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The
National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)
recently awarded the 2008 Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS)
and conferred new academicians at the recent NAST’s 30th
Scientific Meeting held at Manila Hotel.
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 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 sugar cane
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
research in 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;
§
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, antiinflammatory 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) using different TB antigens, to the use of M.
Vaccae, as an innovative adjuvant modality of treatment. |
