Dr. Maria Corazon A De Ungria

Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria heads the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, and is an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology. She has received prestigious scientific awards such as the Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology as well as the Science Academy for the Developing World (TWAS). She was named the first Filipino regional affiliate of NAST from 2007 to 2011. Her type of leadership was recognised by different sectors, which awarded her with the Outstanding Young Men award, the Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation Service award, and the Asia Society Young Leader Award. She also won the search for the Outstanding Woman Researcher in the Life Sciences organised by the Third World Organisation of Women Scientists in Malaysia and was named as one of the first two National Fellows of the L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science Program. After 20 years in government service, she continues to advocate for the use of excellent science in nation-building, recognising the power of science in broadening the base from which we can find creative and novel solutions for the problems that afflict society.