Ask Theory

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: [email protected]

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: @ingridmespi

Email: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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:

How to contact Kam:

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]