Congyue Zhou | Climate Change Impacts | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Congyue Zhou | Climate Change Impacts | Best Researcher Award

PhD at Zhejiang university, China

Congyue Zhou is an emerging interdisciplinary researcher specializing in low-carbon urban design, AI-driven architecture, and sustainable built environments. Currently pursuing a direct Ph.D. at Zhejiang University and serving as a visiting Ph.D. scholar at the National University of Singapore, Zhou’s work bridges advanced machine learning techniques with carbon governance strategies in architecture and urban planning. He has authored several high-impact publications in top-tier journals such as iScience, Building and Environment, and Sustainable Cities and Society, focusing on innovative methods for carbon reduction, urban heat risk management, and data-driven spatial planning. His academic excellence is further reflected in his international presentations, where he has received accolades like Best Presenter and served as a session chair. In addition to scholarly output, Zhou has an outstanding record in global design and research competitions, winning over a dozen awards for his creative and sustainable approaches. His research not only advances theoretical knowledge but also provides actionable insights for climate-resilient development, positioning him as a promising leader in the field of sustainable architecture and environmental design.

Professional Profile 

🎓 Education of Congyue Zhou

Congyue Zhou has pursued a robust and international academic path in the field of architecture and the built environment. He is currently enrolled in a Direct Ph.D. program at Zhejiang University, China, within the Department of Architecture, where he has been conducting advanced research since 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Zhu Wang. Complementing his doctoral studies, he is also serving as a Visiting Ph.D. researcher at the National University of Singapore (2023–2024), working under Prof. Khee Poh Lam in the Department of Built Environment. His foundational education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Zhejiang University of Technology (2015–2020), where he developed his core design and technical skills. This diverse educational background across top-tier institutions in China and Singapore has equipped him with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in sustainable architecture, urban systems, and environmental design.

💼 Professional Experience of Congyue Zhou

Congyue Zhou’s professional experience is marked by a dynamic blend of academic research, international collaboration, and leadership in sustainability-focused projects. As a Visiting Ph.D. researcher at the National University of Singapore (2023–2024), he is actively engaged in cross-disciplinary studies within the Department of Built Environment, contributing to research on low-carbon design and urban resilience. Concurrently, he has been advancing his Ph.D. research at Zhejiang University since 2020, focusing on carbon governance, AI-based optimization, and energy-efficient architecture. Zhou has also played significant roles in international conferences, serving as a Session Chair and Best Presenter, showcasing his ability to communicate complex research effectively. His involvement in numerous global design competitions has further strengthened his applied skills in sustainable planning and design. Through these diverse experiences, Zhou demonstrates strong research leadership, a collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to integrating innovation into environmental and architectural solutions.

🔬 Research Interests of Congyue Zhou

Congyue Zhou’s research interests lie at the intersection of sustainable architecture, carbon neutrality, and artificial intelligence. He is particularly focused on low-carbon building design and urban carbon governance, aiming to develop strategies that mitigate climate impact through spatial and energy-efficient planning. Zhou is also deeply engaged in AI-based design methodologies, including deep learning, reinforcement learning, explainable AI (XAI), and optimization techniques, which he applies to simulate, predict, and enhance the performance of urban environments. His work explores the integration of intelligent systems in shaping future cities that are not only energy-conscious but also adaptive to climate change. With a strong foundation in both environmental design and computational modeling, Zhou’s research pushes the boundaries of how emerging technologies can drive sustainable development in the built environment.

🏆 Awards and Honors of Congyue Zhou

Congyue Zhou has earned a distinguished set of awards and honors that reflect his excellence in research, innovation, and architectural design. He has been recognized with the Best Presenter Award and served as a Session Chair at the 19th International Conference of the Asian Institute of Urban Environment (AIUE2022), highlighting his academic communication skills and leadership. His design creativity has been celebrated in over a dozen prestigious competitions, including First Prize in the AILCD International Student Design Competition and the Korea-China Architectural Student Exchange Workshop, and the Organizer’s Choice Award in the X-plor International Space Habitat Design Competition. He also received Second Prizes in national events such as the Zhejiang Rural Planning Competition and the CUC CUP Design Competition, along with multiple Honorable Mentions and Special Awards in green building, science innovation, and future-oriented architecture challenges. These accolades showcase Zhou’s exceptional ability to combine technical innovation with creative design in addressing sustainability and climate-resilient urban solutions.

📚 Publications Top Noted

  1. Title: Deciphering the nonlinear and synergistic role of building energy variables in shaping carbon emissions: A LightGBM-SHAP framework in office buildings
    Authors: C Zhou, Z Wang, X Wang, R Guo, Z Zhang, X Xiang, Y Wu
    Journal: Building and Environment 266, 112035
    Year: 2024
    Cited by: 14

  2. Title: Spatio-temporal characteristics and decoupling relationship of new-type urbanization and carbon emissions at the county Level: A case study of Zhejiang Province, China
    Authors: Y Wu, C Zhou, X Lai, Y Li, L Miao, H Yu
    Journal: Ecological Indicators 160, 111793
    Year: 2024
    Cited by: 12

  3. Title: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Carbon Emissions and Their Influencing Factors at the County Scale: A Case Study of Zhejiang Province, China
    Authors: X Wang, H Yu, Y Wu, C Zhou, Y Li, X Lai, J He
    Journal: Land 13 (3), 381
    Year: 2024
    Cited by: 6

  4. Title: Spatial–temporal characteristics of carbon emissions in mixed-use villages: A Sustainable development study of the Yangtze River Delta, China
    Authors: Y Wu, Y Sun, C Zhou, Y Li, X Wang, H Yu
    Journal: Sustainability 15 (20), 15060
    Year: 2023
    Cited by: 4

  5. Title: Multi-impacts of spatial self-policing during COVID-19: Evidence from a Chinese University
    Authors: Y Sun, Z Wang, Z Qiu, C Zhou
    Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (19), 12172
    Year: 2022
    Cited by: 3

  6. Title: Revealing dynamic goals for university’s sustainable development with a coupling exploration of SDGs
    Authors: B Zhu, T Wang, G Liu, C Zhou
    Journal: Scientific Reports 14 (1), 22799
    Year: 2024
    Cited by: 1

  7. Title: Mapping carbon reduction: A cross-continental study of alliance strategies
    Authors: C Zhou, X Xiang, B Zhu, Z Wang
    Journal: iScience 27 (4)
    Year: 2024
    Cited by: 1

  8. Title: Urban planning priorities analysis based on urban heat risk supply-demand mismatch: A case study of Hangzhou, China
    Authors: H Chen, Y Zheng, J Xing, C Zhou
    Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
    Year: 2025
    Cited by: Not yet cited

  9. Title: Low-carbon Spatial Construction Strategies from an “Energy-carbon” Perspective
    Authors: Z Congyue, W Zhu, Qiu Zhi, Guo Rui
    Journal: New Architecture
    Year: 2023
    Cited by: Not available

  10. Title: Cross-county Carbon Governance in Zhejiang Province, China under Rescaling and Institutional Embedding
    Authors: C Zhou, Z Wang, R Guo, Y Sun
    Conference/Source: Not specified
    Year: 2022
    Cited by: Not available

 

 

Mohamed Saber | Hydropower Systems | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mohamed Saber | Hydropower Systems | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer assistant at Zagazig University, Egypt

Mohamed Saber Abdel-Moaty is a Lecturer Assistant in the Department of Water and Water Structures Engineering at Zagazig University, Egypt, and a Civil Hydraulic Engineer at the university’s Irrigation and Hydraulics Lab. He holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering with honors and is currently completing his M.Sc. in Water and Water Structures Engineering, focusing on energy harvesting using water wheels at low-head structures. His research interests center around sustainable hydraulic systems and renewable energy applications. He has published in the high-impact journal Renewable Energy, with work highlighting innovative designs for pico hydropower generation. Mohamed is proficient in CFD simulations using ANSYS Fluent and FLOW-3D, and skilled in structural design software like SAP2000 and ETABS. His professional experience includes academic teaching, computational and experimental research, structural design freelancing, and co-founding a general contracting company. He also gained international engineering experience through an intensive internship with AECOM in Qatar. Mohamed combines strong technical capabilities, academic dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit, making him a promising early-career researcher in the field of civil and hydraulic engineering.

