Clara Y. Lim-Sylianco (18 August 1925 – 23 July 2013[1]) was a Filipino chemist who was granted the title of National Scientist of the Philippines in 1994. Lim-Sylianco's research focused on mutagens, antimutagens, and bio-organic mechanisms. She has published articles, books, and monographs in organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetic toxicology, and molecular nutrition. Also an educator, Lim-Sylianco has written books that are used as reference texts in college chemistry courses in the Philippines.
Clara Y. Lim-Sylianco | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, National Academy of Science and Technology | |
| Born | August 18, 1925 |
| Died | 23 July 2013 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Alma mater | Silliman University (B.S., 1949) University of the Philippines (M.S., 1953) University of Iowa (Ph.D., 1957) |
| Occupation | Chemist |
| Known for | Organic Chemistry Biochemistry |
Education
editLim-Sylianco received an associate degree for the pre-medicine program at Silliman University in 1947. However, she switched out of the Medicine track shortly after to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry, where she graduated as magna cum laude in 1949.[1] Lim-Sylianco then pursued a master's in Chemistry at University of the Philippines in 1949. There, she worked as a research assistant until 1951 and later took on an instructor role until she graduated in 1953.[1] After receiving a Fulbright scholarship, she went to the United States to pursue her doctoral studies in biochemistry and organic chemistry at the University of Iowa.[2] She was a research assistant in the university's Department of Pediatrics from 1953 to 1955 and a research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry from 1955 to 1957.[1]
Career and research
editLim-Sylianco moved back to teach at the chemistry and biochemistry departments of the University of the Philippines in 1957. From 1970 to 1973, she served as a consultant for the National Institute of Science and Technology.[1] Lim-Sylianco was a prolific researcher, making contributions to several fields such as environmental mutagens and anti-mutagens, biochemical nutrition, bioorganic mechanisms, and mutagenicity of Philippine medical plants (trilaurin, trilinolein, etc.).[2] In 1989, she became a member of the International Advisory Committee on Anti-mutagens. She was also dedicated to chemical education and wrote textbooks on organic chemistry and molecular biochemistry that were adopted nationally. These include: Principle of Organic Chemistry, 5th ed., 1975; Modern Biochemistry, 1976; Monograph Series on Molecular Biochemistry: Nucleic Acids, Protein, Carbohydrates, Lipids, 1974; Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry, 1965; and Laboratory Manual in Biochemistry, 1961.[1]
Awards and recognition
editIn 1958, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society.[2]
In 1977, she received the Gregario Y. Zara Award.
From 1974 to 1977, she was the University of the Philippines Endowment Professional Chair in Chemistry.
She was recognized as a National Scientist of the Philippines in 1994.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Academy News Vol. 2 No. 2 (PDF). Philippines: National Academy of Science and Technology. p. 3.
- ^ a b c "National Scientist: Clara Lim-Sylianco". National Academy of Science and Technology.
- ^ "Briefer on the Order of National Scientists". Official Gazette. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-12.