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On 5 November 2026, TWAS elected 87 new Fellows as regular members of the Academy and, for the first time, four Fellows as honorary members. They will be officially inducted 1 January 2027.

Regular Members

Among the regular members are 58 men and 29 women (33.3% women), and 77 are from the global South.

Fifteen new Fellows hail from the 66 science- and technology-lagging countries (STLCs) identified by TWAS, including seven from Bangladesh, and one each from the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.

The remaining 72 Fellows are from Algeria (1), Argentina (1), Austria (1), Belgium (1), Brazil (7), Canada (2), Chile (1), China (13), Ecuador (1), Egypt (1), India (8), Iraq (1), Jordan (1), Malaysia (4), Mexico (3), Morocco (1), Nigeria (4), Pakistan (2), Qatar (1), Saudi Arabia (4), Singapore (1), South Africa (6), Sweden (1), Türkiye (1), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island (1), the United States of America (3), and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1).

Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Ecuador, Ghana, Iraq, Qatar, Rwanda, Türkiye, and Zimbabwe are all countries that have been underrepresented in TWAS membership.

The new Fellows in the various scientific subject divisions are:

• 01. Agriculture, Nutrition & Food Systems Sciences
• 02. Biological Sciences
• 03. Medical & Health Sciences
• 04. Chemical Sciences
• 05. Engineering Sciences
• 06. Information and Data Sciences & Technologies
• 07. Earth, Climate and Environmental Sciences
• 08. Mathematical Sciences
• 09. Physics, Astronomy & Space Sciences
• 10. Economic & Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts

Honorary Members

This category is reserved for highly distinguished individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of science, technology, and education in the global South, particularly those whose work has had a significant societal impact. This includes founders and leaders of highly successful science and technology-based industries, companies, and foundations. Honorary Members will be elected for life.

The new honorary members, two men and two women, are:

• MADNI, Asad M. (the United States of America, male)
• HAMIED, Yusuf Khwaja (India, male)
• RAHMAN, Aziza (née Salam) (the United States of America, female)
• GURUMURTHY, Anita (India, female)

The election of the new Fellows will be effective starting on 1 January 2027, bringing the total TWAS membership to 1,510.

01. Agriculture, Nutrition & Food Systems Sciences

KAYITESI, Eugenie (South Africa): (F). Associate Professor, University of Pretoria South Africa. The nominee’s work is primarily focused on addressing food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa by revitalizing the use of indigenous, underutilized plant-based foods. She has successfully demonstrated that these underutilized crops can be used to create products with improved nutritional quality, making them viable alternatives to expensive imported staples. Member of the African Academy of Sciences, of the Pan-African Scientific Research Council, she has received the 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award, and the 2022 Rwanda Women in Science Award, among others.

LIU, Shirong (China): (M). Director, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, Chinese Academy of Forestry, China / Professor (and Immediate Past President), Chinese Academy of Forestry; Vice-President, International Union of Forest Research Organizations. The nominee’s achievements are highlighted in innovating theory and technology of forest ecosystem conservation, restoration and multifunctionality. Among others, he has developed theoretical and/or technical systems for ecosystem restoration, water source conservation and carbon sink enhancement in degraded natural forests, and multifunctional management of planted forests in southern China for improving ecosystem services in terms of timber production, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration. With outstanding contribution to ecosystem adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, he was one of the world-leading scientists who won the Nobel Peace Prize granted to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007. Also, he won for four times the State Science and Technology Progress Award of China, and China Innovation Pioneer Award in 2023. He is a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

MAREDIA, Karim M. (the United Steates of America): (M). Professor, Assistant Dean, and Director of World Agriculture Center, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, Michigan, the United Steates of America. The nominee has devoted four decades of his scientific career to advancing agricultural development across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. He began his career at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico, researching insect-resistant maize germplasm and neem-based pest management to reduce crop losses. He joined Michigan State University in 1989, focusing on Integrated Pest Management, biological control, and modern biotechnology for food security crops. He founded the World Technology Access Program (WorldTAP), which has trained over 15,000 professionals from more than 75 countries. He has published more than 125 research works supporting developing countries. Since 2017, he has been serving on the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies, advancing agricultural innovation for Africa’s development. Foreign secretary and member of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India; member of the African Academy of Sciences, he has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Medical Arthropodology, 2022; and the International Plant Protection Award of Distinction, Hyderabad, India, 2029, among others.

NAHAR, Kamrun (Bangladesh): (F). Professor, Department of Agricultural Botany, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee is a globally recognized plant physiologist, ranked among the top 2% scientists by Stanford–Elsevier (2024–2025). With an h-index of 77 and over 24,000 citations, her pioneering research explores the synergistic interplay between antioxidant defense and the glyoxalase system in maintaining cellular homeostasis under abiotic stresses. She has developed innovative, cost-effective mitigation strategies using signaling molecules and trace elements to enhance crop resilience against salinity and drought. Her work provides a critical framework for protecting food security under a changing climate. Member of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), she has received BAS Gold Medal, has edited 20 books and contributed to over 40 international journals, significantly advancing agricultural sustainability in the global South.

OBOH, Ganiyu (Nigeria): (M). Professor of Food Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. The nominee is a leading African scientist whose pioneering research on functional foods and nutraceuticals has advanced nutrition and disease-prevention science. He developed nutraceuticals, antidiabetic foods, and fortified products using indigenous crops and agro-waste bioconversion, strengthening sustainable food systems and public health. His patented innovations include antidiabetic gelato, immune-boosting macaron, selenium-fortified fertilizers, and functional biscuits, with proven translational impact. A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and African Academy of Science, he has earned major honours, including Best Researcher of the Year (2009, 2012), Best Inventor of the Year (2018), and global rankings among the top 2% scientists worldwide. With over 650 publications and 15 patents, he is one of Africa’s foremost biochemists.

SALEM, Abdelfattah (Mexico): (M). Professor (full-time), at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. The nominee’s major contribution, as a specialist in ruminant nutrition, focused on the use of natural and synthetic feed additives to improve the dietary nutritional value and mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the animal performance and health. Member of the Animal Science and Production Association, Italy; Association of goat farming in Mexico; and the Egyptian Society of Animal feed and feeds. Member of the Mexican National System of Researchers, the highest national science academy in Mexico, he has received the 2026 TWAS Award in Agriculture, Nutrition & Food Systems Sciences, the World Scientist and University Rankings 2026; Highly Ranked Scholars 2025; Leader Award for 2023 as “The best scientist in Mexico in the field of Animal Science and Veterinary”.

SIBANDA, Lindiwe Majele (Zimbabwe): (F). Extraordinary Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa. The nominee is an internationally recognised agricultural scientist and science-policy leader whose work bridges farmers, research institutions, and policy systems to advance sustainable food systems in Africa and globally. Her research and leadership have contributed significantly to global debates on food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture. She has played key roles in major international scientific initiatives, including the EAT-Lancet Commission and CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) governance structures, helping shape global research agendas on nutrition, climate change, and agricultural transformation. Through leadership of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and major international collaborations, she has strengthened evidence-based agricultural policy across Africa. Her work integrates scientific research, institutional leadership, and policy engagement to advance resilient and sustainable food systems worldwide. She has received the MS Swaminathan Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Development; the Science Diplomacy Award, Government of South Africa; the FARA Award for Leadership in Agricultural Development (2014), among others.

TAN, Chin Ping (Malaysia): (M). Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia. The nominee is a globally recognized expert in lipid science and technology, specializing in food emulsions, edible oil safety, and nanotechnology applications. His pioneering work on palm oil contaminants, lipid nanodispersions, and bioavailability enhancement has transformed food technology. A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and former TWAS Young Affiliate (2010-2014), he ranks among the Top 1% Scientists in Agricultural Sciences (InCites ESI) and received Malaysia's Research Star Award (2019). He has led training programmes and research collaborations in lipid science across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East, China, North Africa, and Latin America, fostering capacity-building. With an h-index of 72 (18,000+ citations) and over 500 publications, he has secured over RM 15 million in research funding and received more than 50 national and international research awards.

02. Biological Sciences

AGUIRRE, Luis F. (the Plurinational State of Bolivia): (M). Director, Center for Biodiversity and Genetics, Higher University of San Simón (UMSS), the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The nominee is a Bolivian biologist. With a PhD from Antwerp University and 30 years of experience, he directs the Center for Biodiversity and Genetics, UMSS. His research on mammal ecology, tropical biodiversity, and urban corridors produced over 220 publications, including high-impact works in Science, Nature, and PLoS ONE, as well as 14 authoritative books. A global conservation leader, he founded the Bolivian Bat Conservation Program and coordinated the Latin American Bat Conservation Network. He led 21 international research projects supported by the MacArthur Foundation and the Whitley Fund for Nature. Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia, his excellence is recognized by prestigious honors, including the Whitley, Oliver P. Pearson, and Spallanzani awards. He has mentored over 40 graduates, bridging high-impact science with international policy and sustainable biodiversity management.

