Did You Know: 25th death anniversary of Carmen Velasquez

Today, Oct. 16, is the 25th death anniversary of National Scientist Carmen Velasquez.

Best known for her studies of tropical fish parasitology, her findings contributed much to understanding the relationship of fish parasitology with conservation, aquaculture management and public health.

Born on Aug. 7, 1913, she graduated in 1934 with a degree in zoology from the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City.

Velasquez was the first doctorate holder in parasitology at UP in 1957.

She received many awards, including the Distinguished Service medal and Diploma of Honor from the Republic of the Philippines in 1965, on top of the Outstanding Women in Science in the Philippines at the 9th Unesco Biennial Conference in 1975.

Velasquez was named a National Scientist in 1983. —Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research