1. 1 year ago 

   Must restart this blog

   I need find some inspiration to restart this blog. hahaha

   That’s it for now. ktnxbye.

2. Notes: 1 / 2 years ago 

   Tech-Transfer law seen to boost R&D, economy

   Written by Lyn Resurreccion / Science Editor   SATURDAY, 24 APRIL 2010 08:44

   LEADERS of the science community in the Philippines, led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), lauded the recent signing of the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, saying the new law would hasten the process of technology commercialization and broaden the scope of protection of intellectual-property rights in government research-and-development institutions (RDIs).

   “We are optimistic that this new law, a landmark policy on technology transfer, will revolutionize the commercialization of technologies generated by researches funded by taxpayers’ money,” Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro said.

   “The whole science community is overwhelmed with this development,” Alabastro added.

   President Arroyo signed Republic Act 10055 (An Act Providing the Framework and Support System for the Ownership, Management, Use, and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Generated from Research and Development Funded by Government and for Other Purposes), or simply the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, on March 23 at the Malacañang Palace.

   The bill seeks to commercialize technologies generated by government-funded researches.

   A DOST document said the initiative was deemed necessary because the current system of technology transfer is characterized by a lack of well-defined and unifying policy on technology transfer; insufficient investment in technology transfer and commercialization; weak private-public collaboration in R&D and commercialization; and lack of well-defined IP regimes in R&D institutions.

   Such conditions have resulted in a low rate of patent application in the country. Despite the enactment of the IP Code in 1998, RDIs still lack well-defined IP policies and support systems for protecting and utilizing their IPs.

   At present, the number of technologies developed by local researchers and protected under the patent system is alarmingly low, the DOST said.

   IP Philippines data showed that of the 2,972 total patent applications in 2005, only 210 were by local researchers. From this number, only 15 local patents were granted, and only one patent was granted for an RDI, courtesy of the International Rice Research Institute, the document said.

   In 2006, of the 1,215 patents granted, only 24 were local patents, with only one patent from RDIs on the sambong herbs of DOST. The same trend was seen in 2007 wherein of 1,814 patents granted, 28 were made by local researcher-applicants, with only one from an RDI of DOST.

   This situation resulted in a relatively slow pace of introduction of locally developed innovations to the market, as seen in the 2009-2010 results of the Global Competitiveness Surveys where the Philippines ranked the lowest at 87 compared with Singapore (3), Malaysia (24), Thailand (36), Indonesia (54) and Vietnam (75) in the global competitiveness ranking.

   The law was a brainchild of Secretary Alabastro, who expressed optimism on its merit in taking technologies to the market, as well as preventing brain drain and the outmigration of science-and-technology professionals, and encouraging students to pursue R&D studies.

   A key provision in the law provides incentives to researchers by according them a share in the royalties, as well as allowing them put up their own start-up companies.

   “It has been my advocacy to have a technology-transfer law that will harmonize and integrate all efforts in technology transfer in the country. I believe that this is the best way to facilitate the transfer of our technologies from the laboratories to the market. In fact, the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan recognizes the need for a facilitating mechanism to improve access to technologies,” she said.

   Alabastro recognized the need for a national backbone and framework that would push technology generation and application to its maximum potential through efficient and coordinated transfer capability and intellectual-property assertions around the country, similar to the Bayh-Dole Act in the US.

   She thanked President Arroyo and Congress for taking into account such a much-needed legislation for the science and technology sector.

   “For the longest time, we relied mostly on breakthroughs from outside, while our local technologies generated through public funds remain untapped or being archived in laboratories around the country. Hence, this is a significant break for us to roll them out to the market and be availed by the public,” she added.

   Once in place, the new law is expected to provide the mechanism to allow important technologies to be commercialized and be made available to the public.

   The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, the central planning council of DOST in the agriculture, forestry and natural resources, has led the department’s efforts in the bill’s legislative advocacy and public awareness since 2006.

   The enactment came after Congress approved in December the Senate version, Senate Bill 3416, which was authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara and coauthored by Sens. Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda.

   Sens. Pia Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Miguel Zubiri also served as cosponsors.

   At the House of Representatives, Cavite First District Rep. Joseph Emilio  Abaya, along with Rep. Mariano Piamonte, were at the forefront of the law’s passage and served as principal author and coauthor, respectively.

