Owais Bashir, PhD, is presently working in the Department of Soil Science at SKUAST-Kashmir, India. Dr. Bashir has been involved in the research from the last five years on soil pedology, climate change, machine learning (ML), and soil health. He is an author of more than 10 research articles (h-index 6; i-index 4; total citation 108) and two book chapters and has published one book with international publishers (Apple Academic Press). Dr. Bashir has presented and participated in numerous state, national, and international conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposiums. He has received many awards, appreciation, and recognition for his services to the science of soil analysis. He has pursued his doctorate at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir (Division of Soil Science). He has served as an editorial board member and reviewer for reputed international journals. Currently, Dr. Bashir is experimenting with diverse capacities of soil health and climate change and its impact on plant health. Dr. Shabir Ahmed Bangroo, PhD, is a Professor of Soil Science at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), India. With a career spanning academic research and international innovation, he has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph, Canada, and the University of Twente, The Netherlands. Dr. Bangroo’s core expertise lies in digital soil mapping, spatial statistics, and climate-resilient agriculture. He leads major research projects and has pioneered digital tools like FARM2i® and TerraForma® to support precision agriculture. He has authored more than 70 refereed journal articles and several books. He is an active member of several professional societies. Shuraik Kader is an Associate Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Griffith University, Australia. His research focuses on environmental engineering, the built environment, soil science, green infrastructure, natural hazards, agronomy, hydrology, and climate-resilient urban design. He received two competitive seed grants at Griffith University for green infrastructure research and for working with Australian industries to design recycled waste substrates for Trees on Buildings, focusing on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics precincts. He collaborates with Australian and international researchers to investigate the region’s needs for climate resilience, soil and water conservation, bioclimatic shifts, and sustainable infrastructure. Since 2022, after completing his undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, he has published over 60 journal articles and 4 book chapters. He has also delivered a keynote lecture on his PhD research on the design of recycled waste substrates for Trees on Buildings at the 8th Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration (Aveiro, Portugal).He serves as an Associate Editor for Earth Systems and Environment (Section - Sustainable management of Earth’s renewable/non-renewable resources). He has also guest-edited one special issue on Advances in Landslide Disasters. In addition to his research, Shuraik teaches courses on hydrology, fluid mechanics, groundwater and soil contamination, research methods, and civil engineering design projects at Griffith University. Shuraik has also guest-lectured at Northumbria University (UK) and the University of Sfax (Tunisia). Dr. Hakeem is a Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Head of the Plant Biotechnology Research Unit at the Princess Dr. Najlaa Bint Saud Al Saud Center for Distinguished Research in Biotechnology. His academic journey includes roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Kashmir and research appointments in Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Jamia Hamdard, India, with expertise in plant eco-physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and medicinal plant research. He has authored numerous books, journal articles, and book chapters, and serves on editorial boards for leading publishers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and affiliated with international scientific societies. His work focuses on advancing plant science through global collaborations and research on eco-physiological and molecular processes. Professor Emeritus, University of Bari “Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy. BS/MS in Chemistry (1966), Academic Degree (Ph.D. equivalent) in Soil Chemistry (1970), University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Full Professor of Soil Chemistry/Soil Science (1986-2013, now retired), Director of the Institute of Agricultural Chemistry (1992-1999). Offices held in Scientific Union/Societies, President of the: European Confederation of Soil Science Societies (ECSSS) (2008-2012); Int. Humic Substances Soc. (IHSS) (1996-1997); Italian Soil Science Soc. (SISS) (2009-2014); Mediterranean Scientific Association for Environmental Protection (MESAEP) (2008-2009); Division VI-Chemistry and the Environment of the Int. Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) (2008-2011). Chair of: Commission II-Soil Chemistry of the former Int. Soil Science Soc. (ISSS) (1994-1998); Division II-Soil Properties and Processes of IUSS (2002-2006); SubCommittee Biophyico-Chemical Processes in Environmental System of IUPAC (2002-2011); Commission 2-Soil Chemistry of SISS (1990-1997). Main International and National Research Project Coordinator: National Research Project in Soil Science, Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research (MURST), 20 Italian partners (1990-1997); Nat. Research Group in Soil Organic Matter Chemistry, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, 14 Italian partners (1990-1997); Nat. Res Project on Soil Organic Matter, MURST, 9 Italian partners (1999-2000); European Committe Research Project, Program “Science and Technology for Environmental Protection (STEP), 3 European partners (1991-1993); Regional Strategic Project “Environmental Recovery of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (2008-2012); Regional Project “Production of Innovative Biofertilizers and Biosuppressors (2015-2017). Associate Editor of: Pedosphere, Science Press, Beijing (2004-present); Geoderma, Elsevier (1994-2017); European Journal of Soil Science, Blackwell (1994-2003); Soil Science, Williams and Wilkins (1999-2018); CLEAN Air, Soil, Water, Wiley (2006-2016); Journal of Environ. Sciences and Health-Part B, Dekker (1997-2000), and others. Scientific and/or Organizing Committee President of International and National Congresses, Conferences, Symposia, Workshops: Nat. Symp. “Biomass 91, Bari, Italy (1991); CE-STEP Workshop “Soil and Groundwater Protection, Bari, Italy (1994); XIII Int. Symp. “Matter and Energy Fluxes in the Antrhopocentric Environment, Monopoli (1997); 15th MESAEP Symp., Bari, Italy (2009); 4th Int. Congress “Eurosoil 2012-Soil Science for the Benefit of Mankind and the Environment, Bari, Italy (2012); Int. Conf. “Biochar, Compost and Digestates (BCD) 2013, Bari, Italy (2013). Research focused on: fundamental and applied aspects of chemistry and biochemistry of natural non-living organic matter, especially humic substances, r from soils and other systems and materials, and its interactions with soil-applied organic chemicals and trace metals, by the use of advanced physical-chemical and biochemical tools; physiological and antimutagenic effects of humic substances on plants; recycling of organic wastes of various origin and nature and implications on soil fertility and crop production; application of fractal geometry principles to the study of molecular conformation and aggregation processes of humic substances; humic substances behavior as natural nanomaterials. Professional Publications: Books and Conference Proceedings/Abstracts Volumes coedited: 23 (14 international); Refereed reviews and book chapters: 74 (60 international); Refereed original scientific papers: ~400 (~370 international); Invited lectures, seminars and Symposia presentations ~160 (~130 international); Other related oral, poster, visual presentations, ~400 (~300 international).
