Professor Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD, Dean of the College of Science, was feted with the 2025 Gregorio Zara Award for Basic Science Research by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PHILAAST) during its convention at the Manila Hotel on September 11, 2025.
Papa was recognized “for his invaluable contributions to freshwater science in the Philippines, particularly on freshwater zoo plankton taxonomy and systematics, ecology, and limnology.”
Papa has been actively engaged in the area for over a decade now. Among his current projects are Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) project on the ecological health assessment of the Cagayan River, with a view of making recommendations for sustainable fisheries. In the pipeline is a study on copepod-bacteria-phage interactions and the possible role these interactions have on the control of Vibro cholerae.
In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Papa expressed gratitude to his “mentors, former and current UST ZESL students, research staff, and collaborators who have been with me throughout my research journey, as well as my family, who have always been the source of inspiration and motivation to do well in research.”
Papa is a decorated scientist and academic leader. He teaches at the Graduate School, where is a member of the Faculty Council, and is a researcher of the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences.