The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) recently awarded the 2008
Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) and conferred new academicians during the NAST's 30th
Scientific Meeting held at Manila Hotel, Manila, 10 July 2008.
NAST endeavors to recognize outstanding achievements in science and technology in varying
fields. It also provides meaningful incentives to those engaged or would like to engage
in scientific and technological researches.
The prestigious NAST awards also include the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Prize
for Young Scientists in the Philippines, NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists,
NAST-Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award, NAST-LELEDFI Award for Outstanding
Research in Tropical Medicine, Outstanding Scientific Papers, Outstanding Books, and
Outstanding Monographs.
The 2008 Outstanding Young Scientists are :
* Dr. Hayde F. Galvez, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB): For her research
in the development and application of molecular marker techniques, which determine
coconut hybridity; thrips resistance in potato, and aschochyta blight resistance in
chickpeas;
* Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice): For his
contributions in elucidating the molecular basis of cytoplasmic male sterility and
fertility restoration in plants;
* Dr. Constancio A. Asis, Jr., PhilRice: For his studies on the elucidation of
interaction mechanisms of nitrogen fixing bacteria in nonleguminous crops including the
discovery of Trigonelline, a chemoattractant for rhizobia and an active medicinal
compound in rice seeds as well as the isolation of a nitrogen fixing bacteria from
sugarcane and sweet potato;
* Dr. Arvin C. Diesmos, National Museum of the Philippines: For his contribution to
wildlife ecology and environmental science focusing on systematics, ecology, and
conservation of Philippine amphibians and reptiles;
* Dr. Carlo Mar Y. Blanca, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD): For his research
on laser microscopy, nanobiophotonics, and wireless technology which have resulted in the
establishment of two laboratories, namely, the Laser Microscopy and the Wireless
Technology Laboratories at the National Institute of Physics in UPD;
* Dr. Roberto B. Corcino, Mindanao State University: For his researchin combinatorics:
treating of the formation, enumeration, and properties of partitions, variations,
combinations, and permutations of a finite number of element under various
considerations, which has important applications in the design and operation of computers;
* Jaderick P. Pabico, M.S., UPLB: For his scientific and technological research on the
improvement and application of computational intelligence, soft computing, and high
performance computing techniques that enhance agricultural, and chemical systems;
* Dr. Raul V. Destura, University of the Philippines Manila (UPM): For developing rapid
diagnostic tools in determining some etiologic causes of diarrhea, and his significant
discovery of micronutrient combinations for rapid mucosal restitution of intestinal
epithelial cells;
* Dr. Claire Dennis S. Mapa, UPD: For his research on empirical economic growth analysis
and financial econometrics, considered as highly empirical disciplines and a domain of
relatively few researchers; and
* Dr. Edsel L. Beja, Jr., Ateneo de Manila University: For his works and studies in the
macroeconomics and political economy of developing countries, particularly the
Philippines and other Asian economies
The newly conferred NAST academicians are:
* Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, Economics, University of Hawaii (UH) at Manoa (1985): For his
research and other scholarly work in development economics, which have resulted in a
number of internationally-renowned publications on poverty, economic inequality, and
agricultural and rural development. He is the current director of the Southeast Asian
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA<http://www.searca.org/> );
* Dr. Libertado C.Cruz, Reproductive Biotechnology, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign(1986): For his contributions in the field of animal science,
particularly in reproductive biotechnology;
* Dr. Gisela P. Concepcion, Marine Natural Products, Biochemistry and Biomedical
Sciences, UPD(1995): For her contributions and accomplishments in the field of marine
natural products as team leader of various research projects, which aim to discover novel
marine compounds with anticancer, antibacterial, anti-tuberculosis, antimalarial,
anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressant properties;
* Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, MHPS, Genetics, UPM (2005): For her valuable contributions
in the field of genetics specifically, newborn screening for genetic disorders in the
Philippines;
* Dr. Gavino C. Trono, Marine Botany, Seaweed Biodiversity, Taxonomy, Ecology and
Culture, UH(1968): For his contributions and in the field of phycology particularly on
seaweed biodiversity, taxonomy, and culture as a researcher and professor;
* Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, Mathematics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(1991): For his research on the representation and structure theory of finite groups and
related structures;
* Dr. Alvin B. Culaba, Mechanical Engineering, University of Portsmouth, England, United
Kingdom (1986): For his pioneering works and accomplishments in the area of Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) methodology; and
* Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, M.Sc., Infectious Diseases, University of London, United Kingdom
(1989): For his noble contribution in the field of infectious diseases, particularly for
his researches on many aspects of tuberculosis: from epidemiology; molecular
characterization of the Philippine strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis- a unique family
of M. tuberculosis (now known as the Manila Family of M. tuberculosis), to diagnosis
through immunologic tests (ELISA) utilizing different TB antigens, to the use of M.
Vaccae, as an innovative adjuvant modality of treatment.
Full details and list of other awardees may be viewed at SEARCA BIC website,
http://www.bic.searca.org
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