BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY - The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), the country’s highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology, is set to hold its 47th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on 9-10 July 2025 at The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila. This year’s ASM builds on the momentum of the recently concluded 2025 Regional Scientific Meetings (RSMs) held across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, which fostered inclusive regional engagement and gathered science-based recommendations from diverse sectors and communities.
With the theme “Bioscience Innovations: Transforming Enterprise Ecosystems for Wealth Creation,” the 47th ASM aims to explore how bioscience innovations can serve as catalysts for sustainable development, resilient communities, and inclusive economic growth. The theme is aligned with the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.
The RSMs held in General Santos City (March 26-27), Iloilo City (April 29-30), and Cavite (May 20-21) served as vital platforms for regional stakeholders to discuss pressing local challenges and propose science, technology, and innovation (ST&I)-based solutions. Discussions centered on three priority areas: Community-Based Livelihood Innovations, Sustainable Resource Management and Conservation, and Education and Workforce Development. The insights and policy recommendations derived from these meetings will feed directly into the national-level discourse at the ASM.
“We live in a time when our country faces complex and deeply interconnected challenges that disproportionately affect communities and sectors at the grassroots level, from ever-increasing inflation, rising inequality, persistent poverty, and social injustices to the worsening impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Our country remains in a dire state, and in such circumstances, it is easy for many to fall into despair and indifference,” said Academician Jaime C. Montoya, president of NAST PHL, in one of his messages during the RSMs.
He emphasized that it was fortunate to have an assembly of brilliant minds and passionate advocates, all brought together by a shared purpose: to confront these pressing issues head-on and to forge science-driven, innovative, and community-centered solutions. According to Acd. Montoya, gatherings such as the RSMs and ASM play a vital role in fostering hope, encouraging collaboration, and driving meaningful action in response to the nation’s challenges.
The 47th ASM will bring together leading experts from various disciplines, along with key representatives from government, academe, industry, and civil society, to collectively craft science-informed strategies that bridge research and real-world application. Gracing this year’s ASM is Professor Ivan Marusic, vice president of the Australian Academy of Science and Pro Vice Chancellor (Research Infrastructure) and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at the University of Melbourne. He will discuss how collaborative models spanning academia, industry, and government are pushing the boundaries of bioscience discovery across Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines.
Continuing its long-standing tradition of honoring scientific excellence, the ASM will also highlight the presentation of the NAST Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in research and public service. These include the Outstanding Scientific Paper Award, Outstanding Book/Monograph Award, NAST Award for Outstanding Research in Tropical Medicine, NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS), NAST Environmental Science Award (NESA), and the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award. The event will also feature the Investiture of New NAST Members, honoring distinguished Filipino scientists for their continued contributions to national development through science.
Organized annually by the NAST PHL, the ASM serves as the culminating event of the Philippine science community. It remains a vital forum for evidence-based dialogue, innovation exchange, and the formulation of forward-looking policy recommendations (John Nikko V. Espiritu/NAST PHL).
The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mandated by law (Executive Order 818 s.1982) to serve as an adviser to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. For more updates, follow NAST Philippines’ (@nastphl) social media accounts.