School of Environmental Science and Management Professor and former UPLB Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Dr. Maria Victoria O. Espaldon was named 2016 UPLB Outstanding Researcher for Social Sciences in the senior faculty category during the 107th UPLB Foundation Day Anniversary Celebration. The awarding ceremony was held last March 4, 2016 at the Makiling Ballroom of the Student Union Building, UPLB. Currently, Dr. Espaldon is the program leader of the projects “Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (SARAI)” and the “Monitoring and Detection of Ecosystem Change for Enhanced Resilience and Adaptation (MODECERA)”. The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) funds both projects. A UP Scientist I and former Dean of SESAM, Dr. Espaldon has a total of 58 publications, she is author and co-author of several articles in ISI and refereed journals, as well as books and monographs. One of her co-authored books entitled “Changing Philippine Climate: Impacts on Agriculture and Natural Resources”, received the 2015 Outstanding Book Award from the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Dr. Espaldon is also the chair of the UPLB Interdisciplinary Program on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction. She is also part of the development of the Environmental Codes of Laguna and Batangas provinces, and Tanauan City.
