Prof. Stefano Columbu | Best Research Article Award

University of Cagliari | Italy

Stefano Columbu, Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, is a distinguished researcher recognized with the Best Research Article Award for his contributions to mineralogy, petrography, geochemistry, and cultural heritage conservation. He has authored over 150 publications, including more than 90 in indexed international journals, with an H-index of 24, over 1,100 citations, and 50 Scopus-indexed documents.Dr. Columbu’s research focuses on the geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic characterization of geomaterials, petroarchaeometric studies of archaeological artifacts, and the development of sustainable materials for restoration of historic monuments. He has conducted in-depth studies at key sites such as Villa Adriana, Tharros, Nora, and Forum Traiani, providing insights into the provenance, composition, and durability of ancient building materials.As a leader in national and international projects funded by PRIN, INTERREG, PON-AIM, and RAS L.7/2007, Dr. Columbu has advanced heritage science through innovative, non-destructive analytical methods. He also teaches courses in mining georesources, petroarchaeometry, and cultural heritage conservation, mentoring the next generation of geoscientists.The Stefano Columbu Best Research Article Award honors his exceptional research, high-impact publications, and contributions to preserving cultural heritage with scientifically rigorous and sustainable approaches.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Ramacciotti, M., Gallello, G., Columbu, S., Fancello, D., Díez-Castillo, A., García-Puchol, O., Pastor, A., & Cervera, M. L. (2023). Smartphone photos as a non-destructive approach to characterise siliceous artefacts. Science & Technology of Archaeological Research, 9(1), 1–15.

Montesano, G., Verde, M., Columbu, S., Graziano, S. F., Guerriero, L., Iadanza, M. L., Manna, A., Rispoli, C., & Cappelletti, P. (2022). Ancient Roman mortars from Anfiteatro Flavio (Pozzuoli, Southern Italy): A mineralogical, petrographic and chemical study. Coatings, 12(11), 1712.

Columbu, S., Depalmas, A., Brodu, G., Gallello, G., & Fancello, D. (2022). Mining exploration, raw materials and production technologies of mortars in the different civilization periods in Menorca Island (Spain). Minerals, 12(2), 218.

Columbu, S., Picchizzolu, G. M. F., & Cazzani, A. (2020). The construction materials and static-structural aspects of the Budello tower (Teulada, southwest Sardinia, Italy). In Proceedings of FORTMED 2020 (pp. 1–8).

Buosi, C., Columbu, S., Ennas, G., Pittau, P., & Scanu, G. G. (2019). Mineralogical, petrographic, and physical investigations on fossiliferous Middle Jurassic sandstones from central Sardinia (Italy) to define their alteration and experimental consolidation. Geoheritage, 11, 1417–1433.

Dr. Dahai Zheng | Innovative Research Award

China University of Mining and Technology | China

Dr. Dahai Zheng is an emerging researcher in environmental and energy engineering, currently pursuing his Ph.D. at the China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu. He earned his Doctoral degree from the Beijing University of Technology in 2023, where he specialized in the field of environmental and energy systems. Earlier, he completed his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology from the China University of Mining and Technology in 2018 and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Safety from the North China Institute of Science and Technology in 2015. Dr. Zheng’s research focuses on solid waste management, including waste tire and waste plastic recycling, as well as process optimization for sustainable waste-to-energy technologies. He has authored 2 publications that have collectively received 42 citations, with an h-index of 1, reflecting his growing influence in the field of waste resource utilization. His recent work, published in the International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization (2023), investigates performance optimization in heavy-medium separation for steam coal. Dr. Zheng’s research contributes to the development of cleaner and more efficient waste treatment technologies. He is dedicated to advancing sustainable resource recovery and environmental protection through innovative engineering solutions.