The ProSPER.Net-Scopus Young Scientist Award in Sustainable Development is given annually to young scientists or researchers based in the Asia-Pacific region, who have made significant contributions in the area of Sustainable Development.
For 2012, awards were given in each of three areas: “Sustainable Infrastructure”, “Sustainable Consumption and Production” and “Health and Poverty Eradication for Sustainable Development”. (Full list of keywords for each category can be found here )
The winner of each category was awarded a cash prize together with a fellowship offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Runners-up received MacBook Air computers or speakers sponsored by Elsevier.
Finalists were invited to present their work in the symposium and were judged by a panel of three experts in each of the respective areas. It is an opportunity for researchers to disseminate their work to a broad audience and to demonstrate how academic work has been applied to improve livelihoods, promote an efficient way of using natural resources or create innovative approaches to unsustainable practices.
Panelists also engaged in a lively discussion about recent developments in each of the areas, building upon their own experience and research to share about the current state of the art in their respective fields. Major trends in science and its relation to sustainability issues were identified through an engaging discussion among experts and audience.
The list of 2012 YSA winners and runners-up
CATEGORY: SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Winner: Tanapon Phenrat (Naresuan University, Thailand)
Research area: Groundwater and soil remediation
The full story of Dr. Tanapon’s award, with video and pictures here!
First runner up: Supriya Pillai (University of New South Wales, Australia)
Research area: Photovoltaics and plasmonics for renewable energy
Second runner up: Jianhua Guo (Beijing University of Technology)
Research area: Wastewater treatment and energy saving
CATEGORY: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Winner: Jun Yang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, SIBS)
Research area: Sweet potato genetic transformation for environment-friendly production
The full story of Dr. Yang’s award, with video and pictures here!
First runner up: Rajeev Pratap Singh (Banaras Hindu University, India)
Research Area: Agricultural utilization of organic waste
Second runner up: Kunchit Judprasong (Mahidol University, Thailand)
Research area: Biodiversity of food and nutrition
CATEGORY: HEALTH WITH A FOCUS ON POVERTY ERADICATION
Winner: Yodi Mahendradhata (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
Research area: Poverty-related diseases, especially TB, malaria and dengue
The full story of Dr. Mahendrahata’s award, with video and pictures here!
First runner up: Thu Anh Nguyen (Medical Committee Netherlands Vietnam)
Research area: Health and livelihood support for poverty eradication
Second runner up: Jianfen Liang (China Agricultural University)
Research area: Improving human minerals nutrition with food approach
Winners are chosen on the basis of 3 criteria: number of citations, number and quality of publications and patents, and documented social impact. They receive a cash award and are offered a fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation which provides travel and living expenses to spend up to eighteen months collaborating with any research group of the recipient’s choosing in Germany.
