Prof. in Civil Eng. Department

Faculty of Eng., Qassim University, KSA

Dr. Urbi Basu has obtained her BSc (Geology) from the Presidency College, Kolkata and Masters in Applied Geology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IITB). She has received her doctorate degree (PhD Geophysics) in May 2019 from the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, University of Memphis, USA. She is currently working as a geophysicist in ExxonMobil India. Her PhD research was seismic tomography and anisotropy structure underneath the central United States. She did graduate research work for the Reelfoot Rift region in central United States using Pn tomography and the Rayleigh wave azimuthal anisotropy to model the lower crust and upper mantle velocity and anisotropy structure. She recently published one journal paper in JGR Solid Earth (Basu, U., & Powell, C. (2019). Pn Tomography and Anisotropy Study of the Central United States. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124(7), 7105-7119.) and is currently in the review process for another first author paper in JGR Solid Earth.

Topic: 

The European H2020 Projects Cheap-GSHPs & GEO4CIVHIC: Innovative coaxial heat exchangers for shallow geothermal installations

Biography:

Eng. Luc Pockelé, graduated at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel as electro-mechanical engineer. Worked 34 years in multi-national companies, respectively Procter and Gamble, UCB and Tate and Lyle. Started in engineering and project management on processing plants. Moved into managerial and executive positions in manufacturing, quality, environment, safety and supply chain. For the last 11 years he is managing an Italian SME, active in renewable energies in buildings, shallow geothermal in particular. Co-inventor of the patent request of the drilling methodology developed in European research project Cheap-GSHPs (grant agreement n° 657982).

Topic: 

H2020 Project GEO4CIVHIC: Innovative Applications for shallow geothermal installations

Biography:

Eng. Giulia Mezzasalma has graduated in Energy Engineering from the University of Padova in 2015. She has a master certification in project management in 2019. She works in RED Srl as project manager in European Project and as thermal engineer. She is expert in Renewable system, mostly Geothermal System. She is expert in Energy simulation and modelling, qualified as energy certificator.

Keynote Topic: 

Geochemical study of the giant Bayan Obo Fe-REE-Nb ore deposit, Inner Mongolia (Northern China): A clue to its genesis 

Biography:

Dr. Xiaoyong Yang is a full professor in School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China. His major is geochemistry, his study is mostly interesting in mineral deposits.

Topic: Borosilicates in high-pressure and ultra-high-pressure lithologies

Biography:

Dr. Andreas Ertl obtained his BSc (Geoscience) and his PhD (Natural Science) from the University of Vienna, Austria. He previously worked as Visiting Professor in Heidelberg where he gave lectures about crystallography for geoscientists and about X-ray diffraction and X-ray spectroscopic analysis of rocks and minerals. He is member of the Subcommittee on Tourmaline Nomenclature of the International Mineralogical Association’s Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. His PhD research was based on the characterization of tourmalines from different environments. He currently has a project about the behavior of borosilicates during subduction and in different geotectonic settings. His area of interest is borosilicates and investigations of metamorphic tourmaline as geothermometer. He has published more than 60 papers in peer reviewed journals.

Topic: Metallogeny of gold in the Western Altai-Sayan folded area

Biography: 

Alexandr I. Chernykh is the Director General of the FSBI "TsNIGRI" - the leading enterprise of the State Geological Service of the Russian Federation in the field of geology and metallogeny of diamonds, non-ferrous and noble metals. He holds PhD degree in geology and mineralogy. Dr Chernykh is a member of the editorial board of leading Russian geological journals, the author and co-author of more than 100 publications. A.I. Chernykh is an expert in the metallogeny and in the mineral exploration and prospecting methods for solid mineral deposits

Topic: The Forecasting, Assessment and Management of Natural and Technogenic Geodynamic Risks (on Example of Exploitation of oil-and-gas Deposit)

Biography: 

Professor Natalia A. Kasyanova obtained her Postgraduate program (doctoral degree) Ph.D (Geology) from the Moscow State Lomonosov University (1995). She develops the new scientific direction - “Present-day geodynamics and it influence of the crust deformation and fluid migration processes”. Her area of scientific interests is “Forecasting, search and prospecting oil and gas deposits”, “Present-day natural and technogenic geodynamic risks: forecast, assessment, management”, “Geodynamic ensuring of environmental and industrial safety” (for oil-and-gas, coal, atomic-chemical, building industries). She currently lectures “Forecasting and search of mineral deposits” at the Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University Geological Prospecting. She published over 200 papers.

Keynote Title: Getting big in the Archean

Biography:

Stanley Awramik is Professor of Biogeology in the Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, where he’s been a faculty member since 1974. He obtained his BA (geology) from Boston University and his PhD (geology) from Harvard. His research interests focus on stromatolites in time and space as well as microbial fossils. His field work has taken him all over the globe, but the main work has been in Australia, China, Canada, eastern California, and Wyoming. He found some of the oldest evidence of life on Earth – fossil bacteria about 3.5 billion years old. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Geological Society of America.

