Assoc Prof Dr.  Chiara Garau – Urban and regional planning – Women Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr.  Chiara Garau - Urban and regional planning - Women Researcher Award

DICAAR, Univesity of Cagliari - Italy

Author Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

🌟 Early academic pursuits

Chiara Garau’s academic journey began with a passion for urban planning and architecture. she earned dual degrees, graduating with 110/110 summa cum laude, first in architectural engineering (december 2003) and later in communication science (february 2013), from the university of cagliari, italy. driven by a thirst for knowledge, she furthered her studies by obtaining a phd in land engineering and urban planning in 2008, coupled with a ii-level master’s degree in business intelligence (2005). her early academic foundation laid the groundwork for her distinguished career in urban and regional planning.

💼 Professional endeavors

Garau’s career flourished as she became an associate professor at the university of cagliari’s department of civil and environmental engineering and architecture (dicaar). she gained national recognition in june 2021, obtaining the qualification as a full professor in urban and regional planning (icar/20). over the years, she held various prestigious fellowships and roles, including scientific and technical adviser for observatory smart cities of rome and serving on the scientific committee of the young academics aesop. garau has also delivered lectures internationally, from the netherlands to south africa, ireland, and beyond, emphasizing her global academic influence.

📊 Contributions and research focus

Garau’s research interests revolve around sustainable urban development, smart cities, and spatial planning. she played a key role in coordinating phd courses on “smart and sustainable cities,” which influenced urban planning curriculums in italy. her work spans innovative Urban and regional planning smart mobility strategies and urban sustainability, with a significant focus on european cohesion policies and regional development. she also contributed to projects like benchmarking urban mobility and evaluating proglacial lakes' future in collaboration with international institutions.

🏆 Accolades and recognition

Garau has received numerous accolades for her outstanding work in urban planning. she won the best paper award at the iccsa 2015 for her study on smart urban mobility in italian cities. her expertise was further recognized by the european commission in 2019 when she was selected as the only italian jury member for the prestigious regostars awards. her participation in the “science tour 2016: city of the future” program in Urban and regional planning germany, selected by the german federal ministry of education and research, is another testament to her international recognition.

🌍 Impact and influence

Garau’s impact extends beyond academia into the realm of policy and urban development. she was recognized by the european commission for her contributions to regional and urban policy and regularly collaborates with international bodies to shape smart city initiatives. her work has Urban and regional planning influenced urban mobility, sustainability, and spatial development strategies across europe and beyond. her role in global conferences such as the nobel x conference in urbanism, alongside notable scholars, underscores her influence in the global academic community.

📚 Legacy and future contributions

as a forward-thinking academic, garau continues to shape the future of urban planning. her work on smart cities, regional development, and sustainable urban design paves the way for future generations of scholars and practitioners. she remains a prominent figure in the academic and urban planning worlds, with numerous publications and collaborative projects to her name. garau’s involvement with global institutions, such as trinity college dublin and the university of malta, ensures her research and teachings will continue to inspire and impact urban policy worldwide.

Notable Publications 

Dr. Juan Zhang – Soil pollution and remeidation – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Juan Zhang - Soil pollution and remeidation - Best Researcher Award

University of Science and Technology Beijing - China

Professional Profile

SCOPUS

ORCID

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Juan Zhang embarked on her academic journey in 2003 at the Harbin Institute of Technology, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering in 2007. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the "Change of Marine Microbe Community in Activated Sludge," marking the beginning of her exploration into environmental sciences. She continued her studies at Shandong University, where she completed her PhD in Environmental Science in 2012. Her doctoral research was centered on the "Distribution, Source, and Migration of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil, Air, and Water in the Wastewater-Irrigated Area," laying a strong foundation for her future research in environmental contamination and remediation.

Professional Endeavors

Following her PhD, Dr. Zhang pursued a post-doctoral fellowship at the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, part of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Here, she honed her expertise in environmental risk assessment and criteria development. In January 2015, she joined the University of Science and Technology Beijing as an Associate Professor in the School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering. Her professional journey also includes significant international experience, having served as a visiting scholar at the University of California, Davis, and as an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo's School of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Zhang's research is primarily concerned with the migration, transformation, and control of contaminants across various media, including solids, water, and air. She has made substantial contributions to pollution source analysis, ecological and human health risk evaluation of contaminated sites, and environmental remediation. Her work includes environmental monitoring and analysis of organic contaminants and heavy metals, Soil pollution and remeidation and she is proficient in using advanced statistical models and software such as ArcGIS, SPSS, STATISTICA, and Canoco Software. Additionally, she has conducted research on bacterial isolation, culture, and the study of bacterial phospholipids and extracellular polymeric substances.

Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Zhang's contributions to environmental science have been recognized through her roles in prominent institutions. She has worked in the general affairs department of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Her research and professional skills Soil pollution and remeidation have earned her a position as a part-time researcher at the Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration and a part-time employee in the Department of Chemical Sciences at the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Zhang's work has significantly influenced the field of environmental science, particularly in the areas of contaminant migration, ecological risk assessment, and environmental remediation. Her research has provided valuable insights into the environmental impacts of pollutants and the efficacy of various remediation Soil pollution and remeidation strategies. Her strong analytical, negotiating, communication, and advocacy skills have enabled her to contribute effectively to policy and decision-making processes in environmental science and technology.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Zhang's legacy in the field of environmental science is marked by her extensive research, international collaborations, and contributions to environmental policy and remediation strategies. As she continues her work at the University of Tokyo and other prestigious institutions, her future contributions are expected to further advance our understanding of environmental contaminants and the development of effective remediation techniques. Her ongoing research and professional endeavors will undoubtedly continue to shape the field and inspire future generations of environmental scientists.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

A review of functions and mechanisms of clay soil conditioners and catalysts in thermal remediation  2025(1)

Contamination and human health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in topsoil and groundwater around  2023(3)

Reductive roasting of arsenic-contaminated red mud for Fe resources recovery driven by johnbaumite-based arsenic  2023(5)

“Soil for Soil Remediation” Strategy Driven on Converting Natural Soils into Fe2O3-CAN-Type Zeolite Composites   2023(1)

Detoxification pathways of multiple metals from intensive copper production by indigenous ureolytic microbes coupled  2023(1)