Professional Profile 

Education

Mohamed Saber holds a strong academ ic background in civil and hydraulic engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Zagazig University in 2019, graduating with an Excellent with Honors and an impressive overall grade of 88.65%. Building on his undergraduate success, he is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Water and Water Structures Engineering at the same university, with a research focus on sustainable energy, specifically the investigation of energy harvesting using water wheels at low-head structures. His academic journey reflects a consistent commitment to innovation, technical excellence, and the advancement of renewable energy solutions within hydraulic systems.

Professional Experience

Mohamed Saber has accumulated diverse professional experience in both academic and practical engineering settings since 2019. As a Lecturer Assistant in the Department of Water and Water Structures Engineering at Zagazig University, he has supported undergraduate courses, supervised lab work, and guided students in graduation projects. Concurrently, he has served as a Civil Hydraulic Engineer at the university’s Irrigation and Hydraulics Lab, where he conducted experimental and computational research focused on open channel flow and hydraulic structures. Beyond academia, Mohamed has worked as a freelance structural design engineer, delivering structural analysis and construction drawings for residential and commercial buildings using software such as SAP2000, ETABS, and SAFE. He also gained hands-on experience as a General Contracting Engineer, managing site activities, coordinating with subcontractors, and ensuring quality control. His technical expertise extends to freelance CFD engineering, where he performed simulations using ANSYS Fluent for fluid flow and heat transfer analysis. Additionally, Mohamed is the co-founder of CIVIC, a construction company offering design-build services, demonstrating his entrepreneurial initiative and leadership within the engineering industry.

Research Interest

Mohamed Saber’s research interests lie at the intersection of hydraulic engineering, renewable energy, and computational fluid dynamics. He is particularly focused on the development of sustainable energy solutions through the integration of hydraulic structures and energy harvesting technologies, as demonstrated by his M.Sc. thesis on energy generation using water wheels at low-head structures. His work aims to enhance the efficiency and applicability of pico and micro hydropower systems, especially in rural or developing regions. Mohamed is also deeply engaged in numerical modeling and simulation, utilizing CFD tools like ANSYS Fluent and FLOW-3D to analyze fluid behavior, optimize hydraulic performance, and support experimental findings. His broader research vision involves improving water infrastructure through innovative, environmentally friendly engineering approaches that align with global sustainability goals.

Award and Honor

Mohamed Saber has been recognized for his academic excellence and professional commitment throughout his early career. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Zagazig University with an Excellent with Honors distinction, achieving a high academic standing with an overall grade . His innovative research on renewable energy applications in hydraulic systems has led to the publication of a peer-reviewed article in the prestigious journal Renewable Energy, reflecting both the quality and relevance of his work. While he is still in the early stages of his research career, his strong academic performance, publication record, and involvement in significant engineering projects position him as a promising candidate for future academic and professional awards.

Conclusion

Recommendation: Mohammed Saber is a strong emerging researcher and could be a good candidate for an Early Career or Young Researcher Award, rather than a “Best Researcher Award” in a general or senior category. If the award focuses on innovation, potential, and sustainability-focused research in early-stage academics, then he is a highly suitable nominee..

Publications Top Noted

Title:
Techno-economic Assessment of the Dethridge Waterwheel under Sluice Gates in a Novel Design for Pico Hydropower Generation

Authors:
Mohamed Saber, Gamal Abdelall, Riham Ezzeldin, Ahmed Farouk AbdelGawad, Reda Ragab

Year:
2024

Journal:
Renewable Energy, Volume 234, Article 121206

DOI:
10.1016/j.renene.2024.121206

ISSN:
0960-1481

Citation (APA Style):
Saber, M., Abdelall, G., Ezzeldin, R., AbdelGawad, A. F., & Ragab, R. (2024). Techno-economic assessment of the Dethridge waterwheel under sluice gates in a novel design for pico hydropower generation. Renewable Energy, 234, 121206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2024.121206