BAPTISTA HADDAD, Célio Fernando (Brazil): (M). Full Professor, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil. The nominee is one of the most renowned scholars of zoology and animal ecology in Brazil, with approximately 500 published scientific articles, in addition to books and book chapters. He is one of the living researchers who has described the largest number of new amphibian species, with important implications for the conservation of this group of animals. He is a full member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and a full member of the Academy of Sciences of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. He has received two Jabuti Literature Prizes, the most important Brazilian literary recognition for book authors. He is a Honorary Foreign Member in Herpetology of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and has been honored on several occasions with the description of new species and genus that bear his name. Haddad mentored a significant number of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, being a prominent scientist in the training of qualified human resources.

FU, Xiangdong (China): (M). Deputy Director, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. The nominee is a leading scholar in gibberellin signaling and the designed breeding of high-yield, nitrogen-efficient rice. He elucidated the molecular mechanism by which Green Revolution semi-dwarf varieties achieve high yield only under high nitrogen input, breaking the theoretical bottleneck of carbon-nitrogen co-regulation. By discovering multiple key genes like NGR5, GRF4, dep1, GW7 and non‑coding cis-element INS, he proposed a novel breeding strategy to synergistically improve crop yield and nitrogen use efficiency, pioneering the field of plant growth-metabolism balance. Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he has been named a Clarivate/Elsevier Highly Cited Researcher multiple times and his works have been published in Nature and Science as cover stories, with 16 ESI highly cited papers. He has also co-developed 13 new rice varieties (8 nationally approved), demonstrating immense practical value.

IGBINOSA, Etinosa Ogbomoede (Nigeria): (M). Professor, Head of Department and Director, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The nominee is a leading African molecular and environmental microbiologist whose work has made seminal and sustained contributions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), water quality, and environmental health. He has pioneered the application of molecular epidemiology and genomic approaches to elucidate the ecology, transmission dynamics, and public health risks of multidrug-resistant pathogens across environmental, food, and clinical systems. His research has generated high-impact, policy-relevant evidence supporting AMR surveillance, risk assessment, and mitigation strategies in low- and middle-income countries. A prolific scholar, accomplished research leader, and committed mentor, Igbinosa has significantly strengthened scientific capacity through interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and the advancement of sustainable scientific development in Africa and beyond. Member of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences and African Academy of sciences, he was a TWAS Young Affiliate, received the TWAS-SAREP Regional Young Scientist’s Prize 2018 in Water and Sanitation, among others.

LASHUEL, Hilal A. (Yemen, Qatar): (M). Professor of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar; Professor Emeritus at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL); and Research, Development and Innovation Advisor to the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. He has made pivotal contributions to understanding protein misfolding and aggregation in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. These include characterizing amyloid-formation intermediates, identifying novel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets, pioneering protein-synthesis strategies for site-specific post-translational modifications, and creating alpha-synuclein detection tools to advance biomarker discovery. He leads a $9 million international project funded by Aligning Science Across Parkinson's developing models recapitulating Parkinson’s pathology for mechanistic studies and drug discovery. His honours include the Kuwait Prize and the Takreem Achievement Award; he was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and one of French-speaking Switzerland’s most influential personalities.

LATIF, Mohammad Abdul (Bangladesh): (M). Director, Rice Research Center, Supreme seed company Ltd., Mymensing, Bangladesh. The nominee is a leading Plant Pathologist in Bangladesh who has advanced rice disease resistance through molecular breeding and genome editing. He identified key genes and quantitative trait loci for blast, bacterial blight, and tungro, and contributed to develop 25 high-yielding varieties, including zinc-fortified BRRI dhan100, enhancing national food security. Using simple sequence repeat markers for marker-assisted selection, he developed advanced rice lines tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses. His recent research on nanoparticle-based disease management and CRISPR/Cas9 multiplex genome editing further improves hybrid rice yield and resilience. With 191 peer-reviewed publications, his work significantly benefits millions of farmers in the global South. Member of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, he received the Innas Ali Gold Medel Award, and the National Science and Technology Fellowship award, Bangladesh, among others.

LEMRANI, Meryem (Morocco): (F). Research Director, Head of Research and Teaching Department, Institut Pasteur of Morocco. The nominee has pioneered innovative digital and molecular diagnostics for the detection and genotyping of Leishmania, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, she has studied the diversity and transmission factors of Leishmania, using molecular and genomic approaches providing crucial insights for developing effective strategies to combat leishmaniasis. In recognition of her contributions to the field, she has been selected as a member of the Mediterranean Science Team 2025, a prestigious group of 12 eminent researchers. Additionally, she has been nominated member on the certification body of the International Federation of Biosafety Associations.

PRASAI JOSHI, Tista (Nepal): (F). Senior Scientific Officer, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. The nominee has made significant contribution in the field of water purification and sanitation through her research outputs. She has developed synthetic and natural adsorbents for the removal of pollutants including organic pollutants, arsenic, and heavy metals. The adsorbents prepared by her group are highly effective to remove organic and inorganic arsenic from water. This technology is useful for full scale application in Nepal as the country is facing deteriorated water quality in particular in urban settings. Joshi has also contributed for better sanitation as she monitored the fecal contamination and occurrences of antibiotic-resistant potential pathogens in water. She has explored emerging pollutants including microplastics in different water sources. Her research in water and sanitation has advocated policy change and urgent need to address the water and sanitation issues in Nepal. She has received the TWAS-Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award, and the Excellent International Student award, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, among others.

RODRÍGUEZ, Jon Paul (Venezuela): (M). Full Professor, Center of Ecology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The nominee works on the analysis of natural and anthropogenic drivers of the spatial distribution of species and ecosystems. Global leader in generating and applying scientific evidence to conservation policies, with special emphasis on supporting national efforts for assessment, planning and action. Member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences, recipient of the 2026 TWAS Award in Biological Sciences (shared), 2019 Whitley Fund for Nature Gold Award, 2018 Premio Interciencia, 2013 Lorenzo Mendoza Fleury Science Prize, 2007 National Prize for Best Science, Technology and Innovation Article in the Natural Sciences, among others.

SPOTTISWOODE, Claire (South Africa): (F). Pola Pasvolsky Chair in Conservation Biology, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa. The nominee is a world leader in the field of evolutionary ecology with a main focus on avian brood parasitism. She has conducted ground-breaking research on how interactions between species—both antagonistic and mutualistic—promote the evolution of biodiversity. Her research is characterized by its originality and adventurous spirit and she is a brilliant field biologist and superb naturalist. She discovered that signature markings on host eggs and forgeries by their brood-parasites coevolve, leading to diversity of maternal genetic lineages within parasite species. She showed how human honey hunters and wild birds, honeyguides, cooperate to exploit bees' nests using geographically distinct signals, revealing that learnt adaptations also diversify by coevolution. Member of the Royal Society of South Africa, and of the Royal Society of London, she has received the 2017 Scientific Medal of the Zoological Society of London; the 2017 Bicentenary Medal of the Linnean Society of London; and the 2012 L’Oréal-UNESCO UK and Ireland Fellowship for Women in Science.

TORRES-CARVAJAL, Omar (Ecuador): (M). Principal Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. The nominee has devoted his scientific career to the study of systematics and biogeography of reptiles. He has described 68 species, mostly from Ecuador and Peru, as well as from Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. He has also contributed to our understanding of the evolutionary relationships, taxonomy and biogeography of widely distributed Neotropical groups of reptiles. Notably, Torres-Carvajal has led research on the evolution of geckos from the Galapagos Islands, showing for example that they are the only terrestrial vertebrates to have colonized the archipelago three times. He is a member of the Global Assessment of Reptile Distributions, a group of scientists from many countries who have published several papers on macroecology and conservation of reptiles at a global scale. In recognition of his academic accomplishments, the Academy of Sciences of Ecuador elected him into its membership. He has received the Lakeside Fellowship by the California Academy of Sciences, and Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), among others.

03. Medical & Health Sciences

ATEEQ, Bushra (India): (F). Professor and Dean of International Relations, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, India. The nominee, a Cancer Biologist at IIT Kanpur, is an internationally recognized leader in translational oncology. She received India’s highest science honor, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (2020), along with National Bioscience Award (2021), Sun Pharma Science Award (2021), OPPI Scientist Award (2021), CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute Award (2020), and GD Birla Prize (2026). Recently, she received the TWAS Award in Medical & Health Sciences (2026, shared). An elected fellow of all major Indian National Academies (INSA, IASc, NASI, NAMS), Ateeq has made paradigm-shifting discoveries in prostate, breast, and colorectal cancers, including the first molecular characterization of Indian prostate cancer patients. She has revolutionized translational cancer research by pioneering novel biomarkers, diagnostics, repurposed therapies, and precision interventions that are transforming patient care in India and advancing global oncology.

