&content_zara=Received the award "Tres Honorable" from the Sorbonne University, Paris France, the same honor granted to Madame Curie (the famous French chemist and physicist who won Nobel Prizes for her works).  
He received awards and distinctions including: Distinguished Service Medal and Presidential Citation, Presidential Award of Merit for Science and Research in the Field of Aeronautics, and Presidential Medal and Diploma of Honor.    
&content_popup=Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara is currently the chairman of the National Research Council of the Philippines. He was born in Lipa, Batangas on March 8, 1902. Dr. Zara graduated as valedictorian in elementary and high school in Batangas. He finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institutes of Technology, USA in 1926. He also completed his Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Michigan, USA in 1927 as summa cumlaude. Dr. Zara received his Doctor of Science in Physics at the Sorbonne University of Paris, France in 1930 as summa cum laude. He also received the award "Tres Honorable" in the same university, the same honor granted to Madame Curie (the famous French chemist and physicist who won Nobel Prizes for her works). 
Dr. Zara invented and contributed so many things such as: earth induction compass, semi-automatic propeller making machine, aircraft engine to fly with the use of plain alcohol, research and experimentation on the suitability of Philippine woods for aircraft construction, design and construction of the first airplane built in the Philippines out of local materials, TV-telephone, the first thermo-solar energy machine in the Philippines, General Marex X-10, a robot that can talk, walk and obey commands, the first solar battery in the Philippines, and wooden microscope. 
He received awards and distinctions including: Distinguished Service Medal and Presidential Citation, Presidential Award of Merit for Science and Research in the Field of Aeronautics, and Presidential Medal and Diploma of Honor.