Ask Theory: Recent Episodes
Mikael Francisco
Hosted by Pinoy science journalist Mikael Angelo Francisco, the Ask Theory Podcast shines the spotlight on Pinoy scientific brilliance. Each episode of Ask Theory features a Pinoy scientist from one of the various scientific disciplines. In a very casual Taglish conversation, guests explain what they do in simple terms, as well as share their fascinating stories: how they got into science, the challenges they face, what motivates them to pursue their fields, what future scientists from the Philippines can look forward to, and so much more.
Music: Miles From Home by Glitch
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, Frances Mae Tenorio talks about domestic cat predation, the problem of invasive species, responsible pet ownership, and more.
Learn about her study on domestic cat predation here: https://www.flipscience.ph/plants-and-animals/domestic-cats-mt-makiling-forest-reserve/
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
Inside a small, stuffy cave in Batangas, researchers found a species of spider that has never been recorded in the Philippines before—a discovery with potential impacts on environmental policy and local tourism.
This episode is an audio adaptation of the following article: https://www.flipscience.ph/plants-and-animals/recluse-spiders-taxonomy/
Episode 157 of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, Dr. Chenery Ann Lim of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders talks about what pertussis or "whooping cough" is, why pertussis is dangerous, who is most at risk of contracting pertussis, how to mitigate the spread of pertussis, attitudes toward infectious disease prevention, and more.
To learn more or to contact the MSF team, visit: https://doctorswithoutborders-apac.org/en/about-us/contact-us
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, Dr. Chenery Ann Lim of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders talks about the basics of methanol poisoning, the origin of the term "gin bulag," how Philippine media practitioners talk about methanol poisoning, the difference between methanol poisoning and excessive alcohol consumption, what to do if you suspect you have methanol poisoning, and more.
To learn more or to contact the MSF team, visit: https://doctorswithoutborders-apac.org/en/about-us/contact-us
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, science communicator Jo Brianne Briones talks about why we are so fascinated with space, how it feels to work at the Philippine Space Agency, the many ways space science benefits the public, how science cultivates geeky interests (and vice versa), and more.
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, Genea Nichole Cortez of Mangrove Matters PH talks about mangrove conservation, the problem of "wrong" mangrove planting, Earth Hour and other similar awareness campaigns, using art to spread environmental awareness, and more.
Links:
Neymatophores on INPRNT: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/neymatophores/
Neymatophores on Facebook: fb.com/neymatophores
The National Mangrove Map of 2023: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/Du4yZ6xRckSL12PW/?
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, Dr. Trisha Angelie Thadhani of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders talks about tuberculosis in the Philippines, why TB is still a taboo topic for some, the issue of bedaquiline and how it affects TB treatment in the Philippines, current strategies for TB awareness and treatment, why World TB Day matters, and more. To learn more, visit: https://doctorswithoutborders-apac.org/en/our-work-on-tuberculosis
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
In this episode of the Ask Theory podcast, licensed nutritionist-dietitian and space enthusiast Kristine Jane Atienza talks about the field of space nutrition, becoming the first Filipina analog astronaut, the importance of analog space missions, what can the government and the public can do to better support women in STEM, and more.
This episode was made possible by the British Council Philippines, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Now on its fourth year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship programme. For more information, visit the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
WomenInSTEM #STEMHasNoLimits
Jackielyn Abela is a full-time faculty member of the Social Science Department of Palawan State University. She is a graduate of BA Social Science major in Social Anthropology from the University of the Philippines Baguio. Currently, she is the assistant director of the Palawan Studies Center and the head of secretariat for the PSU Research Ethics Review Committee.
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Dr. Emmanuelle Angeles finished his Doctor of Medicine degree at the West Visayas State University, Iloilo City and finished his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Atty. Jay Mark Balbosa earned his Juris Doctor degree from Andres Bonifacio College, Dipolog City and his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the Mindanao State University-Buug Campus, Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Dr. Carah Lyn Lo obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Studies (Minor in Veterinary Medicine) from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Von Carlo Dela Torre finished his BS and MS Biology at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. His research interests include Wildlife Biodiversity and Ecology, Molecular Biology, Infectious Diseases, and One Health.
We talked about the relationship between human health and biodiversity and ecology, mitigating the emergence of pathogens in Davao, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, and more.
How to contact Von:
Email: vpdelatorre@up.edu.ph; delatorre.vp.f@slmc-cm.edu.ph
Facebook: fb.com/voncarlo.delatorre.1
Instagram: @vonpdt
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Carlo Lumangaya attained a degree in Public Health at the University of the Philippines Manila. He has had a diverse work experience with grassroots work at local levels, technical roles at the subnational and national levels, and development work at the international level. He has also been involved in the management and implementation of projects on infectious diseases of poverty across different disciplines.
We talked about public health at the grassroots level, infectious diseases of poverty, coordinating with local authorities for health initiatives, the concept of One Health, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, and more.
How to contact Carlo:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carlolumangaya
Email: lumangaya.cr.f@slmc-cm.edu.ph
Facebook: fb.com/
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Dr. Reginald Bernardo is a gravitational physicist and cosmologist. He studied at the National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines where he received his BS and MS degrees. A member of the NIP Gravity Group, he was awarded his doctoral degree in 2020. He worked as an Instructor and Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines, and is currently a postdoc at the Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica.
We talked about gravitational physics, cosmology, his work as a gravitational physicist, his recent projects, the Liknayan Podcast, and more.
How to contact Dr. Reginald:
- Email: reginaldchristianbernardo@gmail.com
- Facebook: fb.com/liknayan.podcast
- YouTube: @liknayan.podcast
- More info: https://www.flipscience.ph/features/reginald-bernardo-gravitational-physicist/
Ryan John Pascual completed his master's degree in Aquaculture at Ghent University. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree on Sustainable Leadership and Governance at De La Salle University Dasmariñas while working as a Project Technical Specialist on Special Concerns at the National Academy of Science and Technology.
We talked about sustainable leadership, agritourism, working with NAST, his recent projects, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, and more.
How to contact Ryan:
Instagram: @ryanjohnpascual
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryanjohnpascual
Facebook: fb.com/BEscholarsforPH
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Keisha Mayuga is a sustainable mobility professional with 6 years of experience in the field, tackling different topics such as cycling, building community spaces, and mobility justice. She is the founder of Life Cycles PH, an initiative in the pandemic that helped 1500 essential workers get home on bicycles, and is a member of mobility groups such as AltMobility PH and Move As One Coalition.
We talked about sustainable mobility, why Filipinos are so dependent on cars, creating a more biker-friendly and commuter-friendly Philippines, jeepney modernization, and more.
How to contact Keisha:
Website: keishamayuga.com
Instagram: @bikekeish
Facebook (AltMobility PH): fb.com/AltMobilityPH
Facebook (Move As One Coalition): fb.com/MoveAsOneCoalition
Dr. Leodevico Ilag obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences in the United States of America. Thereafter, he served as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Purdue University in the USA working on the structural biology of viruses and viral proteins. He has over 25 years of early-stage biotech company experience across a broad spectrum of biotechnologies.
We talked about capitalism and science, commercializing biology, ivermectin and COVID-19, the Tenth Man Rule, expressing dissenting opinions regarding science, and more.
How to contact Dr. Vic:
Email: vilag2001@yahoo.com
In terms of innovativeness, ingenuity, and sheer resourcefulness, Filipinos can easily give everyone else in the world a run for their money. But in our rush to proclaim our #PinoyPride to the rest of the world, do we end up claiming credit for things that Filipinos didn't actually invent?
Dr. Neil Andrew Bascos is a Protein Structural Biologist from the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He also serves as Program Director for the Protein, Proteomics and Metabolomic Facility of the Philippine Genome Center. His research involves investigations of the effect of structural forms on the functions of medically relevant proteins.
We talked about omics, the science behind proteins, studying proteins at the molecular level, unexpected paths in science inquiry, butterfly disease, and more.
How to contact Dr. Neil:
Email: ndbascos@up.edu.ph
The entire Rafflesia genus is an enormous enigma, in more ways than one. Information about it is oddly scarce, which is unfortunate considering its threatened status. But what would really happen if we were to lose this one-of-a-kind flower -- and what are Filipino scientists doing to save it?
FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://www.flipscience.ph/podcast/ask-theory-podcast-140-can-the-worlds-biggest-and-weirdest-flower-be-saved/
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible through a collaboration with Reporting Asean as part of its Sustainability Series.
In this special episode, FlipScience EIC and Ask Theory host Mikael Angelo Francisco spoke to Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, a professor at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Dr. Bernard Alan "BA" Racoma, an instructor at IESM.
They talked about the behavior of tropical cyclones over the past 25 years, how tropical cyclones have affected the Philippines, the lessons we can apply to living with typhoons in the climate emergency, what needs to change about how we discuss the risks of tropical cyclones (including in the news), and more.
Full transcript and data visualizations here: https://www.reportingasean.net/philippines-is-typhoon-behaviour-shifting-at-a-time-of-climate-change/
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines (NGOHP). For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Dr. Gail Co is a licensed physician with a Masters in Business Administration, with an interest in sustainability and global health. She is currently involved in projects intersecting human health and planetary health, both locally and globally.
Ella Asuncion is a licensed medical technologist and a part-time faculty at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. Currently, she is taking her Master’s Degree in Public Health specializing in Environmental Health at the University of the Philippines Manila.
Carlo Frances Luayon is a faculty member teaching broadcasting/journalism courses at the University of the Philippines Baguio. He is also finishing his master's degree in Journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
We talked about the One Health concept, the Next Generation One Health Philippines program, familiarizing public officials and policymakers with the One Health concept, transdisciplinary research and its role in One Health, some of the upcoming events/activities hosted by NGOHP, and more.
How to get in touch with the NGOHP team:
- Website: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/
- Online course: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/resources/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextgenonehealthph
Register for NGOHP's webinar on August 28, 2023: bit.ly/NGOHPJuanHealthEp3
Jose Emmanuel De Luna is a licensed agriculturist and has a master’s degree in Entomology (Insecticide Toxicology) from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is an Assistant Professor 3 at the university’s Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology under the College of Agriculture and Food Science. As an entomologist, he is involved in various projects related to the bio-ecology of insect pests, biological control agents, and their management of different crops.
We talked about how to become an entomologist, the importance of insects to society, the positive and negative roles insects play in the world, careers in entomology, the Next Generation One Health Fellowship, and more.
How to contact Jose:
Email: jideluna@up.edu.ph
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Jayvee Moltio is a nurse who currently works as a public health practitioner specializing in health promotion and communication in a government hospital. He is pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Studies, focusing on Medical Anthropology, at the University of the Philippines Baguio. He has received prestigious awards, including the Presidential Lingkod Bayan from the Civil Service Commission. He has been recognized as an Outstanding Citizen in the Province of Benguet and an Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Health and Community Service from Saint Louis University.
We talked about the Universal Health Care Law in the Philippines, how universal health care benefits communities, challenges in improving the Philippine health care system, the Next Generation One Health Fellowship, and more.
How to contact Jayvee:
Facebook - fb.com/jayvee.moltio
Email - jayveemoltio@gmail.com
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Trigger warning: This audio essay contains mentions of suicide and mental health issues.
Do you consider yourself a workaholic? You might want to take a moment to rethink that. There is a difference between working hard and being addicted to work — and confusing the latter for the former can have lethal results.
FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13OZNzC3CY7FfCy9VzVVkQ3uaroMlbjbVV7oqGVjOvSA/edit?usp=sharing
Al John “AJ” Cabanas is a college instructor and a former radio DJ. He took up MS Wildlife Studies minor in Animal Science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. His research interests include camera trapping and human-wildlife interaction. He is working on a project which mainly involves studying the ecology of Philippine endemic wild pigs.