BHUTTA, Zulfiqar Ahmed (Canada): (M). Distinguished Professor and Global Health Director, Aga Khan University, Pakistan; Chair in Global Child Health, SickKids, Canada. The nominee has devoted his scientific career and scholarship to addressing the challenges of ill health, undernutrition and premature mortality affecting women and children in marginalized populations in Pakistan and other Low- and Middle-Income countries. His research group has generated and synthesized high quality evidence to influence global guidelines and policies and led the implementation of over a dozen large scale seminal large cluster-randomized trials to influence community-based newborn and child health, He leads large research groups based in Canada, Pakistan, Central Asia and East Africa with a special interest in research synthesis, scaling up evidence-based interventions in community settings and implementation research in fragile health systems on issues germane to the first thousand days of life. Member of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Turkish Academy of Sciences since 2015, National Academy of Medicine and Sciences (the United Steates of America), and Royal Society, London, he has received the Roux Prize, Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, Virchow Science Prize, Henry Friesen Prize and TWAS Award in Medical Sciences, among others. National civil honours include the Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, and appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

HASAN, Zahra (Pakistan): (F). GulamaliHirji endowed Professor and Consultant, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Director, PhD Program, The Aga Khan University, Karachi Pakistan. The nominee’s research covers both host and pathogen aspects of infectious diseases with a particular interest in Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19, genomics and mechanisms of drug resistance. Her work related to pathogen genomics has significant implications for molecular epidemiology of bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and virus (SARS-CoV-2). Her work on COVID-19 vaccines provided key insights on drivers of population-based immunity during the pandemic such as circulating viruses as well as co-infections. Hasan's research on TB and diabetes informs on the intersections between communicable and non-communicable disease. In clinical diagnostics, she enhanced capacity for molecular and genome-based solutions at Aga Khan University Hospital. Member of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, she has received Innovation Impact Award of Distinction, Aga Khan University and The Gulamali Hirji Endowed Professorship, among others.

JIA, Lee (Li) (China): (M). Distinguished Professor and Center Director, Marine Drug RandD Center, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China. The nominee’s eminent achievements include the discovery and development of NO-carrying molecules, bionanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biosensors to address critical needs in early disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. He is a pioneer in cancer metastasis chemoprevention, revolutionizing traditional cancer therapies by preventing circulating tumor cells from metastasizing. Jia actively promotes global South-North science collaborations and science popularization. He is an elected member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). Jia has received the United States of America National Institutes of Health MERIT Award, AAPS Leadership Medal, China Global Experts Award, and the Honorable Fuzhou Citizen title from the Fuzhou City Government. He is a highly cited researcher with >16,100 citations and an h-index of 61.

MUTESA, Leon (Rwanda): (M). Professor of Human Genetics and Director, Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda. The nominee, a pioneering figure in the field of genetics and genomics, spearheaded the development and implementation of Rwanda’s reference center for human genetics, the only facility of its kind in East Africa. He has made significant contribution to our understanding of intergenerational transmission of epigenetic defects and trauma. Member of the Rwanda Academy of Science, his outstanding contributions to human genetics have been recognized with the prestigious Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) African Prize 2024 and was elected fellow of the African Academy of Science. He serves as a board member of the Board of Trustees of the International Vaccine Institute.

PATRAVALE, Vandana (India): (F). Professor of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Chemical Tecnology, Mumbai, India. The nominee is a pioneering pharmaceutical technologist driving innovations in nanocarrier-based drug delivery, medical devices, diagnostics, and vaccines. Her research spans infectious diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, with active global collaborations, including Indo-Swiss, Indo-Ireland, Indo-Japan, Indo-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and ongoing projects in the United States of America and Europe. She holds 32 granted patents (22 pending), has more than 250 publications, an h-index of 59, and 14,473 citations. She has mentored 2 postdoctoral researchers, 48 PhD scholars, and 105 master’s students. Her 20+ technology transfers include drug-eluting stents and advanced drug delivery systems, with products marketed in over 60 countries. Recognized with 40 prestigious awards, she continues to bridge academia and industry. Member of Indian National Science Academy and Indian National Academy of Engineering, she has received UAA-ICT Distinguished Alumnus Award, JSS Oration, Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology Kanpur and Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award, among others.

PIRES DE CARVALHO, Denise (Brazil): (F). President of CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel); Full Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The nominee’s research focuses on thyroid physiology and pathophysiology. Carvalho has published more than 185 articles (Scopus h-index 41, more than 5,000 citations) in the thyroid field, control of body mass, and endocrine disruptors, focused on the mechanisms of iodination reaction, thyroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. Her group has published outstanding papers on DuOx regulation by iodide and its role in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, as well as iodothyronine deiodinases in health and disease. Carvalho was also the principal investigator in translational studies regarding advanced thyroid cancer management. These projects have been financed by Brazilian and International grants, such as the bilateral projects CAPES/French Committee for the Evaluation of Academic and Scientific Cooperation with Brazil, and Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development. She was the mentor of 34 PhD and 30 master's graduate students. Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, she has received several awards in national and international meetings in the last years. In 2010, she was nominated for the Latin American Thyroid Prize at the International Thyroid Congress. Carvalho is recognized as Scientists from our State programme in Rio de Janeiro. In 2019, she was awarded the Pedro Ernesto Medal, Council of Councilors of the City of Rio de Janeiro, the municipality's highest award; and the Tiradentes Medal, Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro.

RASHID, Mohammad Abdur (Bangladesh): (M). Professor (Retired) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee is an internationally recognized natural products chemist who has isolated and characterized over 200 bioactive compounds, including 70 novel molecules from terrestrial plants, microbes, and marine organisms. His pioneering work identified several potent anticancer and anti-HIV leads within the United States of America National Cancer Institute's screening programmes. With over 620 publications (315 Scopus-indexed), an h-index of 48, and more than 10,800 citations, he is one of Bangladesh’s most prolific scientists and was named the top contributing author in the University of Dhaka’s centennial Scopus indexed publication database. Beyond research, Rashid has played a transformative role in advancing pharmaceutical education and research infrastructure in Bangladesh, serving three terms as Dean of Pharmacy and as Vice-President of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. Member of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences and of Royal Society of Chemistry, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, he has received the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations Ishidate Award (2020), and the Society for Ethnopharmacology–T. Sen Oration Award (2018), among others.

SEPTEMBER, Alison V. (South Africa): (F). Professor, University of Cape Town, South Africa. The nominee specializes in connective tissue injuries and leads pioneering research in genetics and sports injuries. As co-leader of the GOINg consortium, she fosters global collaborations. With honorary positions, fellowships, and awards, including the South African Medical Research Council Mid-Career Scientist award, she's a respected figure in academia, recognized internationally for her expertise. Member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, fellow of the European College of Sports Science, she is reated as B2 researcher by the South African National Research Foundation.

SOW, Papa Salif (Senegal): (M). Full Professor of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Dakar, Senegal. The nominee is an internationally recognized leader in infectious diseases whose work has significantly expanded access to antiretroviral therapy in Africa. As Clinical Coordinator of the Senegalese Initiative on Access to Antiretroviral Drugs since 1998, he helped demonstrate that highly active antiretroviral therapy could be successfully delivered in resource-limited settings with outcomes comparable to those in high-income countries. His research has advanced the understanding and clinical management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2 infection, optimized antiretroviral treatment strategies, and contributed to Human Papilloma Virus vaccination and neonatal tetanus elimination efforts. Author of more than 225 peer-reviewed publications, Professor Sow has also played key leadership roles with the World Health Organization and the Global Fund, influencing HIV policy, strengthening health systems, and training generations of African infectious disease specialists. Member of the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal and currently President of the Scientific, Strategies and Prospective Commission, he was named Officer of the National Order of the Lion, Republic of Senegal (2011).

YU, Jun (China): (F). Director of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Institute of Digestive Disease, China. The nominee pioneered gut microbiome roles in digestive cancers: identifying Streptococcus anginosus as a gastric cancer pathogen, other pathogens in colon/liver cancer, preventive and therapeutic probiotics, and fecal/plasma microbiome as non-invasive cancer biomarkers. She holds  more than 70 patents (two approved by China National Medical Products Administration for early colon/gastric cancer detection) and 677 publications (Cell, Nature, Cancer Cell, Cancer Discovery; h-index 120). Member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Academy of Europe, and Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, she ranks first nationally in Best Female Scientists in the World 2024 (Research.com) and is a 2023–2025 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. Her leadership team ranks second globally and first in Asia. She earned more than 60 awards including National Natural Science Award; American Gastroenterology Association Oncology Research Mentor Award (the United Steates of America); Croucher Senior Research Fellowship; National Distinguished Clinician; and historic 2024 Cell Press trio: Women in Science, Best Paper, Most Picked, first ever in one year.

