Marine scientists rarely if ever, dress up for dinner. But yesterday the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) threw a party to celebrate more than 30 years of world class scientific work and to thank its supporters who help fund its work. Part of the culminating activities of the university centennial, the UPMSI bash honored individuals from the public, NGO and private sectors who have ensured that results of UPMSI’s work have national and international impact.
The evening’s guest of honor was no less than UP President Emerlinda Roman. According to Roman, the UPMSI is an example of how world class science can come from a developing country despite funding shortfalls and a misdirected priorities. UPMSI started in 1974, when a new PhD returned from Scripps, Ed Gomez. Gomez, a Green Archer from birth, approached UP President Salvador P Lopez for employment opportunities. Lopez pointed him to the Botany department. Then as now (although not as bad as then), non-UP alums appointed to faculty positions still have a hard time dealing with the UP old boy culture. Gomez was given a small room without any piece of furniture save for a phone and three phone books (for a makeshift table) to start a research center.
Gomez’ administrative and motivational skills made sure that people who started as research assistants move on to be scientists in their own right. According to him, people are more important than the infrastructure. The development of scientists came in tandem with the infrastructure that by the mid 1980s, the UPMSI was already making waves internationally. Gomez took a gamble in hosting the 1980 International Coral Reef Symposium. This put the UP and Philippine marine science on the map.
It seems that Gomez being a non-UP alum was able to look dispassionately at the academic politics that make UP interesting. He was able to avoid many of the pitfalls. Thirty three years later, the UPMSI is in the league of international “big shot” marine labs. Proof is that many foreign researchers come to the institute to do research (and bring a hefty infusion of funds and expertise). The UPMSI has graduated more than 50 MSc and 20 PhDs since it began offering degrees in the mid 80s.
UPMSI has not been free of controversy and had to diss out the politicians. In 1997 the institute went head on with Joe de Venecia who was for the contruction of a cement plant in Bolinao, a few meters from the marine lab and a coral reef. In an international campaign, the UPMSI made sure that the project be scuppered. Sometimes the expertise and advice of the institute are ignored in politically determined environmental decisions. However it is the NGO and PO sectors that have greatly benefited from UPMSI research aside of course the academe.
Perhaps the greatest contribution of the institute to world science is the countrywide assessment of Philippine coral reefs. This was Gomez’ first big research project and has since been the model used by almost all countries with coral reefs. Gomez is also known as the pioneer in the captive propagation of endangered giant clams and reef rehabilitation technologies.
UPMSI research on Philippine oceanography have found applications in fisheries, the merchant marine and disaster risk assessment. It also has found application in modeling the effects of major pollution events such as oil spills.
Last year the institute has started a new phase in the scientific development of the Philippines. For the first time, a Filipino initiated and funded drug discovery program is underway. Called Pharmaseas, it plans to screen Philippine marine life for drug properties, develop these and possibly go on to clinical and commercial applications. Before we just provided the raw material or just elucidate basic pharmacological properties and the drugs are developed in foreign countries.
But all of these pales with the most impressive achievement of the institute, its alums. An overwhelming majority of the 20 PhDs produced are IN PHILIPPINE REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES. And since they have been trained in research, they have started their own research programs in their regions and produce world class research (even with funding and equipment disadvantages). If one visits a regional university with a biology program, chances are there is a UPMSI alum there. The MSc grads have either gone to do their PhDs abroad and/or have returned (to their home universities) or are working in the non-academic sector (industry and NGOs) as marine scientists.
UPMSI demostrates that a research culture is indeed possible in the Philippines. The Pinoy character of bayanihan and pakikisama can be translated to world class performance in the home country. Also it is possible that Pinoys can achieve world class science by not expecting shortcuts and “palusot”. Our palusot mentality cannot translate to good science since that never works and screws up experiments!
Who says Pinoy scientists can only excel in a foreign lab?
Popularity: 1% [?]
too bad that the government would rather fete a pro boxer…even the DENR secretary who should be there with DOST has decided he will be a sikyu to manny…as much as we love manny, his ppv income is not going to help us in the long run compared to the men and women who ensure that our coral reefs and aquatic diversity will feed us for centuries to come…
True. the PacMan gives us reason for pride but it seems that he got the political bug. His money will be siphoned by his handlers.
