GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Pinay scientist wins ASEAN-US science prize for work in precision agriculture
A Filipino scientist has bagged the 2018 ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women in a first for the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced on Monday.
The 2018 Prize, which seeks to recognize early- to mid-career female scientists for their academic and professional achievements, "encourages collaboration between ASEAN Member States and the United States around opportunities for agricultural improvement across Southeast Asia," it said on its website.
Out of the 45 nominees, Dr. Gay Jane Perez's work stood out.
Her award-winning research focused on satellite remote sensing for examining spatial distribution of vegetation, temperature, precipitation and soil moisture, which in turn provides the ability to assess drought impacts.
It also includes an assessment of how drought evolves through time, which can be the basis of drought advisory and corresponding mitigation measures.
The research aims to address one of the most pressing global concerns: food security.
"Factoring in global weather forecasts will provide advisories to the farmers to help them plan what crops to plant and provide the adequate management requirements to optimize their yield,” the Filipina scientist said in her presentation.
Perez has been an associate professor at the University of the Philippines' Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology since 2012 and has served as project leader on the utilization of satellite observations and models for environmental prediction.
Perez was also a project scientist for the country's microsatellites, Diwata-1 and Diwata-2.
She received her doctoral degree in physics from the National Institute of Physics and was a postdoctoral fellow at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Along with the recognition, Perez received a cash award of $20,000.
The prize is awarded by the United States Government in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News