04. Chemical Sciences

AL-AMIERY, Ahmed Abdulamier Hussain (Iraq): (M). Professor of Chemistry, Al-Ayen Iraqi University, Al Nasiriya, Iraq. The nominee (h-index=70) is internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions to green chemistry, corrosion inhibition, and sustainable material development. His research has significantly advanced the synthesis of eco-friendly organic inhibitors, leading to improved corrosion resistance in metals—vital for industrial applications. He has authored 25 patents and over 450 peer-reviewed articles, with high citation impact, and developed novel heterocyclic compounds with multifunctional applications in corrosion control and biomedical fields. Al-Amiery’s work bridges fundamental chemistry with applied materials science, fostering environmental sustainability and industrial safety. His innovations in green synthesis and energy-efficient methods have positioned him as a leader in sustainable chemical engineering, earning global recognition and numerous scientific honors such as TWAS Young Affiliate and Medal of Honour awarded by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for outstanding scientific contributions, among others.

ANSHEBO, Teketel Yohannes (Ethiopia): (M). Executive Director, Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The nominee is nominated for his outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences in general, and to soft matter and polymer sciences in particular. He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking research on conducting polymer–based flexible solar cells. He has played a pivotal role in transferring the knowledge and technology of polymer-based organic solar cells to Ethiopia and across the African continent. His work has significantly advanced both fundamental and applied research in the field. Teketel has contributed extensively to fundamental studies in electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry of conducting polymers—an area recognized by the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In addition, he has led applied research on conducting polymer bulk heterojunction photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical energy conversion systems. Member of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, he has received ICTP Associate Fellowship, among others.

BISWAS, Kanishka (India): (M). Professor, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India. The nominee has pioneered fundamental and applied research in solid state and materials chemistry. His group has made significant contributions to thermoelectrics (Science 2021, 371, 722; and many more in high-impact international journals), particularly through the exploration of quantum and energy materials, leading to the development of novel inorganic metal chalcogenides and chalcohalides exhibiting outstanding thermoelectric performance, with several ranking among the highest-performing materials reported worldwide. His work provided new strategies in thermoelectrics such as ferroelectric instability induced low thermal conductivity, antibonding valence band induced lattice softening, intrinsic rattlers, chemical bonding hierarchy designed anharmonicity and all-scale hierarchical phonon scattering. He is one of the global leaders in thermoelectrics. Member of the Indian Academy of Sciences, he has was appointed as TWAS Young Affiliate and he received the MaterialNEXT 5.0 Prize, Khosla National Award (Sciences) – Indian Institute of Technology, and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, 2021 (Chemical Sciences) – Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, among others.

EBENSO, Eno Effiong (South Africa): (M). Distinguished Professor, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. The nominee obtained his PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Calabar, Nigeria and has been lecturing in the university system since 1990. He started his university teaching career at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He was the Acting Vice-Rector (Research and Planning) and the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the North-West University in South Africa until 2019. He then took up appointment as Research Professor at the University of South Africa (2021 till date). He is presently a Distinguished Professor at the Centre of Material Science at the University of South Africa. His research over the years has focused on electrochemistry, kinetics, adsorption, and thermodynamics of corrosion. He is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

FURLAN, Maysa (Brazil): (F). Full professor and Rector, São Paulo State University, Brazil. The nominee has a recognized scientific carrier contributing to the advance on natural products chemistry. Her research programme examines structural and synthetic biology aspects, which is a fundamental basis for the cutting-edge research of the Brazilian biodiversity. The synthetic biology studies were focused on the heterologous production of antitumor, antibacterial and trypanocidal compounds in a sustainable manner, thus bringing science closer to the needs of society. She is member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the Brazilian Academy of São Paulo State. She was honored by the Brazilian Chemical Society with the Simão Mathias Medal, for her contribution of the chemical science in Brazil.

KHAN, Mubarak Ahmad (Bangladesh): (M). Scientific Advisor, Research Lab, EchoTex Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee is a globally recognized innovator in sustainable materials science whose research has delivered transformative, real-world solutions to pressing environmental challenges. He is the inventor of Sonali Bag®, a patented, jute-cellulose-based biodegradable biopolymer that provides a fully plastic-free, carbon-negative alternative to single-use polythene and has directly influenced national plastic-ban policies in Bangladesh. His pioneering innovations extend across biopolymers, nanocellulose, biomedical materials, sustainable textiles, agriculture and climate-resilient housing, converting local resources into scalable technologies. His work is distinguished by original, cross-disciplinary innovation that integrates materials science, environmental policy and social impact. By consistently bridging fundamental research with commercialization and policy relevance, he has demonstrated exceptional scientific leadership and lasting societal impact through innovation. Member of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Chemistry, he has received the Independence Award 2024, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solve 2020 (the United States of America), the Pollimar Gold Medal 2019, among others.

NEGADI, Latifa (Algeria): (F). Full Professor, Faculty of Sciences, University Abou Bekr Belkaid of Tlemcen, Algeria. The nominee is a leading scientist in chemical sciences, contributing to chemical thermodynamics, materials science, and molecular modeling. She has been driving innovative research on CO₂ capture, bio-based solvents, and sustainable energy. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, she has made substantial contributions to the understanding of complex fluid systems. She is also a committed mentor, guiding master's and PhD students and fostering international collaborations. She has been a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Yale University (the United Steates of America). She actively contributes to scientific policy and research development through her role at the National Council for Scientific Research and Technologies (Algeria). She serves as Higher Education Reform Expert in Algeria. She is engaged in European Union-funded projects and other global initiatives focused on knowledge exchange and sustainability. Her work connects fundamental sciences to industry, promoting green chemistry and environmental sustainability, particularly in developing regions where these solutions are most needed.

OLU-OWOLABI, Bamidele Iromidayo (Nigeria): (F). Professor of Analytical/Environmental Chemistry and Chairperson, Multidisciplinary Central Research Laboratory, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The nominee’s work focuses on the development of low-cost, sustainable alternative materials for water treatment and the fate of pollutants in the environment. She has successfully exploited clays, hybrid clays for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from aqueous solution. One of the innovative materials prepared has been patented at the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion in Nigeria. Her work has both national and international significance. Member of the Nigeria Academy of Science, the Royal Chemical Society, and the Chemical Society of Nigeria, she is a recipient of the Alexander von Humboldt Alumni Fellowship, and Linkage awards. She won the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Regional Award in 2016.

UL-HAQ, Zaheer (Pakistan): (M). Professor, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Pakistan. The nominee's research is focused on major health issues, ranging from Alzheimer's and hypertension to cancer, immunosuppression, leishmaniasis, and hepatitis. He developed expertise in designing bioactive compounds through in-silico methodologies, through the systematic screening of commercially available databases for potential drug candidates. His expertise also extends to molecular dynamics simulations, encompassing the dynamic of biomolecules, including protein-protein and protein-ligand complexes. Notably, his research work has resulted in the identification of drug candidates against immunological diseases, that resulted in United States of America patents on immunosuppressive agents. The impact of his research and scientific contributions is demonstrated by an excellent publication record of over 350 research articles published in international journals, over 6,000 citations and an h-index of 42. Notably, he is also the editor of Frontiers in Computational Chemistry series. Member of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, he has received the Chemical Society of Pakistan Gold Medal for chemists under 40, 2016; the 2011 International Strategic Partnership in Research and Education (INSPIRE) Talented Researcher Exchange Award by British Council, among others.

YU, Shu-Hong (China): (M). Professor, University of Science and Technology of China. The nominee has made original and influential contributions to the field of biomimetic material chemistry. By using polymer and organic molecules as templates, he systematically studied the effects of these molecules on crystallization of inorganic matter, and further proposed the formation mechanism of complex structures. He creatively realized the synthesis of unique hierarchical structural materials, spanning all the length scales, such as artificial mother of pearl, artificial wood, artificial armor, and inorganic helical structures, which are highly recognized in the world. He proposed new synthetic methodologies for controlled synthesis of a family of high quality nanoscale building blocks with diverse compositions, and further self-assembled them into macroscopic-scale assemblies, which have been used in energy storage and conversion, and catalysis. Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he has received second Prize of National Natural Science Award awarded by Chinese Government (twice), the first prize in Natural Science, Ministry of Education of China, the Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and National Innovation Medal, among others.

ZOU, Xiaodong (Sweden): (F). Chair Professor, Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden. The nominee has contributed to the developments of electron crystallographic methods, especially electron diffraction techniques, that have revolutionized the structural analysis of nanosized crystals. She is the elected member of both the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). She has received IVA Gold Medal, Tage Erlander Prize for Science and Technology, and Göran Gustafsson Prize. She has been awarded the title of Distinguished Professor (Rådsprofessor) of the Swedish Research Council, and Wallenberg Scholars.

