Caesar A. Saloma is the Chancellor of University of the Philippines Diliman, the flagship campus of the University of the Philippines System, in Quezon City, Philippines and a professor of physics at the National Institute of Physics (NIP). He previously served as Dean of the College of Science from June 2006 to March 2011 and as Director of NIP from June 2000 to May 2006 (two terms). Saloma obtained his BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of the Philippines in 1981, 1984, and 1989, respectively.
Saloma spent his childhood in Baclayon, Bohol and attended high school at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in nearby Tagbilaran City. He is included in the Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering 2011-2012 (11th Edition) and in the Ultimate List of 15 Asian Scientists To Watch that was published by Asian Scientist Magazine on 15 May 2011 [1] .
In 2004 Saloma received the Galileo Galilei Award from the International Commission for Optics in recognition of his significant contributions in the field of optics that were accomplished under comparatively unfavorable conditions. He is the first scientist from an ASEAN member country to receive the Galileo Award.
In 2008, he received the triennial ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award from the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology during the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week in Manila, Philippines.[2] Saloma was recognized for his contributions to photonics and signal processing that were accomplished with colleagues and students at the National Institute of Physics.[3]
Saloma led the development of a method to generate high-contrast images of semiconductor sites via one photon optical beam-induced current imaging and confocal reflectance microscopy. The project received a US patent (No. 7,235,988) on 26 June 2007. He has published more than 100 papers in leading photonics, applied physics and multidisciplinary journals in the US and Europe. His efforts resulted in the development of novel and cost-effective / non-invasive method techniques in optical signal recovery, retrieval and identifying microscopic defects in integrated circuits (IC) enabling the accurate identification of circuit defects by producing a high-contrast image map that distinguishes semiconductor, metal and dielectric sites from each other.
His fields of interest include confocal laser scanning microscopy,[4] interferometry,[5] signal and image processing,[6] neural networks,[7] and complex adaptive systems.[8] Aside from developing new optical microscopy techniques, Saloma is also interested in the development of efficient models for describing the dynamics of real-world systems that involve a large number of interacting agents.
Saloma was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST) in July 2005. The NAST is the highest recognition body of the Philippine government on science and technology. It provides advise to the Philippine President and the Cabinet on matters related to science and technology
He is a recipient of other awards and recognition including the NAST Outstanding Young Scientist (Applied Physics) in 1992, the NAST-Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) Prize in Physics in 1997, and the Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Guro (Outstanding Teacher) in 2006 and several Gawad Chanselor para sa Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik (Best Researcher in S&T) from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was appointed to the highest rank of Scientist III by the University of the Philippines System in 2006 (only three were issued) and renewed in 2009 (only two were issued). He also received the 2007 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award on September 7, 2007.
Saloma was awarded by the Department of Science and Technology, Philippines (DOST) with the 1999 Outstanding R&D Award in Basic Research (Eduardo Quisumbing Medal) for his work (with F. Domingo) on image compression of video and confocal images [Applied Optics 38, pp. 3735–3744 (1999)]. He was included in the "50 Men and Women of Science" list that was released by the DOST for its 50th anniversary celebration as a government department in June 2008.
He received the Lingkod Bayan Award - the Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service, from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a ceremony held at the Malacanang Palace on 19 September 2008. The award is the highest recognition given to a Philippine government employee for outstanding work performance.
He was elected Inaugural Fellow of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (Physics Society of the Philippines) on 23 October 2008 during the 26th SPP Physics Congress in Baguio City.
Saloma received the 2010 Outstanding Science Administrator Award (Dioscoro L. Umali Medal) from the DOST and NAST in recognition of his commitment, leadership, dedication and outstanding service as scientist, teacher and administrator. His vital role in the establishment and on-going completion of the National Science Complex was particularly noted.
He was elevated to Senior Member status by the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America in October 2010.
On March 2, 2011, he was elected Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman by the UP Board of Regents. He will serve for a period of three years.[9]