We talked about using camera trapping for environment research, shifting to a career in science, the challenges in getting funding for research in the Philippines, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, one of the world's worst invasive species, and more.
How to contact AJ:
Email: accabanas@up.edu.ph; cabanasaljohn@gmail.com
Instagram: @ajcabanas
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Any plant or animal species brought into a completely unfamiliar environment via human intervention, whether intentionally or accidentally, is considered nonnative. Things start turning ugly, though, when a nonnative species turns invasive.
FULL TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fv2aiX2TcliUvWBjs5vy35SW_4jWHTzmnWEtPihgt-8/edit?usp=sharing
Dr. Erees Queen "Reese" Macabebe is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University. She heads the Ateneo Energy Research Lab. Her research interests include Renewable Energy with expertise in Photovoltaics, Energy Management and Analytics. In 2020, she received the Outstanding Young Scientist Award in Engineering Sciences and Technology from the National Academy of Science and Technology.
We talked about the responsibility of fighting climate change, energy consumption awareness, renewable energy and related technologies in the Philippines, the use of AI in energy analytics, the most difficult thing about addressing the climate crisis, and more.
How to contact Dr. Reese:
Email: emacabebe@ateneo.edu
Alyssa Marie Gimenez is a doctoral student studying Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley pursuing a career in scientific research and academia. Her career interests focus on bridging global public health disparity research with cellular/molecular biology to advance health equity, literacy, and academic opportunity in underrepresented South-East Asian communities both stateside and abroad.
We talked about how the GradMAP Philippines initiative helps Filipino students, why there's no such thing as a stupid question, becoming a mentor for STEM students, how to get over the fear of asking questions, and more.
How to contact Alyssa:
Email: alyssagimenez@berkeley.edu
GradMAP Facebook: fb.com/GradMAPph
GradMAP Twitter: @gradmap_ph
GradMAP Instagram: @gradmap_ph
GradMAP Email: gradmapteam@gmail.com
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with GradMAP Philippines, a mentor network helping Filipino scientists get through graduate school applications. GradMAP Philippines envisions a thriving community of Filipino scientists that work to reduce barriers for Filipinos in pursuing advanced degrees in STEM and related fields. For more information, visit: https://www.gradmap.ph/
Dr. Nikki Heherson Dagamac is a long-term Balik-Scientist at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science at the University of Santo Tomas. He translated his expertise in the fields of basic and applied ecology, evolution, and genetics in the development of the course plans of various technical courses in the Biology program. His knowledge on machine learning, ecological modeling and statistics, and population genetics became fundamental in drafting remote and virtual laboratory exercises in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology.
We talked about slime molds and why they matter, becoming a Balik Scientist, shaping the next generation of scientists, applying science in biodiversity conservation, and more.
How to contact Dr. Nikki:
Email: nadagamac@ust.edu.ph
Juan Salvador "Duno" Dantis is a chemical biologist taking his PhD studies at UC Irvine, and is the Co-Director of Events and Communications at GradMAP Philippines. His research under the Darci Trader lab involves elucidating the mechanisms by which proteasome activity modulates neurodegeneration and how this can be leveraged as a novel therapeutic avenue for protein aggregation diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
We talked about pursuing the STEM track in graduate school, the GradMAP Philippines initiative, the importance of having STEM mentors, how to become a mentor for STEM students, and more.
How to contact Duno:
Email: jdantis@uci.edu
GradMAP Facebook: fb.com/GradMAPph
GradMAP Twitter: @gradmap_ph
GradMAP Instagram: @gradmap_ph
GradMAP Email: gradmapteam@gmail.com
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with GradMAP Philippines, a mentor network helping Filipino scientists get through graduate school applications. GradMAP Philippines envisions a thriving community of Filipino scientists that work to reduce barriers for Filipinos in pursuing advanced degrees in STEM and related fields. For more information, visit: https://www.gradmap.ph/
Dr. Jabez Joshua Flores is an Environmental and GIS Specialist with a doctorate degree in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He has also taken intensive landscape ecology courses at the International Association for Landscape Ecology in Italy.
We talked about permaculture and health, unconventional paths to science careers, how to effectively communicate numeric data, the Next Generation One Health fellowship, preparing for "Disease X," and more.
How to contact Dr. Jabez:
Email: jabezjoshuaflores@gmail.com; permacultureresearchph@gmail.com
Website: permacultureresearchph.blogspot.com
Facebook: fb.com/permacultureresearchph
Instagram: @permacultureresearchph
YouTube: @PermacultureResearchPH
This episode of Ask Theory was made in partnership with Next Generation One Health Philippines. For more information, visit: https://nextgenonehealthph.com/about
Dr. Aries Arugay is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science of the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Asian Politics & Policy, an international Scopus-indexed journal on regional affairs. In 2020, he was the sole social scientist to receive the Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the National Academy of Science & Technology, for his contributions to the “study of democratization processes and consolidation, security sector reform, and strategic studies in the Philippines and Asia.”
We talked about the current state of Philippine democracy, why disinformation spreads so easily and can be so convincing, how the public reacts to scientists giving opinions on national issues, misconceptions about the social sciences, and more.
How to contact Dr. Aries:
Website: polisci.upd.edu.ph
Twitter: @ariesarugay
Facebook: fb.com/wargod
Dr. Francis Aldrine Uy has been the Dean of the School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering at Mapua University, Manila for 15 years. He is the founder of USHER (Universal Structural Health Evaluation and Recording System) Technologies Inc., specializing in applying technological measures that can assess the health and safety of buildings for disaster risk reduction.
We talked about what resilience means, using localized technology for earthquake resilience, becoming a scientist and an entrepreneur, disaster risk reduction in the Philippines, taking USHER Technologies from idea to reality, and more.
How to contact Dr. Francis:
Email: francis.uy@usher.ph
Website: www.usher.ph
Facebook: fb.com/ushertechnologies
Dr. Susan Gallardo is a retired professor of Chemical Engineering at De La Salle University (DLSU). In 2019, she received the David M. Consunji Award for Engineering Research for her work in environmental engineering and catalysis, as well as industrial and hazardous waste treatment and management. She is actively involved in community service and organizations like JSPS Alumni Association, Association of Tokyo Tech Alumni and Research Scholars, Women Engineers Network and more.
We talked about clean air technologies in the Philippines, what it would take for most, if not all Filipinos to have clean water, challenges in hazardous waste management in the Philippines, her community service work, and more.
How to contact Dr. Susan:
Email: susan.gallardo@dlsu.edu.ph
Deign Frolley Soriano is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, University of the Philippines Baguio. He has been part of several research projects including biodiversity assessments in urban forests, island ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems across Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region. He actively engages with various environmental NGOs and socio-civic organizations that focus on environmental protection and conservation and the role of young people in these causes.
We talked about nurturing the love for science at a young age, the road to becoming a scientist, the struggles of studying science abroad, the youth’s role in saving the environment, collaborative efforts with NGOs and socio-civic organizations, and more.
How to contact Deign:
Facebook: fb.com/deignfrolley
Instagram: @deignfsoriano
Twitter: @deignfsoriano
Dr. Andreia Carrillo is a postdoctoral research associate at the Institute for Computational Cosmology at Durham University, where she works as a galactic archaeologist. She studies the formation of our own Galaxy, the Milky Way, using data from real stars and from simulated universes.
We talked about what a galactic archaeologist does, what makes humanity want to look up at the stars so much, the state of astronomy and astrophysics in the Philippines, the ups and downs of being a Pinay scientist, the global presence of scientists from the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Andreia:
Email: andreia.carrillo@durham.ac.uk
Dr. Luis Razon is an adjunct professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering of De La Salle University. He worked in the food industry from 1987 to 2001, after which he returned to DLSU. There, he also served as the Director of the University Research Coordination Office (URCO). In addition, he has been an RD Lead of the National Research Council of the Philippines and a Section Editor-in-Chief of the ASEAN Engineering Journal. He has published extensively on a variety of topics, including chemical reactor stability and dynamics, biofuels, nitrogen fixation and life cycle assessment.
We talked about pursuing science abroad and coming home, the long process of researching food flavors, the importance of doing “weird” research, the secret to being a prolific scientist, improving logistics for the PH scientific community, and more.
How to contact Dr. Luis:
Email: luis.razon@dlsu.edu.ph
The discovery of well-preserved mammoth remains across Europe has made genetic material from the behemoth more accessible. Paired with continued advancements in gene-editing technology, it’s becoming increasingly possible for the prehistoric creatures to make a comeback. Indeed, the question of species de-extinction, also known as resurrection biology, is steadily becoming less about how to do it… and more about why.
Dr. Renier Mendoza is an Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics at the Institute of Mathematics, University of the Philippines Diliman, where he earned his MS in Applied Mathematics. He holds a doctorate from the Karl-Franzens University of Graz in Austria, and recently completed postdoctoral work at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. His research focuses on numerical optimization, numerical analysis, partial differential equations, delay differential equations, inverse problems, image processing, and mathematical modeling.
We talked about negative perceptions about mathematics, mathematics in work and everyday life, challenges in doing mathematical research in the Philippines, applying math in environmental conservation, reasons to pursue a graduate course in mathematics, and more.
How to contact Dr. Renier:
Facebook: fb.com/renier.mendoza
Email: rmendoza@math.upd.edu.ph
Interested in DOST scholarship opportunities? Check them out here: https://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/index.php/programs-and-projects/scholarships/postgraduate-scholarships
Attention, graduate students and early-career mathematicians from the Philippines and neighboring countries! The 2023 SEAMS School on Scientific Computing for Differential Equations and Applications will take place at the UP Diliman Institute of Mathematics from November 22 to December 1, 2023. It aims to bring together experts in numerical analysis and scientific computing to give introductory lectures on recent numerical techniques in solving ordinary and partial differential equations, and their applications. Funded by the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society through the support of CIMPA, it involves lecture series and hands-on computational exercises. Registration is FREE, but slots are limited. Participants from developing countries in Southeast Asia and nearby regions may also apply for financial support for airfare and/or accommodation. For more information, visit https://math.upd.edu.ph/seamsschoolmanila2023/.
More than a quarter-century has passed since the Ozone Disco fire, an incident that left a lasting scar on the history of the Philippines. In the years to come, it will undoubtedly continue to remind us of the very real dangers of fire. But what were the factors that made this tragedy one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the world?
Dr. Kathleen Aviso is a University Fellow and a Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering at De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines. She is also the current Dean of the Gokongwei College of Engineering of the university. Her main research interest is the development of decision support tools for environmental decision-making.
We talked about process systems engineering and climate change, creating tools and models for environmental management and conservation, artificial intelligence in making environmental policy decisions, what we mean when we say “Science has no boundaries,” the support that Filipinas need to pursue the scientific path, and more.
How to contact Dr. Kathleen:
- Email: kathleen.aviso@dlsu.edu.ph
This episode of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Now on its third year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship Programme. Successful applicants will receive a full scholarship to study a master's degree or an Early Academic Fellowship in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at a prestigious UK university. Enjoy benefits including a 12-month stipend, accommodation allowance, Visa and insurance coverage, and even Special Support for applicants with children.
The full lists of universities, courses offered, and eligibility criteria are available on the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
The deadline for University of Strathclyde applications is on March 31, 2023, while the deadline for Newcastle University and Middlesex University applications is on April 23, 2023.
For more information, you may contact:
- Janelle Almosara-Capiral (Communications Manager, Southeast Asia) - janelle.almosaracapiral@britishcouncil.org
- Danie Son Gonzalvo (Programme Manager, Education) - danieson.gonzalvo@britishcouncil.org.ph
Dr. Chona VinceCruz-Abeledo is a scientist, teacher, and science communicator from the Philippines. She leads a team of brilliant researchers who develop innovations that help fishers and farmers produce more with less, and the technologies they create are at the nexus of molecular biology, genetics, ecology, big data, machine learning, and information technology. She is also the creator of the science channel SHE-ensya, fueled by her advocacy in the improvement of communications between the scientific community and other sectors of society.
