Salsa Muafiroh | Social Sciences | Young Scientist Award

Published on 02/06/202502/06/2025 by Citation Awards

Salsa Muafiroh | Social Sciences | Young Scientist Award

Ms. Salsa Muafiroh, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

Salsa Mu’afiroh is a dynamic and passionate geography scholar from Universitas Indonesia, currently enrolled in a fast-track Master of Geography Science program. With over 7 years of combined academic and practical experience, she excels in GIS analysis, sustainable development, and cultural heritage studies. Salsa has served as a Research Assistant, Project Coordinator, and intern at UNESCO, contributing significantly to various national and international initiatives. Her leadership roles include being President of both the Geography Study Club and the Student Research and Creativity Club at Universitas Indonesia. Known for her analytical skills and project management expertise, she has presented at prestigious conferences and published impactful research in Scopus-indexed journals. Salsa is also a multi-award-winning student recognized for her academic excellence, community service, and innovative research contributions. Her commitment to disaster risk reduction, urban heritage preservation, and sustainability reflects her dedication to using geography as a tool for transformative social and environmental impact.

Publication Profile

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Education

Salsa Mu’afiroh is currently pursuing a fast-track Master of Geography Science at Universitas Indonesia (Aug 2024 – Jul 2025), following the successful completion of her Bachelor of Geography at the same university (Aug 2020 – Jul 2024). During her undergraduate studies, she was named the Most Outstanding Student of FMIPA UI 2023 and received the prestigious Beasiswa Unggulan from Bank Indonesia. Her academic journey is marked by an exceptional blend of research, fieldwork, and leadership. Salsa has represented her institution as a presenter at over three international conferences, showcasing her research in geography, disaster management, and sustainability. Her education has been enriched by intensive training in GIS, cultural mapping, satellite image analysis, and policy research. Through a strong academic foundation and early integration of postgraduate-level research, she demonstrates a commitment to solving real-world issues, particularly in the fields of human geography, sustainable urban planning, and disaster resilience across Southeast Asia.

Experience

Salsa Mu’afiroh brings robust experience in research, project management, and international collaboration. Currently serving as a Research Intern at UNESCO’s Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, she assesses risks to 61 ASEAN heritage sites. Earlier, she worked as a Research Assistant on a Universitas Indonesia grant project, where she managed data operations, analyzed satellite imagery, and contributed to publications and conference presentations. As Project Officer for a cartography seminar hosted by the Jakarta Maritime Museum, she organized large-scale events and ensured cross-sector collaboration. Salsa also led as Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Culture’s international heritage initiative, authoring research cited in policy and academic works. Her leadership roles include presiding over Universitas Indonesia’s Geography Study Club and PKM Center. These experiences highlight her proficiency in GIS, DRR policy, heritage mapping, and sustainable development communication—making her a valuable contributor in academic, government, and NGO settings.

Awards and Honors

Salsa Mu’afiroh is a highly decorated student, earning multiple national and international honors. She was named the Most Outstanding Student II of FMIPA UI in 2023 and Most Outstanding Student of the Geography Department in 2022. She won 1st Place in several National Scientific Paper Competitions held by Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Universitas Negeri Makassar, and Universitas Mulawarman. At the international level, she secured 3rd Place in the ASEAN Geospatial Challenge 2023 and 1st Place in an International Scientific Paper Competition at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Salsa was recognized for excellence in presentation and research at major conferences such as the American Institute for Indonesian Studies and the South East ASEAN Surveyor Congress. Her work has been honored with Best Paper and Best Poster awards and has consistently been supported through merit-based scholarships such as Beasiswa Unggulan Bank Indonesia, reflecting her outstanding academic and leadership achievements.

Research Focus

Salsa Mu’afiroh’s research is deeply rooted in human geography, with a special focus on urban heritage, disaster risk reduction (DRR), sustainable development, and GIS-based environmental planning. She has applied advanced spatial analysis techniques—like AHP and SMCE modeling—to assess land use, solar farm suitability, and biomass stock. Her work intersects policy and practice, especially in mapping vulnerabilities in heritage sites against disasters such as tsunamis. Salsa’s innovative use of GAN-based mapping in cultural cartography showcases her integration of AI in spatial research. She emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and often aligns her projects with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her recent research with UNESCO investigates DRR strategies across ASEAN’s UNESCO heritage sites. She is also involved in the development of geospatial tools and educational resources for urban cultural preservation. Her ultimate goal is to bridge academic research and community needs through geospatial intelligence, contributing meaningfully to regional resilience and heritage conservation.

