| Severino “Bino” Legarda Koh, Ph.D. Columbia, Maryland Renowned Filipino Scientist, Educator and Scholar |
A friend volunteered to describe briefly our distinguished
awardee, and what this friend enumerated as “brief” was more
than enough to be proud to call this gentleman a Filipino. In a
nutshell, Dr. Severino “Bino” Legarda Koh, Ph.D. is a Professor
and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering - UMBC;
Professor of Mechanical Engineering - UMBC; M.S. (Engr.
Mechanics, Penn State) - Ph.D. (Engr. Sciences, Purdue);
Founding President, Philippine-American Academy of Science &
Engineering (PAASE); Founding Secretary, Society of Engineering
Sciences (SES); Recipient of numerous awards including the
Humboldt Prize from Germany.
A true and pure-blooded “Manila Boy,” Severino “Bino” Legarda
Koh was born, raised and educated in the City of Manila, on
January 8, 1927. One of the three children of Enrique Koh and
Felisa Legarda, both of Manila, “Bino,” as he insists to be called
by friends, first came to the United States as one of the first
“pensionado” students (scholars) sent by the Philippine
government. Although his secondary education was first
interrupted in his sophomore year at Arellano High School by
the Second World War , he continued and completed his junior
and senior years in high school during the Japanese occupation
awardee, and what this friend enumerated as “brief” was more
than enough to be proud to call this gentleman a Filipino. In a
nutshell, Dr. Severino “Bino” Legarda Koh, Ph.D. is a Professor
and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering - UMBC;
Professor of Mechanical Engineering - UMBC; M.S. (Engr.
Mechanics, Penn State) - Ph.D. (Engr. Sciences, Purdue);
Founding President, Philippine-American Academy of Science &
Engineering (PAASE); Founding Secretary, Society of Engineering
Sciences (SES); Recipient of numerous awards including the
Humboldt Prize from Germany.
A true and pure-blooded “Manila Boy,” Severino “Bino” Legarda
Koh was born, raised and educated in the City of Manila, on
January 8, 1927. One of the three children of Enrique Koh and
Felisa Legarda, both of Manila, “Bino,” as he insists to be called
by friends, first came to the United States as one of the first
“pensionado” students (scholars) sent by the Philippine
government. Although his secondary education was first
interrupted in his sophomore year at Arellano High School by
the Second World War , he continued and completed his junior
and senior years in high school during the Japanese occupation
in the Philippines, and managed to graduate as salutatorian in 1943 from Araullo Boys’ High School.
After high school, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of the Philippines, 1943-1947, again
his education was interrupted -- this time, due to the liberation of Manila. During those five trying and
difficult years brought by the war, Bino maintained a “University Scholar” grades which meant free
tuition fees and other educational expenses, all undertaken by the Philippine Government. And because of
his exemplary and impressive high grades in all his courses at the University of the Philippines (UP),
immediately after the conclusion of the Second World War, Bino was awarded the highly coveted
“Pensionadoship” (scholar) under the Philippine Rehabilitation Program of 1946, and was among the first
group of scholars sent by the Philippine Government to study meteorology at New York University (1947-
1948). He later trained with the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., and in Boston, Massachusetts in
1950. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of New York, He returned to
Manila and he went back to college in order to complete his studies in Mechanical Engineering. Emerging
as top in his class in 1952, he received his degree in Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from
one of Manila’s renowned university, the National University (NU). The coveted NU Dean’s Medal and the
Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) Medal for Outstanding Scholarship was awarded to
Severino L. Koh, and he was unanimously voted the “Most Outstanding Student of the Year - 1952” by his
classmates and the entire faculty members of National University.
When Bino Koh returned to the United States in 1952 to pursue graduate studies, his academic
accomplishments were phenomenal and highly impressive. Initially enrolling at the famous Johns
Hopkins University in Maryland for his graduate studies, Bino earned a degree in Meteorology in 1955; The
next two years, Bino worked for and earned his Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics Degree from
the Pennsylvania State University. His research and thesis was on the impact behavior of materials.
Not satisfied with his Master’s Degree, Bino enrolled at the famous Purdue University and in 1961, he
earned the highest academic requirements, the coveted Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering
Sciences/ His research and dissertation on the nonlinear thermo-mechanical behavior of viscoe lastic
materials is the first known investigation on the nonlinear interaction of the thermal characteristics and
mechanical behavior of materials.
After earning the highest pinnacle in his field of endeavor and armed with professional and academic
experiences ever attained by any Filipino, Bino returned in 1952 to his beloved country, the Philippines “in
order to share and to impart some of his educational knowledge to the Filipino people. He unselfishly
taught college mathematics at the University of the East in Manila.
In August 1954, after sharing his knowledge for two years to the Filipino people, Bino decided to relocate
to the United States, and from 1962 to 1972, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Engineering
Sciences, and later as full Professorship at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1972, he gained the
distinct honor of being the first Filipino to be Tenured ,Full Professor. He later was promoted as
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Assistant Head of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. Still
at Purdue in 1973, he was appointed, aside from being a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering,the
highest accolade as Head of the Department of Engineering at Purdue-Calumet.
The West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, West Virginia appointed Dr. Severino Koh as a
Tenured Full Professor, again the distinction of being the first Filipino to gain that honor. For four years
up to 1982, Dr. Koh organized the merger of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics,
and the Department of Aerospace Engineering serving as Chairman and Professor of the merged
departments.
Finally in 1985, the renowned University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), appointed Dr. Severino
Legarda Koh to a full tenured professorship of Mechanical Engineering, again earning the distinction of being
the first Filipino appointed, and in addition he was named Associate Dean of Engineering, in-charged with
the building and development of a new College of Engineering and Serves as its first Dean. Currently, as
UMBC Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Bino Koh is also the Chair of Civil Engineering charged with
the task of building a new Department of Civil Engineering.
Students from all over the world attend his classes and lectures. His global exposure as a Filipino
scientist, indeed, is a pride of all Filipinos abroad and in the Philippines.
A sought-after visiting professor and research scientist, Bino lectured globally at several renowned
universities. In Germany he was a visiting professor and scientist at Technische Universitat Clausthal
(1968-69), Technische Universitat Karlsruhe (1969), and Univesitat Boon (1974). In Japan: Tokyo Institute of
Technology (1991-92), the University of Tokyo, and Nagoya University. In the Philippines: the University of
San Carlos in Cebu City, as UNDP TOKTEN consultant for development of the MS Degree in Engineering.
He taught graduate and undergraduate engineering courses at several universities and was rated
among the best teachers at these universities. The first teaching award presented at Purdue University
was the “Standard Oil Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching” was bestowed to Dr. Severino Legarda
Koh in 1967.
Numerous prestigious awards were bestowed to Bino Koh. Among them: the Humboldt Preis, a U.S.
Senior Scientist Award presented in Germany in 1974; the Most Outstanding Filipino Overseas in Science
presented by the Republic of the Philippines President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1981; the Most Outstanding
Filipino Scientist: the coveted “Most Outstanding Engineer and Scientist” bestowed by his peers in the
Engineers and Scientists Organization; and many more accolades.
Dr. Severino Koh is married to the former Paz Ongjoco of San Juan, Rizal A family of accomplished
members, they have four daughters: Dr. Amelita P. Koh, Mrs. Bernadette P. Koh, Dr. Cynthia P. Koh, and
Mrs. Evangeline P. Brown
Dr, Severino “Bino” Legarda Koh’s brothers are Dr. Eusebio L. Koh, a 1998 TOFA awardee, and Alejandro
L. Koh. (NM)
After high school, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of the Philippines, 1943-1947, again
his education was interrupted -- this time, due to the liberation of Manila. During those five trying and
difficult years brought by the war, Bino maintained a “University Scholar” grades which meant free
tuition fees and other educational expenses, all undertaken by the Philippine Government. And because of
his exemplary and impressive high grades in all his courses at the University of the Philippines (UP),
immediately after the conclusion of the Second World War, Bino was awarded the highly coveted
“Pensionadoship” (scholar) under the Philippine Rehabilitation Program of 1946, and was among the first
group of scholars sent by the Philippine Government to study meteorology at New York University (1947-
1948). He later trained with the U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C., and in Boston, Massachusetts in
1950. After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of New York, He returned to
Manila and he went back to college in order to complete his studies in Mechanical Engineering. Emerging
as top in his class in 1952, he received his degree in Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from
one of Manila’s renowned university, the National University (NU). The coveted NU Dean’s Medal and the
Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) Medal for Outstanding Scholarship was awarded to
Severino L. Koh, and he was unanimously voted the “Most Outstanding Student of the Year - 1952” by his
classmates and the entire faculty members of National University.
