UP Scientists named

Twenty-three of the University of the Philippines’ most productive and recognized scientists were conferred the title of UP Scientist and given the UP Scientific Productivity Award during the first awarding ceremony of the UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS) held at the UP Executive House recently.

Named UP Scientist III, the highest title given, were Dr. Lourdes Cruz, Dr. Cecilia Florencio, and Dr. Caesar Saloma, from UP Diliman (UPD).

Conferred the title of UP Scientist II were Dr. Patricia Azanza, Dr. Rhodora Azanza, and Dr. Maria Helena Yap, from UPD; Dr. Evelyn Mae Mendoza from UP Los Baños (UPLB), and Dr. Carmencita Padilla from UP Manila (UPM).

Given the title UP Scientist I were Dr. Maria Corazon de Ungria, Dr. Carla Dimalanta, Dr. Miguel Fortes, Dr. Marie Antonette Meñez, Dr. Fernando Siringan, and Dr. Rodolfo Tamayo, from UPD; Dr. Ireneo Lit Jr., Dr. Ceferino Maala, Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, Dr. Florinia Merca, and Dr. Leonila Raros, from UPLB; Dr. Vicente Belizario and Dr. Mario Festin from UPM; Dr. Felix Librero from UP Open University, and Dr. Elsie Jimenez from UP Baguio.

The UP Board of Regents established the SPS on Aug. 26, 2005. According to Dr. Amelia Guevara, vice president for academic affairs, whose office administers the award, only the best and the most deserving faculty members and researchers with doctoral degrees in the field of study for which they are being considered are conferred the title.

Scientific productivity is evaluated based on scientific publications in refereed reputable scientific journals and books, peer-reviewed technological outputs, and scientific and professional standing in the international science community.

Scientific and professional standing is gauged by membership in prestigious international scientific bodies and peer-review groups and by prestigious international scientific awards.

The UP Scientist II or III, on top of producing refereed publications and technological output, must have international scientific and professional standing.

Scientists are evaluated every three years and the UP Scientists must remain productive within the system’s standards to maintain the title or must surpass themselves to qualify for a higher title.

A fixed monetary award from UP funds consisting of P96,000 annually for UP Scientist I, P120,000 for UP Scientist II, and P144,000 for UP Scientist III comes with the titles.

According to Guevara, the system is UP’s version of the Civil Service Commission’s and Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Scientific Career System (SCS).

It differs from the SCS in that the UP titles are temporary and are not career positions. UP’s SPS is an additional recognition and is given as an award.

The criteria are also more stringent. These standards put the UP Scientist at par with their peers in the international community of scholars, said Guevara.

UP president Emerlinda Roman pointed out that the SPS is part of a larger strategy to strengthen science and technology in all UP campuses and raise the bar for scientific productivity. In fact, the system is now going to serve as a model for the DOST’s own Scientific Career System.