In Focus: NAST Academician Dr. Wilfredo Y. Licuanan Biological Sciences Division (2025)

Excellence in research, innovation, and science outreach

For exemplifying excellence in research, innovation, and science outreach, University Fellow and Distinguished Full Professor from the DLSU Department of Biology Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan was inducted into the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) as Academician on July 9-10 at the Manila Hotel.   NAST is the highest recognition and scientific advisory body of the Philippines. Founded in 1976, NAST provides expert advice to the Philippine government, recognizes the achievements of Philippine researchers, and promotes linkages with counterpart science academies of other countries.

The Academy honored Dr. Licuanan for his pioneering and significant contributions to marine scientific research and conservation in the Philippines, citing his leading the development of innovative tools such as FISH-BE (a participatory bio-economic model to guide marine protected area design and management), I-C-SEA-Change (a participatory tool for the assessment of the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate change impacts), and “Reef Mo” (a still evolving package of protocols for the assessment and monitoring of coral assemblages and reefs, including the “Alwan” citizen science methods) to support marine conservation and climate adaptation.  

As one of the early researchers assessing reef condition in the Philippines, his highly cited studies have guided national marine policy. He also led the nationwide reassessment of Philippine reefs and remains active in research on coral reefs and box jellyfish, the citation read.

It further noted: “He champions citizen science through low-cost monitoring methods and public training, encouraging community participation in reef conservation. His efforts have earned multiple national and international awards and was named a Hope Spot Champion by Mission Blue for his work in the Verde Island Passage.”

Among his latest projects is the ExPERT Project, which is short for “Examination of the Impacts of Possible Eutrophication on the Reefs of Tubbataha.   The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea.  The ExPERT Project undertook a detailed examination of the changes in coral cover, the results of which are used to support conservation efforts and policy-making decisions on the improvement and long-term resilience of the coral reefs.

Another project is the “Capacity-Building on Reef Assessment and Coral Taxonomy Phase 2 (CBRACT 2).”  Through this project, a set of simplified survey protocols called Alwan methods was developed. CBRACT 2  highlighted citizen science, which involved the capacity-building of ordinary citizens as well as the staff of regional HEIs and government agencies for rapid coral reef monitoring, yielding high-quality data.

Licuanan also led the “Jellyfish Ecology and Envenomations Project (JEEP),” which aims to better understand the biology and ecology of harmful box jellyfish species, particularly Chironex yamaguchii, toward creating predictive models for nationwide jellyfish monitoring. Now in its second phase, the project continues to foster partnerships with local governments and trained citizen scientists for the development of community-based management strategies.