Gay Jane Perez
Gay Jane Perez | |
|---|---|
| Director General Philippine Space Agency | |
Ad Interim Director General | |
| Assumed office January 22, 2026 | |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (BS, MS, PhD) |
Gay Jane P. Perez is a Filipino physicist and environmental scientist whose research involves satellite observation of environmental conditions, and the applications of that data in agricultural planning.[1] She is a professor in the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology at the University of the Philippines Diliman[2] and director general of the Philippine Space Agency.[3][4][5][6]
Education and career
Perez is originally from Naga, Camarines Sur, where she attended a Catholic girls' school.[7][8] She studied physics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, earning a bachelor's degree in 2003, a master's degree in 2005, and a Ph.D. in 2009.[2] She went to the US in 2010–2011 for postdoctoral research at the Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, working there on remote sensing.[1][9]
Returning to the Philippines, she became the leader of the team that produced Diwata-1, the first microsatellite constructed in the Philippines. Her team also produced two later satellites, Maya-1 and Diwata-2, launched respectively in 2016, 2018, and 2019.[1][4]
In 2022, she was elected to a four-year term as president of the Technical Commission on Education and Outreach of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, the first Filipino to lead the commission.[10]
In 2025, Perez became OIC Director General at Philippine Space Agency[11] In 2026, she was appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as the Agency's Director General.[12]
Recognition
Perez won the 2018 ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women, becoming the first Filipino to do so.[1][3][8] In 2019, she was both an awardee of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service[3] and the Asian Scientist 100 by the Asian Scientist.[13] The National Academy of Science and Technology named her as their 2021 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist for Physical Sciences.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d "Gay Jane Perez: The Philippines' Space Whisperer", Asian Scientist, 24 February 2021, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ a b "Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D.", Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines Diliman, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ a b c Office of the Deputy Director General, Philippine Space Agency, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ a b Abarca, Charie Mae F. (8 March 2022), "Dr. Perez: A woman in the PH space program", Manila Bulletin, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ Serquiña, M. C. (2026, January 26). Marcos names scientist Gay Jane Perez as PhilSA director general. GMA News Online. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/974214/marcos-names-scientist-gay-jane-perez-as-philsa-director-general/story/
- ^ Commission on Appointments. (2026, January 29). Listings as of 29 Jan 2026 [PDF]. Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved from https://comappt.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/LISTINGS-as-of-29-JAN-2026.pdf
- ^ Bunachita, Jose Santino (21 October 2018), "Award-winning Pinay scientist gives farmers crucial tool: satellite data", Philippine Daily Inquirer, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ a b Cacho, Katlene O. (19 October 2018), "Filipina wins Asean science prize", SunStar, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ a b Luci-Atienza, Charissa (28 July 2021), "PhilSA lady official named as 2021 NAST Outstanding Young Scientist for Physical Sciences", Manila Bulletin, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (8 June 2022), "PH Space Agency exec is first Filipino to head int'l photogrammetry society panel", Philippine Daily Inquirer, retrieved 2023-02-07
- ^ {{Scientist Gay Jane Perez named PhilSA OIC By Darryl John Esguerra|October 21, 2025|https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261427}}
- ^ BusinessMirror. (2026, February 1). Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez is new PhilSA chief. BusinessMirror. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/02/01/dr-gay-jane-p-perez-is-new-philsa-chief/
- ^ "The Asian Scientist 100". Asian Scientist. Retrieved 2025-03-13.
External links
- Gay Jane Perez publications indexed by Google Scholar