Dr. Ricardo M. Lantican ‘51 will be the newest name in the roster of the Order of National Scientists (Order ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Agham). Dr. Lantican was nominated by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to receive the rank and title of National Scientist, the highest possible honor that can be bestowed upon a distinguished individual scientist, and is conferred by the President of the Philippines. He was elected into the NAST in 1988 for his research on cytoplasmic inheritance of hypersensitivity to a disease in maize, a discovery that has created an awareness among biologists of the importance of genetic diversity as a weapon against environmental adversities.