Photo credit: Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering
Dr. Joey D. Ocon, assistant professor at the UP Diliman College of Engineering and a University Scientist II, is one of the 17 ASEAN Science and Technology (S&T) Fellows for 2018-2019.
The early- and mid-career scientists from ASEAN member states were selected for the fellowship based on their track record and potential to promote science-based policy-making in the region. The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology and experts from ASEAN member states, ASEAN Secretariat Science and Technology Division, US Agency for International Development and US Mission to ASEAN constituted the selection committee.
Fellows will be embedded in national-level ministries or agencies for a year to raise institutional capacity to make informed, data-driven policy decisions and encourage policy makers to use more science-based approaches in the priority areas of climate change; sustainable energy; and science, technology, and innovation policy.
As S&T Fellow, Ocon will work with the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development in updating its research, designing roadmaps and harmonizing its portfolio with renewable energy, energy storage and other alternative energy technologies.
The other Filipino scientist in the batch is Dr. Michael Angelo Promentilla of the De La Salle University.
In 2015, Ocon was awarded by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines with the Outstanding Young Scientist Award for his contributions to the development of efficient and sustainable energy supply systems. He formed the Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering , one of the youngest laboratories at the Department of Chemical Engineering in UP Diliman, to create renewable sources of energy (fuel cell systems), conversion and storage energy devices (batteries), clean water production, and environmental process technology (CO2-to-fuel conversion).
