Prof. Dr John Hsu | Shore Protection | Best Researcher Award
Emeritus Professor, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
John Rong-Chung Hsu is a distinguished expert in coastal engineering, with decades of impactful contributions to hydrodynamics, shoreline management, and sustainable coastal development. He earned his BEng from Taiwan Provincial Cheng Kung University, MEng from the Asian Institute of Technology, and PhD from the University of Western Australia. A certified civil engineer in Taiwan since 1982, Hsu has also served on prestigious editorial boards, including Coastal Engineering and the Journal of Coastal Research. With 95 publications and over 3,100 citations, he is internationally recognized, earning the Thomson Reuters’ Highly Cited Researcher distinction in 2013.
PROFILE
STRENGTHS FOR THE AWARD
Academic and Professional Qualifications:
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- Extensive education in prestigious institutions: BEng from Taiwan Provincial Cheng Kung University, MEng from the Asian Institute of Technology, and PhD from the University of Western Australia.
- Certified Civil Engineer in Taiwan, underscoring his professional credibility.
- Recognition as one of Thomson Reuters’ Highly Cited Researchers (Engineering, Top 251), reflecting his significant contributions to the field.
- Research Contributions:
- Authored 95 impactful documents with over 3,125 citations and an h-index of 32, indicating the broad and lasting influence of his work in coastal and hydraulic engineering.
- Contributions to specialized topics like shoreline management, hydrodynamics, and internal solitary waves.
- Editorial and Thought Leadership:
- Long-standing editorial roles in leading journals, including Coastal Engineering, Coastal Engineering Journal, and the Journal of Coastal Research.
- Guest editor for a special issue on Hydrodynamics and Applications of Headland-Bay Beaches, demonstrating his expertise and leadership in niche areas of coastal engineering.
- Innovation in Coastal Engineering:
- Authored significant works like Headland-Bay Beaches: Static Equilibrium Concept for Shoreline Management and developed practical tools such as MeePaSoL, a MATLAB-based GUI for shoreline management.
- Global Impact:
- Collaborated internationally, influencing research and practical applications in coastal management worldwide.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
- Public Visibility:
- While highly cited, there is an opportunity to enhance visibility through more active participation in global conferences, seminars, and public lectures.
- Interdisciplinary Integration:
- Expanding collaboration across interdisciplinary areas, such as climate change mitigation or ecological preservation, could broaden the scope of impact.
- Research Dissemination:
- Increasing engagement with open-access publications and promoting findings on digital platforms could further his reach.
EDUCATION
🎓 BEng: Taiwan Provincial Cheng Kung University (1966; Hydraulic Engineering)
🎓 MEng: Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok (1971; Water Resources Engineering)
🎓 PhD: University of Western Australia (1980; Civil Engineering: Coastal Engineering)
📜 Certification: Civil Engineer, Taiwan (1982)
🏆 Recognition: Thomson Reuters’ Highly Cited Researchers (2013)
EXPERIENCE
👨🏫 Editorial Board Member: Coastal Engineering Journal, Japan Society of Civil Engineers (1997–2013)
📚 Advisory Editor: Coastal Engineering, Elsevier (1996–2017)
📝 Associate Editor: Journal of Coastal Research (2000–Present)
🌊 Guest Editor: Coastal Engineering Special Issue on Headland-Bay Beaches (2010)
🌏 Research Leadership: Pioneer in shoreline management and static equilibrium theory.
AWARDS AND HONORS
🏆 Highly Cited Researcher: Thomson Reuters (2013; Top 251 in Engineering)
🌟 Editorial Excellence: Significant contributions as editor for Coastal Engineering publications.
🎖️ Professional Recognition: Certified Civil Engineer, Taiwan (since 1982)
📜 Scholarly Impact: Over 3,100 citations, h-index of 32, with groundbreaking publications.
🌟 Global Influence: Renowned for advancements in shoreline and coastal management.
RESEARCH FOCUS
🌊 Coastal Engineering: Emphasis on hydrodynamics and shoreline equilibrium.
📈 Shoreline Management: Innovations in headland-bay beach stability and sediment control.
🔍 Hydrodynamics: Evolution of internal solitary waves and their applications.
🌍 Sustainable Development: Integration of coastal protection with environmental conservation.
📘 Applied Engineering: Empirical and theoretical methods for coastal infrastructure resilience.
PUBLICATION TOP NOTES
- 🌊 Assessing common downdrift control point and asymmetric double-curvature planform
- 🖥️ MeePaSoL: A MATLAB-based GUI software tool for shoreline management
- 📘 Headland-Bay Beaches: Static Equilibrium Concept for Shoreline Management
- 🌏 Headland control for shore protection and coastal management
- 💡 Effects of initial amplitude and pycnocline thickness on internal solitary waves
- ⚙️ Transformation of mode-2 internal solitary wave over a pseudo slope-shelf
- 🌟 Effect of porosity on an internal solitary wave propagating over a porous trapezoidal obstacle
- 📊 Numerical simulation of dynamic shoreline changes behind a detached breakwater
CONCLUSION
John Rong Chung Hsu is a highly accomplished researcher whose expertise, scholarly output, and global impact make him exceptionally qualified for the Best Researcher Award. While areas like public visibility and interdisciplinary collaboration offer room for growth, his strengths in innovation, citation metrics, and leadership in coastal engineering position him as a prime candidate for this honor. His dedication to advancing the field and his significant contributions to engineering science solidify his candidacy.