Mahar Lagmay
Filipino geologist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alfredo Mahar Francisco Amante Lagmay (born October 4, 1966) is a Filipino geologist. He is executive director of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and a professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines Diliman.
October 4, 1966
(BSc, 1987; MSc, 1993)
University of Cambridge
(PhD, 2001)
Mahar Lagmay | |
|---|---|
Lagmay during the awarding ceremony of The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) in 2013. | |
| Born | Alfredo Mahar Francisco Amante Lagmay October 4, 1966 |
| Education | University of the Philippines Diliman (BSc, 1987; MSc, 1993) University of Cambridge (PhD, 2001) |
| Known for | Project NOAH |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geology |
| Workplaces | University of the Philippines Diliman |
| Thesis | Studies on explosive eruptions and emplacement of pyroclastic flows (2001) |
| David Pyle | |
Education and career
Lagmay earned his B.Sc. in geology in 1987 and M.Sc. in 1993 from the University of the Philippines Diliman.[1] He earned his PhD in geology from the University of Cambridge in 2001. He also became a visiting scientist at the Geophysics Department of Stanford University and National Autonomous University of Mexico.[2][1] He is currently a faculty member of the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines Diliman.[3] Upon returning to the university as a professor, his research interest focused on volcanic behavior and implications for human activities.[4]
His expertise on disaster mitigation[4] allowed him to lead DOST's Project NOAH as executive director in 2012; Project NOAH has been described as the country's leading disaster prevention and mitigation program.[5]
Lagmay has published detailed analyses of major disasters in the Philippines such as the Guinsaugon landslide; Mayon eruptions; typhoons Ondoy, Sendong, Pablo, and Yolanda; and storm surges.[6][7] He was part of the Philippine panel on the Philippine claim to Benham Rise in the United Nations Commission on the Law of the Sea.[8]
In 2013, Lagmay was awarded the Outstanding Filipino for Geology and Earth Science,[9] and was awarded as "WikiPinoy of the Year" by WikiPilipinas in 2014 for “empowering the public with open information and insight into the significant issues affecting the country today.”[5] Lagmay was awarded the Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union on 15 April 2015, in Vienna, Austria, for his "outstanding interdisciplinary natural-hazard research and natural-disaster engagement in the Philippines, particularly with respect to volcanic hazards, earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and floods."[6][7][8] He is the first Asian to receive the award.[10]
Lagmay was also a radio personality. He co-hosted RED Alert on DZMM with reporters Atom Araullo and Ted Esguerra. The radio program was recognized in the 9th Hildegarde Awards of St. Scholastica College in 2015,[11] the Communication Management Award of Merit for the Multi-Audience Communication category by the Philippine Quill Awards for 2014[12] and the 2014 Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) for best educational radio program.
Lagmay has been a consultant to the World Bank[8][10] and a member of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering.[13]
Personal life
Lagmay is the youngest son of Alfredo Lagmay, national scientist for experimental psychology and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of the Philippines Diliman.[14]
Awards and recognition
- Presidential Citation for Search and Rescue Work in Guinsaugon[8]
- Outstanding Research Award for advanced science and technology in the Philippines for innovative applications of space technology, 2008[8]
- University of the Philippines Scientist awards, 2008 and 2011[8][10]
- New Media Digital Heroes Award, 2012[8][10]
- Cyberpress Best IT Product of the Year for development of the Project NOAH website and mobile tools, 2012[8][10]
- Professional Regulation Commission Outstanding Professional of the Year in Geology, 2013[8][10]
- The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award for Geology and Earth Science by the Junior Chamber International and the Senate of the Philippines, 2013[9]
- WikiPinoy of the Year by WikiPilipinas and Vibal Foundation, 2014[5]
- Distinguished Alumni Award in Disaster Mitigation by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, 2014[6][10]
- Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union, 2015[6]
- Gawad sa Kaunlaran[15]
- Asian Scientist 100, Asian Scientist, 2016