The following crop of young scientist have made significant contributions in their field, even if they are below 40 years old. Two weeks ago they were recognized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, and were each given trophy and a cash prize.

Julie F. Barcelona, curator of the Philippine National Herbarium at the National Museum, has made the study of ferns and rafflesias her life's work. She discovered a new species of Rafflesia, called rafflessia speciosa Barcelona & Fernando, large and smelly parasitic plants found in Panay. This species is one of our largest flowers and has made our country a center of active research on this unknown but endangered species. Barcelona is also involved in conservation, including of Mount Iraya, Bohol, and Mounts Banahaw and Makiling.

John Donnie A. Ramos, associate professor at the Research Center for the Natural Sciences at the University of Sto. Tomas, specializes in allergens, especially on the molecular cloning and characterization of the Blot 11 allergen from the house dust mite. (He was first to determine the full-length DNA sequences of this gene, which is now in the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information.) With allergic diseases on the rise and as many as 10 percent of Filipinos suffering from allergic asthma, his research is of great significance.

Scientific computation

Ricardo C H. del Rosario, of the Department of Mathematics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, is an expert in scientific computation, especially in applies numerical analysis and control theory. He believes in interdisciplinary research, and has spearheaded cooperative ventures with various institutes there abroad. For instance, the Mathematical Life Sciences Initiative includes not just the Math Department but also the Marine Science Institute and the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, and aims to use math in solving problems in medicine, physiology and marine biology. Del Rosario is pursuing a research fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Germany, modeling the activity of bacteria.

Maria Juan A. Aurelio, a structural geologist at the School of Graduate Studies at the Mapua Institute of Technology, studies the disasters that periodically strike our country, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods. He addresses problems in energy resources caused by geologic structures and insists that detailed structural studies are basic requirements to plan and manage these disasters. He received the National Research Council of the Philippines' Achievement Award in 1999, when he was only 34.

Cardiovascular health

Felix Eduardo R. Punzalan, of the Department of Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital, has contributed to further knowledge about the heart, He focuses on the improvement of cardiovascular health, which is timely because cardiac disease is one of the main causes of death in the Philippines. His landmark paper revolves around the high rate of mutation of the LDP receptor among local families with hypercholesterolemia (abnormally high amount of cholesterol in the blood). This paper is the first documented local genetic research in cardiology.

Ronaldo B. Mactal, of the History Department at De La Salle University, has made important contributions to the history of international relations or diplomatic history of the Philippines. Mactal has written articles in academic journals, books, textbooks and board reviewers, What makes him different from may other historians is his use of Pilipino in most his writing.

Parallel computing networks

Two of my colleagues at the Ateneo de Manila University have joined this elite roster. Luis Francisco G. Sarmenta of the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science has developed Bayanihan, a framework to make possible the construction of inexpensive high performance parallel computing networks. He pioneered in the setting up of our Java Wireless Competency Center, which includes cellular networks. A creative educator, he developed a lecture viewer for distance education in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But Sarmenta may be most popular for his widely use free anti-virus programs.

Ma. Regina M. Hechanova, director of the Ateneo Center for Organization Research and Development, writers in human resources management, adjustment of overseas workers, occupational stress and technology and behavior. She believes in bringing the gap between industry and academe, and has established partnerships with the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Society for Training and Development. She popularizes research through her People at Work Pulse column in this newspaper,. She is co-editor of the book "The Way We Work: Research and Best Practices in the Philippines."

Other youthful achievers include Percieval F. Almoro (National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman), Christian Joseph Cumagun (Department of Plant Pathology, UP Los Baños) and Irene E. Samonte (Biology Department, DLSU), who received the NAST-Du Pont Talent Search Award.

Bella C. Cruzana (College of Veterinary Medicine, UP Los Baños) and Thucydides Laureta Salunga (Institute of Biology, UP Diliman) were given special citations.