In celebration of the International Women’s Month that wraps up today, March 31, 2020, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) introduced three Filipino women scientists as champions of Philippine science and technology.
In part 1 of “WINS: Women in Nuclear Science” series, DOST-PNRI introduced three Filipino women scientists as having “contributed significantly in advancing nuclear S&T in the country and even beyond.”
“Global problems do affect us all, but we at the science community believe that women have a great role in helping solve these through S&T. Believe in S&T, and the world WINS!” DOST-PNRI posted social media on March 26, 2020.
DOST-PNRI introduced the Deputy Director of the DOST-PNRI Dr. Soledad “Sol” Castaneda, PNRI Atomic Research Division Chief Dr. Lucille Abad, and DOST-PNRI’s Nuclear Services Division Chief Dr. Preciosa Corazon “Sony” Pabroa.
The three Filipino scientists honored in DOST-PNRI’s WINS: Women In Nuclear Science series:
Dr. Soledad “Sol” Castaneda
Dr. Sol, one of the leading chemists in the country, specializes in nuclear and isotope techniques in environmental studies, hydrogeochemistry, and analytical chemistry. Her projects contribute to the determination of the origin and sustainability of water in various rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. These projects help secure much-needed groundwater resources in the Philippines.
Dr. Castaneda is a member of the Board of Chemistry under the Professional Regulations Commission.
Dr. Lucille Abad
Dr. Lucille is a specialist in radiation chemistry and served as lead project coordinator for various projects by the International Atomic Energy Agency involving radiation processing for agricultural, industrial, and medical purposes.
Major R&D projects: Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter for increasing the yield of rice and other crops, and the Hydrogel Wound Dressing for burns, wounds, and bedsores.
Dr. Lucille is a Career Scientist III under the Scientific Career System, a Civil Service Commission Dangal ng Bayan awardee, and was named among the Top 100 Asian Scientists.
Dr. Preciosa Corazon “Sony” Pabroa
Dr. Sony aside from being a chemist and environmental scientist and is also an expert in the use of nuclear-based analytical techniques in air pollution source apportionment and food/drug traceability studies.
Her research focus is on the analysis of fine particulate matter and black carbon in the atmosphere in Metro Manila and other places in the Philippines; rice and drug samples for provenancing/profile mapping.
Dr. Pabroa was formerly the head and laboratory manager of the Institute’s Nuclear Analytical Techniques Applications Section.
The National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC) every March is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Month. The theme of 2020 National Women’s Month is “We Make Change Work for Women”.
Filipino scientists have been celebrated around the world, among them, Quantum physicist Dr. Jacq Romero who was awarded the L’Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talent Grant for Women in Science and environmental scientist Janice Lao the first Filipino Asian to win the Edie Award for Global Sustainability.
The leading chemists from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) have used the Philippine abaca to make a fabric that can filter heavy metals and toxic materials from wastewater.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to our Filipino women champions of nuclear science!
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