Experts Laud NSF Student Researchers

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Photos
The Luminary
THE 2014 NATIONAL SCIENCE FAIR NEWSLETTER
INSIDE: Science Congress, Time With Experts, Opinion, Question of the Day, and more!
Experts Laud NSF
Experts Laud NSF Student Researchers
Prof. Fortunato T. dela Pena,
Undersecretary for S&T Services, Mr.
Roy Agustin K. Evalle, Executive Director of FPLA, and a group of distinguished
experts attended the opening program
during the second day of the 3rd National
Science Fair.
At the outset, the delegates were
introduced by the master of ceremonies,
Ms. Dawn T. Crisologo, through a presentation titled “A Fair Tale,” which featured
photos of the students and their chaperones.
Dr. Josette T. Biyo, Executive
Director of the PSHSS, delivered the
opening remarks which she used an opportune chance to profess that “PSHS will
continue to produce globally competitive
students.” Moreover she declared that the
goal of PSHS is to be the leading science
high school not only in the country but
also in the Asia Pacific. She mentioned
that the science fair, apart from letting
the students share their scientific investigation and interact with real scientists,
should empower the community to see the
relevance of science in building the country.
The welcome remarks of the Executive Director of FPLA, Mr. Roy Agustin
K. Evalle, immediately followed. Mr. Evalle referred to the delegates as the “young
and eager minds” whom he considers the
hope of the country. He took the time to
recognize the student delegates from Palo,
Leyte, and in affirmation of the resilient
spirit of the Filipinos, he stated: “We have
proven to ourselves and to the rest of the
world our strength, our compassion, and
our brotherhood.” In the latter part of his
message, Mr. Evalle addressed the students and shared a piece of advice. “Much
was given to you, and much is expected.
You are the hope of the fatherland. Don’t
waste it; save it.”
Dr. Reinabelle Reyes was the featured speaker for the Plenary Talk. A notable research scientist, Dr. Reyes gave the
students a vote of confidence by emphasizing that they already have what it takes
to become scientists. A brief open forum
followed where Dr. Reyes described what
she does as an astrophysicist. She also
offered advice regarding finding the best
schools for college and choosing career
routes.
Undersecretary dela Pena, who
has spoken at every science fair, delivered
the Keynote Address. He began by expressing his gratitude to FPLA for its
continuous support. In line with the efforts of PSHSS to popularize science,
Prof. dela Pena shared the Department
of Science and Technology’s target outcomes that reflect what the science community is trying to achieve. The outcomes
include the following: generation of new
knowledge through research and development, application and dissemination
of the new knowledge generated, and human resource development. According to
Prof. dela Pena, DOST zealously aspires
to achieve social economic development
and to improve the lives of the Filipino
people. Calling them the “salt and light of
the earth,” he urged the delegates to try
to contribute something, especially when
they’re already doing their jobs.
To clinch the opening program,
Mr. Norman N. Morte, FPLA Head of Facilities and Operations, delivered a message. He lauded the PSHSS-FPLA partnership which according to him has “reaped
overwhelming success.” He mentioned
that it has brought positive outcomes and
productive gains.
He offered these parting words
to the students: “Continue to pursue excellence and continue to make a difference
through innovations.”
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Features
The Luminary
Concepcion's Concepts
by JC Nacpil
Name: Cris Concepcion
Who is He? Director for Content and
Services, Samsung Philippines
Previously...
Head of New Media and Technology for
ABS-CBN Global
Head of Sales and Operations at Yahoo!
Philippines
Product and Business Development for
Advanstar Communications
and NBCUniversal
Medical Residency at Westchester Medical Center
Trivia: He claims to be easily bored.
Cris Concepcion, current Samsung Philippine’s Director for Content and
Services, has quite a queer resume. Originally a doctor, who would’ve guessed that
he would eventually produce advertisements, serve stints as a web designer, and
even set up Yahoo! Philippines by himself
in his very own home?
He is one of the four experts to
have graced the NSF with his presence
during the Science Congress’ Parallel Sessions held last February 10, 2014 in For
The Win. For his talk, he detailed his experiences working in many positions, the
lessons he has learned, and what the future will hopefully hold.