05. Engineering Sciences

CHAKRABORTY, Suman (India): (M). Professor and Director, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. The nominee is a globally recognized pioneer in micro- and nano-fluidics whose discoveries have fundamentally advanced the science of transport phenomena in confined systems while enabling transformative technologies for the developing world. His seminal work on roughness-induced flow enhancement, electrokinetic transport in structured microenvironments, and nanoscale thermofluidic interactions has opened new directions in microscale fluid mechanics. Equally remarkable is his translation of these insights into disruptive biomedical technologies, including paper-pencil based microfluidic diagnostics, rapid nucleic-acid testing platforms, and portable non-invasive cancer screening devices deployed in resource-limited settings. By uniting deep scientific innovation with scalable societal impact, the candidate has established a new paradigm where frontier science directly improves healthcare accessibility and sustainable development across the Global South. Member of the three Indian science academies, he has received the TWAS Award in Engineering Sciences; Infosys Prize (Engineering and Computer Science); and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize; among others. Fellow of American Physical Society; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Royal Society of Chemistry; Indian National Science Academy; Indian Academy of Sciences; The National Academy of Sciences, India; Indian National Academy of Engineering; Sir J. C. Bose National Fellow (Department of Science and Technology, India). He received G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research, National Academy of Science-Reliance Platinum Jubilee Award, Scopus Young Scientist Award, and Humboldt Fellowship.

CHEN, Zhangxing (Zhangxin) (Canada): (M). Professor and Founding Dean, College of Undergraduate Students, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China. The nominee has made exceptional and enduring contributions to modern reservoir simulation techniques, from fundamental fluid flow theories, general-purpose reservoir modeling, high-order computational methods, and highly efficient solvers to cutting-edge simulation software, with real-world applications to enabling the effective recovery of oil and gas resources, the efficient storage of carbon dioxide, and the green production of hydrogen energy. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering and Engineering Institute of Canada, member of the United States of America National Academy of Engineering, and an international member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he has received The Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China, Canada’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Synergy Award for Innovation, the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society (CAIMS)–Fields Prize, and the Gerald J. Ford Research Award, United States of America, among many others.

GE, Shuzhi Sam (Singapore): (M). Full Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. The nominee has made seminal contributions to intelligent control, confronting longstanding open problems with mathematical rigor. He revolutionized safety-critical control by pioneering Barrier Lyapunov Functions, establishing a proactive safety embedding paradigm for constrained nonlinear systems. He pioneered a family of integral Lyapunov functions, elegantly resolving control singularities problem in adaptive nonlinear control system design. His groundbreaking use of the Implicit Function Theorem established the foundation for stabilizing neural systems lacking analytical inverses. He resolved the non-causality problem in discrete-time backstepping, bypassing the restrictive need for convex common Lyapunov functions. Exploiting inherent topological and physical properties, his work forged the mathematical bedrock for resilient autonomous intelligence. His visionary intellectual leadership defines the frontiers of control science and intelligent autonomy. Member of the Singapore Academy of Engineering, he has received the AI Singapore Grand Challenge Award, Outstanding Overseas Young Research Award, National Science Foundation of China, among others.

IBRAHIM, Shaliza (Malaysia): (F). AAIBE Chair Professor of Renewable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. The nominee’s scientific achievements lie in advancing sustainable process engineering, particularly in biological anaerobic processes for wastewater valorisation. Her research has pioneered the conversion of palm oil mill effluent into biohydrogen through dark fermentation, including the development of an enhanced upflow anaerobic sludge blanket fixed-film bioreactor that improves microbial retention and hydrogen yield. This work contributes to transforming industrial waste into renewable energy while supporting decarbonisation in palm-oil-producing regions. She has also made significant contributions to the understanding of hydrodynamics, multiphase mixing and particle suspension in stirred reactors using advanced experimental methods and machine-learning modelling. With over 170 publications, several patents and impressive citations, her research integrates fundamental reactor engineering with practical industrial and environmental applications. Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, she has received Leaders in Innovation Fellowship and Leaders in Innovation Accelerator by the Royal Academy of Engineering (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), and Top Research Scientists Malaysia by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

ISMAIL, Ahmad Fauzi (Malaysia): (M). Professor, Distinguished Fellow and Founding Director, Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; Johor Faculty Chemical and Energy Engineering, Johor, Malaysia. The nominee pioneered advanced membrane materials and separation technologies for desalination, wastewater treatment, gas purification, and biomedical applications addressing global water and environmental challenges. Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, he received many prestigious awards including The Mustafa Prize (pbuh) (2023), the TWAS Award in Engineering Sciences (2020), the Merdeka Award (2014), the Malaysia Toray Science and Technology Award (2013), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Young Scientist and Technologist Award (2001). His global research impact is reflected in a Scopus h-index of 124 with over 78,450 citations.

MADNI, Azad M. (the United Steates of America): (M). University Professor, Northrop Grumman Foundation Fred O'Green Chair in Engineering, University of Southern California, United Steates of America. The nominee pioneered the field of transdisciplinary systems engineering and its education paradigm while making seminal contributions to augmented intelligence and deep learning. Member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Washington Academy of Sciences, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has received the NAE Gordon Prize (engineering education’s highest honor), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Simon Ramo Medal (systems science and engineering’s highest honor), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Spirit of St. Louis Medal (aviation engineering’s highest honor).

SILVA, S. Ravi P. (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, UK): (M). Distinguished Professor and Director, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. The nominee is internationally recognised for pioneering carbon‑based nanotechnology, from the synthesis and application of nano‑carbon materials to nanoscale devices with real‑world impact. He has advanced fundamental understanding and delivered technologies adopted by Airbus and European Space Agency, with applications in energy, aerospace, and sensing. He is nominated for his scientific excellence as well as bridging the global North and South through contributions to science and technology in Sri Lanka and by facilitating collaborations in China, India, and other nations via leadership roles. A champion of science for society, he has authored over 700 journal papers, delivered 720 conference and workshop presentations, and served on advisory boards for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the European Union, the European Research Council, and over 20 nations. A dedicated mentor, he has trained over 180 researchers, shaping the next generation of scientists and engineers, many from the global South, to leading academic or industrial positions. Member, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK; Chinese Academy of Engineering; International Scientific Council, among others, he has been elected as a Commander of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in the New Year Honours list 2021.

SU, Bao-Lian (Belgium): (M). Outstanding Full Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry, University of Namur, Belgium. A world leading scientist in materials science and chemical engineering, the nominee has made seminal contributions to the science of porous materials, sol-gel materials, living materials and zeolites. He discovered the molecular recognition effect, one of the most important breakthroughs in zeolite materials and the slow photon effect in aqueous solutions for photocatalysis. He developed a landmark Su’s Law for the design of hierarchically vascularized materials. His achievements also include the development of critical technologies across multiple industries: fluidizing cracking catalysts for heavy oil cracking, zeolite-based adsorbents for oxygen production, catalyst filters for wood stoves, and photobioreactors for biomolecule production. A leader in fostering global scientific collaboration, Su’s influential work continues to drive international cooperation, in particular for developing countries, and advance the field of materials science and engineering on a global scale. Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, he has received the 2007 A. Wetrems Prize from the Royal Academy of Belgium; the 2021 International Mesostructured Materials Association Award; the 2023 National Zeolite Association Award of China, among others.

06. Information and Data Sciences & Technologies

GIANNAKIS, Georgios B. (the United Steates of America): (M). McKnight Presidential Chair Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, United Steates of America (US). The nominee has made fundamental contributions to statistical signal processing (SP), communications, sensor networks, data science, patents influencing wireless standards, and outstanding mentoring. He is a member of the US National Academy of Inventors, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's Royal Academy of Engineering. He received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) SP Society Nobert Wiener Award; the IEEE Technical Field Fourier Award; the IEEE Communications Society Education Award; he is highly cited (first in SP, tenth in wireless, and ninth in electronics and communication engineering).

KHAN, Muhammad Khurram (Saudi Arabia): (M). Professor, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The nominee has made pioneering contributions to cybersecurity, particularly in digital authentication, privacy-preserving protocols, Internet-of-Things (IoT) security, and articial intelligence-enabled cyber defense mechanisms. His research has introduced lightweight, provably secure authentication mechanisms in distributed systems, enabling secure communications in networks, blockchain systems, IoT platforms, and cyber-physical infrastructures. He has also advanced security architectures for connected vehicles and smart healthcare systems, addressing critical challenges of identity management, data integrity, and resilient cyber-physical communications. With over 500 publications, 12 United States of America patents, and 41,000 Google Scholar citations (h-index 104), his research has had substantial global scientific and industrial impact in cybersecurity. Through research leadership, and innovation, he has played a pivotal role in advancing cybersecurity science and strengthening secure digital ecosystems worldwide. He has received the 2025 Education and Talent Development Award, Arab International Cybersecurity Conference & Exhibition (AICS), Bahrain; the Cybersecurity Excellence Award; the 2015 King Saud University Award for Scientific Excellence, among others.