Topic: Relationship between geology and old worship sites in mountain areas of Japan

Biography:

Prof. Kawamura obtained his BSc (Geology) from the Hiroshima University and his PhD (Geology) from the Osaka City University. He is previously worked for Akita University in science education department of Faculty of Education and Human Studies as a professor. One of his research field is based on the application of field geology for historical science in the local area in Japan. He currently lectures geology at the University of Hyogo. His area of interest is Science education, Quaternary geology, and Geopark research. He has published various papers in peer reviewed journals.

Topic: Air Quality Modeling with Urban WRF-Chem system over a high altitude tropical City

Biography:

M.C. Miguel Noyola currently is a PhD student of the Center for Atmospheric Sciences (CCA), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Obtained his Master Degree at CCA-UNAM; and his BSc in the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAMA) in Electronic Engineering in Control and Instrumentation Systems. Also did partial studies of master in Computing Science at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN). From 2006 to 2016 worked as Head of the Department of Atmospheric Monitoring in the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change. At the same time, during 2007 and 2008 was part of the Staff of Technical Experts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Project to Strengthen Air Quality in Mexico. Has participated in projects of international relevance in the fields of air quality monitoring, field campaigns, air quality modeling, metrology, instrumentation, and QA/QC with government institutions and Universities in several countries as Colombia, USA, Honduras, Japan, Panama, and Peru. His current research is focused on air quality forecast and atmospheric monitoring over highly urban cities through the use of the Urban WRF-Chem modeling system, which includes the Building Effect Parameterization (BEP) model that represents the most sophisticated urban modeling scheme in WRF.

Keynote Title: Effect of Hydraulic Properties on the Formation of Mineral Deposits: Insight from Reactive Mass Transport Modelling

Biography:

Dr. Jianwen Yang obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Toronto, Canada, and is currently a full professor at the School of the Environment, University of Windsor, Canada. His research interest is mainly in lab- and field-based computational numerical modeling of subsurface fluid flow, heat transfer, and non-reactive/reactive mass transport in relation to applications in earth and environmental sciences.

Topic: Delineating the Source of Lead in the Urban Atmospheric Dust Based on Stable Isotopic Ratio: A Case Study fromPanzhihua City of Southwest China

Biography:

Yi Huang is a Professor in College of Geosciences at Chengdu University of Technology, China. She is a Principal Investigator at Mining Area Environment, State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (SKLGP). She obtained her PhD in 2007 from Chengdu University of Technology. She did her postdoctoral research at Chengdu University of Technology. Her main research areas are studies on the migration and transformation of heavy metals in soil, water, air and other environmental media near the earth surface, stable isotope geochemistry, as well as the heavy metal pollution prevention and control techniques. 

Topic: Groundwater Depletion: The Unintended Consequence of Surface Water Trade

Biography:

Dr. Hao Zhao obtained his BSc (Finance) from Peking University and his PhD (Economics) from California Institute of Technology. His PhD theses used economic principles to understand water use institutions in California, US, and discussed mechanism designs to achieve optimal groundwater aquifer management.  He currently works at the Economic Science Institute of Chapman University as a post-doc research associate. His current project includes using laboratory methods to understand the behavior of traders in common-pool resource markets under different market institutions. His area of interest is environmental and resource economics, and experimental economics. He has published various papers in peer reviewed journals.

Title: Vulnerability Assessment of Groundwater to Contamination Using Electrical Resisitivity Method at the Open Dumpsite in Gosa, Abuja, Nigeria.

Biography:

Dr. Abdulsalam Nasir Naeem is a Senior Lecturer in the Geophysics research group at the Department of Physics University of Abuja, Nigeria where his researches focuses on Groundwater Contamination and the environmental effects and potential theory geophysics. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Master of Science degree and a doctorate all in Applied Geophysics. He was the Head of the department of Physics, University of Abuja, from 2016 to 2019. He has also served as the University of Abuja Director of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). He did a postgraduate foundation course in astronomy and astrophysics in 2007 at the National Mathematical Centre, Nigeria. He is a member of some professional bodies which include; Nigerian Institute of Physics (NIP), Nigeria Mining and Geosciences’ Society (NMGS) and Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG), USA. He has published his well research articles of more than thirty (30) and still counting in both local and international reputable journals. He has linkages with many scientists across Asia and Africa.

Topic: Geochemical method of early diagnostics of nucleation and evaluation process of strong Earthquakes

Abstract: 

Long time monitoring for geochemical and gas composition of underground water in Armenia reveals the possibility for early diagnostic of earthquake nucleation process.  Detailed analysis of obtained data time series reveals the existing close connection between the strong earthquake preparation process and the change in underground water chemical composition.  To track changes of the chemical composition in water of self-flowing wells temperature, pH, Eh, Na, K, F, Cl, Ca, He, CO2, SO4, etc. were determined daily from three observation points.

