Marzia Ciampittiello | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Citation Awards

Marzia Ciampittiello | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

CNR IRSA | Italy

Dr. Marzia Ciampittiello is a distinguished researcher at the Italian National Research Council’s Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA) in Verbania Pallanza, where she has held a permanent position since 2001. With over two decades of experience, she leads the research group focused on hydraulics, hydrology, hydro-morphology, meteorology, and climate studies. Her expertise encompasses the comprehensive study of hydrological and meteorological processes, the morphodynamics of rivers and lakes, and the development of innovative environmental monitoring systems. Dr. Ciampittiello’s scientific work integrates field observations, data analysis, and modeling to understand water systems under changing climatic conditions. Her research contributes to sustainable water management, flood risk assessment, and climate change adaptation strategies. Before her current position, she served as an external assistant at the Institute of Ecosystem Study of the Italian National Research Council, where she conducted statistical analyses of extreme weather events, evaluated climatic trends in rainfall, temperature, and wind, and studied the hydrology of the Lake Maggiore basin. Earlier in her career, she collaborated with the Lions Club and the Institute of Hydrobiology in Verbania Pallanza as a freelance professional, contributing to studies on hydrological and hydraulic processes in aquatic systems. Skilled in analytical tools such as R, QGIS, and Ground Water Vistas, she integrates data-driven methods with field-based research to advance environmental science. Her scientific contributions have significantly enhanced understanding of hydro-climatic interactions and watershed processes in Italian and European contexts. Through her leadership, Dr. Ciampittiello continues to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the application of hydrological research to real-world environmental challenges, reinforcing her reputation as an influential figure in the fields of hydrology and climate research.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Garzoli, L., Mammola, S., Ciampittiello, M., & Boggero, A. (2020). Alien crayfish species in the deep subalpine Lake Maggiore (NW-Italy), with a focus on the biometry and habitat preferences of the spiny-cheek crayfish. Water, 12(5), 1391.

Boon, P., Argillier, C., Boggero, A., Ciampittiello, M., England, J., Monika, P., Radulović, S., Rowan, J., Soszka, H., & Urbanič, G. (2019). Developing a standard approach for assessing the hydromorphology of lakes in Europe. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 29(4), 655–669.

Ciampittiello, M., Dresti, C., Saidi, H., & Manca, D. (2019). Indagini sul bacino imbrifero. Caratteristiche idrologiche. In Ricerche sull’evoluzione del Lago Maggiore. Aspetti limnologici. Programma triennale 2016–2018. Campagna 2018 e relazione triennio 2016–2018 (pp. 9–21, 96–100). Commissione Internazionale per la Protezione delle Acque Italo-Svizzere. ISSN 1013-8099.

Saidi, H., Dresti, C., Manca, D., & Ciampittiello, M. (2018). Quantifying impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow of an Alpine river. Environmental Earth Sciences, 77, 690.

Brocca, L., Adamo, M., Boggero, A., Ciampittiello, M., Copetti, D., De Girolamo, A. M., Dresti, C., Garnier, M., Marziali, L., Massari, C., Polesello, S., & Rana, F. M. (2024). Acque superficiali e invasi. In E. Romano & I. Portoghese (Eds.), Siccità, scarsità e crisi idriche (Habitat Signa 1, pp. 237–264).

Elizabeth Middleton | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Citation Awards

Elizabeth Middleton | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD, USA | United States

