Dr. Custer C. Deocaris is a Senior Science Research Specialist at the DOST - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
He contributed to the molecular understanding of the role of mortalin/mtHsp70 in manipulating aging and immortalization. He heads a country team for the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC), an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program that aims to establish among the IAEA Member States an international pathogen surveillance network and decision-making support system to prevent future pandemics, such as COVID-19.
As the former Research Chief of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), he managed big-ticket R&D grants, assisted in the development of national R&D policies, and organized capacity-building programs throughout the country that aimed to support research excellence in Philippine higher education.
As an environmental activist and board member of the NGO BAN Toxics, he has contributed to addressing ecological, child labor, and toxic chemical issues of marginalized small-scale gold mining communities. In 2012, he initiated Luntiang Lunes movement, in partnership with the global Meatless Monday campaign of Johns Hopkins University, to promote awareness on Planetary Health Diet in the country. His national campaigns were featured by major radio and TV programs, and newspapers, including Huffington Post.
As an internationally awarded S&T broadcast journalist of the longest-running nationwide S&T radio program Pinoy Scientist at DZEC 1062-Radyo Agila, for the past decade he has laymanized science issues and increased the sense of wonder about scientific discoveries by sharing inspiring stories of Filipino scientists to the ordinary people.
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