LETAIEF, Khaled Ben (China): (M). New Bright Professor of Engineering and Chair Professor, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Hong Kong, China. The nominee is known for pioneering and transformative contributions to wireless communications that have advanced the theory, design, and deployment of modern communication networks and international standards worldwide. His influential research has shaped key technologies underpinning today’s broadband and mobile systems, helping to bridge the digital divide through reliable, affordable, and scalable connectivity, especially in developing regions. As Dean of Engineering at HKUST in Hong Kong and Provost at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, he has shown visionary leadership in engineering education, launching innovative programmes and championing excellence in student training and mentorship. Through outstanding leadership in major professional societies, particularly the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), he has advanced global connectivity and international collaboration supporting TWAS’s mission in the developing world. Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, foreign member of the United States of America National Academy of Engineering, he has received the 2024 Kuwait Prize, and the 2024 IEEE James Evans Avant Garde Award, among others.

MAULIK, Ujjwal (India): (M). Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. The nominee’s work focuses on identifying cancer gene markers in data-scarce environments with limited training samples due to clinical information shortages. The innovative approach combines feature/gene selection while using transductive Support Vector Machine (SVM) and rough-fuzzy approach to improve accuracy for disease diagnosis. He developed a computational pipeline to identify long non-coding RNAs that cause ovarian cancer metastasis. He also identifyed five natural plant compounds through in-silico docking studies that destabilize human SARS-CoV2 spike protein-ACE2 binding. Other significant contributions include Evolutionary clustering with increased convergence, differential evolution-based automatic clustering and SVM-based multi-objective clustering which have widespread applications in image analysis, portfolio management, e-commerce, intrusion detection, and text summarization. CANARY Software (United States of America Environmental Protection Agency) uses Ujjwal’s cluster validity proposal to determine water quality in the presence of contaminants. Member of the Indian National Science Academy, and of the National Academy Sciences, he received the Shiksharatna Award, from the Government of West Bengal, India, 2021.

RAHMAN, Mohammad Sohel (Bangladesh): (M). Professor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee has made influential contributions to algorithms and theoretical computer science, particularly in string algorithms, combinatorics, and sequence analysis. He has also advanced interdisciplinary applications of artificial intelligence in bioinformatics, biomedical imaging, epidemiology, and environmental systems, including the widely used MultiResUNet architecture for medical image segmentation. Working largely in resource-constrained environments, he has built an internationally connected research program involving undergraduate researchers and global collaborators, producing publications in leading journals. Through sustained mentorship—leading to major achievements in competitions such as the International Olympiad in Informatics and the International Collegiate Programming Contest—and leadership in engineering accreditation and international scientific service, he has contributed significantly to strengthening computing research and education in Bangladesh and other developing regions. Member, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, he is a Johns Hopkins Healthcare Design Competition Champion 2025, he has received the Earth Science Innovation Award 2023 and the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services National ICT Award 2017, among others.

SALI, Aduwati (Malaysia): (F). Director and Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. The nominee has been involved with Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia as an Honorary Member since 2020, Chair (2018) and Co-Chair (2017) for Science Policy, and Chairperson for National Science Challenge Steering Committee (2023 and 2025). Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (2022), she is also the recipient of 2018 Top Research Scientists Malaysia Award. She was a finalist in the Professional Achievement category in the Study UK Alumni Award 2020–21, Honourable Mention and Regional Finalist for the seventh Science Prize for Women 2021 by the U.S. Agency for International Development, in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Underwriters Laboratories. She was a Visiting Scientist at KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, University of Cyprus, under the European Union Horizon 2020 RISE project. Her team won numerous awards for the Internet of Things-based system for peatland management to avoid transboundary haze in ASEAN region.

UYSAL, Elif (Türkiye): (F). Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Türkiye; Chair, METU Mustafa Parlar Foundation for Education and Research; and Founder, FRESHDATA Technology. The nominee had pioneering contributions to energy-efficient machine-type communications, including transmission scheduling of data on wireless links under energy (harvesting) constraints. She was one of the pioneers of age of information and goal-oriented networking research, with applications to Internet of Things, sustainable cities, satellite and space communication. Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association, and the Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance, she has received the Selçuk Yaşar Award (2025), 2026 IEEE INFOCOM Test of Time Paper Award, European Research Council Advanced Grant 2024.

VELLASCO, Marley Maria Bernardes Rebuzzi (Brazil): (F). Full Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The focus of the nominee’s research is the development of computational intelligence models, more specifically automatic machine learning models, involving neuro-evolutionary models and automatic generation of fuzzy inference systems. Automatic machine learning is an important area that aims to automatically develop new computational intelligence-based models. She has successfully advanced the area of quantum-inspired evolutionary algorithms, applying it to evolving different neural network architectures for different problems. She also works with explainable artificial intelligence, an important area to grant more transparency to the results provided by artificial intelligence models. She regularly applies computational intelligence models to real world applications, including health, and energy sectors. Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, she has received the 2025 Award for Science, Innovation and Recognition by the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), among others.

YANG, Liuqing (China): (F). Chair Professor, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China. The nominee has established an international reputation through her innovative and interdisciplinary research integrating multiple facets of information and data sciences and technologies. Her seminal work in Ultra-Wideband (UWB) lay the groundwork for various communication systems including 6G. Recognizing the analogies between UWB and underwater acoustic, she is one the first in the development of practical underwater sensor networks. Leveraging the multi-modal sensors in transportation and energy infrastructure, she introduced the synesthesia of machines—a pioneering framework essential to sustainable cities and clean energy. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is one of few to have received both the NSF CAREER (National Science Foundation Career Faculty Early Career Development Program) and ONR YIP (Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program), and the First Prize-Natural Science, Chinese Association of Automation.

YOUSSEF, Mostafa Amin (Egypt): (M). Professor, Computer Science and Engineering Department, The American University in Cairo, Egypt. The nominee is a pioneer in mobile and pervasive computing, recognized for his groundbreaking work in location determination systems. He developed the Horus system—the first probabilistic scheme for high-accuracy tracking—earning the Invention of the Year Award. He introduced the paradigm-shifting concept of device-free localization, enabling tracking without active devices, and quantum-based location fingerprinting; which achieves exponential savings in processing and space. As the first and only Association for Computing Machinery Fellow in the Middle East and Africa, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Fellow, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences; his scientific excellence is globally recognized. His work significantly advances the digital services in developing countries, bridging international standards with regional innovation. He has received the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Innovation Award (2013, 2015); the TWAS–African Academy of Sciences–Microsoft Award for Young Scientists, 2010; the Egyptian State Award for Engineering Sciences, 2012, among others.

07. Earth, Climate and Environmental Sciences

AHMED, Kazi Matin Uddin (Bangladesh): (M). Professor, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee is a distinguished hydrogeologist renowned for his pioneering research on groundwater resources and arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. Over a career spanning four decades, he has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, earning international acclaim as one of the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists. His groundbreaking work on the mitigation of arsenic and salinity in drinking water of Bangladesh has profoundly influenced national policy and global health strategies. Member of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Ahmed’s dedication to sustainable water management and his leadership in geosciences have empowered local communities and mentored generations of scholars, leaving an indelible mark on the field of environmental science and public safety.

ALKHALIFAH, Tariq A. (Saudi Arabia): (M). Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia. The nominee is a leading geophysicist whose pioneering work has transformed our ability to characterize Earth’s subsurface in complex anisotropic environments. His contributions to velocity analysis and wave-equation-based imaging are foundational: his 1995 paper exceeds 1,000 citations. With over 200 journal publications and ranked among the top 2% of scientists in geochemistry and geophysics, he has driven major advances in full waveform inversion and physics-informed machine learning for Earth imaging, which significantly improved seismic imaging of Earth’s subsurface for energy exploration, subsurface monitoring, and environmental applications. He has received the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal, the SEG J. Clarence Karcher Award, and the European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers Conrad Schlumberger Award for his outstanding contributions to exploration geophysics.

MALL, Rajesh Kumar (India): (M). Professor, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, India. The nominee has established the Mahamana Centre of Excellence in Climate Change at BHU with state-of-the-art research facilities (https://mceccr.in/). He has made seminal contribution to climate science and climate-crop-simulation models for evaluating climate change impacts on extreme event, crop and human health, while framing resilient and sustainable adaptation strategies. He has postulated the impact of climate on the prevalence of vector borne diseases and put forth weather-based planning for reducing human health risk and validated a multi-pollutant model to assess the individual and combined effects of residual PM2.5, black carbon and NO₂ on crops and human health. His research on climate change has contributed to the National Action Plan for Climate Change, which shows his exceptional ability to blend theory and application. Member of the National Academy of Sciences India.

PEIXOTO, Raquel (Saudi Arabia): (F). Professor, Marine Science, Biological, Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia. The nominee is an internationally recognized microbiologist whose work has fundamentally reshaped the understanding of host–microbe interactions in marine ecosystems and established coral probiotics as a new scientific and applied field. She was the first to demonstrate that targeted manipulation of microbial communities can enhance coral resistance and resilience to climate-driven stress, including thermal bleaching. Her research bridges fundamental microbial ecology with scalable, real-world solutions for biodiversity conservation. Through pioneering studies published in Nature, Nature Microbiology, Science Advances, Nature Climate Change, and The ISME Journal, she has revealed the mechanisms by which beneficial microorganisms regulate coral health, metabolism, immunity, and stress tolerance. These discoveries have opened new pathways for reef restoration at a time of accelerating global reef decline. Beyond discovery, Peixoto has led the translation of science into practice. She founded and directs the Coral Probiotics Village, the world’s first underwater experimental laboratory designed to test microbial therapies directly on reef organisms under natural conditions. This platform has become an international reference for applied reef restoration, enabling controlled, reproducible, and scalable interventions. She is one of Explorers Club 50 class of 2026, exceptional researchers and explorers changing the world. She has received the International Coral Reef Society Mid-Career Award; the Saudi National Champion, Frontiers Planet Prize; and the Golden Medal, Geneva International, among others.