Dr. Elizabeth M. Middleton is a distinguished research scientist and senior research consultant at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), with decades of leadership in carbon dynamics, photobiology, and vegetation remote sensing, including spectroscopy and fluorescence-based satellite observation. Over her extensive career at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) , she made pioneering contributions to global-scale ecosystem monitoring and Earth observation missions. She served in several key roles, including Project Manager of the Eastern Regional Remote Sensing Applications Center, Principal Investigator for major projects such as the Boreal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) in Canada and NASA’s Carbon Cycle Science Program, and Deputy Project Manager for the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA). As EO-1 Mission Scientist for NASA’s Earth Observer-1 satellite and GSFC Lead Scientist for the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) concept, she was instrumental in advancing satellite technologies for monitoring ecosystem productivity. Her research has significantly enhanced understanding of light use efficiency, vegetation fluorescence, and biosphere-atmosphere interactions. Dr. Middleton has also contributed as a member of the European Space Agency’s Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) advisory group and as co-investigator in joint NASA/ESA field campaigns. An active member of several professional societies including ESA, AIBS, IEEE, and AGU, she has served as guest editor for multiple leading journals in remote sensing and as a reviewer and panelist for numerous scientific programs. Recognized through numerous NASA awards—including the Exceptional Service Medal and the Nordberg Award for Outstanding Earth Science—her career embodies scientific excellence and sustained contributions to advancing ecological and atmospheric research through remote sensing innovation.

Profile: Scopus 

Featured Publications

Huemmrich, K. F., Campbell, P. E. K., Harding, D. J., Ranson, K. J., Wynne, R., Thomas, V., & Middleton, E. M. (2022). Evaluating approaches relating ecosystem productivity with DESIS spectral information. International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLVI-1/W1-2021, 31–37.

Huemmrich, K. F., Campbell, P. K., Landis, D. R., & Middleton, E. M. (2019). Developing a common globally applicable method for optical remote sensing of ecosystem light use efficiency. Remote Sensing of Environment, 230, 111190.

Huemmrich, K. F., Campbell, P., Vargas, S. A., Sackett, S., Unger, S., May, J., Tweedie, C., Joiner, J., Yoshida, Y., & Middleton, E. (2022). Leaf-level chlorophyll fluorescence and reflectance spectra of high latitude plants. Environmental Research Communications, 4(3), 035001.

Joiner, J., Yoshida, Y., Anderson, M., Holmes, T., Hain, C., Reichle, R., Koster, R., Middleton, E., & Zeng, F. (2018). Global relationships between satellite-derived solar-induced fluorescence (SIF), traditional vegetation indices (NDVI and NDII), evapotranspiration (ET), and soil moisture anomalies. Remote Sensing of Environment, 219, 339–352

Nichol, C. J., Drolet, G., Porcar-Castell, A., Maclellan, C., Wade, T., Sabater, N., Middleton, E. M., MacLellan, C., Levula, J., Mammarella, I., Vesala, T., & Atherton, J. A. (2019). Diurnal and seasonal solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence in a boreal Scots pine canopy. Remote Sensing, 11(3), 273.

Sabater, N., Vicent, J., Alonso, L., Verrelst, J., Middleton, E. M., Atherton, J., Porcar-Castell, A., & Moreno, J. (2018). Compensation of oxygen transmittance effects for proximal sensing retrieval of canopy-leaving sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. Remote Sensing, 10(10), 1551.

christine Amory-Mazaudier | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Citation Awards

christine Amory-Mazaudier | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. christine Amory-Mazaudier, LPP Sorbonne Universités, France

Christine Amory-Mazaudier is a distinguished French geophysicist and space physicist affiliated with Sorbonne University, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, and the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (CNRS). With a career spanning over four decades, she has pioneered research in ionospheric electrodynamics, Earth-Sun interactions, and space weather, particularly in collaboration with African nations. Passionate about science for development, she has led numerous international research projects, built GPS networks across Africa, and founded the GIRGEA initiative. She has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles and supervised 56 PhD theses. Christine has also played an instrumental role in United Nations space weather initiatives and is a member of multiple international scientific committees. A strong advocate for capacity building in the Global South, she bridges science and policy to promote global scientific equity and excellence.

