janmar2007 UPdate

Two faculty members from the College of Science (CS), a historian from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), a doctor of humanities from the College of Arts and Letters (CAL), and a department chair from the College of Engineering (CoE) led seven other recipients in the 2007 National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Achievement Awards for Filipino Scientists.

Recognizing Filipino research ingenuity. In its 74th Annual Meeting, held
March 8 at the historic Manila Hotel, the National Research Council of the
Philippines of the Department of Science and Technology honored the 2006
Outstanding Filipino Scientists/Researchers (from left) Dr. Carla Dimalanta
(Earth/Space Sciences); Dr. Elena Mirano (Arts/Culture); Maribel Nonato
(Chemical Sciences); Prof. Wilson Garcia (Physics); Dr. Milagros Guerrero
(Social Sciences); Dr. Aura Matias (Engineering/Industrial Research);
Ceferino Maala (Agriculture/Forestry); Gerarld Penecilla
(Pharmaceutical Sciences); Carmelita Domingo (Medical Sciences);
Romulo Virola (Mathematical Sciences); Allan de Guzman (Education).
Not in the picture is Claro M. Santiago, Jr. awardee for Biological Sciences.

The awardees from UPD are: Prof. Wilson Garcia of the National Institute of Physics (NIP); Dr. Carla Dimalanta of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS); Dr. Aura C. Matias of the CoE; Dr. Milagros Guerrero of the CSSP’s Department of History; and Dr. Elena R. Mirano of CAL’s Department of Art Studies.

Garcia, an awardee in the Physics division, was recognized for his research efforts in the field of laser-produced plasma, laser technology development, and non-linear photonic processes. “His original contributions in the field of optics extend to future applications of laser technology and have been well cited by the international scientific community,” his citation noted.

Dimalanta, on the other hand, received the award in the Earth and Space Science division and was cited for her work in geophysics. “Her researches, published in both local and international peer-reviewed journals, have contributed to the understanding of the evolution of the Philippine archipelago as well as the mineralizations and natural hazards resulting from the attendant geologic processes. In addition to producing high caliber research works, her dedication in promoting the field of geophysics in the country extends to mentoring and training students,” her citation read.

CS’ Dean Caesar Saloma congratulated Garcia and Dimalanta for winning the prestigious award. “Your scientific contributions are crucial in our efforts to continue improving the performance of the College as the center of scientific research and development and advanced manpower training for the country,” his letter said.

On the other hand, Matias was chosen for her outstanding achievement in industrial engineering and operations research through her 25 years of teaching, research and extension work for government, academe and industry. According to her citation, her work focuses on the human factors affecting engineering or ergonomics, particularly in the area of work measurement, productivity, optimization, quality management, and occupational safety and health. She was likewise cited for her pioneering efforts toward the advancement of the Industrial Engineering profession manifested in her involvement in and being a key founder of the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers (PIIE) and of the Philippine Ergonomic Society (PHILERGO).

“Her most recent involvements have been characterized by both application of her expertise and her creativity in generating new knowledge that form the basis of government policy formulation and decision-making structures resulting in the standardization of the BS Industrial Engineering curriculum in the Philippines and the formulation and implementation of the Certification Program for Professional Industrial Engineering practice,” her citation noted. Her work was also crucial in increasing commitment of industry to uplift the quality of life of the Filipino workers through improved health and better working conditions by pursuing health promotion and advocacy.

Guerrero, a full professor at the Department of History, was given the achievement award for her “lifetime passion and devotion to research in Philippine history, for her holistic synthesis of historical material, and for her contribution as a researcher and mentor to the rootedness of Filipino youth in an age of globalization and rapid change.” She was the awardee in the Social Science division.

Lastly, Mirano’s pioneering researches on the kumintang, awit, pasyon and subli, as well as her multi-disciplinary achievements as scholar, musician and pedagogue earned for her the recognition in the Humanities division.

The NRCP was created in 1933 to promote the advancement of science through researches that will build up a body of Filipino men and women devoted to scientific research. Today, the NRCP provides assistance for the development of research capabilities of Filipino scientists. It also acts as an advisory body in select priority sectors to the national government on problems and issues affecting the country.

UPD professors receive NRCP awards