Leonardo Leongson
Leonardo Q. Liongson received his BS Chemical Engineering degree, graduating magna cum laude, in 1969. He later continued to earn a Masters degree in Engineering Sciences in UP specializing in Hydraulics, in 1976. From UP, he proceeded to the University of Arizona in 1976 to pursue doctoral studies in Water Resources Administration/Hydrology. After getting his undergraduate degree, he taught in the Department of Engineering Sciences, as an instructor from 1969 to 1976, and then as an assistant professor from 1976 to 1980. After 11 years, with the department, he became its chairman for 8 years until 1988. In 1999, he became the Director of the National Hydraulic Research Center (NHRC) in UP Diliman, a positino he kept until 2008.
Liongson is not only remarkable for his service as a mentor from the time he graduated with his BS ChE degree, but he is also a regular contributor to researches, journals and reading materials in the Philippines and all over the world. He has published 50 scientific and technological papers from 1978 to 2009 and has been involved in 37 researches, projects and studies, some of which are still in progress. He has published papers for the National Hydraulic Research Center of UP Diliman; the Philippine Engineering Journal; Water Philippines '94; Water Resources Exploration, Exploitation, and Development Council of Engineering Consultants of the Philippines (CECOPHIL), Philippine Association for Technological Education (PATE); DPWH Technical Journal; National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) in UP Diliman; Regional Symposium of Infrastructure Planning in Civil Engineering held in UP Diliman co-sponsored by the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan; Philippine Association for Advancement of Science, Inc (PHILAAS)-DOST-ITDI; Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) in UP Diliman; The Philippine Social Council; and many other environmental and water resources-related groups and associations all over the Philippines, including the Maynilad Water Services.
His professional knowledge and ability are acknowledged all over the world. He has collaborated with international researchers and engineers. He has shared his expertise by publishing for the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PARSE); ASEAN University Network South East Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net.); Asia-Pacific Association of Hydrology and Water Resource Conference, World Water Forum held in Kyoto, Japan; International Conference in Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation held in Taipei, Taiwan, American Geophysical Union Hydrology Days held at the Colorado State University. Mechanics, Prediction and Assessment of the American Society of Civil Engineers held in San Francesco, California; Sustainable Ground Water Management in Coastal Areas held in Jakarta, Indonesia; Asian Symposium on Visualization by The Visualization Society of Japan held in Chiba, Japen, and many more unions and circles that aim for development in and outside of Asia.
A few of his numerous awards include the Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Water Resources; Most Outstanding Researcher in UP College of Engineering; Ford Foundation Fellowship; Model Instructor Award; and the Insular Life Educational Foundation Scholarship.