February 12, 2009 is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and this year is also the 150th year of the publication of Darwin’s “Origin of Species” and the famous joint papers of Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace on evolution. The event will be marked in many countries such as the USA, UK, Russia, EU countries, Japan, Korea, [...]
Pinoy marine scientists throw a formal party!
December 10, 2008 By 11 Comments
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 [...]
What WAS the Star of Bethlehem?
December 5, 2008 By 36 Comments
On being called doctors
December 2, 2008 By 9 Comments
PhDs are considered to occupy a tad lower in the “doctor” hierarchy in Pinoy society. Physicians occupy the top traditionally since medicos provide health services that can make the difference between life and death. Dentists occupy a lower rung. Optometrists too and obviously vets. Pinoy society call all of them doctors. Pinoys are extremely title conscious [...]
Charles Darwin on infanticide, contraception, women and God
October 23, 2008 By 12 Comments
Darwin’s ”Origin of Species” is rather tame as compared to his “Descent of Man” in which he outlines the origin of Homo sapiens from lower forms and the development of its moral faculties and religion. The overarching principle here is sexual selection. The various manifestations of human life, from sexual dimorphism, politics, religion and God, is linked [...]
Jurgenne Primavera, Heroine of the Mangroves
October 13, 2008 By 3 Comments
Her name has a bit of German and a hint of Spanish springtime. She recently got an accolade as a “Hero of the Environment” from Time Magazine. She is also if I am not mistaken, the first person to get a PhD in marine science from a Philippine university. She has published over 50 peer reviewed [...]
A balik-scientist comments on doing science in the Philippines
October 10, 2008 By 4 Comments
I have attended a few of Dr Raul Kamantigue Suarez’s lectures in the past. He is with the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California Recently he was sponsored by DOST as a balik scientist and gave a series of lectures. In his lecture at UP he spoke on the [...]
What’s really wrong with Philippine science?
September 26, 2008 By 18 Comments
Professor Flor Lacanilao, a marine scientist of well renown, former chancellor of the University of the Philippines Visayas and director of the aquaculture department of SEAFDEC has recently rocked the Pinoy science establishment in a series of essays and letters to the blurbs and the blogs. I won’t post the links here but the reader [...]
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