5 Filipinos break into top 100 Asian scientists list

President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of National Scientist on Dr. Ramon Barba, PhD. during the conferment ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (August 12, 2014). Dr. Barba received the Presidential Medallion for his distinguished achievements in the field of plant physiology, focusing on induction of flowering of mango and on micropropagation of important crop species that have earned him national and international accolades. Malacañang Photo Bureau FILE

Five Filipinos were included in the maiden “Asian Scientists 100” list released recently by The Asian Scientist magazine.

Leading the Filipino scientists on the list is National Scientist Ramon Cabanos Barba, a horticulturist known for devising a way for mango trees to produce flowers regardless of season, which paved the way for the development of the country’s mango industry.

Barba ranked third on the list.

Three other Filipino scientists were included in the top 10: National Scientist Angel Alcala (7^th place), National Scientist Edgardo Gomez (9^th place), and Project NOAH director Mahar Lagmay (10^th place).

Alcala was hailed for his research on Philippine amphibians and reptiles, while Gomez was recognized for leading the world’s first national-scale assessment of damage to coral reefs. Lagmay was lauded for leading Project NOAH, the science and technology department’s program on disaster risk reduction and management.

National Scientist Gavino Cajulao Trono Jr. ranked 12^th. He is recognized for his study on tropical marine phycology.

“The 100 distinguished scientists, innovators and leaders on this annual list come from diverse fields, ranging from the biomedical sciences to mathematics and geology. Together, they weave a rich tapestry of science and technology and provide inspiration and hope to many people around the world,” the magazine said.

To be included on the list the honoree must satisfy the following requisites: he must have received a national or international prize in 2014 or 2015 for his or her research, the prize should have been subjected to a competitive vetting process and the honoree “could have made a significant contribution in scientific discovery or leadership that has benefited either academia or industry.” JE/rga

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