�AV

This Pride Month, UP Diliman (�AV) proudly introduces Noelynna T. Ramos, DSc, geologist, researcher, and �AV faculty for 20 years.

A professor at the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), she has also been the institute’s director since 2024.

A tireless geologist and researcher, Ramos’ articles have been published in various Scopus-indexed and Clarivate Analytics-indexed journals, nine of which were published from 2022 to 2025.

Ramos has not only served within the University, but has also dedicated herself in many national and international interests, particularly those involving geology. Among her national involvements, Ramos has been an associate editor of the Geological Society of the Philippines since 2018, a regular member of the National Research Council of the Philippines since 2018, and a member of the Geological Society of the Philippines.

In the global arena, some of her notable posts include being assistant editor of Geosciences Letters since 2022, a member of the editorial advisory board of Earth Surface Processes and Landforms since 2022, the Philippines’ national scientific member representative at the International Association of Geomorphologists since 2021, and section secretary (Solid Earth) of the Asia Oceania Geosciences Society from September 2016 to September 2023.

Embodying the University’s commitment to teaching, research, and public service, Ramos shared some of her milestone accomplishments.

In teaching, Ramos first shared her creation of a classroom culture built on trust, openness, and shared inquiry.

According to her, “one of my most meaningful teaching milestones has been the intentional creation of a classroom environment where students feel safe to think openly, speak freely, and participate as intellectual partners in the learning process.”

Ramos explained that she actively worked on reducing barriers between her and her students while maintaining mutual respect. She structured open discussions where her students’ voices carry equal weight “and by designing assessments that allow space for independent thought.”

“In particular, I include a ‘freedom space’ within examinations, giving students room to articulate ideas, reflections, or interpretations beyond rigid answer formats. I also provide space for valuable informal learning opportunities, such as ‘free topic reporting’ during my Geology 11 classes to allow students to share their interest while practicing essential skills like communication. I noticed that these activities are a good practice to build rapport with students, reducing their hesitation to participate during classes,” Ramos explained.

She noticed that for many students it was very difficult to have access to resources. Ramos does her best to support student engagements by increasing access to materials for her geology classes. She recalled the time that she advised her students to buy 3D anaglyph glasses online “so they could actively participate in discussions involving spatial visualization and geomorphological analysis.”

Ramos stated that her teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that learning flourishes in environments built on trust, inclusion, and respect.

“This milestone reflects my commitment to listening through action by designing learning spaces that empower students to contribute meaningfully, think independently, and engage deeply with the discipline,” she said.

This classroom culture is an ongoing practice in Ramos’s teaching career.

Her second milestone accomplishment in teaching was her commitment to grounding her students in the “foundational practices of geomorphology through direct, hands-on engagement with field and laboratory methods.”

“Rather than limiting instruction to curriculum requirements. I deliberately extend learning experiences to include real-world data collection and equipment use training, which is essential for the geology profession. For example, although the subject required only the interpretation of active faults using existing ground penetrating radar (GPR) profiles, I ensured that students personally conduct GPR survey themselves. Similarly, instead of solely interpreting prepared sediment log profiles, I guided students through the process of creating sediment logs based on firsthand observation and sample collection using a geoslicer and auger. I designed and supervised these activities to ensure students gained practical experience with the tools and processes that underpin geomorphological analysis,” Ramos said.

This practice is implemented during a course term and completed at the end of the subject offering.

In research, Ramos shared that her milestone accomplishment was her role as project leader and meeting host of the international conference International Geoscience Programme 725: Forecasting Coastal Change in the Philippines in 2024.

The conference gathered 80 coastal scientists and researchers from Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, and provided an avenue to local researchers through the funding support of UNESCO, International Union of Geological Sciences, International Geoscience Programme, and Past Global Changes.

As project leader and meeting host, Ramos’s responsibility was to spearhead the event organization, ensuring that “necessary scientific standards were met.”

The annual meeting established partnerships between local and international institutions and highlighted the University’s commitment to the global science community.

In addition, Ramos said, “[the] local funding support [that] was introduced, [was made] available [to] disadvantaged and upcoming student coastal researchers. Through this grant scheme, a large portion of the delegation that consisted of Filipino participants, brought local research to a global stage.”

In relation to teaching, Ramos said she made sure the event was made available to students to participate in.

“As someone who values hands-on learning, selected student participants were able to join fieldtrips to important geo sites across the Ilocos Region. They were also exposed to coastal research of the international community, which has inspired further academic research and theses,” she explained.

As a researcher, Ramos considered her sustained research collaborations and mentorship as milestone accomplishments.

“Throughout my career, I have intentionally worked towards building a broad network of research collaborations spanning multiple subdisciplines within the geosciences. The collaborations have resulted in publication covering a wide range of research topics, each with distinct impacts for communities and applied geoscience practice,” Ramos explained.

Through her collaborations with colleagues from Nanyang Technological University, National Taiwan University, University of Tokyo, and Kyoto University, among others, Ramos and her partners were able “to investigate how tectonic and surface processes contribute to landscape development and evolution.”

She explained that “by engaging in collaborative research across varied topics, I was able to contribute to scientific knowledge while also addressing issues relevant to different communities.”

Finally, Ramos shared she considers her consistent dedication in sharing knowledge and her mentoring beyond institutional boundaries as her milestone accomplishments in public service.

“It is not uncommon for scientists to be as preoccupied with their research that they disregard interactions outside academic circles. I have consistently worked to extend my expertise beyond the University by engaging with government agencies, other universities, and communities,” Ramos said.

Ramos has conducted technical workshops in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management offices and seminars at various universities, among them the Caraga State University, Ateneo de Manila University, and UP Los Baños. She was also a resource person for the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

“A significant milestone in my public service is my sustained commitment to extending mentorship, teaching, and disciplinary support beyond my home institution to students and programs with shared interests in geomorphology, active tectonics, and geology,” she said. “By extending mentorship beyond formal teaching responsibilities, I help broaden access to geomorphologic education and encourage sustained interest in the geosciences,” Ramos explained.

On May 8 this year, Ramos was one of two faculty members conferred with the Gawad Tsanselor sa Natatanging Guro. The award is UP Diliman’s highest and most prestigious honor given to its faculty members as recognition for their exemplary service to the University and to the general public.

Ramos earned her Doctor of Science in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Kyoto University in Japan in 2011.

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