Mandated to recognize outstanding achievements in science and technology and to serve as a reservoir of competent scientific and technological manpower for the country, the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL) recognized distinguished Filipino scientists and outstanding publications during NAST’s 36th Annual Scientific Meeting on July 9-10, 2014. Awards presented were the following: Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS), The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries Prize for Young Scientists in the Philippines, NAST Environmental Science Award, NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists, Outstanding Books and Monographs, Outstanding Scientific Papers, and Best Scientific Posters.
The Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) award is given to young Filipino scientists (must not be 41 years old within January to December in the year of the award) who have made significant contributions to science and technology. For 2014, 12 honorees were given the distinction as OYS awardees. They were: Glenn S. Banaguas, Master in Environmental Management, Rommel C. Sulabo, Ph.D. (Animal Science), Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla, Ph.D. (Genetics), Karl Marx A. Quiaxon, Ph.D. (Aquatic Biosciences), May T. Lim, Ph.D. (Physics), Richard S. Lemence, Ph.D. (Mathematics), Jessie Pascual P. Bitog, Ph.D. (Agricultural and Rural Systems), Rhoda B. Leron, Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering), Paolo Antonio S. Silva, M.D. (Ophthalmology), John Mark S. Velasco, M.D. (Public Health), Geoffrey M. Ducanes, Ph.D. (Economics), and Analyn Salvador-Amores, Ph.D. (Social and Cultural Anthropology).
The TWAS Prize is an award given to outstanding young Filipino scientists by the Academy (NAST) in the fields of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics. He or she must not be 41 years old within the year of the awarding during the NAST Awarding Ceremonies (July 10, 2014). For 2014, the award was presented to Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Dr. Rer. Nat (Mycology) and Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla, Ph.D. (Genetics) in the field of biology. Dr. dela Cruz was recognized for his important research on the biodiversity and ecological patterns of marine and mangrove fungi, fungal endophytes, macrofungi, and fruticoselichens, including the under-explored fungus-like protists, myxomycetes, and dictyostelids. On the other hand, Dr. Fontanilla was recognized for his significant contributions to the pioneering DNA barcoding studies, together with his team, of endemic Philippine species which is important in biodiversity conservation and evolutionary studies of Philippine taxa. He is also a strong advocate of research on Philippine mollusks, one of the most diverse phyla on Earth.
The NAST Environmental Science Award is intended to recognize outstanding scientific and technological research works that contribute to environmental protection and conservation. Dr. Damasa Magcale-Macandog was this year’s winner for the said award. She was recognized for her exemplary research program that addressed the environmental issues and problems of the Laguna Lake ecosystem, particularly its degraded watershed, which requires immediate and informed response to protect and conserve its biodiversity and to ensure the delivery of sustained ecosystem services in the future.
The NAST Talent Search for Young Scientist is a project of the Academy that encourages young people (must not be more than 35 years old within January to December in the year of the award) to pursue a career in science. For 2014, Angel B. Encarnacion, (Dr. of Marine Science), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Regional Office No. 2. was adjudged as the winner for his study on Application of ergothioneine-rich extract from an edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes for melanosis prevention in shrimp, Penaeus monodon and Letopenaeus vannamei.
The Outstanding Book/ Monograph Award is given annually for books and/or monographs by a majority of Filipino authors and published by Filipino publishers based in the Philippines within five years preceding the award. For 2014, the winners of the award are the following: (1) Benchmarking the Livestock and Poultry Industries: A Cross Country Analysis of the Philippines and Four Other Southeast Asian Countries (by Leonardo A. Gonzales, Rolando T. Dy, Marie Annette Galvez-Dacul, Alphonsus A. Gonzales, Ditas R. Macabasco, Senen U. Reyes, and Florence Mojica-Sevilla) published by SIKAP/ STRIVE Foundation, Center for Food and Agri Business – University of Asia and the Pacific, and Livestock Development Council – Department of Agriculture (2012); (2) DNA Barcoding Livestock and Poultry Breeds and Strains: Going Beyond Taxonomic Classifications (by Orville L. Bondoc) published by Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program – Department of Agriculture and University of the Philippines Los Baños (2013); (3) Glaucoma Handbook (by Mario V. Aquino, Mario R. Aquino Jr., Rommel D. Bautista, Aragon B. Belza, Alejandro N. Chung, Maria Hannah Pia U. De Guzman, Maria Margarita Lat-Luna, Jose Ma. G. Martinez, Ernesto C. Pangalangan, Don Vincent L. Salud, and Joseph Anthony J. Tumbocon) published by St. Luke’s Medical Center (2012); (4) Atlas of Philippine Dermatology (by Clarita C. Maaño, Ma. Lorna F. Frez, Adolfo B. Bormate, Jr., Eileen Liesl A. Cubillan, Belen L. Dofitas, Evelyn R. Gonzaga, Marie Eleanore O. Nicolas, Georgina C. Pastofirde, Francisca DC. Roa, and Cynthia C. Tan) published by University of the Philippines Manila (2012); (5) 2012/2013 Philippine Human Development Report: Geography and Human Development (by Toby C. Monsod, Marina Fe B. Durano, and Emmanuel S. De Dios) published byHuman Development Network (2013); (6) Maalwang Buhay: Family, Overseas Migration, and Cultures of Relatedness in Barangay Paraiso (by Filomeno V. Aguilar Jr. with John, Estanley Z. Peñalosa, Tania Belen, T. Liwanag, Resto S. Cruz I, and Jimmy M. Melendrez) published by Ateneo de Manila University Press (2009).
The Outstanding Scientific Paper Award is given annually to recognize outstanding scientific papers published in Philippine scientific or technical journals within five years preceding the award. For 2014, the following are the winners for this award: (1) Tier I testing of Cry1Ab protein on Micraspis (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and evaluation of its functional response to different prey types (by Edwin P. Alcantara); (2) Vitellogenin induction and gonad abnormalities in male common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus) introduced to Laguna De Bay, Philippines by (Michelle Grace V. Paraso and Severino S. Capitan); (3) Improving the validity and robustness of a Harmful Algal Bloom model through genetic algorithm-based optimization (by Arjay C. Cayetano, Aletta T. Yñiguez, Cesar L. Villanoy, Laura T. David, Josephine Dianne L. Deauna,Eileen L. Peñaflor, Joseph DominicH. Palermo, Garry a. Benico, and Rhodora V. Azanza); (4) Morphological and molecular characterization of some HAB-forming dinoflagellates from Philippine waters (by Deo Florence L. Onda, Garry A.Benico, Arielle F. Sulit, Paul Lorenzo Gaite, Rhodora V. Azanza, and Arturo O. Lluisma); (5) Opacity of P(MMA-MAA)-PMMA composite latex system with varying MAA concentration (by Gilbert U. Yu, Jerry T. Cy, Erwin p. Enriquez); (6) On bravais colorings associated with periodic and non-periodic crystals (by Ma. Louise Antonette N. Delas Peñas, and Enrico Paolo C. Bugarin); (7) Random walks in the different sectoral submarkets of the Philippine Stock Exchange amid modernization (by Cesar C. Rufino), (8) Spill-over effects of rural industrialization on community transformation (by Maria Ana T. Quimbo, Linda M. Penalba, and Merlyne M. Paunlagui).
The ASM Best Scientific Poster Awards are given annually to recognize outstanding scientific posters submitted for presentation during the ASM in the fields of agricultural sciences, biological sciences, chemical, mathematical, and physical sciences, engineering sciences and technology, health sciences, and social sciences divisions. The criteria for judging the Best Scientific Posters are: scientific merit, importance/relevance to national development, and poster effectivity. The following are the winners in this category for this ASM : (1) Physiological Traits Pivotal for Tolerance of Partial Stagnant Flooding in Rice by Frederickson D. Entila, Evangelina S. Ella, Ryan E. Contreras, and Abdelbagi M. Ismail; (2) Diversity of Holothurians in the Island Municipalities of Northern Cebu, Central Philippines by Serapion N. Tanduyan and Berenice T. Adriano; (3) Motility Characteristics of Ejaculated Bovine Spermatozoa in L-Carnitine Supplemented Tris Egg Yolk Extender by Danilda Hufana-Duran, Rick Monson, Peregrino G. Duran, John Parrish, and Libertado C. Cruz; (4) Molecular Imprinting Technology Coupled with Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal for Amoxicillin Detection by Elizabeth O. Santos and Benilda S. Ebarvia; (5) The Efficacy of Malunggay Leaves Sprinkle in Improving the Iron and Vitamin A Status of 8-10 Years Old Schoolchildren by Leah Perlas, Michael Serafico, Clarita Magsadia, Josefina Desnacido, Rowena Viajar, Emily Rongavilla, Glenda Azaña, and Trinidad Trinidad; (6) Room Temperature Trimethylamine Sensor Based on Hybrid Graphene/Polyaniline Nanocomposite by Rey Alfred G. Rañola and Fortunato B. Sevilla III; and (7) Anthropological and Socioeconomic Characterization of Agta Indigenous Peoples (IPS) in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region by Jacqueline Lee Canilao, Sophia Maria Cuevas, Ferdinand Aguilar, Marion Francis Austerio, Imelda Olvida, and Mario Movillon.