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The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), the country’s highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology conducted the Lectures and Awarding Ceremonies for the Geminiano T. de Ocampo Visionary Award for Medical Research (GTO Visionary Awards) and TWAS Prize for Young Scientist in the Philippines on October 12, 2017 at the Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.
 
For 2017, Dr. Lourdes L. Ignacio was selected as the recipient of the Geminiano T. de Ocampo Visionary Award for Medical Research. She was recognized for her significant contributionstowards the advancement of the mental health service in the Philippines as well as other Asian countries.
 
She was the Chairperson of the Mental Health Task Force in Disaster Management organized by Former President Corazon Aquino in 1990 aftera killer earthquake struck Luzon and when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991. Her significant works were documented in the book entitled “From Victims to Survivors, Psychosocial Intervention in Disaster Management”, which was awarded by the National Academy of Science and Technology as Outstanding Book in 1994. Another book, “Ginhawa: Well-being in the Aftermath of Disasters” was published a decade later. Both are recognized as important references for psychosocial intervention program in the aftermath of disasters including during the Haiyan disaster in November 2013 which saw massive devastation in Eastern Visayas.

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The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) recently conducted its Policy Forum on Avian Influenza last September 29 , at the Luxent Hotel, Timog Ave., Quezon City.
 
The policy forum was conducted to familiarize the participants of the national avian influenza Surveillance and Response program. Factors including genetic changes, that transform the nonpathogenic Avian Flu (AI) H5N1 in humans to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), were highlighted, along with the diagnosis and management of HPAI-infection in humans. Policies that can help ensure early detection and rapid containment of AI in animals as well as HPAI in humans were also discussed.
 
Academician Remigio M. Olveda, a member of the NAST PHL Health Sciences Division initiated the activity and served as the moderator of the policy forum. National

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Tagaytay City, Philippines – The recently concluded international symposium organized by the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA) and the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), supported by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Philippines last September 21-24, 2017 at Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City, Philippines has called for collaboration among scientists, researchers, private and public sectors to produce tangible results from the different scientific researches through translational research.
 
Dr. Michael Barber, a member of the expert panel of the IAP emphasized the importance of cognitive diversity, collaboration, and engagement of researchers with policy makers for the success of translational research.  According to him, science in the academies can affect the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He challenged the science community to think about how science advice can be translated to mechanisms, framework, and tools for the attainment of the SDGs.
 
AASSA President, Dr. Yoo Hang Kim, said that disconnect between and among basic science researchers, implementers, and end users must be addressed through translational research.  He encouraged the researchers to put prime consideration to the end users of the study. Relevance of research is important in integrating translational research to societal policies.
 
During the two-day activity, topics related to translational research were tackled, such as metrics for success in research translation, communications strategy, financing mechanism for translating research, agriculture and biological sciences, translational research through science and engineering education, translational research in health, social sciences, and policy.
 
Experts from different parts of Asia, including the Philippines, and Australia presented the results of their studies, including the challenges they faced in making their projects a success. They emphasized the importance of synergy and collaboration in the translational research process. Different strategies were also presented on how to best communicate science.