Newsletter: CS Researchers Receive UPD 2024 REPS Chair and REPS Awards

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Researchers from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) are recipients of the University’s first-ever recognition for its Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS).

Researchers from UPD-CS will be recognized at UP Diliman’s first-ever recognition focused on its Research, Extension, and Professional Staff (REPS). (Photo credit: Craig Soroño).

The UP Diliman REPS Chair and REPS Awards aims to recognize the achievements of the REPS in the fields of research and creative work, extension services, and professional public service. These awards also aim to encourage REPS to advance knowledge and learning in their respective fields, establish scientific and thought laboratories, and develop collaborative programs that support UP’s mandate as the nation’s leading research university.

Newsletter: Inspiring Young Leaders: Best Speakers for Students

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In a time when it’s very important to inspire young leaders, having role models who can motivate, guide, and teach students is crucial. The impact of a well-timed speech can plant seeds of ambition and determination in young minds, creating a generation of future leaders driven by purpose, resilience, and vision. This article looks at some of the most influential speakers who have made a big difference in students’ lives around the world (sharing their stories, achievements, and reasons they connect so deeply with young audiences). Why Inspirational Speakers Matter for Students: Speakers who connect with student audiences have a vital role in motivating future leaders and empowering youth to tackle life’s challenges. These speakers offer unique viewpoints, often telling personal stories of overcoming difficulties, embracing change, and showing ethical leadership. However, because of this, students gain valuable insights into navigating their own lives with purpose and confidence. In a world that is always changing, these speakers help young people discover their voices (guiding them to reach their true potential). Characteristics of the Best Speakers for Students are essential, although they can vary.

Amnesia-causing diatoms found in Luzon shellfish farms

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The densely-populated island of Luzon is home to over half of the Philippines’ population, many of whom consume shellfish on a regular basis. An international team of scientists has just confirmed the presence there of two species of Pseudo-nitzschia diatoms capable of producing a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause severe sickness and memory loss. 

Light microscope and transmission electron microscope photographs of Pseudo-nitzschia pungens var. Pungens (top two photos) and Pseudo-nitzschia brasiliana (bottom two photos) found in Luzon shellfish farms. Both species produce domoic acid, a dangerous neurotoxin. CREDIT: Botavara et al.

Poetically described as “algae that live in glass houses,” diatoms are microscopic aquatic organisms that cover themselves in protective milk-colored silica shells. While most diatom species are harmless, half of the 58 known species from the genus Pseudo-nitzschia are notorious for producing domoic acid (DA). A person who has eaten DA-infected shellfish may experience vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In some cases, DA has even caused the permanent loss of short-term memory in a condition known as “amnesic shellfish poisoning” (ASP).

Newsletter: Ateneo student builds chemical purity tester from LEGO

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Using simple circuitry, polarizing film, and LEGO® toy bricks, an undergraduate physics student from the Ateneo de Manila University recently built an improvised polarimeter that can optically assess the purity of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and other chiral substances. The device has potential applications in classrooms as a learning tool, and may pave the way for more cost-effective means to monitor the quality of some consumer products.

The Ateneo de Manila University Department of Physics’ Photonics Laboratory’s polarimeter setup, built mostly out of LEGO® toy bricks, polarizing film, and cheap off-the-shelf electrical components. SOURCE: Felicidario and delos Santos.

Polarimeters are invaluable laboratory instruments that can help infer the purity of a chemical by measuring the angle of rotation of polarized light that passed through the test sample. However, laboratory-grade polarimeters are prohibitively expensive, with a high-end model costing over $11,500 and a commercial manual polarimeter priced at over $1,200. This makes their acquisition and use difficult if not impossible for small laboratories and classrooms in developing countries like the Philippines. 

Newsletter: New study rewrites decades of medical misunderstanding of saturated fat and heart disease

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Warnings against saturated fat on heart health need to be revisited as flaws were revealed in the seminal 1950s studies on which these warnings were based, according to new research coming out of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Outdated and unsupported research from the 1950s erroneously conflated the saturated fats found in meat and dairy with the harmful industrial trans-fats commonly used in margarine and shortening. PHOTO CREDIT: Felicity Tai / Pexels.com

In 1953, spurred by an apparent surge in heart disease in the US, physiologist Ancel Keys published a study that introduced the “lipid-heart hypothesis.” He claimed without evidence that high saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet raise cholesterol levels in the blood and contribute to heart disease. He developed what is now known as the Keys equation, where he sought to mathematically predict serum cholesterol levels based on saturated fat and cholesterol intake.

Newsletter: The Evolution of Media: What Drives Change in Media Evolution?

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The evolution of media is a journey influenced by factors that fuel creativity and progress. Whether it’s advancements in technology or shifts in how audiences engage with content these elements continually impact how media is created, shared, and valued. For those in the industry understanding these dynamics is crucial as it allows them to anticipate trends and adapt their strategies. In this article, we will explore the forces propelling media evolution and their significance, for the industry.

Newsletter: The Evolution of Media: The Role of Audience Engagement in Content Creation

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Over time the way we create media has changed a lot. Today it’s all about connecting with the audience when coming up with media plans. In this era recognizing the role of audience participation is key to making content that sticks with people. This article delves into the importance of engaging the audience in content creation and how it can enhance the effectiveness and significance of media.

