National Scientist Edgardo Dizon Gomez received honorary degree (honoris causa) Doctor of Science from Siliman University for his pioneering works and invaluable contributions to marine biology. The conferment of the degree was held last February 10, 2017 at the Silliman University, Dumaguete City.
A distinguished marine biologist, NS Gomez is recognized for his outstanding pioneering contributions to invertebrate biology and ecology, giant clam culture and restoration, and coral reef assessment and conservation.
He has led pioneering research works on invertebrate zoology, coral reef science and assessment, and invertebrate aquaculture. He steered the world’s first national-scale assessment of damage to coral reefs, which brought widespread concern over the status coral reefs. This led to worldwide conservation initiatives, such as the Global Reefs and Risk Analysis, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, and the International Coral Reef Action, among others.
NS Gomez obtained his Bachelor of Arts and BS Education summa cum laude in 1962 from De La Salle University. He earned his MS Biology in 1967 from St. Mary’s University Minnesota, and PhD Marine Biology from the University of California San Diego (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) in 1973. Currently, he is a professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines- Diliman.