Announcing the Esteemed Panel of Judges for Science Castle Philippines 2025

Yev was born and raised in Iloilo City, Philippines. He graduated with a degree in BS Chemistry from the University of the Philippines – Visayas, after which he worked as an instructor at the University of the Philippines – Manila. He came to Japan in 2013 to pursue graduate studies through the HIGO Program of Kumamoto University, and acquired his Masters in Health Life Sciences in 2015 and his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2018. He worked at a business consultancy company in Tokyo in 2019 to help bring biotechnology and medical companies from abroad into Japan. In 2020, he joined Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. and is currently under the Education Development Division. He is also a Balik Scientist Awardee for 2021. In the same year, he co-founded the Leave a Nest Philippines office and is its current Managing Director.

Dr. Gabriel Sampedro is the Founder and CEO of Philippine Coding Camp, a training institute dedicated to advancing digital literacy and promoting emerging technologies in the Philippines. He is also an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, specializing in blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). With a PhD from Kumoh National Institute of Technology in South Korea, he has an impressive record of publications in high-ranking journals, particularly on topics such as machine learning and industrial IoT.

Beyond his entrepreneurial and academic roles, Dr. Sampedro is the chairperson of the Philippine Section of the Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS). In this role, he actively fosters international research collaborations between the Philippines and Korea, facilitating cross-border partnerships that drive technological innovation and knowledge exchange. Through his blend of academic expertise, industry experience, and a passion for innovation, Dr. Sampedro continues to make significant contributions to both research and the practical application of advanced technologies.

Asst. Prof. Maria Salvacion A. Esmalla is an associate member of the NRCP-Chemical Sciences Division. She obtained both her BS and MS in Chemistry degrees from the University of Santo Tomas. She also completed a two-year research training at the City University of Hong Kong, where she investigated emerging renewable energy sources and environmental research. Her primary research interests focus on the development of bio- and chemical sensors, with a particular emphasis on nanotechnology. During her time at the City University of Hong Kong, she contributed to the development of a two-dimensional model of the Vanadium-Cerium Redox Flow Battery.Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she ensured the continuation of her research by exploring computational tools applied to bioactive components. Her current research involves both computational and experimental studies on spider venom peptides, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. As an active participant in both local and international conferences, Asst. Prof. Maria Salvacion A. Esmalla has presented her work through posters and oral presentations, earning several recognitions. She is passionate about mentoring students in research and innovation, and this dedication has also led to various awards. In addition to her research contributions, she has published peer-reviewed articles on topics including the vanadium-cerium redox flow battery, the cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles, and in silico studies related to natural products and cancer research.

Mr. Muhammad Basril bin Muhammad Asri holds a Master of Engineering Science and Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Malaya, specializing in manufacturing process optimization. With seven years of experience in engineering and startups, he excels in project management, sales, and customer engagement. Driven by a passion for educational equality, Mr. Basril has been a STEM educator since 2016, focusing on improving access to educational technology in rural areas. He is a frequent speaker and trainer at academic and entrepreneurial events, and actively mentors technological startups. Mr. Basril's commitment to community building and volunteer work complements his professional expertise, making him a well-rounded leader in both technical and social spheres.

Dr. Erees Queen B. Macabebe is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering (ECCE) at Ateneo de Manila University. She also serves as the research group leader of the Ateneo Energy Research Laboratory of ECCE. In 2009, she earned her Ph.D. in Physics from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. She returned to Ateneo where she established her research group in solar energy. Their work spanned from solar cell modeling and characterization, photovoltaic system design and optimization, and energy monitoring, forecasting and management. Dr. Macabebe co-founded SolarSolutions,Inc in 2011, which allowed her to extend her research to community-based renewable energy systems. She received the 2020 Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the National Academy of Science and Technology for her contribution in the field of Engineering Sciences and Technology. She was also a recipient of the 2023 Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Award and recognized with an Outstanding Innovation Award.

John Justin C. Mesias, M.Sc. is currently a Senior Lecturer at UP Manila, handling Math & Stat courses. While his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees are Applied Mathematics from UP Visayas and UP Diliman, respectively, he belongs to the pioneer batch of UP Diliman’s PhD in Data Science program. His dissertation is on large language models (LLM), natural language processing (NLP), and natural language understanding (NLU).

Ms. Suzzeth Untalan-Dizon is a Master Teacher II and SHS Coordinator of Caloocan City Science High School (CCSHS) – Schools Division Office – Caloocan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 2004 and finished Master in Biology as a graduate scholar in De La Salle University –Manila in 2011. She has also completed the academic requirements for the degree Master of Science in Public Health major in Medical Microbiology at the University of the Philippines – Manila. Currently, she is taking PhD in Biology Education at the University of the Philippines – Open University.She is the Science Research Coordinator in CalSci and handles General Biology as well as Research Classes for both Junior and Senior High School, and was the Division Focal Person for Science Investigatory Project in 2019-2020. She has been one of the research trainers and coach of winning entries for Division and Regional Science Fair in Life Science Category for several years.She was awarded as Outstanding Master Teacher of SDO Caloocan during the PRAISE – GAWAD Parangal 2023 and recipient of the GAWAD KALINGANG CAJAYON AWARD 2024 courtesy of Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy, 2nd District, Caloocan City.In line with this, she has been one of the contributors for the science education magazine of a private publishing company and a BERF Grantee and Completer of DEPED-NCR. She has also published several scientific researches (print and online) with topics related to Taxonomy and Systematics, Microbiology, Developmental Biology, and Genetics.

She has received a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science at the University of Tokyo. Her mission is “Maximizing the Value of Diversity”. In Leave a Nest, she creates new platforms for the next generation of entrepreneurs to generate knowledge beyond their research field, country and cultural borders. She has been committed to expand Leave a Nest main pillar projects such as science workshops, SCIENCE CASTLE and TECH PLANTER to Southeast Asia and supporting the early stage expansion of Leave a Nest Group to overseas.

Eleanor M. Olegario is the CEO and Founder of LITHOS Manufacturing, OPC, a pioneering company specializing in mineral products enhanced with clay nanotechnology for climate technology applications, including water management, wastewater treatment, and regenerative agriculture. She is also a senior lecturer and mentor in mineral clay nanotechnology at prestigious institutions such as UP Diliman, UST, Ateneo, De La Salle, Mapua, Adamson, and TIP, she earned her MS in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of the Philippines and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the same field.

Ph.D. of Agriculture, Kyoto University. He has studied the mechanisms of secondary metabolism of Citrus plants in the fields of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. At Leave a Nest, he belongs to the Research and Development Division and the Area Creation Development, where he aims to create interesting research projects that transcend fields and industries, and to create a system to apply research results to society.

M.Sc. in Science, Kochi University. He studied low-dimensional topology in one area of mathematics, topological invariants in knot theory. At Leave a Nest, he is a member of the Human Development Division and is actively engaged in managing the regional industry creation ecosystem. His mission is to build a world where everyone can reach out to the concepts that are created.