THREE faculty members of the University of the Philippines-Diliman received the 2020 National Research Council of the Philippines Achievement Award for their research and contributions to the development of science, social sciences and humanities.

The awardees were Prof. Jose Wendell Capili of the College of Arts and Letters-Department of English and Comparative Literature, Prof. Jose Ernie Lope of the College of Science-Institute of Mathematics, and Prof. Betchaida Payot of the College of Science-National Institute of Geological Sciences.

The award was conferred by the Department of Science and Technology together with the NCRP.

Capili was recognized in the field of Humanities.

“Capili is a professor at CAL-DECL, UP Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs, and Officer-in Charge-Director of the UP-System Media and Public Relations Office. He is an author of seven books and over 300 articles in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia, Capili has awards from Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, Cultural Center of the Philippines and National Book Awards for Literature,” UP said.

He holds a PhD in Literature, Screen and Theatre Studies at The Australian National University, an MA Comparative Literature in UPD, an MPhil Social Anthropology in University of Cambridge, a Diploma Japanese Language, Culture and Affairs in University of Tokyo and an AB Journalism in University of Santo Tomas.

Meanwhile, Lope was recognized for his contributions in Mathematical Sciences.

“An expert in differential equations and applied and computational mathematics, Lope placed first in the 2002 NAST-DuPont Talent Search for Young Scientists,” UP said.

Lope has a PhD and a Master of Science from Sophia University in Tokyo and a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude from UPD.

Payot, meanwhile, was recognized for her works in the field of Earth and Space Sciences.

Payot is an associate professor at CS-NIGS and member of the Board of Trustees of the Geological Society of the Philippines.

She is one of the 2020 National Academy of Science and Technology Outstanding Young Scientists.

“Her research produced new petrographic and geochemical data that supported new models for a better understanding of the formation of igneous rocks, particularly to the understanding of the origin and formation of igneous rocks in different parts of the Philippines,” UP said.

Payot has a PhD in Geology from the Kanazawa University in Japan, and an MS Geology and BS Geology from UPD.