Manny can do the nation more by ensuring that a part of his money’s interest earnings fund scholarships for the poorer majority. It would be good if the scholars are funded for environment and biology courses.
I think we should petition Manny to dump his political ambitions and be the real hero!
In my previous incarnation as working stiff, I worked as a research assistant to several marine scientists from UPMSI, ICLARM, and WWE as we surveyed marine and lake ecosystems in the Bicol region. The hours were long, with lots of manual labor and several hours spent in a boat under the hot sun, and several minutes underwater. That was the most fun Ive ever had. And I felt like I was part of something important. I didnt get my name into any peer-reviewed paper, the PhD’s and the MS’s did, but I felt I was part of it. And I did learn a lot.
A few years ago, there was a controversy regarding a research that came out of UP-MSI. I think it’s a substance from snails that you can turn into pain killers. A US multinational drug firm invested millions of dollars to do further research. Some people here cry foul and said the company stole the research.
I think this is one of our problems in technological development, we have the talents and skills to discover things but we don’t have the industrial capacity to commercial researches like that. We need to create a VC culture.
Anyway, kudos to the people in UP-MSI!
Blackshama, asa ka pa when pacman’s ‘advisers’ include criminal chavit and that moron atienza ..sana nga pacman will put more money into public schools in his province para naman lahat mabiyayahan…
DiwaDm
That’s the Conus venom research that started in the early 1970s. Toto Olivera and Luly Cruz were young PhDs then. This was the subject of Toto Olivera’s UP centennial lecture. The Conus team is now headed by National Scientist Luly Cruz. She essentially agrees with what you said. But then again, the initial funding for that project was American. The charge that they “stole” the snails from us is not completely correct since some of the snails used for the venom research came from American territories like Guam, and Hawaii.
But the idea came from Pinoys who have observed Cone snails. But ideas don’t translate to cash without the necessary investment! Olivera reported that 30 years later, none of the Conus drugs have been commercialized, although some are in clinical trials. To their credit, Cruz and Olivera have been able to negotiate that some of the royalties channeled to the Philippines if ever the drugs go commercial.
With Pharmaseas, things are different. We have more stringent IP and royalties conditions than in the 1970s. Since it is Pinoy funded (DOST) we can call the shots! That’s why I consider it a new stage in our scientific and technological development.
jeg
Some people pay lots of money to do what you used to do! :-)
Nash
That’s what ALL PacMan fans fear. Ask any fan from A to E demographics. Chavit will get his money! But it is really Pacquiao’s decision. I hope Manny listens to the wisdom of his fans!
What a small world. Been friends with Luli Cruz for some years from when we worked on developing spirulina production for the D.A. Haven’t seen her though since she was inducted into the NAST. Always enjoyed Feeding Time at her Poisonous Snail Lab. Great post!
DJB
Thanks
We have good news about DOST and Sec. Alabastrp
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/322/5907/1459
Maybe our rich Catholic Church can also donate money to scientific research so that we can compete with Malaysia.
Regarding the cone snails, while it is but fair that the main funding agency gets the first crack at any commercial potential, the idealist simpleton in me thinks that nature “belongs” to human kind. I don’t believe that natural systems per se should be protected by IP exclusivity, the fruits of research and the derivatives, yes, but access to nature no. We should be sending more and more snails to more and more people around the world so they too can do research on them because no single group has the resources and time and talent to unlock all the mysteries. The good thing about science is that generally it’s collaborative, a very restrictive IP system will strangle that.
I also recall quite recently that an NGO wanted to close down the IRRI because of it ‘colonial’ implications. OMG talaga pag-iisip ng mga fifol who listen to too many CBCP encyclicals.
I worked as a research assistant to several marine scientists from UPMSI, ICLARM, and WWE…
Mother of pearl, did I write WWE? I meant WWF.
(Although I wouldnt have minded working with Stacy Kiebler very much.)
WWF! World Wrestling Federation? :-)