The reaction of data time series on most strong earthquakes occurred at the time of study shows that most strong preventive geochemical signal comes almost 4.5 mounts prior the main shock.  It is coming in form of change in statistical characteristics of data time series. The signal is different for solved gas and mineral composition of water. However the “synchronization” in the time of its arrival leave no doubt that they are strongly connected to the upcoming seismic event.

The dynamics of He in the water turn out to be most sensitive to the change in area prior to strong events. It seems to be more universal then other elements. Surprisingly the preventive signal coming rather in the form of mitigation of changes in dynamics of obtained series then in form of anomaly.

Statistical analysis of data shows the dependency of signal characteristics and the distance of observation point from the epicenter of upcoming event.  The repeating pattern of preventing geochemical signal for earthquakes with different distance from observation points and different magnitude allow to make some conclusions about  nature of earthquake preparation process in the region.

The comparison of obtained results with data from other regions bring us to the conclusion that more dense observation network in the area may lead to the possibility of more evident and precise diagnostics of the beginning of earthquake nucleation process in hypocenter and monitoring of its evolution. Close observation of seismic hearth will lead to determination of upcoming earthquake parameters long time before it strike.

Title: Role of Biotechnology in Water Science for Future generations

Biography:
Mr. Robert William Raj. A obtained his BSc (Microbiology) from Madras University, MSc (Microbiology) from Bharathidasan University and M.Tech (Industrial Biotechnology) from Bharath University (Deemed). He previously worked for Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, R&D Center, Shozhanganallur., India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.as Research Executive. His research was based on the Biotechnological Aspects of Basic Groundwater Hydrology for mitigating the Hydrological Extremes. He currently works for Symbiotec Pharmalab Pvt. Limited, Phase – II, Pharma Zone (SEZ), Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh, India. His area of interest is Biotechnology, Fermentation, Bioprocess, Groundwater Hydrology, Water Cycle, Groundwater flow, Coastal underground interaction of fresh water and salt water, Flood and Drought Management. He has published two papers in peer reviewed journals.

Topic: Geotechnical Design, Construction and Monitoring of Tailings Dams – Tailings Impoundment Failure Prevention

Biography:

Dr. Farzad Daliri is a geotechnical/geoenvironmental/tailings R&D specialist with more than 12 years of experience working in several civil/geotechnical engineering projects related to infrastructure, mine, embankment design, tailings dam design, municipal waste management, etc. He has extensive knowledge of geotechnical/geoenvironmental engineering and has developed a profound network through interactions with the leaders in Canadian and international construction industries. He received doctoral degree of geotechnical/geoenvironmental engineering from Carleton University, Ottawa in 2013. Dr. Daliri’s unique expertise is geotechnical and environmental aspects of mine waste and tailings management. Dr. Daliri is the author of more than 20 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers and is the reviewer of prestigious journals in the field of geotechnical, environemntal and mining engineering. He is a registered professional engineer (P. Eng.) in Ontario and Alberta and member of Americal Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS), International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and several other technical societies.

Topic: Mitigating the Algorithmic Non-Uniqueness in Nonlinear Least Squares Objective Function by Gramian Constraints

Biogrpahy: 

Dr. Jide Nosakare Ogunbo obtained his BTech (Geophysics) from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria, and his PhD (Geophysics) from the University of Science and Technology of China. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States of America. He is currently a Brain Korean (BK) researcher at the Seoul National University, South Korea. His PhD research was based on the joint inversion of seismic and electromagnetic data with cross-gradient (structural) constraints. His area of interest is optimization of extant geophysical technology to deliver accurate solutions in a timely fashion.

Topic: Dynamic response around a circular tunnel subjected to P-wave scattering

Topic: The Blake Bahama Escarpment Abyssal Giant Pockmarks: Evidences for Structurally-Controlled Fluids Circulation at Carbonate Platform Scale

Keynote Talk: Seismic tomographic research of the Lithosphere beneath Australia, North and South America, China, Finland, Antarctica, Africa and India. How does this impact on the surface geology, mineralization and the mechanism of plate tectonics

Biography:

Robert Watchorn obtained his BSc (Geology) from Curtin University (Western Australian School of Mines) and his MSc (Geology) from the University of Melbourne. He has worked for Aberfoyle Tin NL, Western Mining Corporation and for many other companies after he formed an exploration and mining geology consultancy in 1999. His current research is based on the application of pattern recognition software for structural analysis and exploration in geoscience, geography and geoarchaeology groundwater in the South African Karoo aquifers. He has published various papers in peer reviewed journals.