Dr. Alice Nabatanzi | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award- 2203

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

  Senior Lecturer, Makerere University, Uganda

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi is a distinguished academic and innovator in the field of Natural Products and Phytomedicine. She founded the Natural Products Industry Advancement Network Africa (NAPIANA), as well as the Alice Mabira Foundation (AMAF), which empowers local communities in Uganda by promoting home-based cottage industries. Dr. Nabatanzi’s exceptional work earned her the Best Innovator Award at the Appropriate Technologies Expo 2023, for her creation of a sustainable water purification system. 🏆 She is an Early Career Fellow of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and an Early Career Research Leader Fellow of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. As a Lecturer at Makerere University, she leads research that spans phytobiomolecules for disease treatment, nutraceuticals, and sustainable water solutions, impacting both human health and environmental sustainability. 🌱

Profie 👩‍🏫

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Education 🎓

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi’s educational background showcases her commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of Natural Products and Nutraceuticals. She holds a Post-Doctorate in Phytobiomolecules for human cancer treatment from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Dr. Nabatanzi also completed a Ph.D. in Natural Products (Nutraceuticals) and M.Sc. in Natural Products Technology and Value Chains (Nutraceuticals) at Makerere University in Uganda. Additionally, she holds a B.Sc. in Ethnobotany from the College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University. 🎓 Her academic journey has provided her with a profound understanding of the healing potential of plants, focusing on medicinal plants and traditional African foods, which is reflected in her multidisciplinary research. 📚

Experience 🌿💼

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi brings a wealth of experience to her roles in both academia and community development. She is a Lecturer in Phytomedicine and Nutraceuticals at Makerere University, where she has significantly contributed to research and the education of future leaders in plant-based medicine and sustainable technologies. Her involvement with NAPIANA and AMAF shows her dedication to community engagement and entrepreneurship in Africa. Over the years, Dr. Nabatanzi has supervised over 25 undergraduate and 6 graduate students, with a special focus on empowering young researchers in natural sciences. 🌍 Her collaborative efforts have spanned the academic, scientific, and community development sectors, strengthening ties between research institutions and local populations. 🌱

Research Interests 🔬🌱

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi’s research is at the forefront of multidisciplinary fields, combining phytomedicine, nutraceuticals, and environmental sustainability. Her primary research focus includes the investigation of phytobiomolecules for the treatment of human diseases, specifically cancer. 🌿 She is also passionate about exploring the nutraceutical and physicochemical properties of traditional African foods, investigating their role in improving human health. In addition, Dr. Nabatanzi is focused on phytogenics in animal feeds, helping to enhance livestock health. Another core area of her research is finding innovative solutions to water pollution, a critical issue in Uganda and many parts of Africa. 💧 Her interdisciplinary approach and desire to solve real-world problems make her research highly impactful. 🌍

Awards 🏅

Dr. Alice Nabatanzi has been widely recognized for her innovative contributions to science and community development. In February 2023, she won the prestigious Best Innovator Award at the Appropriate Technologies Expo for her development of a sustainable water purification system that provides access to clean water for communities in East Africa. 🏆 She was also named an Early Career Fellow (2023-2025) by the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), marking her as a rising leader in global scientific research. Additionally, Dr. Nabatanzi was an Early Career Research Leader Fellow of the Carnegie Corporation of New York (2019-2020). These accolades affirm her innovative spirit and her commitment to advancing science for social good. 🌟

Publications 📚

Nutritional, Pharmaceutical, and Antinutritional Properties of Wild Edible Plants

Somatic embryo production and GFP genetic transformation in elite Ugandan cassava genotypes

Ex vivo and in vitro antiplasmodial activity and toxicity of Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston (Fabaceae)

Medicinal plants used for treatment of malaria by indigenous communities of Tororo District, Eastern Uganda

One-pot removal of pharmaceuticals and toxic heavy metals from water using xerogel-immobilized quartz/banana peels-activated carbon

Assist. Prof. Dr Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi | Materials Science | Best Researcher Award

🌾 Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi is an Assistant Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, and biosystems engineering. 🎓 She holds a Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering and has contributed extensively to AI-driven agricultural solutions, machine learning, and sensor fusion. 🚀 Dr. Pantazi has been involved in 20+ EU-funded projects, including Horizon 2020 initiatives. Her expertise spans decision support systems, UAV applications, and crop monitoring. 🌱 She has received prestigious scholarships and keynote speaker invitations at international conferences. 🏆 Her research continues to advance smart farming and sustainable agriculture. 🌍📡

