Mahar Lagmay

Lagmay earned his B.Sc. in geology in 1987 and M.Sc. in 1993 from the University of the Philippines Diliman.[3] He earned his PhD in geology from the University of Cambridge in 2001. He also became a visiting scientist at the Geophysics Department of Stanford University and National Autonomous University of Mexico.[4][3] He is currently a faculty member of the National Institute of Geological Sciences of the University of the Philippines Diliman.[5] Upon returning to the university as a professor, his research interest focused on volcanic behavior and implications for human activities.[6]

His expertise on disaster mitigation[6] allowed him to lead DOST's Project NOAH as executive director in 2012; Project NOAH has been described as the country's leading disaster prevention and mitigation program.[7]

Lagmay has published detailed analyses of major disasters in the Philippines such as the Guinsaugon landslide; Mayon eruptions; typhoons Ondoy, Sendong, Pablo, and Yolanda; and storm surges.[8][9] He was part of the Philippine panel on the Philippine claim to Benham Rise in the United Nations Commission on the Law of the Sea.[1]

In 2013, Lagmay was awarded the Outstanding Filipino for Geology and Earth Science,[2] and was awarded as "WikiPinoy of the Year" by WikiPilipinas in 2014 for “empowering the public with open information and insight into the significant issues affecting the country today.”[7] Lagmay was awarded the Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union on 15 April 2015, in Vienna, Austria, for his "outstanding interdisciplinary natural-hazard research and natural-disaster engagement in the Philippines, particularly with respect to volcanic hazards, earthquakes, typhoons, landslides and floods."[8][9][1] He is the first Asian to receive the award.[10]

Lagmay was also a radio personality. He co-hosted RED Alert on DZMM with reporters Atom Araullo and Ted Esguerra. The radio program was recognized in the 9th Hildegarde Awards of St. Scholastica College in 2015,[11] the Communication Management Award of Merit for the Multi-Audience Communication category by the Philippine Quill Awards for 2014[12] and the 2014 Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA) for best educational radio program.

Lagmay has been a consultant to the World Bank[1][10] and a member of the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering.[13]

Lagmay is the youngest son of Alfredo Lagmay, national scientist for experimental psychology and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of the Philippines Diliman.[14]

• Presidential Citation for Search and Rescue Work in Guinsaugon[1]
• Outstanding Research Award for advanced science and technology in the Philippines for innovative applications of space technology, 2008[1]
• University of the Philippines Scientist awards, 2008 and 2011[1][10]
• New Media Digital Heroes Award, 2012[1][10]
• Cyberpress Best IT Product of the Year for development of the Project NOAH website and mobile tools, 2012[1][10]
• Professional Regulation Commission Outstanding Professional of the Year in Geology, 2013[1][10]
• The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award for Geology and Earth Science by the Junior Chamber International and the Senate of the Philippines, 2013[2]
• WikiPinoy of the Year by WikiPilipinas and Vibal Foundation, 2014[7]
• Distinguished Alumni Award in Disaster Mitigation by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, 2014[8][10]
• Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union, 2015[8]
• Gawad sa Kaunlaran[15]