Publication Top Notes

📘 Biomass Stock Estimation Using Landsat 8 Imagery in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau (2024)
📘 Mapping the Exposure of Developed Land to Tsunami in Supporting Disaster Mitigation in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta (2023)
📘 GIS-Based Suitability Analysis for PV Solar Farm Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (2023)
📘 SMCE Model for Commercial Areas Suitability in Serang City (2022)
📘 Analisis Ekonomi Daerah Kabupaten Garut dalam Upaya Mendukung Ekonomi Digital SDGs 2030 (2022)
📘 Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Bekatul (Rice Bran) dan Ampas Tahu Menjadi Siomay sebagai Makanan Diet Sehat Rendah Lemak (2021)

Fekadu Israel Alambo | Social Sciences | Best Research Article Award

Published on 10/05/202510/05/2025 by Citation Awards

Fekadu Israel Alambo | Social Sciences | Best Research Article Award

Mr Fekadu Israel Alambo, Hawassa University, Ethiopia

Fekadu Israel Alambo is an Ethiopian sociologist and academic currently serving as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at Hawassa University, Ethiopia. Born on 27 September 1986, he has steadily built a career in teaching, research, and academic leadership. His scholarly journey began at Adama University and continued with an MA in Sociology from Addis Ababa University. Fekadu is widely respected for his work in rural livelihoods, environmental sociology, and social development. With over a decade of teaching experience at both Dilla and Hawassa Universities, he has also supervised numerous research projects and contributed to research councils and ethics committees. He has published extensively in national and international journals on issues ranging from agroforestry to elderly care systems. His work emphasizes the intersection of society, sustainability, and local development, making significant contributions to rural sociology and community-based development in Ethiopia.

Publication Profile

google scholar

Education

Fekadu Israel Alambo earned his Master of Arts in Sociology (Rural and Agricultural Sociology) from Addis Ababa University (2012–2014), graduating with a CGPA of 3.79/4.00 and an MA thesis titled “Assessing the Impacts of Afforestation and Reforestation CDM Project on Local Livelihoods.” Earlier, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Work from Adama University (2007–2010), finishing with a CGPA of 3.85/4.00 and the distinction of “Very Great Distinction.” His undergraduate thesis focused on “Cause and Effect Analysis of Youth Rural-out Migration in Wolayta Zone.” In 2015–2016, he also received a Higher Diploma License from Dilla University, certifying him as a Professional Teacher Educator. His academic training provided a strong foundation in sociological theory, rural development, quantitative research methods, and natural resource management—tools that he effectively employs in his teaching and research career focused on Ethiopia’s social and environmental challenges.

Experience

Fekadu has held progressive academic roles since 2010. He began as a Graduate Assistant at Dilla University, later becoming an Assistant Lecturer during his MA studies. From 2014 to 2018, he worked as a Lecturer at Dilla University, where he taught sociology and supervised undergraduate theses, eventually serving as Department Chair. In 2018, he joined Hawassa University, first as a Lecturer and later promoted to Assistant Professor in 2020. Currently, he is the Head of the Department of Sociology. He has served in multiple academic governance roles, including coordinator of the MA program, member of the Research Council, Ethics Committee, and Staff Affairs Committee. His teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate sociology courses, and he has co-supervised several MA theses. His work integrates academic leadership, research mentorship, and curriculum development, reflecting over a decade of impactful academic and administrative experience in Ethiopian higher education.

Awards and Honors

While formal award listings are not explicitly documented, Fekadu Israel Alambo has earned significant academic honors throughout his career. He graduated with “Very Great Distinction” from Adama University and received an “A” grade with “Very Good” designation for his Master’s thesis at Addis Ababa University, reflecting his academic excellence. His professional advancement—from Graduate Assistant to Assistant Professor and Department Head—underscores recognition by peers and institutions for his leadership, teaching, and research contributions. His selection as Chairperson of the Sociology Department at Dilla University and Head of the Sociology Department at Hawassa University reflects trust in his governance and academic vision. He has also served on important university bodies like the Research Council, Ethics Committee, and Staff Affairs Committee, positions that are typically reserved for accomplished and respected faculty. These roles and recognitions collectively attest to his standing as a leading academic in Ethiopian sociology.

Research Focus

Fekadu Israel Alambo’s research focuses on the intersection of rural livelihoods, environmental sociology, community development, and social protection systems. He has worked extensively on evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of afforestation and reforestation, the role of indigenous agroforestry systems in food security, and livelihood transformations in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. His research also delves into elderly care systems, youth migration, and social impacts of development interventions. He often works on multidisciplinary projects in collaboration with NGOs and academic institutions, targeting sustainable solutions for vulnerable rural populations in Ethiopia. Fekadu employs both qualitative and quantitative methods in his research, frequently engaging in participatory and field-based studies. His scholarly efforts aim to inform policies that improve the social resilience of rural communities and advocate for community ownership of development initiatives. Overall, his research is deeply rooted in empowering marginalized populations through sociologically informed interventions and sustainable development practices.

Publication Top Notes

📘 Drought, Dams, and Disruptions: Socioeconomic and cultural transformations among the Dassenech pastoralists (Forthcoming)
🧩 Fostering Community Ownership for Sustainable Social Innovations in Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Regions (2025)
🌱 Agroforestry-based Livelihoods in the Face of Cultural and Socio-economic Dynamics in Rural Gedeo (2020)
👶 Home truths behind closed doors: Lived experiences of child domestic workers in Gedeo Zone (2019)
👴 Elderly Care and Social Support Systems among the Gedeo of Southern Ethiopia (2019)
🌳 Impacts of Forest Carbon Sequestration Initiative on Community Assets: Assisted Natural Regeneration in Humbo (2017)
🪵 Livelihood Impacts of Forest Carbon Project: Regenerated Forest in Humbo District (2015)

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