Assist. Prof. Dr Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Agriculture Greece

Profile

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Research Expertise 🌾

Assist. Prof. Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi is a distinguished researcher in biosystems engineering, holding a Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. 🏛️ Her expertise lies in bio-inspired computational systems, data mining, and artificial intelligence applications in agriculture. 🌱📊 Over the years, she has contributed to 20+ EU-funded research projects, serving as a coordinator and work package leader in multiple Horizon 2020, PRIMA, and ERANET projects. 🚀 Dr. Pantazi has also authored 26 scientific papers, 9 book chapters, and the monograph “Intelligent Data Mining and Fusion Systems in Agriculture.” 📖

Experience 🚀

Assist. Prof. Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi has an extensive academic and research background in precision agriculture and bio-systems engineering. Since 2020, she has been an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Environment at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. 🏛️ From 2016 to 2019, she worked as an Adjunct Lecturer, teaching undergraduate courses in agricultural engineering. 📚 Additionally, she served as a Research Engineer and Technical Manager at CERTH (2016-2020) and contributed to major EU-funded research projects as a Research Engineer at Aristotle University (2013-2020). 🔬🌾

Scholarly Contributions ✍️🔬

Assist. Prof. Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi has significantly contributed to the field of precision agriculture and artificial intelligence through her numerous book chapters. Her work includes data fusion for soil and crop sensing, leaf disease recognition using machine learning, and hyperspectral sensing for weed and crop differentiation. 🌾📡 She has co-authored chapters in Springer and Wageningen Academic Publishers, focusing on AI applications in farming, sustainable agriculture, and bioinformatics. Her expertise in remote sensing, spectral data analysis, and machine learning models has helped develop innovative solutions for smart farming and soil health monitoring. 🚜🤖

📡 Scientific Research 🔬🌾

Assist. Prof. Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi has led and contributed to numerous EU-funded and international research projects in precision agriculture, AI-driven crop monitoring, and smart farming solutions. As a principal investigator and work package leader, she has developed machine learning models for disease detection, decision support systems (DSS) for sustainable farming, and sensor fusion techniques for soil and crop health assessment. 🚀📊 Her projects include Horizon 2020 initiatives (AfriCultuReS, SiEUSOIL, ATLAS, STARGATE), ICT-AGRI ERANET, and PRIMA projects. Her work integrates AI, robotics, and IoT-based solutions, advancing climate-resilient and precision-driven agricultural systems. 🌍🤖

Research Focus 🔍✨

Assist. Prof. Dr. Xanthoula Eirini Pantazi’s research focuses on applying machine learning, advanced sensing, and data fusion in agriculture 🌾💻. Key areas include crop yield prediction using machine learning and sensing techniques 📊🌱, disease detection in plants through image analysis and spectroscopy 🦠🔬, and weed recognition using hyperspectral sensing and UAV imagery 🚁🌾. She also works on soil health monitoring and water stress detection using multisensor fusion 💧🌍. Dr. Pantazi’s contributions aim to optimize agricultural practices through innovative technologies, improving sustainability and precision in farming 🌿🚜.

Publications 📚

Forecasting of Fusarium head blight spatial distribution in winter wheat using machine learning
Authors: Morellos, A., Pantazi, X.E., Almoujahed, M.B., Šarauskis, E., Mouazen, A.M.
Journal: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture (2025)
🌾💻

Non-Destructive Quality Estimation Using a Machine Learning-Based Spectroscopic Approach in Kiwifruits
Authors: Tziotzios, G., Pantazi, X.E., Paraskevas, C., Michailidis, M., Molassiotis, A.
Journal: Horticulturae (2024)
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A Hybrid LSTM Approach for Irrigation Scheduling in Maize Crop
Authors: Dolaptsis, K., Pantazi, X.E., Paraskevas, C., Bustan, D., Mouazen, A.M.
Journal: Agriculture (2024)
🌾🤖

Application of Machine Learning for Disease Detection Tasks in Olive Trees Using Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Navrozidis, I., Pantazi, X.E., Lagopodi, A., Bochtis, D., Alexandridis, T.K.
Journal: Remote Sensing (2023)
🌿💻

Early Detection of Cavitation in Centrifugal Pumps Using Low-Cost Vibration and Sound Sensors
Authors: Karagiovanidis, M., Pantazi, X.E., Papamichail, D., Fragos, V.
Journal: Agriculture (2023)
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AZ-IDDIN CHHAM | Material and Environment | Material Scientist Award

