Four female researchers are battling it out for prestige and P200,000 cash award in the 2018 Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Outstanding Research and Development Award.

There are two researcher-finalists each in the Basic Research and Applied Research categories. In Basic Research is Dr. Carla B. Dimalanta, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Quezon City, with her  study titled “The Second Phase of the Philippines-Taiwan Integrated Geodynamics Project”, and Dr. Rosalinda C. Torres, DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), with “Extraction, Characterization and Bio-Assay for Larvicidal of Some Philippine Medicinal Plants.”

For Applied Research, they are Ms. Miriam F. Bongo, University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu, who studied “A Hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Mitigating Airport Congestion: A Case Study in Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” and Dr. Mary Donabelle L. Balela, UPD, in her “Development of Multifunctional Nanocomposite for Environmental Purification.”

The four researchers presented their papers on Wednesday, April 18, during the NAST Paper Presentation at Hotel Jen, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.Academician Ruben L. Villareal, a member of NAST Philippines, said the winners will be known later and announced at the DOST-National Science and Technology Week (NSTW).

NAST said the award for Basic Research is also called the Eduardo A. Quisumbing Medal; the Applied Research is the Julian A. Banzon Medal. It added that the winners will each receive P200,000 cash from DOST, a plaque, and a medal during the awarding rites at the World Trade Center on July 11 during the NSTW.

The panel of judges is composed of National Scientist Lourdes J. Cruz, chairperson; National Scientist Raul V. Fabella; Academician Rhodora V. Azanza; Villareal; Academician Angel L. Lazaro III; Academician Jaime C. Montoya; and engineer Alex Sy. NAST said the award is given to individual or group who have made outstanding contributions through research.

In Basic Research, accepted entries may come from Mathematical/Computer Science, Physical (Physics, Chemistry, etc.), and Life Sciences (Biology, Botany, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, etc.

For Applied Research, submission may be derived from Agriculture (including Aquaculture and Forestry), Industry and Engineering (Energy, Environment, Earth Science, Textile, Pharmaceuticals, Process, Mining and Minerals, Materials Science, Transportation, Wood and Wood Products, Construction, Electronics, Information Technology, Engineering Technologies), Health and Social Sciences (Economics, Health, Nutrition, Science Education, and other Social Sciences).

Judges will be looking into the following criteria: creativity and originality of research work, suitability of experimental design and appropriateness of methodology, substantiveness of data, clarity of presentation, interpretation of results, and the overall impact of research (immediate or potential) on socio-economic development, contribution to scientific knowledge.

One of the guidelines for entrants is that it is open to all Filipino researchers or research groups with Filipinos as principal investigators.