The Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST) 65th Annual Convention and 8th Asian Heads of Research Councils (ASIAN HORCs) held a Joint Symposium on the Impact of the Changing Regional Environment on Global Health at Acacia Hotel Manila, East Asia Drive, Filmvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines on September 22-23, 2016.

Different topics on the effects of climate change to the environment and health were discussed by the delegates from our neighboring countries (Asia) responsive to the events theme “Impact of the changing Regional Environment on Global Health.”

Speakers and topics tackled during the first and second day, September 22 and 23, 2016 are as follows:

Prof. Cunrui Huang, Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, People’s Republic of China, “Health effects of extreme temperature and adaptation strategies in the Asia-Pacific Region.”; Prof. Qiyong Liu, Professor and Assistant Director, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, People’s Republic of China, ”Health risks of climate change in China.”; Dr. Ruochun Zhang, Lecturer, Tianjin University, People’s Republic of China, “Climate change and drinking water deterioration potential”; Dr. Chris Fook Sheng Ng, Assistant Professor, Nagasaki University, Japan, “Temperature and health under a changing climate in Japan”; Dr. Daisuke Onozuka, Assistant Professor, Nagasaki University Japan, “Effects of temperature on infectious gastroenteritis incidence in Japan”; Mr. Xerxes Seposo, PhD Candidate, University of Tsukuba, Japan, “Quantifying the effects of temperature on mortality in the Philippines”; Dr Rodney Perez, University Researcher, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Los Baños,”Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria: an alternative arsenal against antimicrobial resistant pathogens”; Prof. Eunsuk Kim, Assistant Professor, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, “Population structure of ragweed in Korea: Implications for the performance of allergenic plants in changing environment”; Prof. Young Mo Kim, Assistant Professor, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, “Occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment”; Ms. Jarita Boonjawat, Advisor, Chulalongkorn University, Thailang, “Climate Pollutants and Regional Health Risks”; Dr. Siripong Palee, Researcher, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, “Environmental stressors and cardio-metabolic disease”; Dr. Tran Quang Thuan, Researcher, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, “Direct Monitoring of Alpha-particles Contaminated in Aqueous Solution Using Diamond/Silicon Sensor”;

September 23, 2016, Dr. Xiaobo Liu, Associate Professor, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, People’s Republic of China, “Vector borne diseases and climate change in China”; Dr. Mary Grace Dacuma, Assistant Professor, University of the Philippine Los Baños, “The threat of subpatent Plasmodium with drug-resistant genotypes in an era of malaria elimination across island provinces in Mindanao, The Philippines”; Dr. Nina Gloriani, Professor, University of the Philippines Manila, “Leptospirosis and Climate Change in the Philippines”; Dr. Maria Ruth Pineda-Cortel, Faculty/Researcher, University of Santo Thomas,Philippines, “Prediction Model for Dengue and Malaria Cases in the Philippines: A Preliminary Study”; Dr. Siwaporn Boonyasuppayakorn, Lecturer, Chulalongkorn University, Thailang, “Discovering Dengue Virus Inhibitors Using Simplified Microwell Plague Assay as a Fundamental Approach”; Dr. Wachareeporn Trinachartvanit, Assistant Professor, Mahindol University, Thailand, “Climate change and vector-borne diseases in Thailand”; Mr. Nguyen Tien Cong, Senior Researcher, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, “Correlation of dengue disease and climate variable using geospatial data for Vietnam”; Prof. Yasushi Honda, Professor, University of Tsukuba, Japan, “Heat-related mortality: Impact and adaptation”; Prof. Tae-Young Kim, Assistant Professor, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, “Utility of ambient ionization mass spectrometry for monitoring environmental contaminants”; Prof. Park Kihong, Professor, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, and “ A study on PM2.5 measurement and health effect/Particulate Matter: Measurement, Toxicity and Reduction”.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña is optimistic that this event shall successfully catalyze the brightest minds of Asia: Delegates of the ASIANHORCs, educators, researches, in the academe and government, industry representatives and other S&T practitioners-in solving the most pressing problems of our times. (PSciJourn MegaManila)