We talked about the crown of thorns starfish and why it merits further study, using data about mangrove crabs to help fishers, the #EcoSquadGoals initiative and what it seeks to accomplish, science communication and the SHE-ensya project, why there’s a need for more women in STEM, and more.
How to contact Dr. Chona:
- Email: chona.abeledo@dlsu.edu.ph
This episode of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Now on its third year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship Programme. Successful applicants will receive a full scholarship to study a master's degree or an Early Academic Fellowship in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at a prestigious UK university. Enjoy benefits including a 12-month stipend, accommodation allowance, Visa and insurance coverage, and even Special Support for applicants with children.
The full lists of universities, courses offered, and eligibility criteria are available on the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
The deadline for University of Strathclyde applications is on March 31, 2023, while the deadline for Newcastle University and Middlesex University applications is on April 23, 2023.
For more information, you may contact:
- Janelle Almosara-Capiral (Communications Manager, Southeast Asia) - janelle.almosaracapiral@britishcouncil.org
- Danie Son Gonzalvo (Programme Manager, Education) - danieson.gonzalvo@britishcouncil.org.ph
Celebrating how far women have come plays a crucial role in fueling the ongoing quest to reject and resist gender inequality in all forms, especially in the field of science in the Philippines. And there are few better ways to honor and celebrate Pinays in STEM than by learning about some of the greatest female scientists in Philippine history.
This episode of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Now on its third year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship Programme. Successful applicants will receive a full scholarship to study a master's degree or an Early Academic Fellowship in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at a prestigious UK university. Enjoy benefits including a 12-month stipend, accommodation allowance, Visa and insurance coverage, and even Special Support for applicants with children.
The full lists of universities, courses offered, and eligibility criteria are available on the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
The deadline for University of Strathclyde applications is on March 31, 2023, while the deadline for Newcastle University and Middlesex University applications is on April 23, 2023.
For more information, you may contact:
- Janelle Almosara-Capiral (Communications Manager, Southeast Asia) - janelle.almosaracapiral@britishcouncil.org
- Danie Son Gonzalvo (Programme Manager, Education) - danieson.gonzalvo@britishcouncil.org.ph
Magmula noon hanggang ngayon, malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng mga babaeng scientist sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng Pilipinas at ng mga mamamayan nito. Kilalanin ang ilan sa mga Pinay scientist ng nakaraan at kasalukuyan, at alamin kung bakit kailangan ng mas maraming babaeng scientist sa Pilipinas para sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng bayan.
This episode of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Now on its third year, the British Council is accepting applicants for its Women in STEM Scholarship Programme. Successful applicants will receive a full scholarship to study a master's degree or an Early Academic Fellowship in science, technology, engineering or mathematics at a prestigious UK university. Enjoy benefits including a 12-month stipend, accommodation allowance, Visa and insurance coverage, and even Special Support for applicants with children.
The full lists of universities, courses offered, and eligibility criteria are available on the British Council Women in STEM website: https://www.britishcouncil.ph/study-uk/women-in-STEM
The deadline for University of Strathclyde applications is on March 31, 2023, while the deadline for Newcastle University and Middlesex University applications is on April 23, 2023.
For more information, you may contact:
- Janelle Almosara-Capiral (Communications Manager, Southeast Asia) - janelle.almosaracapiral@britishcouncil.org
- Danie Son Gonzalvo (Programme Manager, Education) - danieson.gonzalvo@britishcouncil.org.ph
With its long, wavy coat of mostly white fur, lustrous eyes, drooping ears, and jet-black nose, the Manilla Spaniel is - was - as magnificent as it is mysterious. But what happened to this "lost breed" of Philippine dog? How did a dog that enjoyed massive popularity over a century ago just vanish without a trace? And was it really a legitimate, unique dog breed in the first place?
Ang Kaliwa Dam ay bahagi ng tinatawag na New Centennial Water Source Program na naglalayong solusyonan ang kakulangan ng tubig sa Metro Manila. Naging matunog ang pangalan ng proyektong ito sa mga nakaraang taon, bunsod ng lumalalang krisis sa tubig sa Metro Manila. Pero bakit nga ba mariing tinututulan ng iba’t ibang grupo ang Kaliwa Dam? Posible nga ba na ang isang proyektong isinusulong upang solusyonan ang isang krisis ay magdudulot ng mas malaking problema? At ano ba ang sinasabi ng siyensya at ng mga eksperto tungkol dito?
Engr. Michael Manguerra is an assistant professor from the Manufacturing Engineering Dept of De La Salle University. His research interest is in Biomedical Engineering, particularly assistive devices for PWD. He is currently a consultant in several Biomedical Engineering research projects and also doing his PhD in ECE, focusing on Assistive Devices.
We talked about becoming a biomedical engineer, Project AGAPAY, how the AGAPAY exoskeleton works, the significance of Project AGAPAY’s international patent, what it takes to become an educator and engineer in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Engr. Michael:
Facebook: fb.com/DIYProfPH
Timothy James M. Dimacali is a science journalist, communicator, and fictionist. He is the founding editor of GMA News Online's Science and Technology Section, and currently heads the University of the Philippines Diliman Science Communication Team. He received his Master’s degree in Science Writing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a Fulbright scholarship and his BA English degree in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines. He is also an alumnus of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop under the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination.
We talked about creativity in science communication, telling engaging science stories without sacrificing accuracy, finding inspiration in telling science stories, how AI tools may affect the writing industry, heading UP Diliman’s SciComm team, and more.
How to contact TJ:
Facebook: fb.com/tjdimacali
Twitter: @tjdimacali
Email: tj.dimacali@gmail.com
Christian Paul Angeles is a licensed nurse based in the United Kingdom, with over a decade’s worth of professional experience in the healthcare industry. He serves as the Unit Manager of the Neonatal Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In 2019, he was awarded the Most Inspirational Nurse at a private hospital.
We talked about life in the U.K. as a nurse, the challenges of being a nurse in the Philippines, the U.K. healthcare system, how the Philippines can improve its own healthcare system, and more.
How to contact Paul:
Email: christianpaul.angeles@yahoo.com
Frederick Delfin leads one of two human population-based genomics projects under the Filipino Genomes Research Program (FGRP) at the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the UP Natural Sciences Research Institute (UP-NSRI). His research focuses on human population genetics, evolutionary genetics and molecular anthropology. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the Philippines Baguio, and a Master’s degree from the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Program (now the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) of UP Diliman. His doctoral fellowship training was through the International Max Planck Research School for Human Origins at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany and through the Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
We talked about why genomics is an important field of study, the DNA of the Filipino, the benefits we enjoy from studying genetics, the process of conducting human genomics research, why some people reject scientific ideas despite the existence of evidence, and more.
How to contact Frederick:
Email: fcdelfin@up.edu.ph
Facebook (UP-NSRI DNA Analysis Laboratory): fb.com/DNAForensicAndEthnicity
The Filipino Genomes Research Program (FGRP) is searching for partner-volunteers for the National Capital Region and other Filipino groups from different regional population centers. Interested individuals may refer to photos on the DAL FB page (fb.com/DNAForensicAndEthnicity) for more details.
Beam Maquilan is a chemistry senior aspiring to work on both Materials Science to develop sustainable materials for green energy and environmental preservation, and Science Communication to contribute to bridging the gap between science and society. She aims to inspire a community of scientific thinkers through her self-written and self-animated science videos.
We talked about communicating science through animation, her creative process when making science videos, balancing her passion project with her academic requirements, tips for creating science content, challenges in simplifying science, and more.
How to contact Beam:
YouTube: youtube.com/sciencebeam
Instagram: @sciencebeammm
Twitter: @sciencebeammm
Dr. Ibarra Ariel Poliquit is a licensed veterinarian with extensive experience in feline-specific veterinary care. He served as the Medical Director of the Cat Clinic, the first feline-specific veterinary practice in the Philippines. He is also a lecturer at De La Salle Araneta University.
We talked about the importance of specialization in veterinary medicine, the challenges of being a veterinarian in the Philippines, why veterinarians tend to be underappreciated, misconceptions about owning pets, the two sides of the "Adopt, don't shop" argument, and more.
How to contact Dr. Ariel:
Email: banzpoliquit@yahoo.com
Facebook: fb.com/banzpoliquit
Dr. Pia Bagamasbad is an Associate Professor and the Director of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) in UP Diliman. Her research work aims to understand the molecular basis of hormone action in the context of neuronal development and hormone-related cancer such as breast and prostate cancer. In 2019, Dr. Bagamasbad was given the distinction of Outstanding Young Scientist by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and in 2022, she was named one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS).
We talked about the areas of everyday life connected to molecular endocrinology, her research on hormone-related cancer, her team’s unique role in the Philippines’ pandemic response, the three biggest problems that make research in the Philippines difficult, mentoring the next generation of Pinoy scientists, and more.
How to contact Dr. Pia:
Email: pdbagamasbad@up.edu.ph
Dr. Lemnuel Aragones is a professor at UP Diliman’s Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM). He has been studying marine mammals since 1988. He is recognized for his significant contributions in marine zoology research, particularly on the biology, ecology, and conservation of the dugong (sea cow) and the green turtle.
We talked about the different marine mammals in the Philippines, why strandings happen and what we can learn from them, why the Philippines lacks a true “culture of science,” why there are so few scientists studying marine mammals in the Philippines, concrete ways an ordinary Filipino can help save marine animals, and more.
How to contact Dr. Lemnuel:
Website: https://iesm.science.upd.edu.ph
Email: laragones@iesm.upd.edu.ph; lemaragones@gmail.com
Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN): https://pmmsn.org/
Dr. Ruby Roan-Cristobal is a seasoned science communication professional, a research practitioner, an IT manager, and a science broadcaster. She hosts a weekly radio program that promotes science and technology to the general public, and worked for the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology as Chief Science Research Specialist. In the ‘90s, she served a key role in the development and production of “Sineskwela,” a science television program that paved the way for media-based STEM education in the Philippines.
We talked about how the idea for “Sineskwela” was born, her role in the development of “Sineskwela,” creating effective science TV programs for young audiences, what science communicators can learn from the success of “Sineskwela,” her other science communication initiatives over the years, being clear about what you want to accomplish as a scientist, and more.
How to contact Dr. Ruby:
Facebook: fb.com/radyohenyosadzrh
Dr. Philip Cruz is the Country Medical Director at Moderna UK. He has over 15 years of experience in medical affairs in the field of vaccines and pediatrics within the pharmaceutical industry, and has also worked for companies like GSK and AstraZeneca. A pediatrician by training, he is actively involved in clinical research, research and development and pharmaceutical medicine.
We talked about being at the forefront of researching vaccines for a global pandemic, what it took to create vaccines for COVID-19 with efficiency and urgency, addressing common objections about COVID-19 vaccination, why COVID-19 denialism exists, communicating the science of vaccines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Philip:
Email (Moderna UK): media@modernatx.com
Dr. John Frederick Tapia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering of De La Salle University Manila. His research interests include process systems engineering applied to different low-carbon energy systems. He is one of the recipients of the 2022 Outstanding Young Scientists Award given by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
We talked about the ongoing effort to mitigate climate change, little-known technological solutions for the climate crisis, the role of Pinoy youth in science and technology, achieving scientific immortality, becoming an Outstanding Young Scientist, and more.
How to contact Dr. Fred:
Email: john.frederick.tapia@dlsu.edu.ph
Ingrid Espinosa is a science communicator and researcher. She recently completed her masters program in science communication at the Imperial College London.
We talked about pursuing graduate studies abroad, the roots of science journalism in the Philippines, important lessons about Philippine science journalism history, lessons learned as an MsC student, advice for aspiring science communicators, and more.
