Maria Corazon De Ungria obtained her BSc from Macquarie University, Australia, in 1993, and her PhD in microbiology from the University of New South Wales in 1999.On her return home, she was immediately appointed head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines. She has since developed an active laboratory that promotes the development of forensic DNA technology in the Philippines by providing services such as DNA analyses for governmental and private clients for the resolution of criminal cases and private disputes, and by providing continuing education for the judiciary and other legal professionals in the applications of DNA analysis. In particular, she advocates the use of DNA analysis in the prosecution of sexual offenders and to prevent wrongful convictions.In addition to casework, De Ungria is involved in several research projects examining genetic variations among different Philippine populations. For example, in 2003, De Ungria was awarded a TWAS Research Grant to conduct a genetic study of three Philippine populations using Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and short tandem repeat markers (STRs) fo

Christian Joseph R. Cumagun is professor of plant pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He earned his MSc (1998) in plant pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)/The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Dr.sc.agr. (2004) in plant pathology and plant breeding at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. He is recognized for his research in Fusarium genetics and mycotoxins. He has been a project leader and chief investigator for research projects funded by both national and international sources including the International Foundation for Science (Sweden), United Nations University (Japan), the East-West Seed Company (Philippines) and UPLB. His work has been recognized by several awards, recognitions and grants including The Outstanding Young Men of Jaycees International, Outstanding Young Science of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology, Georg Forster Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship and the UNESCO/TWAS/ICSU Short-Term Fellowship in the Basic Sciences.