In a country like the Philippines where there are less than a hundred doctorate degree holders in physics, Dr. Arnel Salvador stands as a beacon to aspiring young scientists. He is living proof that even with the lack of viable graduate schools in the country, one can still make a mark in his or her chosen profession. If you work hard for it, you can be someone your nation will be proud of. You can be an Arnel Salvador.
Dr. Salvador led a team of scientists from the Research and Extension, National Institute of Physics (NIP), who made breakthroughs in the field of fiber optic communications. The team produced unique semiconductor materials like gallium arsenide (GaAs) and aluminum-gallium arsenide AIGaAs). By using a process called molecular beam enable faster and superior data transmission over conventional copper wires found in usual cables.
Dr. Salvador’s team won the converted Most Outstanding Research and Development Award given by the Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology-Department of Science and Technology (PCAS-TD-DOST).
Dr. Salvador earned his bachelor’s degree in Physics, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in May 1983. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 1993 in the United States. He is now the Associate Director for Research and Extension, National Institute of Physics (NIP, University of the Philippines).
Sources
► www.nip.upd.edu.ph/cmpl/members/arnels/arnels.htm
► Filipino physicists share Einstein’s drive. www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2006/01/13/feat/filipino.phusicists.share.einstein.s.drive.html