How to contact Ingrid:
Twitter: @ingridemspi
Email: cingridmespi@protonmail.com
Mikael Angelo Francisco is the co-founder/EIC of FlipScience.ph and the host of the Ask Theory podcast. He has written books about media literacy, Filipino scientists, and science trivia.
In this episode, Mikael shares the 8 most important lessons he learned from all the Filipino scientists and science communicators he interviewed for the podcast.
How to contact Mikael:
Email: flipscienceph@gmail.com
Instagram: @mikaelwritesagain
Dr. Justin Parreno is an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware, and is the Principal Investigator of the university’s Perreno Laboratory. He also serves as the Faculty Advisor of the university’s Filipino Students Association.
Kam Inguito is a medical student in Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Delaware, and was the President of the university’s Filipino Student Association from 2021 to 2022.
We talked about the challenges of being a Pinoy scientist abroad, their memorable experiences as researchers, how Filipino culture factors into their personal and professional lives, the best and worst things about running a research lab, incorporating one’s scientific background into their clinical practice, and more.
How to contact Dr. Justin:
- Website: https://parrenolab.com/
- Twitter: @parrenojustin
- Instagram: @parrenolab
How to contact Kam:
- Twitter: @kam.inguito
- Instagram: @kam.inguito
Dr. Paola Gracielle Cabrera is an anesthesiologist and a TikTok content creator who tackles anesthesia-related topics.
We talked about working in the field of anesthesiology, what makes the job of an anesthesiologist so unique and important, what it’s like to be an anesthesiologist, the kind of person who would be the perfect anesthesiologist, the process of becoming an anesthesiologist, and more.
How to contact Dr. Paola:
TikTok: @paolacabreramd
Email: pgccab@gmail.com
Jelaine Gan is the co-founder of The UP Wild and Raptorwatch Network Philippines, and is currently doing her PhD in Biology at Newcastle University in the UK. She is an instructor at the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman teaching ecology, vertebrate biology, and conservation biology. She is involved in various projects and organizations working towards environmental conservation.
We talked about what a field biologist does, the best and worst parts about being a field biologist, why raptors/birds of prey are important for both forests and people, forest fragmentation and how it affects biodiversity, making cities more wildlife-friendly, and more.
How to contact Jelaine:
Email: jelainegan21@gmail.com
Twitter: @jelaine_gan
Angelo Joshua Victoria is a Synthetic Biology PhD student at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. He works with cyanobacteria, engineering their DNA using a wide array of molecular genetic tools to make them produce useful compounds for various industries. He is passionate about the importance and proper use of molecular biology to provide solutions to help mitigate the effects of the changing climate and improve the health of the planet. Prior to his PhD studies, he worked as a Senior Lecturer at UP Diliman’s Institute of Biology.
We talked about synthetic biology and what a synthetic biologist does, cyanobacteria and why they matter, the importance of blue biotechnology in the Philippines, the concept of sustainable bioproduction, cross-disciplinary applications of science, and more.
How to contact Gelo:
Twitter: @gelomerase
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelovictoria
Podcast: BioPOD (https://open.spotify.com/show/25XLYfjNjY3dJSHfrlA8Eh)
Iris Abrigo and Portia Crisostomo are food scientists and the founders of The BK Podcast PH. They talk about the science behind the food that Filipinos love to eat, as well as the people behind these innovative products.
We talked about the unique paths they took as food technologists and scientists, what makes Filipino cuisine so special, what the BK Podcast is all about, their favorite stories about the history or science behind Filipino dishes, their other recent projects related to their field of expertise, and more.
How to contact Iris and Portia:
Email: thebkpodcastph@gmail.com
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nCl2atR3xNDaTWUioethf
Dr. Irene Buenavista Molina is a registered nurse with 28 years of nursing practice and a public health professional with 8 years of public health practice. She is a nursing supervisor at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore City and an adjunct nursing faculty at Anne Arundel Community College.
We talked about being a frontline worker in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; the biggest misconceptions people have about nursing; race- and gender-related challenges in the field; treating patients safely, equitably, with dignity, and with compassion; and more.
How to contact Irene:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/irene-buenavista-molina-drph-msn-rn-ccrn-k-cph-373b1b54/
Email: irene.molina.rn@gmail.com
Joshua Veluz is a microbiologist and a licensed professional teacher. He is keen on discovering more applications of microorganisms that have the potential to propel the progress of human health, the environment, and society.
We talked about studying the antifungal activity of Lactobacillus metabolites, medically relevant fungi and antifungal resistance, the roles marine microorganisms play in medical research, ESKAPE pathogens, working as a licensed professional teacher, and more.
How to contact Joshua:
Email: veluz.jt@gmail.com
Dr. Renzo Guinto is the Chief Planetary Health Scientist and Co-Founder of the newly established Sunway Centre for Planetary Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Concurrently, he is the Associate Professor of the Practice of Global Public Health and Inaugural Director of the Planetary and Global Health Program of the St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine in the Philippines. He is also a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines, and convener of Planetary Health Philippines, a community of Filipino scholars and practitioners for advancing the new discipline of planetary health.
We talked about the definition and significance of planetary health, the ways in which climate change affects human health, the link between the COVID-19 pandemic and planetary health, the need for the decolonization of science, what lies ahead for planetary health and the future of humanity, and more.
How to contact Dr. Renzo:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/renzoguinto
Twitter: @renzoguinto
Website: planetaryhealth.ph
Denise Salvador Janer is a marine geologist who works as a researcher in the UP Marine Science Institute. She has been involved in research expeditions in the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise to discover paleo-sea level rise events that happened thousands of years ago and their role in the evolution of marine ecosystems.
We talked about visiting and studying the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise, why the Philippines must study and protect its own waters, the best and worst things about being a marine scientist, the challenges that make it tough to be a Pinoy scientist, why being a scientist in the Philippines is a worthwhile pursuit, and more.
How to contact Denise:
Facebook: fb.com/dfsjaner
Twitter: @dfsjaner
Instagram: @dfsjaner
Email: dsjaner@msi.upd.edu.ph
Dr. William Buhian is a plant biologist with a particular interest in plant-microbe interactions. He completed his PhD at the University of Toulouse (FR) in 2021, focusing on rhizobia-legume symbiosis.
We talked about the phenomenon called rhizobia-legume symbiosis, how plants experience stress, the meaning of plant blindness, conducting research that serves the people, tips for science students who plan to enter graduate school, and more.
How to contact Dr. William:
Twitter: @wbuhian
Email: wcbuhian@up.edu.ph
Dr. Criselle Peñamante is a physician-scientist interested in the field of behavioral epidemiology. She is a faculty member of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, and Department of Medical Biology at the University of Sto. Tomas. An active global clinical researcher conducting studies and collaborating with fellow clinical researchers across the globe, she is also a Research Fellow on Climate Change and Mental Health at the Planetary and Global Health Program of St. Luke's Medical Center College of Medicine - William H. Quasha Memorial.
We talked about being a physician-scientist as an alternative career path for medical doctors, her experiences regarding teaching college students online, the opportunities and challenges that come with being a global clinical research scholar, the field of behavioral epidemiology, the link between climate change and mental health, and more.
How to contact Dr. Criselle:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/criselle-angeline-peñamante-500371154
Facebook: fb.com/Criselllllllle
Twitter: @criselllllllle
Email: ccpenamante@ust.edu.ph
Archie Veloria is a Supervising Science Research Specialist under the PhilSA's Earth Sciences Space Mission Studies Division. His research revolves around satellite remote sensing of the environment, extreme weather monitoring and forecasting, and rainfall climatology.
We talked about space science and technology applications within the Philippine context, how satellites contribute to understanding weather and climate systems, how we use satellites to monitor air pollution, why there is a need for science-based environmental solutions and policies, the state of Philippine space science in the next ten years, and more.
How to contact Archie:
Email: info@philsa.gov.ph
Website: linktr.ee.philspaceagency
Franklin Cercado is a licensed geologist and scuba diver. He works for the Iloilo Provincial Government in the Environment and Natural Resources Office, and is taking a masters' degree in Biology in U.P. Visayas.
We talked about striking a balance between economic needs and environmental preservation, interdisciplinary and interregional cooperation in tackling environmental concerns, insightful stories related to environmental management and sustainability, brain drain in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Franklin:
Email: fgcercado@up.edu.ph
Phone: 09158028432
Dr. Buddy Omar is a clinical fellow in neuro-oncology at the University of Toronto, and is taking his Masters of Science in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. After his time in the PGH Neurosurgery Residency program, he pursued further training in endoscopic skull base surgery at the University of Calgary.
We talked about the disparities in neurosurgery across the world, improving surgical outcomes in the Philippines, the role of social determinants of health in brain tumor survivorship, clinical research in low-income settings, training to be a brain surgeon in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Buddy:
Twitter: @atomar_md
Email: budd.omar@gmail.com
Dr. Rodney Perez a senior researcher at the National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. His research work is focused on the elucidation of the biosynthetic mechanism, mode of action, and the application of antimicrobial peptides (bacteriocins) from lactic acid bacteria. In 2021, he became the first Filipino to be given the Young Asian Biotechnologist Prize by the Society for Biotechnology, Japan.
We talked about what bacteriocins are and why scientists study them, the Philippines’ problem regarding antibiotic contamination in food, why people tend to overuse antibiotics, the consequences of overusing antibiotics, when we should use antibiotics, and more.
How to contact Dr. Rodney:
Email: rhperez@up.edu.ph
Facebook: fb.com/rodney.perez
Diovanie de Jesus is a Campaign and Science Specialist at Oceana Philippines. He worked as a research associate at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines. His previous research work experience enabled him to conduct studies about coral reef ecosystems, help with the management of the Philippines’ Marine Protected Areas, and assist in the plans for the Coral Triangle Initiative.
We talked about science-based oceans management in the Philippines, his experiences as a marine scientist, his lockdown experiment that went viral on social media, simple ways ordinary citizens can contribute to saving our oceans, and more.
How to contact Diovanie:
Facebook: fb.com/diuvs.dejesus
Instagram: @jojo_powerranger
Jovannemar Anire is a Masters student at Wageningen University who specializes in plant breeding and genetic resources. He worked as a faculty researcher at Visayas State University, where he headed the Varietal Improvement Section of the National Coconut Research Center - Visayas.
We talked about some of the basics of plant breeding, some little-known things about coconuts, the science behind macapuno, the importance of plant biotechnology in the Philippines, the GMO debate, and more.
How to contact Jovannemar:
Facebook: fb.com/jo.van.mar27
Email: anirejvm@gmail.com
Paul Caesar Flores is a PhD student at Yokohama National University and a Research Student at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. He is particularly interested in the fields of marine geophysics, seismology, and earthquakes, and was involved in multiple projects such as mapping mesophotic coral ecosystems, offshore active faults, and sea level rise.
We talked about the field of marine geophysics, work opportunities for geologists and geophysicists, mapping active faults under the sea, using satellite data to study coasts, and more.
How to contact Paul:
Facebook: fb.com/marineearthscience
Email: pmflores3@alum.up.edu.ph
Dr. Joshua P. Torres is a conotoxinologist at the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Copenhagen. As a medicinal chemist, he studies the medicinal potential of marine animals and bacteria, mostly from the Philippines.
We talked about cone snails and how they manage to be both dangerous and beneficial to humans, the discovery of the cancer-killing molecule boholamide A, the relationship between studying nature and drug development, the scientific contributions of Filipino scientists who work abroad, a fellowship opportunity for Philippine-based scientists, and more.
Apply for the M. Victoria Carpio-Bernido Research Fellowship 2023 now! Deadline is on September 30, 2022. More information here: https://spp-online.org/mvcb-fellowship-2023/
How to contact Dr. Joshua:
Twitter: @yeahhh_wa
Email: joshua.torres@sund.ku.dk
Roxanne Aviñante is a Senior Science Research Specialist at DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), and the Project Leader for the Kooha App. She is a research professional and software engineer with over a decade of experience in information and communication technology research and development (R&D) and systems engineering.
