Prof. Dr. Karen S. Santiago, former Chair of the Department of Chemistry of the College of Science and currently an academic researcher of the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, was awarded the 2025 Francis Ferrer Award for Productivity Through Technology by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST). She was recognized for her pioneering research on smart polymers and nanomaterials, particularly their applications as sensors and actuators in chemical sensing, controlled delivery systems, self-healing materials, and anti-corrosion technologies.
Among Santiago’s most notable projects is the development of a Smart Mobile Sniffer in partnership with First Gen’s Energy Development Corporation and funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). The Sniffer represented a breakthrough aimed at improving monitoring in geothermal plants while addressing pressing issues in plant operations, air quality and environmental sustainability.
Santiago, with a proven track record in sensor and actuator technologies, gives a distinct focus on polymer composites, nanomaterials, and renewable resources. Her interdisciplinary work merges materials science, nanotechnology, engineering, and sustainability to develop functionalized composites, including those derived from agricultural and marine wastes, for advanced, cost-effective, and environmentally responsive sensor and actuator devices.
In receiving the award, Santiago first expressed her deep gratitude to the Lord Almighty for His guidance and blessings, as well as to her family and loved ones for their unwavering support throughout her journey. She also acknowledged her dedicated research team, the Smart Polymers & Nanomaterials Group, along with her undergraduate and postgraduate students, research assistants, and research collaborators from Central Luzon State University, University of Eastern Philippines, and the Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics. She likewise credited her mentors and international partners from Asia-Pacific, and Europe who have enriched her research networks and collaborative opportunities. Santiago emphasized that the award is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the collective efforts of her team and partners in advancing science that directly benefits society.
Currently, Santiago is actively working on olfactory and taste sensing, smart fertilizers with controlled-release composites, polymer-based materials for sustainable packaging, and conservation studies on cultural heritage artifacts. She is also preparing to launch a technology-based company that will produce sensing and actuating devices for environmental, healthcare, and forensic applications, building on the intellectual property her team has secured.
Apart from her research and teaching duties, Santiago is the Associate Director of the Office of International Relations and Programs.