SOMMARUGA, Ruben (Austria): (M). Research Fellow, Department of Economy, University of Innsbruck, Austria. The nominee has an outstanding scientific career in environmental sciences, biogeochemistry of lakes, and freshwater aquatic biology. His work on the effects of the climate change in high mountain lakes is a unique and very important contribution to science. His work on the UV absorption in alpine lakes and its effects on the planktonic community are outstanding contributions increasing very much the knowledge of the ultraviolet (UV) effects on aquatic organisms. He has maintained extensive and continuous contacts with scientists in Uruguay. He has 291 high level publications; 56,200 reads, 11,951 citations on an h-index of 64 on Google Scholar. Member of the European Academy of Sciences, and Academy of Natural Sciences of Granada, he has received the Scientific Award by Principality of Lichtenstein and Professional Excellence in Ecology by the International Institute of Ecology, among others.

VIEIRA, Ima Célia Guimarães (Brazil): (F). Senior Researcher, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil. The nominee is a leading international authority on Amazonian forest ecology, secondary forest regeneration, biocultural restoration, and ecosystem services, with over 200 publications and more than 18,000 citations. She coordinates Nexus, National Institutes of Science, Technology and Innovation programme (INCT), Brazil, a major national research network on anthropogenic disturbances and forest sustainability in the Amazon. Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Council on Climate of COP30, she has received the Comenda Mulher Cientista (Cientista Master) from the Government of Pará and the Prêmio Destaque Científico (Pará State Government, 2019), and holds a Productivity Scholarship by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil. She was the first female scientist from Pará to direct the Museu Goeldi (2005–2009) and served as Vatican expert at the Special Synod for the Amazon, invited by Pope Francis.

WANG, Yanfen (China): (F). Professor, and Executive Vice-President, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. The nominee pioneers soil ecology by proposing soil carbon stability theory and adaptive management centered on boosting carbon sequestration through nitrogen management and moderate utilization. As a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, she has received First prize of the Science and Technology Award of Xizang Autonomous Region (2018) and First prize of the Natural Science Award of Qinghai Province (2022), China. She serves as Vice-President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World.

08. Mathematical Sciences

NATARAJ, Neela (India): (F). Professor, Department of Mathematics; and Dean (Strategy), Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India. The nominee has contributed immensely to state-of-the-art numerical analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs) with emphasis on thin/very thin plate bending problems governed by fourth-order linear/nonlinear elliptic systems. Her research activities exemplify investigation of both fundamental and applied problems by theory and computations; a priori and a posteriori error analysis and optimal control problems governed by PDE constitute highlights. Insofar as application problems are concerned, she has demonstrated authority in finite element and finite volume methods for nonlinear systems of PDEs that occur in laser surface hardening of steel, Kelvin-Voigt fluids, von Karman plates, nematic liquid crystals, tumour growth, time-dependent coupled linear and nonlinear PDE systems that model the interaction between solid deformation and diffusion of reacting species in thin structures, to name a few. Fellow of the three major Indian science academies, she has received the Indian National Science Academy Teachers Award, among others.

ZHANG, Ping (China): (M). President, and Professor, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. The nominee has made seminal contributions to the mathematical theories of partial differential equations derived from fluid dynamics and quantum mechanics, such as the incompressible and compressible Navier-Stokes equations, and the semi-classical limit of nonlinear Schrödinger equations. He has authored 155 papers in leading journals of mathematics and a monograph published by American mathematical society. He served as editor in several journals that include Journal de l'École polytechnique - Mathématiques, Sciences in China. He is Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and has been the president of Academy of Mathematics and System Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences since January 2024. He has received the Chern Shiing-Shen Prize of Chinese Mathematical Society, 2019; the China Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award, 2007, among others.

09. Physics, Astronomy & Space Sciences

ALSHAREEF, Husam N. (Saudi Arabia): (M). Dean, Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia. The nominee is an internationally recognized leader in semiconductor and electronic materials, with an extensive patent portfolio and commercial impact. He created widely adopted gate-dielectric and gate-stack innovations, and he later pioneered MXetronics, translating MXenes, two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, from fundamental plasmonic and transport physics into practical device elements, including photodetectors, transistor contacts, and advanced sensors. He has received the Kuwait Prize in Clean and Sustainable Energy Technologies and the A.H. Shoman Prize for Excellence in Energy Research, among others.

ALTBIR, Dora (Chile): (F). Full Professor, Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile. The nominee is a leading Chilean physicist whose pioneering theoretical work on magnetic nanostructures has advanced nanoscience and nanotechnology worldwide. Her research revealed the key role of dipolar interactions in defining magnetization at the nanoscale and has guided the design of three-dimensional magnetic nanodevices. As founding director of Chile’s first national nanoscience and nanotechnology center (CEDENNA), she has built a multidisciplinary community linking basic research with innovation and patents in strategic sectors. In recognition of these achievements, she received Chile’s National Prize for Exact Sciences in 2019 and multiple international honors. She is a Member, and currently Vice-President, of the Chilean Academy of Science.

DOVA, Maria Teresa (Argentina): (F). Professor, National University of La Plata (UNLP); Senior Researcher, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET); Director, Institute of Physics La Plata, UNLP–CONICET, La Plata, Argentina. The nominee has made major contributions to high-energy physics, particularly in the discovery of the Higgs boson, its subsequent characterization, the search for physics beyond the Standard Model, and advancing the understanding of the nature of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. Corresponding Member of National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, Argentina; she has received the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, the TWAS Award in Physics, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award for Latin America and the Caribbean, among others.

DUAN, Luming (China): (M). Chair Professor of Fundamental Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. The nomination of Duan recognizes his seminal proposals and the invention of critical techniques that have been foundational for scaling up quantum computation, communication, and networks. He invented the seminal protocol for the realization of quantum repeaters, now universally known as the DLCZ (Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller) scheme, which is vital for scalable long-distance quantum communication and networks. He proposed an influential scheme for scalable optical quantum computing, later termed the Duan-Kimble scheme. More recently, at Tsinghua University, he pioneered a scaling method for trapped-ion quantum computing based on the control of large two-dimensional (2D) ion crystals and photon-mediated network connections, experimentally realizing, for the first time, quantum simulation with large 2D ion crystals comprising a record-high 300 ion qubits. Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he has received the International Quantum Prize, Henry Russel Award, Rao Ru-Tai Fundamental Optics Prize, among others.

FORBES, Andrew (South Africa): (M). Distinguished Professor, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The nominee has made seminal contributions to structured light, demonstrating world-leading advances in structured light lasers, novel high dimensional quantum states and topological light. He is an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa; a Fellow of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics; Optica; PhotonIcs and Electromagnetics Research Symposium (PIERS); and the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP); and is Editor-in-Chief of APL Photonics. His awards include the SAIP Gold Medal (2020), the Sang Soo Lee award (2022) bestowed jointly by Optica and the Optical Society of Korea, and the TWAS Award in Physics (2024). He is the only photonics researcher from South Africa on the Clarivate Highly Cited Research list (2024 and 2025) and one of only ten from the country in total.

HOSSAIN, A. K. M. Akther (Bangladesh): (M). Professor of Physics, and Associate Dean, Faculty of the Postgraduate Studies, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The nominee is a distinguished physicist whose three-decade career has revolutionized solid-state physics and functional materials. His pioneering research bridges experimental techniques with Density Functional Theory to unlock the secrets of multiferroics, superconductors, and nanostructured materials. Key contributions include elucidating magnetoelectric coupling in composites and advancing sustainable technologies like lead-free perovskite solar cells and hydrogen storage. With over 280 peer-reviewed articles and an h-index of 37, his scholarly impact is globally recognized. Beyond research, Hossain has mentored 13 PhD and 48 MPhil students, significantly building national scientific capacity. His leadership as a Fellow of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS) underscores his role as a visionary in applied nanoscience and modern physics. He has received prestigious global honors, including Commonwealth (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science fellowships, BAS Gold Medal in Physical Sciences, among others.

LOINARD, Laurent Raymond (Mexico): (M). Full professor, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico. The nominee is an astrophysicist who specializes in applying radio interferometry to study star formation and the environments surrounding black holes. He has received numerous international honors, including the Bessel Prize from the Humboldt Foundation in Germany, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Robert F. Kennedy Visiting Professorship at Harvard University, United States of America. He pioneered the use of long-baseline interferometry to measure ultra-precise distances to young stars. In recent years, he has focused on the environments of black holes, playing a key role in the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, which produced the first images of supermassive black holes and confirmed predictions of Einstein’s General Relativity. In November 2025, he was named director of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. Member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, he has shared the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics and the Einstein Medal, among others.

OLIVEIRA, Osvaldo N. (Brazil): (M). Full Professor, University of São Paulo, Brazil. The nominee is a leading researcher in Langmuir–Blodgett and self-assembly methods for fabricating novel materials with molecular-level control and diverse applications, including sensors, biosensors, and electronic tongues. He pioneered the combined use of methods from statistical physics and computer science for text analysis, as well as the use of information visualization to enhance sensing and biosensing. He is a founding member of the Center of Computational Linguistics, a leading institute for natural language processing of Portuguese. He has served as president of the International Union of Materials Research Societies, is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and the Latin American Academy of Sciences, and Executive Editor of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. He was awarded the Scopus Prize in 2006, granted to the 16 most productive Brazilian researchers.

WAGHMARE, Umesh Vasudeo (India): (M). Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India. Starting with first-principles quantum description of electronic motion in a solid, the nominee develops realistic and tractable models that capture the effective interactions among the atomistic features relevant to phase transitions and emergent functional properties of technological importance. Employing computer simulations of such atomistic models, he makes quantitative predictions of multi scale structure and material specific properties making close connection with experimental observations. His work has led to (a) deep mechanistic understanding of behavior of a variety of complex materials exhibiting ferroelectric, magnetic, martensitic and electronic topological transitions, superconductivity, conversion of heat to electricity and mechanical flexibility and (b) prediction of new materials and phenomena. Member of the three major Indian science academies, he has received the Infosys Science Prize; the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize; and the IBM Faculty Award, among others, and was named outstanding Materials Scientist of the Year from the Materials Research Society of India.

10. Economic & Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts

ALCÁNTARA-AYALA, Irasema (Mexico): (F). Full Professor, Institute of Geography, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico. The nominee is an internationally recognised leader in disaster risk research. Her work has advanced understanding of the root causes and drivers of disaster risk and promoted integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction. Her scholarship bridges social and natural sciences, strengthening the interface between scientific knowledge, policy-making, and practice, particularly in the global South. She is a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and contributes to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) scientific advisory processes. Member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences, she has received the Sergei Soloviev Medal (2016), the TWAS Award in Social Sciences (2022), and the Varnes Medal (2023).

FANG, Chuanglin (China): (M). Professor, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. The nominee has long been engaged in comprehensive research on the sustainable urban economic development within the field of human geography. His work has yielded systematic and innovative results in the coupling mechanisms between urbanization and the ecological environment, the development laws, spatial organization patterns of urban clusters, the decision-making support for the integrated development of urban and rural economies. He uncovered the U-shaped curve and inflection point of urbanization-ecological environment coupling, developed the human-land coupling circle theory and coupling regulation tools. He identified the stage-based laws of spatial expansion of urban clusters, delineated the three-tier organization structure for the development of China's urban clusters, making significant contributions to the development of urban and rural economy in the developing countries. He received the TWAS Award in Social Sciences (2024), Ho Leung Ho Lee Award for Scientific and Technological Innovation, among others.

GYAPONG, Margaret (Ghana): (F). Professor on post-retirement contract, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana. The nominee is a medical anthropologist by training. Interested in research impact, her work has contributed towards policy decisions in the field of malaria, maternal and child health and neglected tropical diseases. She was instrumental in developing the World Health Organization (WHO) Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) toolkit on implementation research. She has received the Heroines of Health award from Women in Global Health, been profiled in TDR Global for achievements in the field of implementation research and neglected tropical diseases, and adjudged the most outstanding female scientist by the European and Clinical Trials Partnership.

HUSSEIN, Hussam (Jordan): (M). Senior Fellow in Environmental Politics, The Institute for Critical Thought, Amman, Jordan. The nominee's research challenges mainstream understandings of water scarcity, demonstrating its political construction and shifting paradigms toward sustainable water security in arid regions. Fellow of the International Science Council, Executive Committee member of the Global Young Academy, board member of the Arab Council for the Social Sciences, and manager of the Jordan National Academy of Science and Engineering, he is the most cited Jordanian social scientist in environmental politics, with publications in Science and Nature, and has received the Achieving Impact Award from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Falling Walls First Prize (Germany), and the Changemakers in Sustainability Award by Stanford University (United States of America).

JEGEDE, Ayodele Samuel (Nigeria): (M). Professor, and Director, Research Management Office, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The nominee’s social innovations for health interventions focused on mitigating how cultural practices shape healthcare delivery and uptake, promoting health as a shared social responsibility and advance social epidemiology and community health. Using narrative and interpretive phenomenology, he demonstrated how personal and socio cultural factors inform effective preventive strategies for public health emergencies. His integrated community engagement model strengthened home management of malaria initiative, showing strong community acceptance of volunteer participation. Jegede also contributed to developing the National Code of Health Research Ethics and the National Bioethics Policy, which laid the foundation for establishing the National Health Research Ethics Committee and the National Bioethics Committee, thereby enhancing research ethics and policy. He has received the TWAS Award in Social Sciences, Distinguished Ambassador Award of Department of Sociology and Anthropology by Obafemi Awolowo University, and the Nigeria Prize for Science, among others.

KASSIE, Menale (Kenya): (M). Head, Integrated Data and Analytics, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya. The nominee pioneered research on technology adoption and impact assessment, gender research, and the transformation of agrifood systems in sub-Saharan Africa, using econometric and experimental methods. His work has advanced understanding of how multiple agricultural innovations, gender empowerment, and ecosystem services influence productivity, nutrition, and resilience in smallholder farming systems. With 110 peer-reviewed publications, 21,600 Google Scholar citations, and an h-index of 67, his research has been cited in over 1,660 policy documents worldwide, shaping agricultural and development policies across sub-Saharan Africa. Member of the African Academy of Sciences, Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, he has received the 2022 TWAS-Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences, and other recognitions such as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher and a Stanford University Top 2% Scientist.

LIN, Chen (China): (M). Chair Professor of Finance, Vice-President, Centre for Financial Innovation, University of Hong Kong, China.The nominee’s expertise in financial inclusion and stability, two central parts of financial development, has been instrumental in understanding and driving economic growth in developing countries. Chen’s profound academic knowledge and contributions in these areas have garnered widespread acclaim from both policy-making and professional communities. He is recognized for his prominent contributions to financial economics, Chen has been ranked among the world’s top 50 financial economists in banking by RePEC/IDEAS, the largest bibliographic database dedicated to Economics hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and the top 2% of the most-cited scientists by Stanford University (United States of America). Fellow of Academy of Social Sciences, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and member of Academia Europaea, he has received the 2026 TWAS-Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences. His esteemed position in the field led to his role as a nominator for the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences since 2016.

LIU, Junguo (China): (M). President, and Professor, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, China. The nominee has made fundamental contributions to policy-relevant research on water resources, climate change mitigation, and environmental management in China and other developing regions. Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has received the 2022 TWAS Award in Social Sciences; the Communication Award of the International Society for Ecological Restoration, 2017; and the Natural Resources Science and Technology Progress Award of China.

ODHIAMBO, Nicholas Mbaya (South Africa): (M). Professor of Economics, and Head of Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Programme, University of South Africa, South Africa. The nominee was admitted to the African Academy of Sciences as a Fellow in 2021 and he is currently serving as chair of the Membership Advisory Committee for the Cultural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences discipline. Odhiambo, who obtained his PhD degree in Economics from Stellenbosch University, is currently ranked number three in Africa among all economics authors by RePEC/IDEAS, the largest bibliographic database dedicated to Economics hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.africa.html). He is also listed among the top 2% most-impactful scientists in the world by Stanford/Elsevier rankings. He has published more than 400 publications, and his Google Scholar h-index is 71, based on over 19,000 citations, while his Scopus h-Index is 44, based on 329 publications. He is also member of the Royal Statistical Society, of the Royal Economic Society and of the American Association For The Advancement of Science.

SANTOS, Ricardo Ventura Santos (Brazil): (M). Retired Senior Researcher, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The nominee is a recognized anthropologist whose pioneering research on the anthropology of health, Indigenous health, and social studies of science has advanced global health scholarship and public policy. He has developed influential interdisciplinary research integrating anthropology, demography, history of science, and public health, and has played a leading role in major internat collaborations, including landmark studies on indigenous health inequalities. He coordinated the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition in Brazil, generating a foundational empirical basis for public policy and comparative research across the Global South, and authored award-winning work on critical studies about race, genetics, and human diversity. Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, he has received the Senior Investigator Award from the Wellcome Trust, the Exemplary Cross-Field Scholarship Award from the American Anthrop Association, and a Leadership Award from the MacArthur Foundation in Brazil.