With the theme “PAGTANAW 2050: Agham Tungo sa Mabuting Kinabukasan (FORESIGHT 2050: Science for a Sustainable Future)”, the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) emphasized the importance of promoting awareness on futures thinking with particular focus on a sustainable blue and circular economy during its 44th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) held last 13-14 July 2022 in a hybrid mode at The Manila Hotel and live via Zoom and Facebook.

PAGTANAW 2050 is the first inter- and trans-disciplinary Philippine foresight plan that anticipates science, technology, and innovation (STI) that will influence the development of the country in the next 30 years.

One of the highlights of the 44th ASM was the presentation of resolutions to Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, NEDA secretary and NAST academician; Dr. Renato U. Solidum, DOST Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services; and Mr. Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, chairman of the Science and Information Technology Committee of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI).

The 44th ASM recommendations include: increasing investments and funding for PAGTANAW 2050, institutionalizing foresight at all levels of government and regions in the country, expanding the STI workforce through recruitment and retention, and encouraging Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop programs on maritime and oceanographic studies.

44th ASM Program

The first day of the 44th ASM featured a keynote talk followed by four plenary talks. The keynote talk was delivered by Dr. John L. Anderson, president of the US National Academy of Engineering, who talked on “Engineering for Inevitable Surprises: A Systems Perspective”. This was followed by four plenary talks. Dr. Joy Jacqueline Pereira delivered a talk on “Key Findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: An Imperative for Advancing Scientific Leadership.” Dr. Pereira is a research fellow at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and vice chair of Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The second plenary talk was delivered by Dr. Reniel B. Cabral who talked about: “Can we have our fish and eat them too? Securing food and livelihood security in the Philippines”. Dr. Cabral is a senior lecturer at the Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University.