The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) recognized the country’s top young researchers recently at the Magsaysay Future Engineers/Technologists (MFET) Award ceremony, highlighting the importance of nurturing young innovators.

Ivan Perry M. Cabayanan of Ateneo De Manila won the top Magsaysay Award for his study, “Adaptive PV Systems: Using Genetic Algorithm and Random Forest Classifier to Mitigate the Effects of Partial Shading on Solar Photovoltaic Systems.” He received a cash prize of P90,000.

The second-place award, along with P50,000, went to Ricja Alyzza Z. dela Cruz of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UP Los Baños) for her research on alleviating clogging issues in lung-on-a-chip blood chambers using computational fluid dynamics analysis.

Kenneth Emerson R. Raquel of UP Visayas rounded out the top three, earning P30,000 for his work on the photocatalytic removal of oxytetracycline in an aqueous solution using a composite made of bamboo sawdust-derived carbon and titanium dioxide.

The DoST-NAST MFET Award, which encourages students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), received 28 entries this year, with seven finalists presenting their papers to a panel of judges.

Special citations were also awarded to Victore Anand D.G. Abao from UP Diliman, Bertrand Michael Diola from UP Los Baños, Christine Joy Bernal from President Ramon Magsaysay State University, and Jose Manuel Subido from De La Salle University.

DoST Undersecretary Maridon Sahagun emphasized the role of young people in shaping the nation’s technological landscape.

“The future is not something that simply unfolds, it is something we design, we build, and dare to imagine. At the center of this future are you, our young engineers and technologists,” Sahagun said. “You are not merely problem solvers; you are visionaries, and the DoST is here to support you in reaching greater heights.”

Meanwhile, the “Gen-Atom” awareness campaign continues as the country prepares to celebrate the annual Atomic Energy Week (AEW) from 9 to 12 December. Spearheaded by the DoST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, the event aims to highlight the growing role of nuclear science and technology in national development under the theme “I Juan-A Nuclear Philippines.”

The PNRI headquarters in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, will host technical exhibits and free guided tours from 9 to 11 December. These exhibits will showcase the country’s latest nuclear and radiation technologies under five themes, including Nuclear Energy, Safety, Security, and Safeguards, which covers the newly established PhilATOM.

The Institute will also host the 4th Philippine Nuclear Research and Development Conference (PNRDC 2025) from 10 to 11 December, creating a platform for experts to discuss the latest advancements in nuclear research. Select presentations will be eligible for publication in a Scopus-indexed journal.