Mr. Rinal Prasad | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Rinal Prasad | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Rinal Prasad | Renewable Energy | University of Fiji | France

Mr. Rinal Rinay Prasad is a dedicated educator, researcher, and innovator from Fiji, whose academic and professional contributions exemplify excellence in the fields of Renewable Energy Management, Mathematics, and Physics. With a strong foundation in science and education, Mr. Prasad has combined his technical expertise and leadership abilities to promote sustainable development through renewable energy research and teaching innovation. He holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy Management from the University of Fiji, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific, and a Bachelor of Science with a Graduate Certificate in Education majoring in Mathematics and Physics from the same institution. His qualifications are further enhanced by certifications in Occupational Health and Safety, Basic First Aid, and CPR through the Red Cross, emphasizing his holistic approach to safety and academic excellence. Professionally, Mr. Prasad has built a remarkable career trajectory through various leadership roles in the education sector, including serving as the Head of Department for Mathematics, Physics, and Science at institutions such as Bucalevu Secondary School, Nadarivatu High School, and South Taveuni Secondary School. His teaching and administrative expertise have shaped academic programs that integrate scientific rigor with practical application, nurturing the next generation of learners in STEM disciplines. Currently, he serves as a Mathematics Teacher at Thames High School in New Zealand, continuing his commitment to global education and sustainability. His research interests revolve around renewable energy applications in island contexts, decarbonization technologies, and clean cooking innovations, with a particular focus on the development of small-scale, flexible balloon digesters for sustainable energy production in remote communities.

Professional Profile: ORCID 

Selected Publications 

  1. Prasad, R. R. (2024). Decarbonising Island Kitchens: Assessing the Small-Scale Flexible Balloon Digester’s Clean Cooking Potential in Fiji. Renewable Energy Perspectives, 12(3), 45–58. Citations: 18

  2. Prasad, R. R. (2023). Integrating Renewable Energy Education into Secondary School Curriculum: A Pacific Island Approach. Journal of Sustainable Education and Innovation, 7(2), 112–126. Citations: 22

  3. Prasad, R. R. (2023). Modeling Energy Efficiency in Rural Island Communities through Biogas Technology. International Journal of Energy Research, 14(1), 65–79. Citations: 15

  4. Prasad, R. R. (2022). Mathematics and Renewable Energy: Bridging Theoretical Concepts with Practical Applications in Pacific Classrooms. Journal of Educational Science and Technology, 10(4), 201–215. Citations: 19

  5. Prasad, R. R. (2022). Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects in Fiji: Challenges and Educational Implications. Pacific Journal of Environmental Science, 9(2), 89–104. Citations: 25

Dr. Valentina Janev | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Valentina Janev | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Valentina Janev, The Mihajlo Pupin Institute, Serbia

Dr. Valentina Janev is a Senior Researcher at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute, University of Belgrade, Serbia. She holds a doctorate from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, and completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Janev has led and contributed to numerous scientific projects, both national and European, funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia and the European Commission. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, decision support systems, semantic technologies, and the management of complex infrastructures across sectors such as energy, transport, e-government, and healthcare. Dr. Janev has authored over 140 research papers and edited five books in her fields of expertise. She has coordinated international projects such as LAMBDA and SINERGY and contributed to AI-based services and decision-making systems in projects like PLATOON, OMEGA-X, and NEON. Since 2017, Dr. Janev has been serving as an expert and evaluator for the European Commission and has been an IEEE Senior Member since 2022. She has delivered several invited lectures at prestigious international conferences, including keynote addresses at ISIC 2023 and IHIC 2023.

Professional Profile:

ORCID

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

SCOPUS

Summary of Suitability for Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Valentina Janev is an exceptional researcher whose contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence, decision support systems, and semantic technologies make her a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her extensive experience in both academic research and international collaborations has established her as a leading expert in managing complex infrastructures across sectors such as energy, healthcare, transport, and e-government.

Education 🎓

  • Doctorate in Electrical Engineering
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Work Experience 💼

  • Senior Researcher
    “Mihajlo Pupin” Institute, University of Belgrade, Serbia
    (Since 2003)

    • Lead scientific projects funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of Serbia.

    • Conducted research and innovation projects funded by the European Commission.

  • Project Manager / Researcher
    European Commission-funded Projects

    • Managed and contributed to over 15 international research projects.

    • Coordinated the LAMBDA Project (2018-2021) and SINERGY Project (2021-2023).

    • Led the development of analytical services and decision support systems in projects like PLATOON, OMEGA-X, NEON, IntelliLung, and EMILI.

Achievements 🏆

  • Published over 140 papers in top international journals (IEEE, Elsevier, Springer).

  • Authored 1 book and edited 4 books in the fields of AI, decision support, and semantic technologies.

  • Led the coordination of major European research projects focused on AI, energy management, and decision support systems.

  • Evaluator & Expert for the European Commission (Since 2017).

Awards & Honors 🎖️

  • IEEE Senior Member (2022)

  • Invited as Keynote Speaker at major international conferences, including ISIC 2023, IHIC 2023, and ACSS 2022.

  • Recognition for significant contributions to AI-based services and complex infrastructure management.

Publication Top Notes:

Validating the Smart Grid Architecture Model for Sustainable Energy Community Implementation: Challenges, Solutions, and Lessons Learned

Framework for Optimizing Neural Network Hyper Parameters for Accurate Wind Production Forecasting

Platform for Efficient Building Operation and Demand Response Flexibility Provision

Technologies and Concepts for the Next-Generation Integrated Energy Services

OMEGA-X: Energy Data Space for improving efficiency of electric power systems leveraging semantic interoperability and AI

Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Innovative eNERGY management

Approach to Energy System Modelling for Supporting Decarbonization Scenarios in Energy Communities