When Bino Koh returned to the United States in 1952 to pursue graduate studies, his academic
accomplishments were phenomenal and highly impressive. Initially enrolling at the famous Johns
Hopkins University in Maryland for his graduate studies, Bino earned a degree in Meteorology in 1955; The
next two years, Bino worked for and earned his Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics Degree from
the Pennsylvania State University. His research and thesis was on the impact behavior of materials.
Not satisfied with his Master’s Degree, Bino enrolled at the famous Purdue University and in 1961, he
earned the highest academic requirements, the coveted Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Engineering
Sciences/ His research and dissertation on the nonlinear thermo-mechanical behavior of viscoe lastic
materials is the first known investigation on the nonlinear interaction of the thermal characteristics and
mechanical behavior of materials.
After earning the highest pinnacle in his field of endeavor and armed with professional and academic
experiences ever attained by any Filipino, Bino returned in 1952 to his beloved country, the Philippines “in
order to share and to impart some of his educational knowledge to the Filipino people. He unselfishly
taught college mathematics at the University of the East in Manila.
In August 1954, after sharing his knowledge for two years to the Filipino people, Bino decided to relocate
to the United States, and from 1962 to 1972, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Engineering
Sciences, and later as full Professorship at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1972, he gained the
distinct honor of being the first Filipino to be Tenured ,Full Professor. He later was promoted as
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Assistant Head of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. Still
at Purdue in 1973, he was appointed, aside from being a Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering,the
highest accolade as Head of the Department of Engineering at Purdue-Calumet.
The West Virginia University (WVU) in Morgantown, West Virginia appointed Dr. Severino Koh as a
Tenured Full Professor, again the distinction of being the first Filipino to gain that honor. For four years
up to 1982, Dr. Koh organized the merger of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics,
and the Department of Aerospace Engineering serving as Chairman and Professor of the merged
departments.
Finally in 1985, the renowned University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), appointed Dr. Severino
Legarda Koh to a full tenured professorship of Mechanical Engineering, again earning the distinction of being
the first Filipino appointed, and in addition he was named Associate Dean of Engineering, in-charged with
the building and development of a new College of Engineering and Serves as its first Dean. Currently, as
UMBC Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Bino Koh is also the Chair of Civil Engineering charged with
the task of building a new Department of Civil Engineering.
Students from all over the world attend his classes and lectures. His global exposure as a Filipino
scientist, indeed, is a pride of all Filipinos abroad and in the Philippines.
A sought-after visiting professor and research scientist, Bino lectured globally at several renowned
universities. In Germany he was a visiting professor and scientist at Technische Universitat Clausthal
(1968-69), Technische Universitat Karlsruhe (1969), and Univesitat Boon (1974). In Japan: Tokyo Institute of
Technology (1991-92), the University of Tokyo, and Nagoya University. In the Philippines: the University of
San Carlos in Cebu City, as UNDP TOKTEN consultant for development of the MS Degree in Engineering.
He taught graduate and undergraduate engineering courses at several universities and was rated
among the best teachers at these universities. The first teaching award presented at Purdue University
was the “Standard Oil Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching” was bestowed to Dr. Severino Legarda
Koh in 1967.
Numerous prestigious awards were bestowed to Bino Koh. Among them: the Humboldt Preis, a U.S.
Senior Scientist Award presented in Germany in 1974; the Most Outstanding Filipino Overseas in Science
presented by the Republic of the Philippines President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1981; the Most Outstanding
Filipino Scientist: the coveted “Most Outstanding Engineer and Scientist” bestowed by his peers in the
Engineers and Scientists Organization; and many more accolades.
Dr. Severino Koh is married to the former Paz Ongjoco of San Juan, Rizal A family of accomplished
members, they have four daughters: Dr. Amelita P. Koh, Mrs. Bernadette P. Koh, Dr. Cynthia P. Koh, and
Mrs. Evangeline P. Brown
Dr, Severino “Bino” Legarda Koh’s brothers are Dr. Eusebio L. Koh, a 1998 TOFA awardee, and Alejandro
L. Koh. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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