44th ASM Message, NAST President

On behalf of the members of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), I am pleased to welcome you all to the 44th Annual Science Meeting (ASM) with the theme, “PAGTANAW 2050: Agham Tungo sa Mabuting Kinabukasan (FORESIGHT 2050: Science for a Sustainable Future)”. It is with great honor and pleasure to have Dr. John L. Anderson, president of the US National Academy of Engineering, to be our keynote speaker for this year’s ASM. His talk entitled, “Engineering for Inevitable Surprises: A Systems Perspective” aims to guide us on how we can create a robust system that can withstand black swans. We are also pleased to have Dr. Joy Jacqueline Pereira, vice chair of Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Dr. Reniel B. Cabral, member of the Expert Panel of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, who will deliver talks on two topics that are prominent in PAGTANAW 2050. As a yearly tradition, the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) serves as a venue for the science community to convene, discuss, and formulate policies on important S&T issues that our country is facing. This year, we highlighted the first guiding document on science, technology, and innovation entitled, “PAGTANAW 2050: The Philippine Foresight on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI),” this document provides vital inputs and policy advice towards attaining a preferred future considering our natural endowments and national aspirations. With PAGTANAW 2050 as the primary focus, Regional Scientific Meetings (RSMs) were conducted with the DOST Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regional clusters to address the gaps in STI talent development and retention. This initiative is important towards building a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable society that we can endow to the next generation. I thank all of our colleagues and partners in the science community, our distinguished National Scientists and Academicians of NAST PHL, officials of the Department of Science and Technology, dedicated public servants, academic professionals, students, researchers, community development workers, the media, and all stakeholders for attending this event. Maraming salamat. Mabuhay!