The University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs  (UPOVPAA) recently announced the list of the 71 faculty members selected for the UP Scientific Productivity System (SPS), more popularly known as ‘UP Scientists’. Among the 71 listed, two School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) professors were renewed and promoted. Dr. Decibel F. Eslava, SESAM dean, is now designated as UP Scientist III, while Dr. Carmelita M. Rebancos is now ranked as UP Scientist II. 

The UP SPS was established to support the development of science and technology and encourage and reward scientific productivity in the University. The criteria for the scientific productivity include publications in prestigious journals as authors or editors-in-chief, technological outputs such as patents, and scientific recognition in the form of international scientific awards and membership in international boards as editors. 

Faculty members from the seven UP constituent universities were represented in this batch. For 2018-2020, the UP system has 44 UP Scientist I, 11 UP Scientist II and 16 UP Scientist III. The awarding ceremony will be held on May 28, 2019 with the venue to be announced soon.

Aside from Drs. Eslava and Rebancos, there are three other SESAM professors who are SPS grantees, namely Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon (UP Scientist III), Dr. Rico C. Ancog (UP Scientist III) and Dr. Leonardo M. Florece (UP Scientist I). In addition to the title, UP Scientists I, II and III will be given a grant annually for three years amounting to P150,000, P200,000 and P250,000, respectively.