Dr. Olivyn Angeles is one of IRRI’s most beloved and respected agronomists. Part of the Sustainable Impact through Rice Based Systems Department, she was a senior associate scientist who performed research on sustainable soil, climate change, and adaptive agronomy.
“Ibyang,” as she is fondly called by friends, Dr. Angeles earned her PhD in environmental science at Chiba University (2009-2014). She was a member of the pioneering team studying microbiomes at IRRI, working under Dr. Pr JK Ladha. She then transitioned to agronomy research with the water science team, collaborating with Dr. TP Thuong and Dr. Bas Bouman. Later, she made significant contributions to crop modeling alongside Dr. Tao Li. Within the modeling team, she was a key contributor and co-author of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for plant sampling protocols, with a focus on phenology, biomass, and yield component measurements.
Among her most significant contributions was her role as lead coordinator of the IRRI Long Term Continuous Cropping Experiment (LTCCE). She also represented the institute as the main focal point of the global consortium of long-term experiments led by the Rothamsted Institute.
She was recently involved in the implementation of the Reducing Methane Emissions from Rice (REMET-Rice) project, aiming at reducing methane emissions from rice by leading and overseeing the integrated agronomy workstream of the project. This involved exploring novel technologies to enhance the climate resilience of rice farming systems. The project included intensive laboratory analyses of various compounds affecting methane production, examining how different management practices in the field impact productivity and yield. Additionally, it involved modeling best management practice packages tailored to the specific conditions of farmers’ sites.
Dr. Angeles has been the custodian of excellence and integrity in research and science practices at SIRS. Her attention to detail, rigor, and commitment to data quality provided a strong foundation in her role as a core member of the IRRI SIRS Data Enablement and Stewardship for Knowledge Exchange (DESK) committee. She authored the Department’s internal data sharing policy and leads the integration of FAIR principles into IRRI’s research workflows. She excels at fostering global collaborations and upholding rigorous data stewardship, ultimately maximizing the value of multi-unit research data to create sustainable impact.
Through Risk Management and Quality Assurance (RMQA), Dr. Angeles contributed to most of the policies and procedures guiding research operations at SIRS while ensuring staff receive the training and support needed to uphold international standards of scientific excellence and integrity. She served as the RMQA Lead for SIRS Team together with the other RMQA Officers in managing risks in support of the SIRS Research Director and participating in the institute–wide RMQA initiatives and activities.
Dr. Angeles is a role model of women in science. She has inspired many scientists, researchers, and staff at IRRI, and inspired young scientists at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she was an adjunct professor.
A true pioneer, she was a founding member of the IRRI Filipino Scientists Association (IFSA) and a dedicated leader within the IRRI community. She served as Chair of the IRRI Filipino Employees Association (IFEA) and as an officer of the IRRI Employees Credit and Development Cooperative (IRRI-ECDC), where her contributions significantly advanced employee welfare, professional development, and a strong sense of community. Through these roles, she helped foster a culture of support and collaboration across the institute. Beyond IRRI, she also served as the Chair of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP), contributing to the advancement of the discipline and the strengthening of professional networks.
But of the many hats she wore, being a mother to her three sons and a wife to her husband of 35 years has been her favorite. Recently becoming a grandmother to a beautiful baby girl was the cherry on top of her fully accomplished life.
As Dr. Angeles wrapped up her life here on earth, her legacy will continue through her influential work: conducting rigorous and impactful scientific research, mentoring and supporting the next generation, and ensuring that the scientific community directs its efforts to improving the lives of farmers and communities while protecting the future of our planet.
“In 2018, Olivyn spent a year at the world’s oldest agricultural research station, Rothamsted Research, having won a Rothamsted International Fellowship. While at Rothamsted, she worked on historical data from the famous long-term experiment, Broadbalk, that has been running since 1843, exploring novel methodologies for combining the effect of the fertiliser treatments on multiple outcomes including yield, soil carbon, and nitrogen use efficiency. This important piece of work laid the foundations for the establishment of a repository for long-term agricultural experiment meta-data (the Global Long Term Experiment Network, GLTEN) and subsequent meta-analysis that combined data from across 30 long-term experiments in Europe and Africa.” – Dr. Jonathan Storkey
“Beyond her scientific excellence, Olivyn was deeply respected for her integrity, mentorship, and ability to inspire colleagues and young scientists alike. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.” – Dr. J.K. Ladha
