Hundreds of Filipino scientists, who have succeeded in their respective professions abroad, have returned to the country and helped in advancing the local science and technology through short- or long-term engagements with the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Some of the current BSP awardees invited their fellow Filipino scientists based abroad to become part of the BSP during the BSP online orientation and public consultation titled, “Fostering Collaboration: Balik Scientists as Game-changers Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic,” on June 30.
“BSP is a brain-gain initiative of the DOST, [which] has been instrumental in promoting and implementing science, technology and innovation activities for national development, especially in areas where we have limited local expertise,” Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said in a news release.
“From its implementation in 1975 until 2020, we were able to work with 564 Balik Scientists through 716 engagements,” he said.
Meanwhile, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara acknowledged the 34 Balik Scientists who continued to serve the scientific and developmental goals of the program despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guevara added that the program adopted alternative means of engagement, strengthened by the implementation of the Supplemental Guidelines and Risk Management Plan that allowed Balik Scientists to be virtually engaged during the pandemic when there were travel restrictions.
Three Balik Scientist awardees shared their notable engagements in the health, industry and agriculture sectors despite the pandemic.
Dr. Anna Karen C. Laserna, a research fellow at the National University of Singapore and a short-term Balik Scientist, extended her help to the De La Salle University-Central Instrumentation Facility in becoming a center for research in metabolomics.
The facility also partnered with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s Tuklas Lunas Program.
Asean-Republic of Korea for Excellence in Science Awardee, Dr. Lawrence A. Limjuco, discussed how the DOST—through its sectoral planning councils, research and development institutes, collegial and scientific bodies, and scientific and technological services—coordinates science and technology-related projects in the country and formulates policies and projects to support national development, especially the BSP.
Limjuco also shared the different practices to promote a research-based Material Science and Engineering subject during his engagement with BSP.
These include the shift from experimental research to review of related articles, remote learning via international collaborations, onsite activities with strict compliance to safety precaution measures and continuous learning through remote research.
A seven-time Balik Scientist awardee and a consultant to numerous international institutions, such as the US Agency for International Development and UN Forum on Forests, Dr. Guillermo A. Mendoza imparted his diverse areas of expertise—ranging from artificial intelligence to watershed management and hydrologic modelling.
Using geospatial technologies, Mendoza conducted studies in applying precision agriculture principles in potato production and assessing landslide susceptibility.
Sectors of the industry, agriculture and health gravely suffered during this pandemic, BSP said, as it recognized the importance of increasing the number of Filipino scientists, technologists and experts to “help the country move forward and quickly recover.”
It was also through the pandemic that research and development (R&D) became more relevant and needed.
The program offers new avenues and opportunities for extensive and prolonged R&D for the country.
DOST Region 1 Director Armando Q. Ganal encouraged experts to apply to the program and called for institutions to host Balik Scientists.
“We enjoin you to either be a Balik Scientist and share your learnings and skills to the country or be a host agency for our Balik Scientists. Either way, it will always be Science for the People,” Ganal said.