Five young scientists from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) are competing for the 2020 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists to be awarded on July 10, 2020.
The five exemplary finalists vying for the highly coveted award include UPLB’s Darlon V. Lantican, UP Diliman’s Wilfred John E. Santiañez, UST’s Lyn Marie D.J. Corpuz and Lorico D. Lapitan Jr., and Zomesh Artus N. Maini of Ateneo.
The national research awards of the National Academy of Science and Technology – Philippines (NAST PHL) hosted the finalists’ paper presentations on June 26 during a live broadcast on the NAST PHL Facebook Page.
The 2020 NAST Young Scientists finalists and their respective paper entries are:
- Lyn Marie D.J. Corpuz, University of Santo Tomas (UST) – “Rechargeable batteries utilizing 1D vanadium-based electrode: Past, present, future”
- Darlon V. Lantican, University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños – “De novo genome sequence assembly of draft coconut (Cocos nucifera L. Catigan Green Dwarf) provides insights into genomic variation between coconut types and related palm species”
- Lorico D. Lapitan Jr., UST – “Magnetic nanoparticle-poly-enzyme nanobed sandwich assay for direct and ultrasensitive DNA detection and discrimination”
- Zomesh Artus N. Maini, Ateneo de Manila University – “Lead (II) tolerance and uptake capacities of fungi isolated from a polluted tributary in the Philippines”
- Wilfred John E. Santiañez, UP Diliman – “Untangling nets: elucidating the diversity and phylogeny of the clathrate brown algal genus Hydroclathrus, with the description of a new genus Tronoella (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae)”
The NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists is a project of NAST to encourage young people to pursue a career in science. The board of judges is composed of National Scientist Raul V. Fabella as chair with Acd. Ruben L. Villareal, Acd. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, Acd. Carmencita D. Padilla, Acd. William T. Torres, Acd. Gisela P. Concepcion, and Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. as members.
NAST PHL announced that the winner will receive a cash prize, a plaque of recognition from NAST PHL, and a Php 500,000 research grant for an approved proposal from the Department of Science and Technology.
The NAST PHL Young Scientist winner will be announced on July 10, 2020, during the NAST PHL Virtual Awarding Ceremony.
Filipino scientists have consistently garnered recognition from national, regional, and international award-giving bodies for innovative research.
UP researchers dominated the 2020 Outstanding Young Scientists National Awards also given by the NAST PHL.
In January 2020, five scientists from the UPLB, UP Diliman, De La Salle University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine made the finals of UK’s Newton Prize Award that was eventually won by DLSU.
Eight Filipino scientists were named among the best in the 2019 Edition of Asian Scientist 100 Best.
SEND WELL WISHES in the comments below to the young Filipino scientists from UP, Ateneo, and UST who are vying for the National Research Awards.
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