Julian Banzon

Julián Arca Banzón (March 25, 1908 – September 13, 1988) was a Filipino

Julian Banzon was born on March 25, 1908, to Manuel S. Banzon and Arcadia Arca in Balanga, Bataan.^[1][3]

Banzon graduated from the University of the Philippines in Manila in 1930 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in chemistry. After some years working as an instructor at his alma mater, in 1937 he entered the Iowa State University in the United States as a UP pensionado. Banzon obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in biochemistry and a minor in Microbiology in 1940.^[1] The topic of his doctoral dissertation was the “fermentative utilization of cassava.”^[1][2]

Career

Right after Banzon's graduation from the

Banzon resumed his career at the UP College of Agriculture, where he worked as professor and chairman of the department of agriculture chemistry from August 1, 1963, to March 24, 1970. He was the officer-in-charge of the division of food science and technology at UP Los Baños from March 25, 1970, to June 30, 1972. From July 1972 to March 1973, he served as a professor of food and science technology, and retired from the UP College of Agriculture at the end of his teaching stint in 1973.[1]

Banzon was frequently invited to attend scientific conferences abroad. He participated in the board of governors meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and in the general conference in Vienna, Austria, both held in 1960. In October 1981, he was an attendee of the Fourth Japan Conference on Radioisotopes held in Kyoto, Japan. Banzon also went to Bangkok, Thailand to attend the IAEA's Study Group Meeting on the Utilization of Research Reactors held from December 17 to 21, 1962. He was also part of the Philippine delegation to attend the 11th Pacific Science Congress held in Tokyo, Japan and 12th Pacific Science Congress in Canberra, Australia held in August 1966 and August 1971 respectively.^[1]

He also held the position of chairman at the division of chemical and pharmaceutical science of the National Research Council of the Philippines and was a member of the Chemical Society of the Philippines' board of directors, from 1972 to 1973. Banzon was also member of the Society for the Advancement of Research, the Sigma Xi of Iowa State University and the Radioisotopes Society of the Philippines. Banzon was also the president of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, UP Los Baños Chapter.^[1]

He was named as one of the members of the

Banzon received numerous awards for his works. On July 14, 1959, the office of the secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources awarded him a certificate of merit for his “Outstanding Research Work on Extraction of Coconut Oil”. He was also awarded a plaque as outstanding chemical graduate by the UP Chemical Society of the Philippines and the PHILSUGIN award for research by the Crop Society of the Philippine in 1976. Banzon was also named "Chemist of the Year" by the Professional Regulation Commission in 1978. In 1980 he was awarded Distinguished Service Award by the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines, Incorporated, and in 1986, the University of the Philippines conferred him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. In July 1986, he was conferred National Scientist of the Philippines by then President Corazon Aquino for his contribution in the field of chemistry in the country.^[1][2]

References