AZ-IDDIN CHHAM | Material and Environment | Material Scientist Award

Prof AZ-IDDIN CHHAM, Hassan II University, Morocco

Prof. AZ-IDDIN CHHAM is a distinguished materials scientist specializing in sustainable and low-cost adsorbents for environmental applications. 🌿🔬 With a Doctorate in Chemistry (2012-2018), they focus on transforming natural and waste materials into advanced adsorbents for wastewater treatment. 🌍💧 Prof. Chham’s research, published in top journals, addresses pressing global challenges like pollution and industrial waste management. 📚✨ As an educator, they excel in teaching coordination chemistry, crystallography, and industrial chemistry, while mentoring students and designing innovative programs. 🧪🎓 Their leadership in sustainable materials research and pedagogy reflects a commitment to environmental and societal impact. 🌟🌱

Publication Profile

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Educational Background 🎓

Prof. AZ-IDDIN CHHAM has an impressive academic background in materials and organic chemistry. 🌟📚 He earned his Doctorate in Chemistry (2012-2018) from Hassan II University, Morocco, specializing in the separation and characterization of heavy fractions in oil shale. 🛢️🔬 He holds a DESA in Organic, Phytochemical, and Structural Chemistry (2004-2006) from Mohammed V University, focusing on heterocyclic synthesis. 🧪✨ Prof. Chham completed his undergraduate degree in Organic Chemistry (1998-2004) and obtained a Baccalaureate in Experimental Sciences (1997-1998). 🎓🔍 Recently, he completed a Professional Certificate in University Pedagogy (2021-2022), enhancing his teaching skills. 🧑‍🏫🌿.

Current Role and Focus 💼

Prof. AZ-IDDIN CHHAM is currently serving as an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education, and Scientific Research in Casablanca, Ain Chok, Morocco, since December 5, 2020. 🧑‍🏫🔬 In this role, he contributes to advancing academic excellence through teaching, research, and mentorship in the field of chemistry. 📚✨ His expertise spans materials science, organic chemistry, and sustainable environmental solutions, aligning with global scientific and educational goals. 🌍🔎 With a commitment to innovation and education, Prof. Chham continues to inspire and guide the next generation of scientists and researchers. 🌟👩‍🔬

Research Focus Area 🌱🧬

Prof. AZ-IDDIN CHHAM’s research focuses on sustainable materials science, particularly in the development of eco-friendly adsorbents for environmental applications. 🌿🔬 His work includes the purification of textile waste, removal of toxic dyes, and the decontamination of hazardous pollutants from wastewater using low-cost, natural materials like Moroccan Pistacia lentiscus and clays. 🧪💧 He also explores efficient processing techniques for oil extraction and heavy oil contamination, with a focus on enhancing environmental and industrial sustainability. 🌍 His contributions significantly impact water treatment, waste management, and pollution control technologies. 🧼💚

Publication Top Notes 📄✨

The use of insoluble mater of Moroccan oil shale for removal of dyes from aqueous solution

Elaboration of novel adsorbent from Moroccan oil shale using Plackett–Burman design

M. larzek, S. Mansouri, N. Elhammoudi, N. Hanafi, H. Hannache

Supercritical water extraction and characterization of Moroccan shale oil by different solvent

Preparation and development of a novel activated carbon based on Moroccan oil shale using activation process

Classical and advanced isotherms to model the adsorption of drugs, dyes and metals on activated carbonaceous materials: a review

Modeling and optimization of the activation process of oil shale for removal of cd (II) using the response surface methodology

Purification of textile waste by extracting harmful contaminants using a bio-porous sorbent derived from Moroccan Pistacia Lentiscus

Efficient Removal of a Toxic Textile Dye from Aqueous Solution Using Low-Cost Adsorbents Natural Clays

Impact of chemical processes on the textural properties of the adsorbent of Moroccan oil shale for environmental applications

Conclusion 🏆

Prof. AZ-IDDIN CHHAM’s contributions in sustainable materials science, innovative adsorbent technologies, and dedicated pedagogical efforts make them a highly suitable candidate for a Material Scientist Award. Their work not only advances the field of materials science but also demonstrates tangible societal and environmental impacts. They exhibit a strong balance of research innovation, academic leadership, and collaboration, qualities that align with the award’s criteria.