   Senator Angara and Representative Abaya chair the Committees on Science and Technology at the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

   Meanwhile, the technical and financial support given by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, DOST Planning and Evaluation Service, and DOST councils and institutes were instrumental in the legislative advocacy of the law.

   The DOST and IPO are currently preparing the basis for the bill’s implementing rules and regulation as provided for in the Act.

3. 2 years ago 

   Which University’s Bio Dept is the Oldest in the Country?

   Suddenly, I had the urge to look back in time and try to discover which Department of Biology is the oldest in the Philippines. So far, here is what I found after tediously searching the Internet:

   University of Santo Tomas (Manila) Dept. of Biology (1926?)

   University of San Carlos (Cebu) Dept. of Biology (1952)

   Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City) Dept. of Biology (1963)

   De La Salle University (Manila) Dept. of Biology (1982)

   U.P. Los Banos (Los Banos) Institute of Biological Sciences (1983)

   U.P. Diliman (Quezon City) Institute of Biology (1986)

   Of course, some of the world’s oldest Departments of Biology are found in the oldest universities. More often than not, one cannot even find Biology as a department but as an entire School in itself.

   University of Oxford Dept. of Zoology (1857)

   University of Cambridge Dept. of Plant Sciences (1904)

   University of Cambridge Dept. of Genetics (1912)

   Now, that’s old!

4. 2 years ago 
   Science for Humanity

   While I am to bring science and business together, this initiative aims to bring science to the development world. According to the website, Science for Humanity “develops appropriate solutions to alleviate poverty, increase social justice and realise economic benefit for poorer people.”

5. Notes: 22 / 2 years ago  from cessandthecity (originally from unpunk)
   "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance – it is the illusion of knowledge."
   - Stephen Hawking (via unpunk) (via cessandthecity)
6. Notes: 3 / 2 years ago 
   "For Rosalind Franklin, the joy of science was in the work itself and its ultimate reward, the betterment of humankind."
   - Secret of Photo 51, a documentary by NOVA defending Rosalind Franklin and her contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3009_photo51.html
7. 2 years ago 
   "In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best we shall succeed in our aims: the improvement of mankind."
   - Rosalind Franklin when accused of making science her religion. She was the unrecognized scientist whose work on X-ray crystallography and whose Photo 51 lead to the construction of the DNA model by Watson and Crick.
8. 2 years ago 

   We must work with Mother Nature. Not the other way around.

   The following article is published by Spot.ph on January 11, 2010.

   As with many man-made constructions that cause environmental destruction, this story makes me sad. Forests are a treasure trove of genetic resources and must be preserved at all cost. Land must be used according to its natural topography and not bent and twisted to adapt to man’s whims and fancies.

   We clearly suck in pacifying Mother Nature and making her work to our advantage. No wonder she gets angry more often these days. Mind you, airports are not spared from floods.

   

   “Boracay groups protest Caticlan airport expansion plans involving levelling a hill”

   Published: January 11, 2010

   The Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) vowed to go against the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) proposed P2.5-billion Caticlan airport expansion when they start breaking ground this week, reports the Philippine Star.

   The Manila Bulletin says the DOTC plans to level a hill beside the existing airport for the purpose of lengthening the runway to service bigger aircrafts. This project was said to be in line with one of President Arroyo’s priority plans she discussed in her 2009 State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).

   The Bulletin reported that both the BFI and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce, backed by several environmentalists and local government officials, are opposed to the expansion, citing possible environmental problems and tourism issues.

   “Leveling the hill to make way for the international airport would lead to ecological disaster,” said BFI Chairman Henry Chusuey as quoted by the Star. Concerned environmentalists support his argument, enumerating a number of possible drastic changes the project can cause to Boracay’s ecosystem. Some of these include the destruction of the nearby Lupo-Lupo lake, damage to the White Beach and coral reefs, and the eventual flooding of the said airport complex and nearby communities. Environmentalists also took note that any change in the topographic landscape of Caticlan could trigger high seismic activity in the area, reports the Manila Bulletin.

   On top of these reasons, the BFI also told the Bulletin that the project is working without the proper environmental clearance certificates (ECC) and should be stopped immediately.

