National Academy of Science and Technology
The National Academy of Science and Technology ("abbreviated as "NAST) is the highest recognition and scientific advisory body of the Philippines under the Department of Science and Technology. It was created through Presidential Decree 1003-A issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1976 to honor and recognize Filipino scientists who made worthy contributions in the advancement of science and technology in the country. It also recommends individuals to be conferred the Order of National Scientist upon approval of the President of the Philippines. History. The establishment of the National Academy of Science and  Technology was a proposal of several professors from the University of the Philippines. It was endorsed by the National Science Development Board (now Department of Science and Technology) to the President of the Philippines. NAST was created through Presidential Decree 1003-A issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 6, 1976. In 1978, President Marcos named the first ten members of the academy from members of the scientific community with three of them proclaimed as "National Scientist", namely: Juan S. Salcedo Jr., Alfredo C. Santos and Gregorio Y. Zara. Through Executive Order 818 in 1982, the academy was tasked  to give recommendations to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the Cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. Mandates. The National Academy of Science and Technology is mandated: Functions. The Academy's functions are the following: Organization and Membership. Members of the National Academy of Science and Technology are nominated by members of the scientific community. Current NAST members deliberate on the membership of an individual following strict rules and regulations. Once admitted to the organization, members are called "Academicians "("abbreviated as "Acd.)". "The academy is divided into several divisions to which an Academician  is a member depending on his area of expertise. The divisions are the following: From each division of the academy, a chair is elected to form the Executive Council. A president, vice-president and secretary is elected from the Executive Council. The secretariat of NAST is headed by a director and implements the decisions of the Executive Council, and attends to the day-to-day affairs of the Academy. Since 2012, the NAST Executive Council is composed of: Academicians. Members of the NAST are called Academicians. As of 2020, there are 77 living Academicians. National Scientist. All National Scientists are  members of the NAST. As of 2020, there are 12 living National Scientists. Annual Scientific Meeting. The academy conducts a scientific meeting every July since 1978. It gathers scientist from all over the country to discuss relevant issues related to science and technology and thus earning the distinction of the most prestigious Philippine scientific conference. At the end of the convention, NAST honors exemplary scientists from different fields and presents recommendations to the government through the secretary of the Department of Science and Technology. 36th Annual Scientific Meeting. The 2014 Edition of the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) focuses on three  pillars of competitiveness as defined by the World Economic Forum (WEF), namely, "infrastructure", "information", and "innovation" with emphasis on the policy and governance aspects in energy, water, telecommunications, and transportation. Former Department of Trade and Industry Secretray Cesar B. Bautista gave the keynote address. Awards. NAST also recognizes worthy contributions of Filipino scientists in the advancement of science and technology in the country during its Annual Scientific Meeting. It includes the following recognitions: Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS), The World Academy of Sciences for Developing Countries (TWAS) Prize for Young Scientists in the Philippines, NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists, NAST  Environmental Science Award, NAST-LELEDFI Award for Outstanding Research in Tropical Medicine, Outstanding Scientific Papers, Outstanding Books and Outstanding Monographs. Publications. As a promoter of science and technology, NAST also publishes books and monographs based on studies of present academicians, members of the scientific community and world-renowned scientists. Conference proceedings of their annual scientific meeting is published as the "NAST Transactions. "