Ask Theory

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

Note: The cane toad was erroneously described as "venomous" in the recording; it is poisonous, not venomous.

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

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

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?

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