Dr. Pedro Lopez Merino, GREDEG/Université Côte d’Azur-CNRS, France

Dr. Pedro Lopez-Merino is a postdoctoral fellow at the GREDEG research unit, Université Côte d’Azur-CNRS, with a PhD in Economics from the University of Paris-Dauphine (PSL). His interdisciplinary research focuses on territorial food system transitions and circular economy models for plastic waste recovery. By employing participatory tools such as serious games and agent-based modeling, Dr. Lopez-Merino simulates systemic trajectories to address sustainability challenges. A prolific researcher, he has contributed to leading journals like Futures and Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems and leads projects like PLASTRON and ATTER, fostering stakeholder engagement and actionable policy frameworks for sustainable development.

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award 🌍

Dr. Pedro Lopez-Merino is an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his outstanding academic and professional achievements in the fields of circular economy, territorial food systems, and sustainability transitions. His interdisciplinary expertise, proven through impactful research projects, publications, and participatory tools, highlights his ability to address complex sustainability challenges. Below are the key points supporting his suitability:

Work Experience 💼

Postdoctoral Fellow

Institution: GREDEG, Université Côte d’Azur-CNRS
Duration: Present
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Research on two interdisciplinary projects (PLASTRON and ATTER).
- Teaching courses in Circular Economics and Economics of Innovation for master’s programs at EUR ELMI.
- Development of participatory tools and models for food system transitions and plastic waste recovery at territorial scales.

Scientific Steering Committee Member

Project: CoopéraTerr Project, SCIC Les Ferrages de Châteauneuf
Funding: ADEME
Duration: 2024-2027
Responsibilities: Local organic production, sustainable food systems, and territorial transitions.

Consultant

Organization: FAO & Coventry University
Year: 2018
Work: Case study on agroecology in France.

Rapporteur and Jury Member

Organization: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Duration: 2024-present
Responsibilities: Contribution to the National Agricultural and Rural Development Program.

Content Developer

Project: Educational module on “Introduction to Economics and Its Relation to Well-being.”
Institution: St. Louis University (Missouri, USA).
Year: 2018

Research Skills 🔬

Interdisciplinary Research: Strong focus on integrating economics, agroecology, and circular systems.

Participatory Tools Expertise: Proficient in serious games and agent-based modeling for systemic trajectory simulations.

Project Management: Successfully led and contributed to several European Union-funded and international projects like PLASTRON and ATTER.

Publication Track Record: Published in leading journals such as Futures, Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, and Journal of Rural Studies.

Policy Influence: Collaborations with government bodies (e.g., French Ministry of Agriculture) and international organizations (e.g., FAO) for sustainability transitions.

Actionable Research: Expertise in developing practical solutions at the territorial scale, bridging academic findings with real-world applications.

Mr. Azharul Islam | Greenery Award | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Azharul Islam, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Azharul Islam is a Junior Research Analyst specializing in climate change mitigation with 1.5 years of experience in eco-physiological research, focusing on data collection, analysis, and statistical modeling using R, GIS, and remote sensing tools. He is also skilled in scientific writing and science communication. Azharul has contributed to several research projects in institutions such as the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where he worked as a Student Research Assistant across various departments, including urban heat stress mitigation and eco-physiological studies on climate-resilient trees. His prior experience includes roles at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and the North Forest Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Science and Technology, where he supported afforestation initiatives, vegetation surveys, and stakeholder engagement.

Professional Profile:

Google Scholar

Summary of Suitability for the Research for Young Scientist Award – Azharul Islam

Azharul Islam is a Junior Research Analyst in climate change mitigation, with 1.5 years of relevant research experience and a well-rounded portfolio of contributions to various research projects, scientific publications, and hands-on work in the field. His qualifications and experiences show a strong alignment with the goals of a Young Scientist Award in climate change and environmental research.

Education:

Master of Science in Forestry System Transformation
- Institution: Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
- Location: Brandenburg, Germany
- Duration: October 2023 – Present
Master’s in Climate Change Management
- Institution: Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences
- Location: Freising, Germany
- Duration: October 2019 – February 2023
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Forestry
- Institution: Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Chittagong
- Location: Bangladesh
- Duration: January 2013 – December 2018
Esri Training Workshops:
- Topics:
  - Going Places with Spatial Analysis
  - Spatial Data Science: The Frontier in Analytics
  - Cartography
- Period: May 2020 – December 2020

Work Experience:

Junior Research Analyst (Climate Change Mitigation)
- Duration: June 2023 – Present
- Responsibilities:
  - Data collection and analysis for tree eco-physiological research.
  - Use of R, GIS, and remote sensing tools for modelling and statistical analysis.
  - Focus on urban heat stress mitigation and urban forestry research.
Student Research Assistant
- Institution: Chair for Strategic Landscape Planning & Management, TUM
- Duration: June 2023 – January 2024
- Responsibilities:
  - Data analysis & visualization for urban heat stress mitigation projects.
  - Support for grant applications and mentoring bachelor’s project students.
Student Research Assistant
- Institution: Center for Urban Ecology and Climate Adaptation, TUM
- Duration: July 2023 – November 2023
- Responsibilities:
  - Fieldwork and data analysis on plant eco-physiological research for climate trees.
Student Research Assistant
- Institution: Chair of Forest Growth and Yield Science, TUM
- Duration: November 2021 – February 2022
- Responsibilities:
  - Laser scanning of climate trees and preparation of dry biomass samples.
Research Project Assistant
- Institution: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Bangladesh
- Duration: February 2019 – September 2019
- Responsibilities:
  - Science communication for afforestation and restoration projects.
Student Research Assistant
- Institution: North Forest Division, Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh
- Duration: January 2019 – January 2019
- Responsibilities:
  - Data collection on plantation stands and vegetation.
  - Conducting socio-economic surveys.
Student Research Assistant
- Institution: Nursery of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science, CU
- Duration: October 2018 – March 2019
- Responsibilities:
  - Conducted experiments on the ex-situ conservation of forest genetic resources.
  - Report writing on research outcomes.

Publication top Notes:

Corporate governance and banks’ productivity: evidence from the banking industry in Bangladesh

Cited:78

Public policies and tax evasion: evidence from SAARC countries

Cited:63

Influence of perceived environmental knowledge and environmental concern on customers’ green hotel visit intention: mediating role of green trust

Cited:62

Determinants of e-commerce customer satisfaction: mediating role of IT innovation acceptance

Cited:1

Capacity Utilization and Production Efficiency of Sugar Industry of Bangladesh: An Application of DEA

Cited:1