Adrian Josh Lepiten 
[Cebu City] March 21, 2022— The longest-running in-print encyclopedia, Britannica, included two University of the Philippines Scientists in the Shapers of the Future 2022 list.
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) researcher Dr. Rodney Perez and 18-year-old student Maria Isabel Layson of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) join this year’s list of outstanding individuals aged under 40 who are working across different fields and endeavors.
Dr. Rodney Perez, 32, is a researcher at the University of the Philippines Los Banos’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He’s currently working on ways to incorporate bacteriocins into the food packaging process, “for instance, replacing artificial and potentially harmful steroids in dairy products with helpful bacteria from lactic acid that combat mastitis in cattle.”
READ ALSO: Craig of the Creek Features A Bisaya Speaking Lola and Filipino Food
Maria Isabel Layson, 18 years old, a young Filipino student studying at the University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo City. In the Food and Nutrition Research Institute laboratory in Manila, she identified characteristics in aratilis fruits that may be able to heal diabetes.
Filipino Pride
The inclusion of two Filipino scientists on the Shapers of the Future list coincides with the donation to the National Library of the Philippines of 100 copies of Encyclopedia Britannica’s new one-volume children’s encyclopedia.
The books are also to be made available through public libraries and bookmobile operations that serve remote areas of the country.
Recognizing Filipino scientists and providing educational resources are vital for scientific advancement and intellectual empowerment in the Philippines. These initiatives celebrate achievements as well as cultivate a culture of curiosity that fuels progress for future generations. Driven by individuals like Dr. Perez and Layson, with support from Britannica and the National Library, the nation advances in research and education, shaping a brighter future for every Filipino child who will soon follow their footsteps.
Do you have photos, stories, and brands that you’d like to be featured? Do you know someone that needs to be featured?
Message us via 
