and analytical chemistry | Research Excellence Award

Government Chemist Laboratory Authority | Tanzania

Noel Isack Kaaya is an accomplished chemist researcher with over a decade of professional experience in hazardous chemicals management, occupational safety and health, and advanced laboratory analysis related to environmental pollution, toxicology, and illicit substances. He holds a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Dodoma and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Dar es Salaam, building a strong academic foundation in analytical and environmental chemistry. His research work focuses on acid mine drainage, geogenic contamination, environmental toxicology, soil pollution, and the use of advanced materials such as graphene-based adsorbents for rare earth element recovery. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications addressing environmental contamination and public health risks in mining regions. His professional experience includes long-term service as a chemist in a national analytical laboratory, where he conducts critical assessments of environmental hazards and supports scientific investigations. His research interests extend to environmental risk assessment, geochemistry, and sustainable waste management solutions. With growing recognition in the scientific community and impactful contributions to environmental health, he continues to advance research that informs policy, protects public safety, and strengthens sustainable mineral resource management. His career reflects a commitment to scientific excellence and environmental responsibility.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Kaaya, N. I. (2026). Acid mine drainage, soil pollution, and carcinogenic risk of geogenic contaminants in artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas of Geita, Tanzania. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02909-8

Mr. Arkajyoti Pathak | Risk Management | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Arkajyoti Pathak | Risk Management | Best Researcher Award

West Virginia University | United States

Profile:  Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Bowman, A. P., & Sharma, S. (2024). Modeling impacts of Fe activity and H₂ partial pressure on hydrogen storage in shallow subsurface reservoirs. Aquatic Geochemistry, 6.

Pathak, A., & Sharma, S. (2024). Effect of iron mineral transformation on long-term subsurface hydrogen storage—Results from geochemical modeling. Fuels, 5(3), 334–346.

Bowman, S., Pathak, A., Agrawal, V., & Sharma, S. (2024). A simple method for obtaining heat capacity coefficients of minerals. American Mineralogist, 109(3), 624–627.

Pathak, A., Bowman, S., & Sharma, S. (2025). Theoretical investigation on the suitability of Fe(II)-rich sandstone for underground hydrogen storage. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 193, 152425.

Bowman, S., Pathak, A., & Sharma, S. (2025). Reactive transport and Péclet number analysis of hydrogen flux pathways in uniform clay matrix: Implications for underground storage. Transport in Porous Media, 152(8), 59.

Pathak, A., Clark, A., & Sharma, S. (2025, April). Ironic behavior of iron-bearing phases during underground hydrogen storage? In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (EGU25-13768).

Clark, A., Pathak, A., Tinker, K., Gulliver, D., & Sharma, S. (2024). Microbial and geochemical characterization of groundwater: Implications for underground hydrogen storage leakage. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV.