Ask Theory

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

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.