National Scientist Mercedes B. Concepcion, University Professor Emeritus of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines, has been a Commissioner, Commission on Population since 1970. She is a trustee of the Philippine Center for Population and Development and Foundation for Adolescent Development.
A 1951 graduate of Chemistry from the University of the Philippines, Dr. Concepcion trained in Biostatistics at the School of Hygiene and Public health, University of Sydney in 1953-54 as a Colombo Plan scholar. Later on, she obtained a PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago with the support of the Population council of New York.Returned to the Philippines in 1960, she first worked at the Statistical Training Center. In 1964, the Ford Foundation supported the establishment of a Population Institute at the University of the Philippines and Dr. Concepcion served as its first director, a post she held until 1985.
Dr. Concepcion was recently awarded the United Nations Population Award in utf8mb4_general_ci of her outstanding work in population and in improving the health and welfare of individuals.
She was elected Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Philippines in 1992.
Birthdate: 10 June 1928
Educational Background:
- B.Sc. (Chemistry) - University of the Philippines 1951
- Certificate in Statistics - University of Sydney, Australia 1954
- Ph.D. (Sociology) - University of Chicago, USA 1963
Research Interest:
- Fertility
- Mortality
- Employment and Labour Force
- Population Structure Changes and their Implications Particularly on the Elderly, Population and Development Policies
- Social and Economic Indicators of Women's Status and Development
Honors and Awards Received:
- 1969 - Distinguished Alumna Award - St. Theresa's College Alumni Association
- 1970 - Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa), Ateneo de Manila Univeristy
- 1976 - Professional Award in Demography - University of the Philippines Alumni Association
- 1979 - Tandang Sora Award - Bayaning Filipino Foundation
- 1981 - Outstanding Woman in Science and Technology - Federacion Internacional de Abogadas (FIDA), Philippine Chapter
- 1982 - Achievement Award for Demography - National Research Council of the Philippines
- 1983 - General Carlos P. Romulo Award - United Nations Association of the Philippines
- 1983 - Distinguished Social Scientist Award - University of the Philippine College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Association
- 1987 - Outstanding Award in Science and Technology Research - League of Women Voters of the Philippines
- 1989 - Resident Scholar - Rockfeller Foundation Study and Research Center
- 1991 - Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award - Salas Foundation
- 1992 - Academician - National Academy of Science and Technology
- 1993 - Gawad ng Pagkilala - Philippine Sociological Society
- 1997 - utf8mb4_general_ci Award - National Statistical Coordination Board
- 1998 - Filipina First - Philippine-American Foundation
- 1998 - Appointed Commissioner- Commission on Population
- 1999 - utf8mb4_general_ci AWard - College of Social Sciences and Philisophy, U.P.
- 2001 - Appointed Commisioner - Commission on Population Board of Commissioners
- 2002 - Lifetime Achievement Award - Philippine Statistical Association Golden Jubilee
- 2004 - Plake ng Pagkilala - Family Planning Organization og the Philippines
- 2004 - Distinguished Lifetime Service Award - University of the Philippines Alumni Association
- 2005 - United Nations Population Award - United Nations
- 2005 - Award of Distinction - National Academyo f Science and Technology
- 2005 - Living Tresure Award - Feminist Movement of the Philippines
- 2006 - Most Distinguished Alumna - University of the PHilippines Alumni Association
- 2006 - Eminent Person - Forum for Family Planning and Development
- 2007 - Pi Gamma Mu Philippine Alpha Chapter International Awardee
- 2010 - Proclaimed as National Scientist - President of the Republic of the Philippines
