Bridging the Gap: Alliances for S&T

written by Pauline Alyanna Lontok Janina Eloise Alviar

graphics by Jeri Latorre Tiffany Ashley Uy

Now more than ever, the whole world turns to science and technology (S&T) for ways and solutions to improve living and combat risks against life itself. With physical distancing becoming the new normal in this current COVID-19 pandemic, we have largely relied on virtual media in maintaining social relationships and keeping ourselves informed. The sudden shift in the way we live our everyday life pushed everyone to find new ways to reconnect with the world through screens and digital links.

With no foreseeable end to this pandemic yet, the internet has become a vital platform especially for organizations who strive for more visibility and higher regard to those working in the field of S&T here in the Philippines.

Get to know a few science-centric organizations directed towards promoting S&T and science communication among Filipinos — may it be through science journalism or simply starting up a conversation.

twitter: @NotYetDoctors

Looking for a podcast to listen to during quarantine? Not Yet Doctors got you covered! Hosted by an MD-to-be and a PhD student, Gaby Flores and

Robert Aguilar respectively, Not Yet Doctors is a fresh podcast series dedicated to bridge the gap between Filipino scientists and medical practitioners. The series, which launched its first episode last June, discusses and gives commentaries on topics aligned with medicine, research, and everything else in between. Episodes can be streamed online through iTunes, Apple Podcast, and Spotify.

twitter: @queerscienceph

The Queer Scientists PH is a team of LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Queer, Intersexed, Agender, etc.) STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) practitioners, professionals, and advocates, with the mission to promote queer visibility of Filipinos in STEAM - “one story at a time.”

twitter: @ph_sentinel fb: ph.sentinel

The Science and Technology Editors League of the Philippines (Sentinel PH), is a nationwide association of youth S&T-oriented publications. Formed initially by University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman College of Science undergraduates back in early 2019, Sentinel PH is geared towards promoting local S&T and advocating genuine national industrialization through journalism. Adhering to their goals, Sentinel PH conducts discussions, fora, and seminars highlighting the role of science journalism and science communication in nation building. Just last year, they organized SENTX 2019, a two-day event which featured talks from various science journalists and professionals and alike.

website: FlipScience.ph; fb: FlipScience; twitter:@flipscienceph

FlipScience is the first Filipino-operated science news tedia networks such as GMA and Summit Media. Together with Hana Abello, an experienced social media marketing manager and specialist, the two kick-started FlipScience to foster Filipinos’ appreciation for the sciences. Since 2017, the team has regularly published original content and shared materials from external sources with the goal to “combat misinformation, promote science in the Philippines, and inspire a new generation of Pinoy scientists and science communicators.” Feed your curiosity and be up-to-date on science and research with FlipScience!

twitter: @AFSAOfficial fb: filipinoscientisinamerica

The Association of FIlipino Scientists in America (AFSA) is a non-profit network of Filipino scientists across America with the goal to seek the expertise of its members from various fields of study and extend a hand to the Filipino community. AFSA was formed back in October 2019, during a cafe meeting between Carla Bertulfo and 10 more individuals. Since then, its community has grown, with more than 70 members all over the United States of America (USA). As the leading organization uniting and mobilizing Filipino scientists in the USA, AFSA continues to push forward their advocacies on environmental science, health, and S&T through online events such as educational discussions, fora, and information campaigns.

twitter: @sciencechatph fb: Science Chat PH

If you are planning on taking up postgraduate studies yet are clueless on where to start and what to expect, a little chit-chat with peers might do the trick. Science Chat PH, a growing community of Filipino research enthusiasts across the globe, was formed last April by five graduate student-researchers — Pierce Manlangit, Mae Mercado, Aiko del Rosario, Julze Alejandrte, and Bernard Racoma.

The co-founders of Science Chat PH, who all connected through Twitter, are UP graduates now pursuing their respective MS and PhD programs. Inspired by Academics Chatter and the multidisciplinary community,

Open Academics, the organization was formed to “serve an unserved community of students in the Philippines,” primarily connecting postgraduate students and giving scientists an avenue to talk freely about their specializations. Aside from hosting webinars to facilitate conversation on STEM-related topics, the group also engages their members through features (Faces of Science), and weekly games (SiyenSaya).

twitter: @AghamNasunal,@AghamDiliman, @AghamEducators, fb: agham.org

AGHAM is a national organization of patriotic science & technology professionals and advocates founded in 1999. They advocate for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization to forward the state of S&T in the Philippines. They are made up of scientists, engineers, researchers, science worker, and STEM educators from different parts of the Philippines all uniting for a pro-people science and technology. They have a youth counterpart org called Agham Youth which also have chapters in high schools and universities all over the Philippines.