   Aklan’s Governor, Carlito Marquez, had also expressed his concern with the Bulletin when he said that the expanded airport will negatively affect Kalibo’s tourism growth and could potentially result to “province-wide social, economic, and political chaos.”

   Chusuey added that international airport should be located in Kalibo, not only for its strategic location to promote tourism in nearby areas, but also for environmental protection and the welfare of the Aklan Province.

9. Notes: 1 / 2 years ago 

   True test of science (and of life, too)

   Fresh out of college and having a taste of how to earn my own money, I now kind of see school as an opportunity cost of time that could have been spent somewhere more monetarily productive. So as I sat in my Molecular Biophysics class one day, trying hard not to daydream as Dr. Bascos derives a simple formula where all forces cancel out into the ultra-mega-complicated Svedberg equation, I ask myself:

   What is the point of all these equations?

   Yes, I know that I’ll get tested on this Svedberg equation a month from now, but after that, do I still need it? Back in my college days, I would remember memorizing pages upon pages of math equations, scientific names and philosophical concepts. But do I use them? I couldn’t even remember them! It’s no wonder I feel so dumb now.

   So I ask myself (and other people who are interested to share their insights): What is the true test of science? And of life, too?

   

   I am reminded of another incident back when I was a college senior. Since I didn’t want to confess all my sins, I turned one confession into a personal consultation. I told the priest that I am guilty of not giving God a lot of room in my life, since I find it difficult to see the Philippine Catholic Church as a good role model with all its meddling and squabbling. So I confessed my deep love for the sciences, how it is so noble and based on experiment-able facts and discoveries.

   Then, he told me one thing I’ll never, NEVER forget. “Science is not an end in itself. It must be used for a higher purpose.” And he went on to talk about the atomic bombs, the wars, the weapons, the bloodbaths caused by science.

   I’m back to square one. What is the point of science? What is the point of life?

   Remembering my philosophy classes in Ateneo, it was said that the meaning of life is outside life itself. The meaning of our lives is found beyond our lives. While there exist many interpretations, I believe that we can find meaning in our lives by being responsible of others.

   For me, science (and life) must be used to serve others. It must be used to better humanity. It must be used to promote life.

   Thus, I want to leave this question. What is the true test of science? Why do you do research? Why do you do science?

10. 2 years ago 

    The Short History of Philippine Biotechnology

    Biotechnology is so broad and so quick in its advancements and developments that trying to memorize historical milestones will just eat up precious brain space that should instead be used studying soon-to-be-outdated concepts and lab protocols. Thus, I always find it difficult to remember the important milestones in the field of biotechnology.

    While I know that the first synthetic human insulin was produced in 1977 using E. coli or that Kary Mullis invented PCR in 1983, what do I know about the history of Philippine biotechnology?

    As I looked at the exhibit boards during the not-so-well-publicized 5th National Biotech Week held last November 2009 at the Mall of Asia, I was delighted to get a glimpse of Philippine biotech milestones.

    

    In 1979, some 30 years ago, the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) was established at UP Los Baños.

    In 1987, government scientists formulated the first guidelines for genetic engineering.

    Established in 1990 by virtue of EO 430, the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) issued the country’s biosafety guidelines in 1991.

    In 1995, the Network of NIMBB was created within the UP System by virtue of Proclamation No. 526.

    In 1996, greenhouse trials of the Bt corn were conducted. It was approved for planting in 2002 after seven years of study and evaluation.

    10 years ago in 1999, the DOST-PCARRD Crop Biotechnology Program was implemented for the following crops: coconut, mango, papaya, corn and banana.

    The year 2000 saw the creation of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Biotechnology Program Implementation Unit.

    In 2005, Pres. Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 861 establishing the National Biotechnology Week.

    By 2008, biotech corns are grown in 350,000 hectares of farmland.

    With most of the founding scientists still alive and kicking after 30 years, there is so much potential and so many wonderful things to look forward to in the field of Philippine biotechnology. Why don’t we encourage our youth to be part of it? Who knows, one of us might be crazy enough and create beer plants for backyard planting in the future!

A blog that aims to showcase the untapped potential and relevance of the life sciences to the Philippine society, welfare and economy.

BioTeknolohiya Tungo sa Kaunlaran

BioTek.PH

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