Dr. Farzad Ahmad | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Excellence in Research

Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center | Iran

Dr. Farzad Ahmadi is a distinguished researcher in Natural Resources with a specialization in Rangeland Management, holding a Ph.D. from the University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran. His work bridges ecological sustainability and socio-economic resilience, focusing on rangeland management, pastoral systems, and environmental hazards such as dust storms, drought, and land degradation. Dr. Ahmadi has contributed significantly to community-based forestry and mangrove management, invasive species control, and urban waste and composting systems. He has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters addressing the impacts of environmental challenges on livelihoods, soil fertility comparisons of native versus non-native species, and strategies for rangeland restoration. Dr. Ahmadi has actively collaborated on national and international research projects, investigating drivers of community participation in sustainable forestry initiatives. His expertise encompasses field research, environmental impact assessments, socio-economic surveys, and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, with proficiency in GIS, AutoCAD, and SPSS. Recognized for integrating ecological and social dimensions in resource management, he continues to advance sustainable and participatory approaches in natural resource conservation. His research contributes to enhancing ecosystem resilience, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and informing policy and community practices in rangeland and forest management globally.

Featured Publications

Ahmadi, F., Zamani, O., Mirzaei, H., & Azadi, H. (2024). Exploring the impact of dust storms on pastoralists’ livelihoods in West Iran: Social, economic, and environmental consequences. Environmental Quality Management, 33(4), 821–833. https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.22158

Ahmadi, F., & Mirzaei, H. (2025). Factors influencing pastoralists’ participation in rangeland restoration and rehabilitation projects: A case study in West Iran. Rangelands. (In press)

Moslehi, M., Ahmadi, F., Matinizadeh, M., Sadeghi, S. M., Izadi, M., Faunae, N., Alizadeh, T., & Shackleton, R. T. (2025). Native versus non-native Prosopis woody species: Which fertilize the soil better? Folia Oecologica, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.2478/foecol-2025-0008

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yu Zhao | Decision-making and Problem-solving | Research Excellence Award

Shenyang Jianzhu University | China

Zhao Yu is an accomplished scholar in management science and engineering with a strong academic foundation, holding a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree in management science and engineering, and a Ph.D. from Chongqing University. With professional experience spanning academia and government research, he has served as a lecturer, associate professor, and policy research section chief, contributing significantly to both theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable development. His research focuses on emergy analysis, carbon emissions, construction sustainability, green building, urban metabolism, zero-waste city governance, supply-chain carbon measurement, and real estate mass appraisal. He has published 18 SCI/SSCI papers as first author, including multiple articles in top-tier CAS Zone 1 journals, and has led more than 2 million RMB in funded research projects, including prestigious Ministry of Education and provincial social science grants. His work has advanced carbon reduction strategies, emergy-based sustainability evaluations, and digital governance in the construction sector. He has also guided students to achieve national awards, reflecting his commitment to talent cultivation and academic excellence. Overall, his contributions demonstrate impactful leadership in advancing sustainable construction, ecological governance, and innovative urban development pathways for regional and national progress.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Zhao, Y. (2025). Assessing recycled concrete’s sustainability with emergy theory and input–output modeling. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Engineering Sustainability.

Zhao, Y. (2025). Coupling system dynamics with emergy analysis to achieve China’s zero-waste city goals: A metabolic perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production.

Zhao, Y. (2025). Efficient project management of historical building groups: A BIM-based approach with the critical chain method and 5D simulation. International Journal of Construction Management.

Zhao, Y. (2025). Flow shop scheduling for prefabricated components production considering parallel machines and buffer constraints. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management.

Zhao, Y. (2025). Enhancing real estate mass appraisal in Type II metropolitan cities: A GIS-MGWR approach. International Journal of Strategic Property Management.