We talked about what “citizen science” means, what it takes to become a citizen scientist, the difference between a citizen scientist and a wannabe expert, more information about the Kooha app project, the benefits of (and some FAQs about) the Kooha app, and more.
Download the Kooha app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ph.gov.dost.asti.kooha
How to contact Roxanne:
Facebook: fb.com/koohaapp
TikTok: kooha.ph
Email: kooha@asti.dost.gov.ph
Framelia Anonas heads the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute's Nuclear Information and Documentation Section, which handles the content creation, media relations, events organizing, information services, and social media of the Institute.
We talked about what she likes most about nuclear power, her most memorable experience related to your work, being skeptical about new information, the most common objections about nuclear power, tips for communicating controversial science topics to the public, and more.
How to contact Framelia:
Facebook: fb.com/framelia.v.anonas
PNRI Facebook Page: fb.com/PNRIDOST
Instagram: @framvee
Alexis Kristin Bautista is a food hygienist who serves as the Hygiene and Sustainability Team Lead of SMX Convention Center under SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. She handles food safety, hygiene, and sanitation in convention centers and hotel properties across the Philippines, with nearly a decade of extensive experience in the industry.
We talked about the more complicated aspects of food safety in mass catering, interesting stories about her experiences on the job, what Filipinos should know about food safety, the impact of COVID-19 on her team’s operations, “new normal” hygiene protocols for food safety, and more.
How to contact Alex:
Email: aksbautista@yahoo.com
Dr. Peter Julian Cayton is an Associate Professor at the School of Statistics, University of the Philippines Diliman. He also pursues interdisciplinary work as a member of the UP Resilience Institute, which conducts cutting-edge research in Philippine disaster risk reduction and management. He engages in a range of applications in statistics on volcanology, climatology, resource management, and epidemiology.
We talked about how people can sometimes look at the same data but come up with different conclusions, using statistics in everyday situations, how statistics can predict winning lottery numbers and election results, situations in which we shouldn’t use statistics to make decisions, what the numbers are telling us about the future of COVID-19 in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Peter:
Twitter: @pjacaytonphd
Facebook: fb.com/pjacaytonphd
Mark Joseph Tinao is a biologist and a Certified Pollution Control Officer. He streams online content about farming, academic writing, and science & technology as Seph Scientist, promoting science communication and encouraging young people to pursue careers in the sciences.
We talked about environmental education & pollution control, plant science and conservation, looking at biology as more than just a pre-med course, communicating science via Tiktok, social media platforms as tools for science communication, and more.
How to contact Mark:
TikTok: @seph_scientist
Instagram: @seph_tinao
Facebook: fb.com/seph.tinao07
Jonas Marie Dumdum is a registered chemist and sustainability science and policy advocate. He volunteers as coordinator for the Energy SubCluster of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. He also hosts the SUSTAINARUMBLE! Podcast, the first podcast that explores critical issues on sustainable development in the Philippines.
We talked about ensuring the effectiveness of environmental sustainability projects, how climate change impacts and will continue to impact Filipinos, the problem of single-use plastic waste, the potential water crisis in Metro Manila, bringing sustainability discussions to the public, and more.
How to contact Jonas:
Facebook: fb.com/sustainascientist
Instagram: @sustainascientist
SUSTAINARUMBLE Podcast: fb.com/sustainarumble (also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
Engr. Julius Sempio is a licensed geodetic engineer specializing in geoinformatics and remote sensing. He is an advocate of space science in the Philippines, as well as a komikero (Pinoy komiks creator).
We talked about the current state of space science in the Philippines, why microsatellites are such a big deal, working with the Diwata-1 microsatellite, common misconceptions Filipinos have about space science, combining science and art, and more.
How to contact Julius:
Facebook: fb.com/jhsempio
Email: julius.sempio@gmail.com; atomos.komiks@gmail.com
Carina Laroza is an inclusive science communication advocate and the founder of Scienkidfic Xplorers (now AghamJuan). She develops and conducts science outreach programmes for underserved communities and public schools around Metro Manila, and trains volunteers on how to effectively facilitate the programmes. She also obtained an MSc Science Communication degree at the University of the West of England, Bristol as a Chevening Scholar.
We talked about her journey as a science communicator, making science inclusive in the Philippines, things every science communicator should know, scientists as science communicators, debunking misinformation and respecting opinions, and more.
How to contact Carina:
LinkedIn: Cari Laroza
Email: carina_laroza@hotmail.com
Facebook: fb.com/scienkidficxplorers
Dr. Regine Carandang is a licensed dentist working in Makati. She specializes in Orthodontics, and has a developing love for aesthetic dentistry and prosthodontics.
We talked about some of the most common myths about dental care and dental health, why some people don’t seem to prioritize dental care, how often one should really be consulting a dentist, what it’s like to be a dentist in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Regine:
Facebook: fb.com/docginnie
Email: carandangdental@yahoo.com
Dr. Mario Jiz is the Chair of the Immunology Department at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). In 2017, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) recognized him as an Outstanding Young Scientist for medical sciences due to his major contributions in schistosomiasis research and vaccine development.
We talked about the work of an immunologist, the highs and lows of pursuing the path of immunology, a disease that many Filipinos may not have heard of, the role of immunology during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.
How to contact Dr. Mario:
Facebook: fb.com/SchistosomiasisNRL2020
Email: mario.a.jiz@gmail.com
Dr. Alex Legarda is a family physician and clinic manager of FriendlyCare and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Family Wellness Clinic.
We talked about the work of a doctor trained in family medicine, why someone would choose to train as a family physician, the average Filipino’s attitude toward doctors, improving the Philippine healthcare system, family planning methods, and more.
How to contact Dr. Alex:
Email: alexlegarda@friendlycare.org
Facebook: Commission on Population and Development Family Wellness Clinic -ASC
Felichi Mae Arines is a PhD student in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. She worked at the International Rice Research Institute, where she was part of a team tasked with developing iron- and zinc-enriched rice. She recently obtained a Barbour Scholarship, which is awarded to outstanding women graduate students from Asia and the Middle East.
We talked about different perceptions on basic science and applied science, Felichi’s research on ubiquitin ligases and decluttering enzymes, stories of communicating research with non-scientists, tips for communicating research to the public, the similarities and differences between STEM education in the Philippines and in the United States, and more.
How to contact Peach:
Email: fmarines@umich.edu
Twitter: @peach_arines
Everlyn Gayle Tamayo plays a key role in the development, implementation and review of air quality activities and projects of an international non-profit NGO focused on air quality management by providing technical guidance in current and emerging air quality issues in the region, particularly in air quality monitoring, emissions inventory, health impact assessment, and capacity building. She has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, and trained through the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch and the European Research Course on Atmospheres.
We talked about air pollution in the Philippines, Philippine policies for air quality management, seemingly normal actions that actually contribute to the air pollution problem, collaborating with government agencies for air quality management, and more.
How to contact Everlyn:
Email: everlyn.tamayo@cleanairasia.org / etamayo@iesm.upd.edu.ph
Everlyn Gayle Tamayo plays a key role in the development, implementation and review of air quality activities and projects of an international non-profit NGO focused on air quality management by providing technical guidance in current and emerging air quality issues in the region, particularly in air quality monitoring, emissions inventory, health impact assessment, and capacity building. She has a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, and trained through the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch and the European Research Course on Atmospheres.
We talked about the status and risks of air pollution in the Philippines, claims that "the Earth is healing during the pandemic," the concept of just transition, challenges in PH air quality management, involving the public in environmental issues, and more.
How to contact Everlyn:
Email: everlyn.tamayo@cleanairasia.org / etamayo@iesm.upd.edu.ph
Dr. Ryan Collantes is an ophthalmologist who is actively doing research on the genetics of inherited ocular disorders. He is currently a research scientist at the Ocular Genomics Institute at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
We talked about juvenile onset open angle glaucoma, the discovery of the novel EFEMP1 mutations in Filipino families, the value of conducting scientific experiments alongside gene-based studies, the significance of Pinoy-focused genetic research, and more.
How to contact Dr. Ryan:
Email: ryan_collantes@meei.harvard.edu
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible by the British Council in the Philippines, in support of their Women in STEM Scholarship program.
Pamela Louise Tolentino is a researcher whose specialty lies in the roles of different watershed characteristics and hydrometeorological factors on river discharge. She handles projects involving the fields of hydrogeology, water quality, water resources, climate change, geohazard mapping and geology. She is currently doing her PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Glasgow in the U.K.
We talked about Pamela’s research about rivers in the Philippines, the Philippines’ problems with water, the issues that Pamela aims to address, the power and potential of data when properly handled and interpreted, the joys and challenges of being a female scientist, and more.
How to contact Pamela:
Instagram: misspamelalouise
Twitter: @rivertropicsph
Facebook: fb.com/misspamelalouise
Email: plmtolentino@gmail.com
Tell a keen Filipina scientist you know about the British Council scholarships for Women in STEM and help them realise their dreams! Visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem for more information on how to apply.
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible by the British Council in the Philippines, in support of their Women in STEM Scholarship program.
Ica Fernandez is an environmental planner and applied researcher working with spatial data for decision-making in transitional and post-crisis situations. She has served as consultant and evaluator for various international development organizations, national agencies, local governments, and civil society networks. She is also a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge Department of Land Economy under the DOST-British Council Newton Agham scholarship.
We talked about Ica’s current research, issues concerning protracted forced displacement in the Philippines, the significance of citizen science or participatory science, Ica’s experiences under the Women in STEM scholarship program, applying for the Women in STEM program, and more.
How to contact Ica:
Email: icafernandez.com; urbanismo.ph
Twitter: @icafernandez
Tell a keen Filipina scientist you know about the British Council scholarships for Women in STEM and help them realise their dreams! Visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem for more information on how to apply.
Dr. Ryan Collantes is an ophthalmologist who is actively doing research on the genetics of inherited ocular disorders. He is currently a research scientist at the Ocular Genomics Institute at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
We talked about the fear of going blind, genetic eye conditions and how they can lead to blindness, superstitious beliefs regarding genetic eye conditions, the process of genetic testing and how it helps patients with genetic eye disorders, and more.
How to contact Dr. Ryan:
Email: ryan_collantes@meei.harvard.edu
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible by the British Council in the Philippines, in support of their Women in STEM Scholarship program.
Kami Navarro is a professional science communicator based in Singapore. She manages Pinoy Scientists, a platform that aims to highlight Filipino scientists worldwide and their stories. She is also part of the Panel of Experts for the International Science Council's Public Value of Science program. She was previously the science editor at a Singapore-based STEM media company and taught science communication at top universities in the Philippines.
We talked about the various career paths one can pursue in science communication, what every early-career science communicator should know, the Pinoy Scientists initiative, the best and worst parts of being a science communicator, developing science communication in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Kami:
Website: kaminavarro.com
Instagram: @scikam
Tell a keen Filipina scientist you know about the British Council scholarships for Women in STEM and help them realise their dreams! Visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem for more information on how to apply.
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible by the British Council in the Philippines, in support of their Women in STEM Scholarship program.
Jana Quismundo is a recent Master's in Neuroscience graduate. Under the European Erasmus Mundus program, she spent the last two years in Germany and the Netherlands studying at the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She now works as a Scientific Officer for Genetic Cures for Kids, an Australian foundation working to accelerate the discovery of drug treatments and gene therapies for rare diseases.
We talked about why she decided to pursue neuroscience, fascinating facts about the human brain, misconceptions about depression and eating disorders, the importance of understanding neurological conditions, navigating through the challenges of grad school, and more.