“”You will always encounter
forks in the road,” he begun, “the question
is, ‘Where am I going?’” A graduate of UP
with a B.S. in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and an M.D. Doctor of Medicine from University of the East, Mr. Concepcion moved to upstate New York for a
medical residency in Westchester Medical
Center. But he was easily bored, and already had his eye on something new.
“There was an interesting development during my time in Westchester,”
he shared, referring to the Dotcom bubble,
wherein a lot of website startups, overvalued entities during that time, eventually crashed because of mismanagement
from what he described as “21 year old
who thought they knew how to be CEOs
already.” This sparked his interest in the
potential of the internet, and at the turn
of the century, decided to move away from
being doctor to set-up a website.
Wojszczyk’s Wisdom
Name: Bartosz Wojszczyk
Who is He? Chief Innovation Officer of
Meralco
Previously...
Energy Advisor to government and energy stakeholders (Americas, Europe,
APAC)
Trivia: He migrated to the Philippines 6
months ago.
by Alice Robang
Dr. Bartosz Wojszczyk, current
Chief Innovation Officer of Meralco, delivered a speech to student researchers last
February 10, 2014, during the 3rd National Science Fair held at FPLA.
Dr. Wojszczyk is an experienced
executive for global business, and he is an
expert in the areas of utility design and
engineering, operations, system integration, smart grids, renewable and distributed generation, advanced protection
and automation, and energy storage and
e-transportation. He has been an energy
advisor to governments (in the Americas
and Europe) and energy stakeholders
(APAC), a professor at the University of
North Carolina in Charlotte and at AGH
University of Science and Technology in
Poland, and is a member of IEEE and IEA.
In addition to this, he has also authored
His first venture, which aimed to
make health and medicine issues easier to
understand by creating content using layman’s terms, was a hit. Soon enough, the
ball was rolling, and he hopped from company to company, working for the likes
of NBC Universal and iVillage. Noticing
both the lack and potential of an internet
industry in the Philippines, he called the
higher-ups at Yahoo! to consider setting
up a branch in the Philippines. After a
flight to Singapore, he got the go signal
and finally returned home to the Philippines where he set up Yahoo! Philippines.
After four years, he was then tapped by
ABS-CBN Global to provide Filipino television subscriptions for the OFWs abroad.
Three years after, he then moved to his
current job at Samsung.
With his evident wealth of experiences, he shared his visions for the
future and advice for the students, the future scientists, in the audience. He noted
that what’s his learned from working in
healthcare and media, like advertising,
marketing, sales, and the like, were transferrable to other fields, and as such, made
it easy for him to fit in a lot of job positions
easily. Stressing that your career does not
necessarily equate to your degree, but
rather to your skills and experience, he
advised the students to develops their careers, gain experience, travel, and pursue
what is satisfying.
“The journey is the reward,” he
always said. And with everything he has
shared, it seems that he had quite the reward. But for this forward thinking man
with an eye for the future, the reward isn’t
over yet.
30 papers, co-authored three books and 4
international reports.
Dr. Wojszczyk’s speech revolved
around the “Practicality of Science.” He
mentioned that scientists today are capable of solving large-scale world problems
by “putting imagination to work in solving the world’s toughest problems.” That
with every data gathered, there’s a way to
transform that data into substantial information, then to knowledge needed in
decision-making, be it for a scientific discovery or creating something new.
He also said that with our ever-evolving, fast-paced world, scientists
are challenged to keep up with this “Brave
New World” and come up with practical
solutions to practical problems.To him,
it’s all about formulating real-time, predictive, and scalable solutions.
Dr. Wojszczyk shared this advice: “Find the people who can inspire
you- who can inspire you as a scientist.
Think outside the box.”
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they
NSF - February 10, 2014
News
7
QUESTION: As a young scientist,
how can you make a difference?
“Making a difference is such a
difficult task as a young scientist.
For me, it is best to start a difference
in myself. I would have to have discipline, patience, and other qualities
needed to become a scientist.”
Justin Bryan Macanas (PSHS-EVC)
“Give Science A Chance”
“I’m so happy to be here,” Dr. Reinabelle Reyes expressed during her Plenary
Talk in the opening program. She related to the students with fond affinity as she recalled attending science fairs also when she was in high school. Accordingly, her career
as a scientist owes its origin to her experiences in Pisay. Back in high school, Physics
piqued her interest because of its “analytical thinking and elegance.”
In her talk and during the open forum, Dr. Reyes dispensed pieces of advice
substantiated by her own experiences and grounded on her conviction that “you cannot
lose when you choose science.” She stressed the following points:
“You can be a scientist.”
She reminded the delegates that their participation at the fair is already a testament of
their talent and promising potentials to make it as a scientist. “The fact that you’re here,
you’re already a winner. You have made the cut,” she stressed.
“There is a solid career in science.”
She pointed out that the worst case scenario for scientists is still good, so it merits serious consideration. According to her, the monetary gains shouldn’t be the only consideration for pursuing a career in science. More importantly, students should first introspect
if they really have what it takes to become a scientist. Moreover, another crucial question should be “Do I have the heart for it?”
“Use the support network that you have.”
Dr. Reyes urged the students to seek help from people whenever they struggle with
problems like not having the means or resources to pursue their dream, not getting
enough opportunities and possibilities, or not having a clear vision about one’s career
path. She explained that students could turn to their teachers for help, and the science
community has a wellspring of support like scholarship grants or financial assistance.
She emphasized that having a good mentor gives one a much needed leverage
to really succeed in the field of science.” It all boils down to having a mentor. Scientists
trains scientists. You cannot read it from a book. You learn it from them.
Dr. Reinabelle Reyes is a research scientist at The Manila Observatory in Ateneo de Manila
University. She worked as an Assistant in Instruction in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences at
Princeton University from fall and spring semesters of 2009. She served as Postdoctoral Research
Fellow at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics of University of Chicago from 2011 to January
2014.
Dr. Reyes holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Ateneo de Manila University where
she graduated Summa cum laude. She obtained her Diploma in High Energy Physics from Abdus Salam
International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. She has a Doctorate in Astrophysics from
Princeton University.
She was conferred scholarship by Princeton University twice. From 2006 to 2007, she was
the recipient of the Martin Schwarzschild Graduate Fellowship, and she received the Centennial Fellowship from 2006 to 2011.
In 2007, during the AAS 211TH Meeting, she was recognized with the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, Honorable Mention. She was awarded the Richard Kaye Korn Prize
by Princeton University, from 2009 to 2010.
Dr. Reyes is a member of the American Astronomical Society. Her research interests cover
Astrophysics and Data Science, and along with co-authors, she has written eight articles
“I can make a difference by empowering myself and others with more
knowledge and by seeking continuously for solutions to our current
problems.”
Deme Rafael Abayon (PSHS-SMC)
“I can make a difference by living
“the scientific spirit – inquisitive,
logical, analytical, and critical.”
Cristine Joy Pimentel (PSHS-CVC)
“Do good things for other people
through science.”
Zen Flores (PSHS-CVC)
“We subtract. I’m still young to
‘give’ and provide major solutions to
natural problems, so I can only lessen or completely stop my contributions in the problems encountered
today.”
Juris Marie Garcia (PSHS-CVC)
“I can make a difference by eradicating scientific ignorance and educating other people about the importance of science in their lives.”
Ben Joshua Parras (PSHS-WVC)
“I can make a difference by giving
back to the community. Simply
being able to discover something is
not enough; you only satisfy yourself that way. But by sharing your
discovery, you can help improve the
lives of others through the innovations you’ve created.”
Phil Aidan Cruz (PSHS-WVC)
“I think I can make a difference by
inventing something that would
change the world too.”
Hasanna Pacada (PSHS-CLC)
“I can make a difference by taking
the lead in initiating changes that
would be advantageous for my
community.”
Abigail Briones (PSHS-CVC)
“As a young scientist, I can make
a difference by understanding the
world better through science.”
Mary Grace Enriquez (PSHS-EVC)
were to success when they gave up” - Thomas A. Edison
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Section
The Luminary
NSF - February 10, 2014
Section
5
The Science Congress
Projects Overview
Congress Brings Together A Pool Of Experts
Electrical Engineering
A majority of the projects dealt with improving current technologies with new ones, aiming to make the technology cheaper and more
accessible to everybody. The P.A.A.S.A., or the
Portable Anchor Anti-Snatch Alarm is a portable, small-scale device that alerts the user if he
or she is a victim of theft. The magnetic motor
for the rice thresher, and the digital temperature recorder, were developed as cheaper alternatives, and the vacuum chalkboard eraser
proved to be a cleaner and more efficient way
to clean chalk dust. Solar panels also proved to
be very popular; Pili and Purple Yam Dye were
shown to be an effective sensitizers for solar
cells, while Poly-dye-sensitized solar cells and
solar-panel powered charger for iPhones and
iPads were also developed.
Plant Science
& Microbiology
Three out of eight projects regarding Plant
Science and Microbiology dealt with acquiring
plant leaf or fruit extracts and testing their antibacterial, antimutagenic, or antifungal properties. Another was about the investigation
and identification of certain bacterial species
which produce biogas, a type of alternative energy. Moreover, other studies focused on the
following: using M. oleifera leaf extract as an
edible coating used to prevent the growth of
microorganisms on fruits, and using Cassava
Leaves as an extender for broiler feeds. Another promising project involved the isolation of
lead-resistant bacteria from the gut of janitor
fish, thus giving potential for application in
bioremediation purposes.
Animal Science
& Medicine
Materials Science
& Engineering
Computer Science
& Mathematics
Biochemistry & Chemistry
Most of the studies under Animal Science and
Medicine included the properties of various
plant extracts at their core. One used ginger
extracts as a treatment for skin inflammation,
others looked into the antidiabetic properties
of yacon and the anticarcinogenic effect of
Apigenin, a plant pigment found in Pansit-pansitan. Some even researched the properties of
fruits as common as banana and tamarind.
One of the two projects classified under animal
science considered the structure of jellyfish’s
stinging cells and determined how it affects
the skin when stung, while the other looked
into an additive for tilapia feeds.
Two studies, such as the creation of a 2D QR
code for borrowing books in PSHS-CVC and
the inventory of different plants found in
PSHS-IRC, featured the use of programming
platforms to create systems for their respective
schools. Three other studies employed mathematical models and sequences to create the
ideal design for a fishing net mesh and a wide
aperture segmented reflector telescope (much
like the same study under the Mat’l Sci category, but this time studied mathematically) and to
investigate mathematical trends in leguminous
plants. A statistical study was also conducted
using trends, but this time concerning the characteristics of Philippine households that have
escaped poverty.
Of the eight studies categorized under Materials Science and Engineering, five of them
discussed products, from inorganic and organic substances, like Zinc Oxide diodes, plastics
from Yellowfin Tuna skin-based Gelatin and
lentils starch, cardboard made from goat’s
foot creeper and coconut leaf pulp, and xylose
from dried samples of calabash fruit shells. The
other three such as the studies on the physical
characterization of wide-aperture segmented
telescope, the alternate method of preparing
nanocomposite fibers (from rice straw), and
the study of acoustic properties of the banana
plant, presented more efficient ways of creating products and exploring their other possible
uses by investigating their physical properties.
Out of the eight studies that dealt with Biochemistry, five involved common plant subjects
such as rambutan and calamansi leaf extract or
prolonging the shelf life of papaya and suman.
The other three projects focused on subjects
like DNA identification of common fish species, extraction of calcium in fish bones, and
a solution to mercury contamination of water
in Camarines Norte. The only research project
that concentrated on pure Chemistry provided
a possible solution to the tooth erosion effects
of sports drinks by providing a substitute for
an integral but harmful element of its composition.
by Rav Bitanga, Joanna Carillo, and
Alice Robang
One of the highlights of the 3rd National Science Fair, the Science Congress, was
held last Feb 10, from 8 AM to 5 PM, at the Executive Building.
Each research group was assigned to a
cluster based on the classification of their project.
A panel of experts lent their skills by assessing
the projects and giving the student researchers
pointers and suggestions for improving and refining their studies. The delegates were given at
most 10 minutes for presentation. A 20-minute
forum followed wherein the panelists and other
delegates posed questions about the research. For instance, one of the studies dealt
with the use of Avocado seed and Green Tea leaf
extract as antimicrobial agents against Strep-
tococcus mutans, one of the common bacterial
species that causes tooth decay. The results of
the group’s experiment proved that the extract
can inhibit the said bacteria, thus making it a
possible alternative for toothpaste. Prof. Santos,
the expert in that category, suggested that the
group consider what the form of the “Avocado
toothpaste” will be. Also, he told the group to
consider what the consumers would feel about
using avocado-flavored toothpaste, since people
brush their teeth primarily to remove the flavors
in their mouths.
In another study which centered on
the production bioplastics from Yellowfin Tuna
skin gelatin and starch, the panel of experts
suggested that the group add comparative data
(how the bioplastic they created fares against
crude oil plastic) to their presentation.
In a study that looked into the DNA
barcoding of tuna and tuna like fishes to help
prevent misidentification of species, a question
was posed as to the project’s significance. Dr.
Noel Saguil asked the researchers if their study
could be used for economic advancement in
terms of lessening the economic sabotage that
comes with misidentification of species. He also
praised the researchers for a job well done in
writing their paper and presenting their project.
Alyssa Boller, PSHS-MC student, attested to the benefit of the congress citing that
the experts pointed out the weaknesses of the
study and offered informed recommendations on
how to correct them.
Ms. Ferly Lovete from PSHS-BRC and
Ms. Ana Victoria Lloren from PSHS-MC planned
and organized the Science Congress for this
year’s fair.
The table below shows the different clusters for the congress and the respective
experts and study critics:
Clusters
Specialists/Panel of Experts
Electrical Engineering
Engr. Alvin Joseph J. Tang & Engr. Gaylord Arive Mendoza
Environmental Science and Engineering
James Michael L. Araneta, Andrea Monica Ortiz & Dr. David Bruce Campbell
Material Science and Engineer
Dr. Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez
Math and Computing
Instructor Eric Tambasacan & Adrian Angeles
Animal Science and Medicing
Dr. Mary Rose Magpily & Dr. Marie Josephine Milagros B. Cruz
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Dr. Maria Constancia Obrero Carrillo & Dr. Noel Saguil
Plant Science and Microbiology
Instructor Brian Santiago Santos & Kayla Marie Ison Castro
Environmental Science & Engineering
Three projects proved successful in finding more efficient and cost-effective ways of decontamination; local talisay leaves and the Photo-Fenton Process
were shown to be effective in removing Cd(II) ions and factory discharge from water sources, respectively, and an insecticide that is effective against
both mosquitoes and cockroaches was formulated with marigold flowers. In the field of pure researches, it was also proven that the residue from Sweet
Sorghum Bagasse had little to no effect on Cowpea plant growth, and amongst four other algae species, T. Ornata exhibits the highest mortality rate
which makes them a potential producer of cytotoxic secondary metabolites. A time series analysis of rainfall in selected areas of CAR highlighted trends
that will allow the affected people to plan for heavy rain in advance. The remaining projects showed the potential of household items for alternative,
eco-friendly applications: locally available biomasses - bananas, rambutan, and coconut - were used to make flammable briquettes, an economic alternative to charcoal, while Yam starch was used as replacement for agar. Gmelina arborea seeds were also shown to be a potential source of biofuel.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they
were to success when they gave up” - Thomas A. Edison
6
News - Feature
The Promise In Science
The Luminary
By Joanna Carillo
By Nina Domingo
Pump Priming
Returning to Your Roots
As students of Philippine Science High School, we are required to
take any college course in the vast field
of Science and Technology – including courses such as Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Forestry, Computer
Science, among others. This, in turn,
continues to give rise to many future
scientists and inventors – precisely
what our country needs. They serve important roles in our society, for they are
the keys to a better future for the Philippines.
Look around you. New malls
are being built, new establishments are
being made. There are now numerous
buy-and-sell businesses. It is evident
that our government pays much attention to business and marketing matters,
and unfortunately, not much priority
is given to our Science and Technology
sector.
That is what has to change. By
focusing on marketing and sales matters, there is very little “creation.” In
short, we do not produce much – no
wonder we are very reliant on other
countries. It is ironic that we are blessed with a ton of natural resources: gasoline, wood, crops, yet it is the foreigners
who get the bulk of the benefits from
what we have. Why? Because we lack
research, and we do not even have the
advanced tools and machinery, or simply the means, to have our own mass
production and processing of materials. Those developments are what we
need here in the Philippines, and this is
where the scientists come in.
We need scientists to brainstorm, research, and create. We need
bright minds to make new discoveries
and develop new innovations. With
their help, we would be able to maximize our resources. We would have an
increase in productivity, thus making it
attainable for us to compete or be at par
with developed countries such as China
and the United States.
Pursuing careers in science is
actually an opportunity for our country
to progress. In fact, if we do not progress in our S&T sector, our country’s
economic condition can only worsen
because greater poverty lies ahead. The
practical and right thing to do would be
to innovate and invent. With the help of
scientists, a far more stable and developed Philippines awaits us.
In a recent Econ lesson, our
teacher compared fiscal policy to pump
priming. When pumping water, you
need to pour water first into the pump,
otherwise known as priming it, to create a vacuum, and only then will the water rise. In the same way, an economy
will not grow unless you spend first.
Bottom line: you can’t start
with nothing. Success takes sacrifice.
The Philippines would always
have to depend on other countries for
scientific and technological jobs. Aside
from being highly impractical and expensive, it would be a waste of potential, which we undoubtedly have. Think
of Abelardo Aguilar, the discoverer of
erythromycin. Or Eduardo San Juan,
the primary designer of the Lunar Module. And let’s not forget Dr. Fe Del Mundo, the first female medicinal student at
Harvard and inventor of the improved
incubator. And how about the other unsung Filipino scientists out there, who,
despite the lack of recognition, continue to do what they love with unwavering zeal?
Scientists don’t need to be fullblown, 24/7 scientists; a chemical engineer is a scientist, a doctor is a scientist;
even a chef is a scientist. After all, isn’t a
scientist someone who studies science,
be it be chemistry, biology, or food science?
In one way or another, science
will always play a role in the development of a country. The Philippines is a
Third World country; we have so much
room for progress. We can’t just throw
in the towel now; instead, we should be
inspired to work harder.
Statistics show that the number of migrating Filipino scientists increased from around 10,000 in 1998 to
about 25,000 in 2009. Back in 2008,
when MV Princess of the Stars sank,
one of the reasons was allegedly PAGASA’s failure to issue proper storm
warnings. In response, DOST claimed
that they had invested $40 million in
new equipment, but the problem was
that they had no qualified scientists
to put them to use. For sure, we need
scientists; equipment can always be
bought—even donated or solicited—but
manpower and knowledge are hard to
acquire.
So let us, the new generation
of scientists, play our part in helping
our country. Let us be the pump primers, remembering in spite of various
obstacles and our country’s limitations
that we are the key to water, or in this
case, our nation’s future.
It is widely known that “Brain
Drain” a.k.a. human capital flight is a
major social and economic problem in
the Philippines. Brain drain is the emigration of our intellectuals, scientists,
and other individuals with technical
skills to other countries in search of
better opportunities in their respective fields. For one’s personal success,
becoming an S&T OFW is not an entirely bad idea, considering the limited
opportunities present in our country;
however, we could really use all the
help that we could get, especially from
our skilled and talented professionals.
According to recent studies,
brain drain is most common in developing countries such as India, China, and
African nations. The Philippines, being
a third world country, is no exception
to this. In recent years, more and more
S&T professionals have been migrating
abroad. According to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES),
the number of S&T professionals migrating out of our country has doubled
from 1998 to 2009. This alarming situation poses a threat and problem for
us. In this modern time, our nation’s
economy relies on the S&T sector, so if
all of our professionals are migrating,
we have no brilliant minds who will
engineer the growth and success in the
fields of S&T in the Philippines. It’s alright to work as an OFW but make sure
that you know how to give back to your
country.
Finding success abroad as an
S&T professional is relatively easier
than getting a rewarding job here in
the Philippines. We are still a developing country and thus opportunities
are limited and sometimes we’re left
with really poor choices. This is why
we need greater S&T manpower to help
our economy. As DOST Secretary Mario
Montejo said, “Scientists and engineers
create world class solutions to national
problems and innovations that add value to local products and services.” We
cannot improve our economy without
science and technology, and we can’t
improve science and technology in our
country without our scientists and engineers.
S&T is an integral part of our
economy, and the pressing concern of
migrating professionals should not and
cannot be ignored. In a fight between
personal gain and nationwide progress,
it’s so much easier to choose the former.
However there is sacrifice present in every great advancement ever made, be it
scientific, industrial, technological or
otherwise. All I’m trying to say is never forget your origins. Always return to
your roots.
By Rav Bitanga
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they
NSF - February 10, 2014
Dr. Saguil’s Expeditions
by Joanna Carillo
Student delegates listened to
talks given by professionals who specialize in their respective fields during the
segment, “Time With Experts.” One of the
speakers, Dr. Noel Saguil, specializes in
Marine Biodiversity Research. He is the
current Science Outreach Program manager of the University of Utah; moreover,
he conducts professional lectures on Marine Conservation and Biodiversity to the
PNP, Coast Guard, and Local Government
Units.
Marine Biodiversity Research
focuses on the investigation of the variety
of all biological life found in mangroves,
seas, and oceans. This is precisely what
Dr. Saguil has been doing for his work. He
has joined numerous expeditions to explore the marine life in different bodies of
water. He has researched in sites such as
Papua New Guinea, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Panglao. He usually performs
habitat sampling, DNA barcoding, species
identification, among others.
His passion for research and all
the efforts he put in his work did pay off
Tall Tales
With Dr. Campbell
by Rav Bitanga
One of the events of the Science
Congress on Feb 10 was the Parallel Sessions wherein distinguished speakers delivered talks on their experiences as scientists. In the Bolts room, Dr. David Bruce
Campbell gave his 20-minute witty yet
inspirational presentation.
Dr. Campbell began by sharing
his inspiration to go into Marine Biology.
He grew up in Rhode Island which was
close to the ocean, and because his parents gave him a lot of freedom early in
his childhood, he would often go to the
beach with his friends and go snorkeling
and eventually scuba diving. His love for
the ocean steadily grew and so he decided
to take B.S. Zoology in the University of
Rhode Island and eventually M.S. Marine
Biology for his graduate studies where he
discovered a new species of sea star.
He eventually went back to the
News - Feature
- his team was able to give a number of
contributions in the field of Marine Biology. For instance, during his team’s expedition in Panglao, his group was able to
discover more than a hundred new species of marine organisms. Also, they were
able to get samples of conical shells that
were supposedly extinct, thus removing
the certain species from the “extinct list.”
Another great breakthrough was their
team’s invention of Prialt, a non-narcotic
pain reliever made from a toxin derived
from a cone snail species. In addition, his
team formulated 6 compounds that can
effectively counter Alzheimer’s Disease,
Epilepsy, and Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Saguil showed his photo gallery of the species of marine organisms
he has worked with. He mentioned, “In
Panglao, we were able to spot 5000-6000
mollusk species. And that’s just 1 out of
the 7, 107 islands in the Philippines. What
more for the 7,106?” To emphasize his
point, he stated the unfortunate fact that
Philippines does not have many specialists on taxonomy; hence, he encouraged
students to pursue research and science in
their future careers.
University of Rhode Island to pursue his
doctorate in Biological Science, and afterwards worked as an instructor for a
Coral Reef Ecology course in the American Virgin Islands where he also met his
would-be wife. Throughout his life, Dr.
Campbell has worked as an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT), an assistant
and associate professor in numerous universities such as Rider University and the
University of New Hampshire, and as a research scientist in the University of Rhode
Island and Northeastern University. He is
currently retired from research but is the
program director for the National Science
Foundation where, as he puts it, he can
enable other researches reach their full
potential.
Before he ended his presentation, Dr. Campbell shared his personal career advice: Take advantage of the opportunities that you find, and don’t be afraid
to take side paths. He also shared his favorite quote by Mark Anthony: “If you do
what you love, you’ll never work a day in
your life.”
3
Name: Cris Concepcion
Who is He? Science Outreach Program
manager of the University of Utah
Previously...
participated as an expert on marine biodiversity expeditions in Madang, New
Guinea (Sept-Nov 2012)
Co-Manager, Logistics Manager and
specialist on venomous marine gastropods - Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu Expedition (2007)
Project Logistics Officer of the MOZANGASCAR Expedition (2010) in Mozambique and Madagascar
Name: David Bruce Campbell
Who is He? The Program Director, Division of Research on Learning in Formal
and Informal Settings, National Science
Foundation
Previously...
1993-1997: Chair of the Biology Department, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
1989-2001: Associate Professor (tenured), Biology Dept., Rider University
1998-2004: Sigma Xi Board of Directors
1986-1989: Assistant Professor, Biology
Dept., Rider University
1983-1986: Visiting Assistant Professor,
Zoology Dept., Univ. of New Hampshire
Trivia: He met his wife while teaching
Coral Reef Ecology in the US Virgin Islands.
were to success when they gave up” - Thomas A. Edison