The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST Philippines) has named 12 researchers as recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Young Scientist Awards for their work in health, veterinary medicine, marine science, engineering, artificial intelligence, climate studies and the social sciences.
The awards were presented during NAST’s 48th Annual Scientific Meeting in Manila.
The 2026 awardees are Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro for behavioral neuroscience; Dr. Cherry P. Fernandez-Colorado for veterinary medicine; Dr. Mark Nell C. Corpuz for fisheries and aquatic science; Dr. Eldrin D.L.R. Arguelles for aquatic biology; Dr. Wilfred John E. Santiañez for marine phycology; and Dr. Mayzonee V. Ligaray for environmental science and engineering.
Also recognized were Dr. Karl Ezra Pilario for energy and power; Dr. Ryan Michael F. Oducado for nursing education; Dr. Joseph Q. Basconcillo for marine meteorology; Dr. Rafaela Jane P. Delfino for meteorology, oceans and climate; Dr. Joshua Eric Ronulo B. Uyheng for societal computing; and Dr. Joseph Velasco for sociology.
During a press conference on the second day of the meeting, the awardees discussed the need for more interdisciplinary research on biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable management of the country’s marine resources.
They said evidence-based policies, continuous environmental monitoring and new technologies would be needed to balance marine resource use with conservation, food security, climate resilience and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The meeting also announced the winners of the NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists, which recognizes graduate research with potential scientific and social applications.
Joe Anthony H. Manzano of the University of Santo Tomas won first prize for research on the anticancer potential of “Voacanga globosa”, including plant-derived compounds that showed activity against cancer cells.
Rance Derrick Pavon of the University of the Philippines Diliman placed second for developing a rapid visual method for detecting “Salmonella enterica” in meat products from food animals.
John Vincent R. Pleto of the University of the Philippines Los Baños received third prize for assessing the ecological condition of the Seven Maar Lakes in San Pablo City using the Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity.
A special citation went to Timothy Scott C. Chu of De La Salle University for developing an unmanned aerial vehicle-based system that uses AI and transfer learning to detect and segment cracks in concrete structures.
The 48th Annual Scientific Meeting carried the theme, “UN SDG Synergies: Creating an Enabling Environment for a Resilient, Equitable, and Sustainable Future.”