How to contact Jana:
Email: jmcquismundo@gmail.com
Facebook: jana.quismundo
Twitter: @janaquismundo
Society for Pinoy Neuroscience Enthusiasts: fb.com/spine.ph (Facebook), @ph_spine (Twitter)
Eating Disorder Awareness PH: fb.com/eatingdisorderawarenessph
Tell a keen Filipina scientist you know about the British Council scholarships for Women in STEM and help them realise their dreams! Visit https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem for more information on how to apply.
This episode features Mark John Mandigma, an aspiring research scientist in the field of synthetic method development and drug discovery. He is currently on a research exchange program (Elite Network of Bavaria/Swiss European Mobility Program) at Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
We talked about the most remarkable thing he learned as a chemist, the chemical processes involved in his research, using gas to discover new types of medicine, his most recent research project, the story of erythromycin, and more.
How to contact Mark:
LinkedIn: Mark John Mandigma
Facebook: fb.com/marcuz.mandigma
This episode features Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, a neuro-ophthalmologist and public health advocate focused on tobacco control. He is the executive director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA).
We talked about the difference between secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke, the diseases that can result from exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke, secondhand smoke during the COVID-19 pandemic, the science of nicotine addiction, solving the problem of secondhand smoke in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. Ulysses:
Facebook: fb.com/yul.dorotheo
Facebook Page: fb.com/UlyssesDorotheoMD
Email: ulysses@seatca.org
Website: seatca.org
For more information about quitting smoking:
whyquit.com
This episode of Ask Theory was made possible by Probe Media Foundation Inc., as part of Cycle 5 of the Nagbabagang Kuwento: Covering a Smoke-Free Philippines media fellowship program.
This episode features Hillary Diane Andales, a science communicator and astrophysicist-in-training. In 2017, she won the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual global competition for students to inspire creative thinking about science. She is currently an undergraduate researcher at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.
We talked about her research in astrophysics and observational astronomy, science communication tips and techniques, the pressure that comes with being a scientist-in-training, the link between science and society, how scientific innovations can improve our lives in unexpected ways, and more.
How to contact Hillary:
Website: hillaryandales.com
Facebook: @hilldiandales
YouTube: HillaryDianeAndales
Twitter: @cosmichillarays
Instagram: @cosmichillarays
This episode features Timothy James Cipriano, a geographer whose research is focused on hazards and disasters, urban and environmental studies, and disease geographies. He used to work with the UP Resilience Institute, and recently volunteered as a data validator for the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team.
We talked about the significance of geography, why science should always be done with the people, collecting data during the pandemic, what the Philippines can learn from past disasters, ways to improve disaster risk reduction in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact TJ:
Email: tjlcipriano@gmail.com; tlcipriano@up.edu.ph
Twitter: @bigbrotherteej
Instagram: @bigbrotherteej
This episode features Dr. Inez Ponce de Leon, a molecular biologist and science communicator. She is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communication at the Ateneo de Manila University, as well as a weekly columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
We talked about styles of science communication in the Philippines, having inclusive conversations about science, the trap of falling in love with platforms, why smart-shaming happens, how facts can be perceived as weapons, and more.
How to contact Dr. Inez:
Email: iponcedeleon@ateneo.edu
Website: inezpdl.com
Twitter: @inezpdl
This episode features Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, a geologist and the Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI).
We talked about how nuclear medicine can help in the fight against cancer, the role of nuclear science in the pandemic, how nuclear technology helps with food productivity, nuclear science and climate change, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, and more.
How to contact Dr. Carlo:
Email: caloy.arcilla@gmail.com
This episode features Prof. Phillip Alviola, an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biological Science at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the UPLB Museum of Natural History’s curator for small mammals and other wildlife. He is a bat biologist who uses his expertise to study bat-borne viruses and develop community-based methodologies for monitoring biological diversity.
We talked about how to become a virus hunter, how viruses thrive in bats, zoonotic diseases and their connection to biodiversity conservation, other animals of interest for virus hunters, what every Filipino should understand about zoonotic diseases, and more.
How to contact Prof. Phillip:
Facebook: fb.com/phillip.alviola
Email: paalviola@up.edu.ph
This episode features Tara Abrina, an environmental economist and researcher at the University of the Philippines. She is the founder of Kapit Sisid, a network of freediving and marine conservation professionals.
We talked about how free-diving serves as a medium for marine conservation, the Kapit Sisid initiative, involving rural communities in environmental conservation, being a STEM worker in the Philippines, environmental economics in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Tara:
Instagram: @taraabrina
Carrd: taraabrina.carrd.co
Are you a STEM worker in the Philippines? Feel free to answer this short survey about the challenges you're currently facing: http://cutt.ly/STEMSurvey2021
This episode features Dr. Pierangeli Vital, an environmental microbiologist and one of the 2021 Outstanding Young Scientists recognized by the National Academy of Science and Technology.
We talked about pursuing environmental microbiology research, the best and worst parts of working as a microbiologist, popular myths and misconceptions about food safety in the Philippines, what the general public should know about food safety research, the impact of microbiology research on everyday life, and more.
How to contact Dr. Pierangeli:
- Facebook: fb.com/brslupnsri
- Website: https://nsri.upd.edu.ph
- Email: brsl_nsri.upd@up.edu.ph
Co-hosted by Angela Mae Bagarra of the Northern Exotics and Wildlife Troopers – Nueva Ecija Branch (NEWT-NEB), this episode features Jazz Ong, an educonservationist and the Chief Executive Officer of Wildlife Matters.
We talked about how Wildlife Matters started, the King Cobra Initiative, the difference between “venomous” and “poisonous,” bringing attention to endangered species that aren’t regarded as “cute” or attractive, why snakes are an important species to conserve, and more.
How to contact Jazz:
Facebook: fb.com/wildlifemattersinc
Instagram: @wildlife_matters
Instagram: @jazzwildlife
How to contact Angela:
Facebook: fb.com/NEWTNEB
Email: newt.nuevaecijabranch@gmail.com
Twitter: @newtneb
This episode features Shaira Panela, an award-winning science writer from the Philippines. Her work has appeared in local and international publications such as Asian Scientist Magazine, GMA News Online, Rappler, and SunStar.
We talked about the differences between writing about science and writing about crime, politics, or entertainment, the toughest science stories she has ever worked on, her most memorable experiences as a science writer, why science communication matters in the Philippines, communicating science to the public, and more.
How to contact Shaira:
- Facebook: fb.com/alingshaira
- Instagram: @alingshaira
- Twitter: @alingshaira
- Email: shairapanela@gmail.com / rsfpanela@gmail.com
This episode features Dr. Thomas Neil Pascual, a nuclear medicine physician and Science and Technology Fellow III for the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI). He serves as a technical adviser and research coordinator, providing high-level expertise and advice to researchers while developing and implementing projects aimed at applying quality management in nuclear medicine and diagnostic imaging practices.
We talked about why people tend to associate nuclear energy with destruction, the responsible use of nuclear energy to benefit the public, the field of nuclear medicine, some exciting applications of nuclear energy in health that Filipinos can look forward to, and more.
How to contact Dr. Thomas:
- Facebook: fb.com/thomas.pascual.94
- Facebook (Official Page): fb.com/DOST.STFellows
- For clinical consultations: www.nowserving.ph
Dr. Pascual will be the resource speaker for “Nuclear Science and Technology Applications: Frontiers in Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine,” a virtual talk via Zoom and FB Live on November 26, 2021, at 8:00 AM. Register here: www.bit.ly/NSTW2021PNRIForum
This episode of the Ask Theory podcast was made possible by the Department of Science and Technology, in celebration of the 2021 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) happening on November 22-28, 2021. For more information on the 2021 NSTW, visit www.nstw.dost.gov.ph and follow the hashtags #2021NSTW, #DOSTTugonSaHamon, and #ScienceForThePeople on social media.
Co-hosted by Daisy Acuña of the Veterinary Circle for 10, this episode features Dr. Jose Isagani "J.I." Janairo. He is a Full Professor at the Biology Department of De La Salle University, where he also serves as the Head of the Biological Control Research Unit under the Center for Natural Sciences and Environmental Research.
We talked about how microplastics end up in the ocean, the adverse effects of microplastics on animals and humans, how the pandemic impacted plastic pollution in the country, what we can do to help solve the microplastics problem in the Philippines, and more.
How to contact Dr. J.I.:
Email: jose.isagani.janairo@dlsu.edu.ph
Twitter: @dr_jij
How to contact Daisy:
Email: daisy.acuna710@gmail.com
Facebook: Daisy C. Acuña
Facebook (Official Page): @veterinarycirclefor10
IG: @veterinarycirclefor10
Twitter: @CLSU_VC10
This episode features Jay Fidelino, a wildlife biologist working with the Biodiversity Research Laboratory of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Institute of Biology. We talked about life as a wildlife biologist, working in a research laboratory, the many fascinating things about bats, common misconceptions about bats, initiatives for conservation education, and more.
[0:00] A quotable quote from Jay Fidelino.
[1:42] Introducing Jay.
[2:26] How Jay fell in love with science.
[9:34] Jay’s mission as a scientist.
[10:54] What the life of a wildlife biologist looks like.
[18:32] The work that a wildlife biologist does in a research laboratory.
[26:10] Why Jay decided to specialize in bats, and what he finds unique and fascinating about them.
[33:23] The most common misconceptions about bats.
[39:33] Upcoming development projects in the Philippines that pose environmental risks.
[43:46] Jay’s initiatives for conservation education.
[50:38] Information about Jay’s book on Philippine vertebrate biodiversity.
[58:14] The best way to reach out to Jay.
[1:00:29] Jay’s advice to aspiring Filipino scientists.
How to contact Jay:
Facebook: Jay Sebastian Fidelino
Twitter: @jsfidelino
Instagram: @jsfidelino
This episode features Lisa Paguntalan, the Executive Director of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. We talked about the work of a biodiversity conservationist, the challenges in Philippine biodiversity conservation, inspiring ordinary citizens to become biodiversity conservationists, the amazing rediscovery of a Philippine species once thought extinct, and more.
[0:00] A quotable quote from Lisa Paguntalan.
[1:00] Introducing Lisa.
[1:39] How Lisa fell in love with science.
[7:58] Lisa’s mission as a scientist.
[12:03] How to become a biodiversity conservationist.
[19:09] Does biodiversity conservation work ever stop?
[23:12] Giving attention to less popular endangered species.
[32:02] The species that got Lisa started in the conservation world.
[38:28] How a conservation effort saved species, improved a town’s reputation, and inspired citizens to act.
[50:34] Measuring the success of conservation efforts through an inclusive citizen campaign.
[1:03:22] The best way to reach out to Lisa - and how PBCFI can collaborate with biologists and scientists-in-training.
[1:07:10] Lisa’s advice to aspiring Filipino scientists and biodiversity conservationists.
How to contact Lisa:
Facebook: Lisa J. Paguntalan
Facebook Page: Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc.
Email: lisapaguntalan@philbio.org.ph
This episode features Engr. Marlon Llana, the Technical and Operations Director at Nanotech Analytical Services and Training Corp (NASAT). We talked about disruptive technologies, nanotechnology and its impact in our everyday lives, how radical technologies may affect the Pinoy job market, and more.
[0:22] A quotable quote from Engr. Marlon Llana.
[1:33] Introducing Engr. Marlon.
[4:42] Engr. Marlon’s mission as a scientist.
[7:04] Defining disruptive technology.
[8:21] The radical technologies that may advance drastically in the next 5 to 30 years.
[10:18] What nanotechnology is, and why it matters.
[12:28] Understanding electron microscopy and its role in nanotechnology.
[18:00] The current applications of nanotechnology in everyday life.
[25:05] Will these disruptive technologies drive Filipinos out of jobs?
[34:55] The best way to reach out to Engr. Marlon.
[37:38] Engr. Marlon’s advice to aspiring Filipino scientists.