Publication Profile

orcid

Education

Christine Amory-Mazaudier holds an exceptional academic portfolio from prestigious French institutions. She earned her Diploma in Theoretical Physics (1972) from Paris VII, and in the same year obtained a Diploma in Programming (M2) from Paris VI. In 1973, she completed a DEA in External Geophysics at Paris VI, followed by a PhD in Geophysics (1974) and later a Doctorate of State in Physical Sciences (1983) from Paris VI. Complementing her scientific expertise, she also acquired a DESS in General Management (1979) and a Certificate of Aptitude to the Management of Companies from Paris I, showcasing her interdisciplinary skills in both science and administration. Her educational foundation laid the groundwork for a career devoted to atmospheric, ionospheric, and geophysical sciences, and her commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her continued roles in scientific education, doctoral school leadership, and historical research on science and geophysics.

Experience

Christine Amory-Mazaudier began her career in education (1971–1975) before transitioning to research at the French Commission for Atomic Energy (1976–1978). She served as a researcher at CNRS (1978–2014) and currently acts as Senior Scientist at LPP, Sorbonne University (since 2014). Her international roles include visiting professorships in Nigeria, associate researcher at ICTP (Trieste), and staff associate with ICTP/UNESCO (2014–2020). She is a recognized expert for the UN ICG-GNSS/Space Weather group since 2013. A key figure in space science collaborations with Africa, she led GPS infrastructure development, scientific capacity-building initiatives, and doctoral schools across the Global South. Christine coordinated the GIRGEA laboratory, organized data repositories, and served on steering committees of the IHY and ISWI projects. Her work spans science, policy, and education—impacting both hemispheres through transcontinental knowledge exchange and international project management.

Awards and Honors

Christine Amory-Mazaudier’s illustrious contributions have earned her numerous international accolades. She was listed in Who’s Who in the World (1996) and received two Certificates of Merit (2007) from AGU/IUGG and IHY-Africa for her pivotal work in space sciences in Africa. In 2014, she was named a Fellow of the Nigerian Geophysical Society and later a Fellow of the African Geophysical Society (2015). She received the Marcel Nicolet Medal (2015) for her impact on space weather science. Additional honors include the Campaign Medal from the Vietnam Academy of Science (2017) and the Excellence Prize for Research Development in Space Sciences (2020, Nigeria). In 2022, she received the Certificate of Appreciation (Nepal Physical Society) and the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai COSPAR/ISRO Medal (2022, Athens). Her honors reflect her global influence and commitment to the advancement of geophysics, science diplomacy, and cross-continental collaboration.

Research Focus

Christine Amory-Mazaudier’s research spans ionospheric thermodynamics, atmospheric boundary dynamics, Earth’s magnetic field, and Sun-Earth relations, with a core focus on space weather. Her early work involved studying acoustic waves from nuclear activity and later evolved into ionospheric electrodynamics and magnetospheric physics. Since 1990, she has led investigations into the geomagnetic field, its historical evolution, and its interaction with solar activities. Deeply committed to science for development, Christine established the GIRGEA network, enabling international collaborations and data sharing across Europe and Africa. She plays a pivotal role in UN-backed global space weather initiatives, organizing doctoral schools, promoting scientific literacy, and managing a GPS network in Africa for geophysical studies. Her interdisciplinary approach blends physics, atmospheric science, and scientific history, offering both practical applications and theoretical advancements in understanding geospace environments and their implications for modern technological systems.

Publication Top Notes

  • 📄 Thermodynamics of the Ionosphere (1973–1975)

  • 📄 Detection of Acoustic Waves from Underground Nuclear Tests (1976–1977)

  • 📄 Electrodynamics of the Ionosphere (1978–1990)

  • 📄 Dynamics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (1984–1993)

  • 📄 Earth’s Magnetic Field and Historical Geophysics (Since 1990)

  • 📄 Sun-Earth Relations and Space Weather Research (Since 1993)

  • 📘 Science for Development – Editions L’Harmattan, 2012

  • 📘 Space Meteorology in Africa in the Footsteps of Jean-Pierre Legrand in Burkina Faso – Editions L’Harmattan, 2022