2025 University Scholarly Work Awards fete Ateneo’s culture of innovation and research

Now in its 24th year, the University Scholarly Work Awards (USWA) once again celebrated the exceptional academic achievements and innovative research contributions of the Ateneo de Manila University community. This year’s event highlighted Ateneo’s culture of innovation and research, as evidenced by the exceptional rise in the number of its Scopus-indexed publications: a jump of 18 percent since 2023 to a total of 453 in 2024 alone.

Atenean Joy in Scholarly Work

“We no longer prompt our people to have their work published. Indeed, it is part of our joy as members of the Ateneo community to publish our scholarly work, such that even undergraduates are eager to share their work and have it peer-reviewed,” said Dr Maria Luz C Vilchez, Vice President for Higher Education, in her opening remarks at the awarding ceremony, held at the Areté roofdeck on 11 April.

Underscoring Dr Vilchez’s comment, the total number of student and research assistant awardees hit a high of 243 this year. Furthermore, the number of faculty and other researchers who received awards went up 59 percent to 523—a record only surpassed by the previous year’s high of 60 percent. In all, a total of 530 publications received awards in all categories this year. 

Stellar Research Lineup

The University recognized a stellar lineup of research projects across its various schools in this year’s Outstanding Scholarly Work Award (OSWA) category, spotlighting innovative and socially relevant studies that confront some of the most pressing challenges in Philippine society today—from digital health and climate-driven diseases to corruption, education, and national identity. Across diverse disciplines, the winning entries share a unifying theme: innovation rooted in real-world impact. Whether leveraging big data, rethinking governance systems, or reshaping educational frameworks, these works were celebrated for pushing the boundaries of conventional scholarship in service of the nation.

Meanwhile, the Lux in Domino (LID) Award category recognized pioneering research that exemplifies service to humanity through innovative, compassionate, and socially engaged work. This year’s awardees are united by a bold commitment to addressing urgent societal challenges—from peacebuilding in conflict zones and reimagining civic education, to tackling malnutrition, climate-driven disease, and ecological degradation. Their work has bridged communities, empowered marginalized voices, and have helped redefine service for the common good. Spanning fields as diverse as education, health, psychology, ecology, and governance, each project offers novel approaches to deeply-rooted problems. Whether through participatory theater for conflict resolution, integrating climate science into public health, or revealing the hidden burdens placed on Filipino teachers, the awardees demonstrate the power of innovation that is grounded in empathy and purpose.

Assistant Vice President for Research, Creative Work, and Innovation Dr. Filomeno Aguilar Jr. came onstage to announce and congratulate the recipients of this year’s Special Commendations, recognizing faculty members with the highest number of approved patents and utility models, as well as special citations for Schools’ and Departments’ publication milestones.

Looking to the Future of Atenean Research 

Also unveiled at the award ceremony was the University’s new Research Portal, research.ateneo.edu. Serving as a nexus of collaboration for researchers, students, journalists, and the greater public, the Portal is a gateway to Ateneo’s thriving research and creative landscape.

The awards were capped by closing remarks from the University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, who thanked the awardees for heeding Pope Francis’ call to “fan the flame of hope… and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future, with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision.”

“There is no magic here, only deep curiosity, sheer tenacity, confident boldness, steely resolve, open-mindedness, and goodness of heart—qualities that our awardees possess in abundance,” Fr Yap said.

“Your accomplishments reflect our strength as a community united and committed to understanding the complexities of the twenty-first century and using our God-given gifts and talents to anticipate and respond to the changes and challenges of our world,” he concluded.

2025 Outstanding Scholarly Work Awards (OSWA) Awardees

Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB): Understanding Adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) During a Health Emergency: An Analysis of EMR Usage Logs from Rural Health Facilities in the Philippines

Ateneo School of Government (ASOG): Corruption Risk and Political Dynasties: Exploring the Links Using Public Procurement Data in the Philippines

Ateneo School of Law (ALS): Parrying Amendments: The Philippines’ Multi-Tiered System of Constitutional Change

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH): Projecting Temperature-related Dengue Burden in the Philippines under Various Socioeconomic Pathway Scenarios

Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD): English Language Education and Educational Policy in the Philippines

John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM): Building Sustainable Organizations Online: How Leaders Embed Sustainability into Organizational Culture in Virtual Contexts

School of Humanities (SOH): Postcolonial Education and National Identity: An Arendtian Re-Imagination

School of Science and Engineering (SOSE): The Contributions of Motor Skill Proficiency to Cognitive and Social Development in Early Childhood

Dr. Rosita G. Leong School of Social Sciences (RGLSOSS): Crisis Geographies from Above and Below: Constructing Globality during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2025 Lux In Domino (LID) Awardees 

Bridging Cultural Divides: Intergroup Political Theater: Transforming Social Representations Among Peace Leaders in Contested Territories

Education Reform and Transformation: “The People Deserve Better Governance”: Examining the Letters of Filipino High School Students to the Next President of the Philippines

Education Reform and Transformation - Special Citation: Navigating around Marginalizing Complexities: The Case of Mathematics Teachers in the Philippines

Integral Ecology: Projecting Temperature-related Dengue Burden in the Philippines under Various Socioeconomic Pathway Scenarios

Integral Ecology - Special Citation: Baseline Assessment and Early Effects of a Network of Marine Protected Areas

Universal Health and Well-Being: Determining an Optimal Case Definition using Mid-upper Arm Circumference With or Without Weight for Age to Identify Childhood Wasting in the Philippines

Universal Health and Well-Being - Special Citation: Teachers as Health Workers in the Philippines

2025 USWA Special Commendations

Most Patents Granted (2021): Dr Erwin Enriquez, Department of Chemistry, with two approved patents.

Most Utility Models Registered (2021–2022): Dr Fabian Dayrit, Department of Chemistry, with three utility models each year.

Most Category A Publications (2024): Department of Psychology, with 43 Category A publications.

Most Publications Across All Categories (2024): Department of Mathematics, with a total of 83 publications.

Most Scopus-Indexed International Collaborations (2024): Dr Rosita G Leong School of Social Sciences, with 32 co-authored works.

Greatest Improvement in Total Publications (2023–2024): Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, with a 260% increase—from 10 in 2023 to 36 in 2024.