How to contact Engr. Marlon:
Facebook: Marlon Llana
Email: customercare@nasatcorp.com
YouTube: Marlon Llana
This episode of ASK THEORY was made possible by NASAT Labs, the first independent nanotechnology laboratory in the Philippines. NASAT Labs provides failure analysis and material characterization, water and environmental testing, and technical training sessions to various industries and the academe.
This episode features Kristine Buenafe, a quantitative marine biologist. She is a graduate of the TROPIMUNDO program, an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems. We talked about quantitative marine biology, community-based species conservation and management, marine protected areas, the TROPIMUNDO program, the dynamics of biodiversity conservation, and more.
[0:00] A quotable quote from Kristine Buenafe.
[1:33] Introducing Kristine.
[2:00] More information about Kristine.
[3:42] Kristine’s mission as a scientist.
[4:55] The work of a quantitative marine biologist.
[7:48] Why it’s important to clearly define the boundaries of a marine protected area (MPA).
[9:30] Why some fisheries managers don’t like to hear the word “conservation.”
[11:15] The complex dynamics of biodiversity conservation.
[15:00] Why species conservation must be inclusive, and why the Philippines is considered a pioneer in community-based species conservation and management.
[16:50] The biggest challenge Kristine faced as a researcher.
[18:50] More information about the Erasmus Mundus TROPIMUNDO Master Degree Program, and why Pinoys would want to apply for it.
[23:12] The perks of being in the TROPIMUNDO program.
[24:16] The application timeline and process for the 2021 TROPIMUNDO program.
[26:49] What Kristine learned after joining the TROPIMUNDO program.
[31:40] Applying the lessons from the TROPIMUNDO program in Kristine’s professional career.
[33:54] The best way to reach out to Kristine.
[35:17] Kristine’s advice to aspiring Filipino scientists.
How to contact Kristine:
Email: tinbuenafe@gmail.com
Facebook: Tin Buenafe
IG: gelatin_011
TROPIMUNDO Program FAQ: https://tropimundo.eu/userfiles/files/tropimundo_faq.pdf
This episode features Genea Nichole Cortez, a mangrove botanist and professional teacher. We talked about the challenges of teaching science in a virtual setup, how learners are adjusting to online science education, effective techniques for teaching science to elementary, high school and college students, how to encourage student participation in online learning, areas for improvement in Philippine science education, and more.
[0:00] A quotable quote from Genea Nichole Cortez.
[1:16] Introducing Genea.
[2:27] More information about Genea.
[5:30] Genea’s mission as a scientist and educator.
[6:05] How being a scientist influenced Genea as an educator, and vice versa.
[9:56] The importance of having credible references and resource materials for educators.
[11:05] Encouraging students to interact with their teachers.
[13:12] Different approaches to teaching elementary, high school, and college students.
[18:20] How complex mathematics lessons actually have real-world uses.
[21:18] The pros and cons of teaching science in a virtual setup.
[26:15] A suggestion for measuring effectiveness of virtual teaching methods.
[27:32] How college students respond to Genea’s virtual envi sci lessons.
[31:24] The areas in which science education in the Philippines can be improved.
[38:09] The best way to reach out to Genea.
[39:32] Genea’s advice to Filipino science educators.
How to contact Genea:
Twitter: @neyteachyou
Instagram: @teachtraveltrain_ney
This episode features Dr. Michael C. Velarde, a professor at the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman. He has a strong background in the study of female reproduction, aging, and related diseases. One of his research projects involves studying how environmental chemicals influence disease development and progression.
We talked about PFAS and the health risks associated with them, the gaps in Philippine research regarding women’s health, how Filipinos are affected by PFAS, the dangers of immediately drawing conclusions from limited scientific data, involving young Pinoy students and scientists in health and environment research, and more.
[0:00] A quotable quote from Dr. Michael Velarde.
[1:13] Introducing Dr. Michael.
[2:49] More information about Dr. Michael.
[6:48] Dr. Michael’s mission as a scientist.
[11:19] The state of research on women’s health in the Philippines.
[13:58] Understanding PFAS: What they are, and the dangers associated with them.
[16:12] Why PFAS stay in the body after consumption.
[17:41] How Filipinos are affected by PFAS.
[20:49] Why we should be cautious when interpreting new scientific data.
[25:07] How to limit PFAS exposure - and if it’s possible to expel PFAS from the body.
[32:08] How Dr. Michael involves students and young scientists in research related to the environment and health.
[35:50] The best way to reach out to Dr. Michael.
[36:28] Dr. Michael’s advice to aspiring Filipino scientists.
How to contact Dr. Michael Velarde:
Email: mcvelarde@up.edu.ph
This episode features Vince Davidson Pacañot, an Energy Engineering graduate student at the University of the Philippines Diliman and an SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) advocate affiliated with the 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines Inc.
We talked about the current state of the Philippine energy sector, coal power plants in the Philippines, the need for sustainable, renewable, and affordable energy, how to improve the Philippines’ energy mix, how climate change threatens the country, and more.
This episode features Matthew Vincent Tabilog, a senior BS Marine Biology student from Silliman University and founder of Mangrove Matters PH.
We talked about common misconceptions regarding mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs, the importance of blue carbon, the effects of reclamation projects on the environment, the truth behind the climate crisis, the Mangrove Matters PH initiative, and more.
This episode features Peter James Abad, a genetic counselor and full-time educator at the University of the Philippines Manila’s College of Nursing. He is also affiliated with the Genetic Counseling Training Program under the Department of Pediatrics of the university’s College of Medicine.
We talked about what genetic counseling is, the roles and responsibilities of a genetic counselor, the right time to consult a genetic counselor, some diseases that Filipinos may be genetically predisposed to have, the importance of cultural sensitivity in the medical profession, and more.
This episode features Angelica Yang, a multi-awarded science journalist covering the energy and environment beats for BusinessWorld, the oldest business newspaper in the Philippines.
We talked about energy and climate reporting, finding the right stories to focus on, the main job of a science journalist, writing for an international audience, and more.
This episode features Jean Utzurrum, a marine biologist with field research experience in coral reef restoration, coral reef and mesophotic fishes, and fisheries. She has volunteered with Reef Check Philippines and the World Wildlife Fund, and also served as an elasmobranch specialist for the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines.
We talked about the search for a blue whale in the Philippines, the Dumaguete land reclamation project, policies for Philippine environment conservation, ways to improve how the government protects our natural resources, the realities of being a scientist in the Philippines, and more.
This episode features Albert Yumol, a full-stack data scientist and machine learning engineer specializing in data architecture, analytics, and ethics. He is well-versed in supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms for industry and research applications. On the side, he teaches data science in a bootcamp company called Eskwelabs and spearheads a curriculum on data ethics and human-centered design.
We talked about how the Philippines compares to the rest of the world when it comes to A.I., if A.I. can ever replace human beings, the biggest challenges holding the Philippines back when it comes to technological development, the concept of developing technology for social good, the future of technological advancement in the Philippines, and more.
This episode features Kier Mitchel Pitogo, a wildlife biologist at the Protected Area Management Office of the Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve. In 2021, he rediscovered a Philippine frog that had been lost to science for 28 years. He also co-authored the first extensive herpetological survey conducted in southern Mindanao.
We talked about the story of rediscovering Guttman’s stream frog, finding a rare species of critically endangered orchid, the process of putting together his pioneering study on Mindanao wildlife, why it’s important to keep studying the Philippines’ biodiversity, the challenges that Pinoy wildlife biologists experience in the field, and more.
This episode features Jason Tan Liwag, a molecular biologist, theater and film actor, and writer. He is the Founder and President of Queer Scientists PH and the President of Cine Crítico Filipino.
We talked about falling in love with science through Pokémon, balancing hobbies and passion projects as a scientist, the lessons that science can gain from art and vice versa, the myth of the “boring” scientist, the Queer Scientists PH initiative, and more.
This episode features Dr. Rey Ordonio, a plant molecular geneticist from the Philippine Rice Research Institute. He is also the head of the Healthier Rice Project at DA-PhilRice. He was named as one of the Philippines’ Outstanding Young Scientists for 2021.
We talked about GMOs, the science behind the development of Golden Rice, fears and misconceptions about GMOs, the future of GMOs in the Philippines, and more.
This episode features Purple Romero, a fact-checking journalist based in Hong Kong. Her articles on health, environment, and gender issues have been published on international websites such as Vice, SCMP, Foreign Affairs, Mongabay, Channel News Asia, and Agence France-Presse.
We talked about the history of fake news, the difference between misinformation and disinformation, why people create and spread false information, the tools and skills of a fact-checking journalist, tips for ordinary citizens to effectively tell fact from fiction, and more.
This episode features Sabrina Ongkiko, a public school teacher at Culiat Elementary School. A vocal advocate for science literacy, she received The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Award for her commitment towards educating children, empowering teachers, and helping to transform the Philippine education system.
We talked about her most memorable experiences as a science educator in the Philippines, tips and techniques for teaching science effectively, the World Bank’s recent report about the state of education in the Philippines, points for improvement in the country's science education system, ways to empower Pinoy teachers and students, and more.
This episode features Maybelle Fortaleza, a marine scientist and member of the research team at the Coral Reef Resiliency and Ecology Studies Laboratory in UP Mindanao.
We talked about the possible reasons why the Philippines is so biodiverse, the biggest problem in marine conservation, how to change or improve the way we talk about saving marine species, meeting science idols and celebrities, the need for inclusive science communication in local communities, and more.
This episode features Dr. Enrico Paringit, the Executive Director of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) under the Department of Science and Technology. A licensed geodetic engineer, he served as the project leader of the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) initiative.
We talked about how the Philippines is improving the way we prepare for, respond to, and deal with the consequences of natural hazards, how DOST-PCIEERD supports research in the Philippines, the relationship between science and policies, important considerations for drafting S&T policies, and more.
This episode features Dr. Jomar Rabajante, a faculty member of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is the OIC-Dean of the Graduate School of UPLB, a fellow of the UP Resilience Institute, and a lead researcher of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team.
We talked about simulation theory and our concept of reality, the surprising and unexpected things that numbers can reveal about real life, being named one of the Philippines’ Outstanding Young Scientists, using data and numbers to deliver crucial pandemic information to policymakers, how to recover from being overwhelmed by numbers and statistics, and more.
This episode features Mark Ivan Roblas, a science communicator and Supervising Science Research Specialist at DOST-PCIEERD. He also served as the project leader of the Science Explorer, the Philippines' first mobile learning science facility, and is managing the agency’s social media scicomm initiatives.
We talked about his most memorable experience as a science communicator, why it’s important to communicate science well, how science communication can be improved in the Philippines, who can become a science communicator, common misconceptions about science and scicomm, and more.
This episode features Dr. Nathaniel Hermosa, the Program Coordinator of the Photonics Research Lab at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s National Institute of Physics. He has been recognized as an outstanding young scientist by the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines.
We talked about unlocking the secrets of light, how a crazy idea helped his team develop an invisibility cloak, quantum entanglement and teleportation, why it’s important for scientists to have other interests, the most important characteristic of a science practitioner, and more.
This episode features Dr. Lillian Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Biology in the College of Science. In 2016, she became a National Geographic Explorer, and was given a grant to study the biogeography and evolution of pollinator fig wasps associated with sycomorus figs in the Philippines.
We talked about why fig (balete) trees and fig wasps are important in Philippine ecosystems, some unexpected things we can learn from studying plant-insect interactions, her experience as a National Geographic Explorer, how we can do better at conserving our local biodiversity, why evolution doesn’t really work the way many of us imagine it, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Kristine Sabillo, a science journalist and digital media manager. She has covered stories about science, politics, technology, and current events for ABS-CBN and Inquirer.net, with a particular focus on topics related to climate, energy, and health.
