Renato Umali Solidum Jr. is a Filipino geologist and government official. Solidum has been Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) since August 13, 2022.^[2][3] Before his appointment as Secretary, Solidum served as an Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation at DOST and as the Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

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Quick Facts 9th Secretary of Science and Technology, President ...

Renato Solidum Jr.
Solidum in 2022
9th Secretary of Science and Technology[1]
Incumbent
Assumed office August 13, 2022[lower-alpha 1]
President	Bongbong Marcos
Preceded by	Fortunato de la Peña
Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services
In office 2019–2022
President	Rodrigo Duterte Bongbong Marcos
Succeeded by	Usec. Maridon O. Sagahun
Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction Climate Change Adaptation
In office 2017–2019
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Director of PHIVOLCS Officer in charge[lower-alpha 2]
In office 2003–2022
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Benigno Aquino III Rodrigo Duterte Bongbong Marcos
Preceded by	Raymundo Punongbayan
Succeeded by	Usec. Teresito C. Bacolcol
Personal details
Born	Renato Umali Solidum Jr.
Nationality	Filipino
Alma mater	University of the Philippines (B.S.) University of Illinois Chicago (M.S.) University of California, San Diego (Ph.D)
Occupation	Geologist
Scientific career
Fields	Geology
Institutions	Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Solidum is from the town of Odiongan in Romblon province,^[3] where he attended high school.^[4]

Originally, Solidum wanted to be a civil engineer and took the entrance examination for University of the Philippines, though he passed the exam, he was ineligible to enroll in an engineering course as it only accepted a limited number of students each year. Instead, he enrolled in geology with the intention of later switching to the engineering. However, he decided against this and earned a bachelor's degree in geology.^[4]

He also studied in the United States at the University of Illinois Chicago, where he obtained a master's degree in geological sciences. Then he earned a PhD in earth sciences at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.^[5]

Solidum has been part of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) since it split off from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in 1984.^[6] He was hired shortly after graduating from the University of the Philippines, with the endorsement of then-director Raymundo Punongbayan.^[4]

He first received international attention in 1991 when PHIVOLCS director Punongbayan tasked him to work with the United States Geological Service gathering data at the then restive Mount Pinatubo. The findings of the team led to Punongbayan to raise an evacuation alert in the area prior to a major volcanic eruption saving thousands of lives in Central Luzon.^[6]

From 2003 to 2017 he served in PHIVOLCS as its director and then Officer-in-Charge from March 2017.^[7] He was also appointed as Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA).^[5] In 2019, he became undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services.^[3]

Solidum was appointed as ad interim DOST Secretary by President Bongbong Marcos on July 22, 2022.^[5]

In recognition of his contributions to disaster risk reduction in the Philippines, Solidum has received numerous awards, including:^[7]

• Presidential Lingkod Bayan (Civil Servant) Award
• Presidential Citation for Public Service
• Professional of the Year in the field of Geology by the Professional Regulation Commission
• Excellence Award for Government Service by the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations

Solidum is married and has three children.^[5]