TWO FACULTY members were recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as Most Outstanding Young Scientists in their respective fields.
Economics Professor Edsel Beja Jr., Ph.D., received a citation as the National Academy of Science and Technology’s (NAST) Most Outstanding Young Scientist in Economics. Physics Assistant Professor Raphael Guerrero, Ph. D. won the award in NAST’s 2008 Talent Search for Young Scientists in Physics.
The NAST Award is given by the DOST to Filipino faculty members who have done valuable research and studies in their fields.
These awards were given July 10 at the Manila Hotel.
When money flies
Beja’s citation was about his research and work in the field of macroeconomics, as well as the political economy of developing countries like the Philippines. His research focused on capital and trade flow, specifically the “hidden transactions,” which includes “capita flight.”
His study showed that the “capita flight” in the Philippine economy goes against the conventional theory.
The conventional theory says money should flow from where is plentiful (surplus) to where it is needed (deficit). Beja showed in his study that a reverse of this situation is happening in the Philippines, which leads to negative effects in the country’s economic growth.
“If we were able to manage capita flow more effectively, we would have realized an economic growth [at least 6%] that would have been comparable to Asian economy,” he said.
Working with light
Guerrero, meanwhile, is an active researcher in the area of photonics—the scientific study of the properties and applications of light and other forms of radiant energy. Applications of light include the generation of energy and information processing.
His research paper was about volume holographic storage, which allows for bigger data storage for computers.
Volume holographic storage also introduces a new way of producing images, Guerrero said. It involves stretching a relatively new optical material called elastomer (transparent piece of polymer) to store several images in a location.
“This [technique] is relatively cheaper than the currently available technology, which is a spatial light modulator. One spatial light modulator can cause maybe a million pesos,” Guerrero said.
Multi-awarded
Beja has also received other awards, such as the Outstanding Scholarly Work Award for 2008, from the Ateneo. Guerrero also won the Outstanding Scholarly Work Award for Science and Engineering in 2006.
Beja said he felt good about the award. “Nakakataba ng puso (It warms the heart) because you’re being recognized from the mainstream,” he said.
Beja said he considers himself a non-mainstream economist. His work tackles topics that are not commonly tackled by other economists.
“My basic framework is Keynesian and Marxist. [Therefore], John Maynard Keynes and Karl Marx are the two major influences in my study,” he added.
Guerrero said he was able to make his parents proud with the award. He also said he does not let his recognitions go to his head.
“I never really minded awards much because, in my case, I only want to do my work and get it published and that’s it. Other things like these awards are just a bonus,” he said.