Newsletter: The Evolution of Media: Transformative Forces Shaping the Modern Media Landscape

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The way media has changed over time is really impressive. Thanks to progress in technology changes in how people act and new ways of sharing content recent developments have transformed how we consume news and entertainment. Recognizing these changes is essential to staying relevant and influential in the current media scene.

Newsletter: UP Mathematicians Introduce a Different Approach in Detecting Potential Stock Market Crashes

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By: Harvey Sapigao

The process of Topological Data Analysis. (Photo credit: Riñon et. al. 2024)

A data analysis method that borrows concepts from topology – the so-called “rubber-sheet geometry” – may soon find its way to a stock trader’s toolkit in analyzing market movements. This method, called Topological Data Analysis (TDA), uncovers patterns in large datasets, preparing them for deeper analysis.

Newsletter: UP Scientists Create Thermoresponsive Polymers for Potential Biomedical Use

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

Thermoresponsive polymers are molecules that undergo significant changes in their properties in response to temperature changes and are widely used in biomedicine, such as drug delivery, tissue growth, and gene transfer, as noted by researchers Ward and Georgiou in their 2011 study.

Newsletter: How do ordinary people ‘sense’ water quality?

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Seeing—and tasting—is believing: a qualitative study of communities living along the Philippines’ bustling Marikina River underscores the importance of taking into account local peoples’ everyday experiences, practices, and perceptions in establishing water quality.

Newsletter: How Media and Information Literacy Empowers Persons with Disabilities

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This is the last part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy. This article discusses how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) persons with disabilities by overcoming barriers, promoting accessibility, and fostering inclusivity in the digital age.

Newsletter: Empowering Indigenous Communities Through Media and Information Literacy

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This is the third part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy. This article discusses how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) empowers 

Indigenous communities by addressing unique challenges and promoting cultural preservation and digital inclusion.

As encouraged in previous articles, Media and Information Literacy should also be inclusive as much as possible. In a digital space where everyone can claim a web page, each voice deserves to be heard. 

For this reason, this article will delve into indigenous people and the challenges and opportunities they face in the realms of the modern digital world.

Newsletter: Empowering Seniors: The Role of Media and Information Literacy

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This is the second part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy. This article shows how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) protects senior citizens by empowering them to navigate digital information safely and confidently, avoiding misinformation and online scams.

Newsletter: Empowering Youth: The Critical Role of Media and Information Literacy

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This is the first part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy. This article focuses on Filipino youths. It will discuss the importance of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for the youth. Also, it will elaborate on how MIL can empower them to navigate the digital age safely and responsibly.

Newsletter: UP Mathematician Develops Model For Heat Propagation Through Rough Surfaces

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By: Harvey Sapigao

Model for two materials with a rough interface (Photo Credit: Avila et. al. 2024)

Suppose you have a pair of pants you need to wear tomorrow. The problem is, you just washed them, and they’re still damp. So you resort to a handy tool: the flat iron.

Newsletter: Staff Spotlight - Tala of the Dean’s Office

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By Harvey Sapigao

Everything starts with coffee. That’s how Marie Kristine Alice Dela Rama, known as Tala, also starts her day. “I’d say coffee, hot or cold, is vital in my office routine.” Tala is an administrative staff member at UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) Dean’s Office, where she processes and digitizes documents, and forecasts and updates contracts. But outside work, she and a couple of researchers had been working tirelessly for the past three years to write a textbook for senior high students. The book was finally published on April 1, 2024.

Newsletter: UP Professors Urge Long-term Monitoring of West Philippine Sea Resources

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By: Eunice Jean Patron

The ongoing dispute over the West Philippine Sea between China and the Philippines hinders Filipino scientists from conducting scientific work in Philippine territory, but something can still be done.

Guest speakers of the SCIENCE x WPS forum held on May 13, 2024 (Photo credit: Craig Soroño).

The University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) facilitated a public forum titled SCIENCE X WPS: Opportunities and Challenges for Scientists in the West Philippine Sea on May 13, 2024. During the public forum, UP professors discussed the current geopolitical and ecological situation in the West Philippine Sea, as well as strategies that scientists and researchers can use to protect and preserve the sea’s marine resources.

Newsletter: UPD College of Science Kickstarts Innovation-Research Fair 2024

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By Harvey Sapigao

Organizers and participants of the Innovation-Research Fair 2024 (Photo credit: Craig Soroño).

The UPD College of Science (UPD-CS) Innovation Committee, under the Science and Society Program (SSP) and led by SSP Director Dr. Lerrie Ann Ipulan-Colet, hosted the two-day Innovation-Research Fair on 29 and 30 April 2024 in celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day.

Newsletter: Novel Explanation for Long-Standing Neutron Lifetime Problem Proposed by UP Nuclear Physicist

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By Harvey Sapigao

Atoms are both a wave and a particle, similar to water waves (which are waves) that give rise to water droplets (which are particles) (Photo credit: Zhang Kaiyv on Unsplash)

Neutrons, when plucked from the nucleus of atoms, become unstable and decay after some time. Physicists know that these unstable neutrons die after about 14 minutes, but they cannot pinpoint the exact seconds in which the neutrons last, even as today’s experiments are at their most precise.