ASEAN COSTI in Bohol

Pinay career scientist bags ASEAN

Science Prize for women 2023

CORTES, Bohol, October 21, (PIA) --The Philippines takes immense pride in celebrating the Filipina scientist using science and technology which grassroots communities can readily interact, after winning the Mid-Career Scientist Category, Science Prize for Women 2023.

Dr. Charlle L. Sy, a professor and current chair of the Industrial and Energy Engineering Department of the De La Salle University-Manila, and her project Target-Oriented Robust Optimization (TORO) to aid computational tractability, that models can be solved efficiently to yield solutions, which uses her developed algorithm that has proven wide applications.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), hosted the 84th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), in partnership with the United States (US) Government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Research Institutes.

The Science Prize for Women emphasizes the role of female scientists who have used their work to improve society in sustainable ways and have acted as role models for other women learning, working in, and pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

This year, the COSTI Prize focused on Electrification.

For Dr. Sy, she was moved to pursuing her project, to provide electricity to millions of Filipino households that have no access to it.

She, along with the ASEAN scientists gathered during the COST event in Bohol, believe that her project can immensely provide a pathway to combating climate change.

While specializing in Operations Research and System Dynamics, her developed algorithmic framework in TORO, integrates uncertainty at the point of decision-making.

TORO guarantees computational tractability such that models can be solved efficiently to yield solutions, proving extensive applications even in design and planning of engineering systems, including infrastructure and network planning in the fields of production, water networks, and of course, energy.

She is currently active in different theoretical and applied research projects dealing with climate change and COVID-19 mitigation using her algorithm.

With heart and mind to help, Dr. Sy explored other sources of renewable energy to provide innovative solutions for Filipino households that are mostly in remote communities that cannot be reached by the national grid.

Her optimization approach uses mathematical models that consider uncertainty at the point of decision-making, leading to solutions that can withstand unintended events.

The TORO project highlights the importance of economic viability as a pillar of sustainable development.

Her technology is now used in micro-hydroelectric generators in a barangay in the Apayao province.

On top of providing electricity to households, the micro hydro also creates a livelihood for the community which allows them to start exploring farming activities that require electricity, such as agro-processing, farming incubation, and grain milling.

DOST Undersecretary Dr. Leah J. Buendia congratulated Dr. Sy, saying “It is good to have scientists directly helping communities through Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).”

She further emphasized that, “It is encouraging to witness scientists prioritizing technologies shared among the grass roots rather than focusing them for patent.”

Along with Dr Sy, Dr. Nofri Yenita Dahlan from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia won honorable mention under the Mid-Career Scientist Category on her Cloud-Based Energy Management System Using Artificial Intelligences for Virtual Power Plant (VPP).

Moreover, in the Senior-Career Scientist Category, Dr. Pimpa Limthongkul of the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand won First Place for her Energy Storage – Research, Development, and Promotion Effort project, and Professor Madhavi Srinivasan from Nanyang Technological University won honorable mention on her Electrification via Batteries with Circularity.

The Science Prize for Women is held annually through a concerted effort among ASEAN COSTI, USAID, and UL Research Institutes since 2014.

Along with the recognition for their achievements, winners received a cash award of $12,500 each for both the Senior Scientist and the Mid-career Scientist categories.

Similarly, $5,000 was awarded to honorable mention in each category. (PIABohol with DOST)

SCIENCE TO THE GRASSROOTS. For several scientists gunning for the enriching patent in their discoveries and inventions, Dr Challe Sy focused on helping communities get the most from out of a micro-hydro system to energize their homes and start livelihood, through a developed algorithm that helps people decide after her invention has eliminated options making decision making easy. (PIAbohol/DOST Bohol)