We talked about telling science stories to the public, the biggest challenges of being a science journalist, the thrills of working with and learning from Pinoy scientists, how science news can go viral with the right angle, the future of science journalism in the Philippines, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Kristine Jane Atienza, a licensed nutritionist-dietitian who has worked with the United Nations World Food Program and World Vision. A space enthusiast, she is also a founding member of the Philippine Union of Student Organizations for Astronomy (PUSO for Astro) and a core member of the Manila Street Astronomers.
We talked about why trans fats are so bad for the body, everyday food items that are actually sources of trans fats, viable alternatives for trans fatty ingredients, how consumers can avoid trans fats, space nutrition (and what astronauts eat), and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Gerry Bagtasa, an atmospheric physicist and a Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology.
We talked about why certain parts of the Philippines could go underwater by the year 2050, how well we’re preparing for natural hazards and the effects of climate change, a mysterious (and major) climate problem that’s right under our noses, concrete steps we can take to mitigate the impact of climate change in the Philippines, the problematic messaging of certain parties regarding climate change, and more.
Note: This interview took place in November 2020.
This episode of Ask Theory features Nikki Dyanne Realubit, a terrestrial vertebrate biologist and board member of the Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines. She has played an active role in numerous biodiversity conservation and awareness initiatives, including the ORIS Project, a volunteer-led team working for the conservation of the Isabela oriole (Oriolus isabellae).
We talked about the critically endangered Isabela oriole, the unique characteristics of this golden bird, the role it plays in its ecosystem, the challenges of species conservation, what we can do to help save our critically endangered species, and more.
Follow and support the Isabela oriole conservation initiative on Facebook: ORIS project
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Ronald Allan Cruz, an Assistant Professor of Biology at Ateneo de Manila University. A biologist, science writer, and speculative fiction author, he marries his two passions — science and pop culture — in order to effectively popularize and communicate science to the public, whether through his published works or via his YouTube channel.
We talked about incorporating pop culture into science communication, a fundamental rule of science that people tend to neglect, the science behind films like Interstellar, Contagion, and Jurassic Park, science fiction tropes that are likely to happen in real life, why it’s not bad to “overthink” science fiction, and more.
Check out Dr. Ron's YouTube channel, PopScicle, here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddjB1ShrLPWYUb_x8xExxA
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. John Wong, a Filipino epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience in epidemiology and health systems research. In 2016, he became the first Filipino to win the Roux Prize, an international award that honors innovation in the application of disease burden research, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) of the University of Washington. He is a co-founder and current senior technical adviser of EpiMetrics, a public health research firm, where he continues to work with the Department of Health, IHME, and USAID, among others, in reforming the health system, while training and working with young researchers in public health.
We talked about what Pinoys need to know about COVID-19 vaccines, what we can and can’t do after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, how to prepare ourselves in case a family member gets infected, how COVID-19 variants affect vaccine effectiveness, why we’re sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and that they weren’t “rushed,” and more.
This special episode was made possible by EpiMetrics, a Philippine-based health research institution, as part of a special initiative called Life Stages: How to Do Everything Again Differently.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Deborah Tangunan, a geologist specializing in micropaleontology, biogeochemistry, paleoceanography, and paleoclimatology. Aside from her research, she also devotes time and energy to science communication, like when she became part of the Department of Science and Technology’s Balik Scientist program.
We talked about what paleoceanographers and paleoclimatologists do, the joy of studying coccolithophores, her collaborative storybook project with scientists from different countries, how the Balik Scientist program helps Pinoy scientists here and abroad, why scientists must share their work with the public, and more.
Download the free science e-storybook Once Upon A Time... A Scientific Fairy Tale (available in different languages, including English and Filipino) here: https://www.marum.de/en/Discover/Once-upon-a-time/Stories.html
This episode of Ask Theory features Gabriel-Philip Santos, the Collections Manager and Outreach Coordinator at the Alf Museum of Paleontology in Los Angeles, California. He is also the co-founder of the Cosplay for Science initiative. Aside from the paleobiology of marine mammals, he also studies diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in science education and STEM as a museum educator and a National Geographic Certified Educator.
We talked about telling stories of Earth’s distant past, how fossils are formed, the surprisingly accurate museums in the game Animal Crossing, cosplaying for science, what prehistoric clues can tell us about the present and the future, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Shiella Mae Olimpos, a botanist and researcher from the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI). She recently discovered and co-authored a paper on Aeschynanthus rejieae, a new species of lipstick vine from Tawi-Tawi that she found during PBCFI’s Sulu Hornbill Expedition.
We talked about the characteristics of A. rejieae, how one can tell if they’re looking at a potential new species, what makes a plant a plant, why it’s important to keep discovering new species, the fun things about being a botanist/conservationist, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Trina de la Llana, a consultation-liaison psychiatrist who practices online as part of the Mindcare Club and the Quezon City General Hospital, and onsite at The Medical City and the Philippine General Hospital. She completed her residency training in Psychiatry at UP-PGH, with a subspecialty in psychiatry in the medically ill. She is also interested in sexual and gender minority health, as well as school mental health.
We talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our mental health, misconceptions about mental health in the Philippines, why mental health issues should be taken as seriously as any other illness, some tips to improve our mental wellbeing, and more.
If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, or if someone you know needs a person to talk to, you may call Hopeline PH’s 24/7 hotlines:
**88044673 for PLDT
09175584673 for Globe
2919 for Globe/TM, toll-free
09188734673 for Smart**
You may also call the National Center for Mental Health Hotline at 0966-351-4518.
This episode of Ask Theory features Abigail Garrino, a Research Associate at the Biodiversity Research Laboratory of the University of the Philippines Diliman. An early-career botanist, she conducts botanical assessments in some of the country’s unexplored forests, filling the gaps in what we know about our own floristic biodiversity. The information she generates on forest dynamics and restoration can contribute significantly to the management and conservation of the last remaining forests of the Philippines.
We talked about the state of forests in the Philippines, the things that make botany an exciting field to pursue, some mistakes made in forest conservation efforts (and how we can correct them), her favorite plant and why it’s so special, how to improve the way we communicate the need to save our forests, and more.
Petition to save the protected area of the Northern Negros Natural Park: https://www.bataris.org.ph/petitions/stop-road-construction-at-silay-patag-cadiz-calatrava-negros-occidental
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Aletta Yñiguez, an Associate Professor of biological oceanography and ecological modeling at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Combining her interests in ecology and computer science, she uses field, laboratory and computational approaches in developing tools to assess the health of marine ecosystems and understanding the dynamics of the base of the marine food web and their impact on Philippine fisheries.
We talked about the work of a biological oceanographer, how a multidisciplinary approach can improve a scientist’s efficiency, the history and ecosystem of Manila Bay, what needs to be done to save Manila Bay (and why it’s so challenging), how implementing pro-environment activities without expert advice may actually do more harm than good, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Gracile Celine Roxas, a Licensed Chemist who works under the Conservation Division of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. She combines her knowledge of chemistry and passion for art in her work, such as when she conducted a scientific analysis of pigments in 20th century paintings for some of Bohol’s historical churches.
We talked about applying the scientific method in conserving and restoring old works of art, why the Philippines needs more art conservators, the typical challenges of working in the field of art conservation and restoration, how chemistry knowledge can actually help artists improve their craft, why STEM should really be STEAM, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Engr. Gregorio Villar III, an Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) Systems Engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He was part of the team that worked on ensuring the successful landing of NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars.
We talked about what motivated him to pursue a career at NASA, his role in the Mars 2020 mission, the development of the Sky Crane system that helped Perseverance land safely on the Red Planet, why we spend time studying other planets instead of focusing on Earth, who would win in a fight between cavepeople and astronauts, and more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Ian Vega, a professor at the National Institute of Physics, program coordinator of the Theoretical Physics Group, and head of the Gravity Group at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Young Scientist award from the National Academy of Science and Technology for his work in theoretical physics.
We talked about some common misconceptions about black holes, an amusing cautionary tale about what can happen if you don’t consult with experts before making decisions, the growing community of bright young minds in the Pinoy physics scene, what the future of theoretical physics in the Philippines looks like, how we can improve science communication in the Philippines, and more.
Today's episode was made possible by Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Ian Vega, a professor at the National Institute of Physics, program coordinator of the Theoretical Physics Group, and head of the Gravity Group at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Young Scientist award from the National Academy of Science and Technology for his work in theoretical physics.
We talked about the basics of black holes, the important things we can learn from studying black holes, addressing a toxic misconception about theoretical research, how cosmic mysteries can help us better understand our place in the universe, why communication is vital in every scientist’s life, and more.
Today's episode was made possible by Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Rodion Herrera, an amateur astronomer and former planetarium lecturer, research assistant, and consultant for utilizing off-the-shelf flight simulations and weapon/defense systems simulations for civilian and military applications.
We talked about some tips and best practices for newbie astronomers, his personal experience in engaging with moon landing deniers, what would happen to the Philippines in the event of World War III, the three most terrifying letters in modern warfare, and more.
Today's episode was made possible by Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Reinabelle Reyes, an astrophysicist, data scientist, educator, and strong advocate of using data in decision-making for matters of local and national significance.
We talked about career options for physicists in the Philippines, why data science matters in everyday life, the most fun thing about being a scientist, the many benefits of having a mentor, and more.
Today's episode was made possible by Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Edrie Alcanzare, a frontliner. He is a public health physician and pathology resident trying to make sense of the health system and the many ways it can be improved.
In part 2 of our interview, we talked about whether Pinoys are truly “pasaway” when it comes to following COVID-19 guidelines, Dr. Alcanzare’s most unforgettable and horrifying (but hilarious) frontliner story, how dengue in the Philippines transformed from a seasonal concern into a year-round problem, and the long and difficult path towards reforming the Philippine public healthcare system.
This special episode was made possible by the Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Edrie Alcanzare, a frontliner. He is a public health physician and pathology resident trying to make sense of the health system and the many ways it can be improved.
In part 1 of our interview, we talked about how both science fiction and reality can become the gateway to the medical path, a pandemic that hit the Philippines over 100 years ago, why history, arts, and social sciences should help form the foundation of any STEM career, the most terrifying thing about COVID-19 that not a lot of people realize, and whether anyone can truly “win” against COVID-19.
This special episode was made possible by the Mercury Drug Foundation, Inc., a private, non-stock, non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Mercury Drug Corporation.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo, an entomologist and araneologist. She is a biology professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she also holds the position of Faculty Regent.
We talked about what the world would look like if there were no spiders, why many people are afraid of or even disgusted by insects, some amazing facts about our arachnid friends, having more women in the different fields of science, and the great power and great responsibility of every scientist.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, the Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering of Ateneo de Davao University. He is the former Program Leader of the National SPACE Development Program, and the driving force behind the creation of the Philippine Space Agency and Philippine Space Development and Utilization Policy.
We talked about what an astrophysicist does, the oft-neglected ways that space science enhances our daily lives, why the Philippine Space Act and Philippine Space Agency represent a giant leap for the Philippines, and why we still don't have a Pinoy astronaut.
This episode of Ask Theory features BA Racoma, a PhD student of the University of the Philippines and University of Reading studying tropical cyclones and rainfall. He’s also an active science communicator, and is one of the brains behind the ScienceChatPH initiative on Twitter.
We talked about common misconceptions in weather forecasting, using memes and internet humor to communicate science to the general public, the struggles of a PhD student, why the weather seems to be so weird these days, and much more.
This episode of Ask Theory features Dr. Dex Macalintal. He is a double board certified professional, both as a nutritionist dietitian and a doctor of medicine. On social media, he provides free medical insights, debunks health myths, and shares his food-and-lifestyle-first approach to treating chronic degenerative diseases.
We talked about fad diets and why many of them don't work, common misconceptions that Filipinos have about health and fitness, why it’s so difficult to lose belly fat, how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Filipino diet, what trans fats are and why we should avoid them, and so much more.