By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is expecting to bring home seven more scientists before the end of the year in line with its Balik Scientist Program (BSP), said Ma. Lourdes Orijola, director of BSP of the DOST.
Orijola said that there are currently 36 scientists who are completing their term as BSPs.
One of them is Dr. Leah Tolosa, associate professor of the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of the Maryland Baltimore County, who began her term as BSP awardee on October 6, 2008.
As a BSP awardee, Tolosa has been conducting seminars, lecture series and workshops at the University of San Carlos and the University of Santo Tomas on various topics, including fluorescence spectroscopy and ethanol in “kamote” (sweet potato).
Tolosa revealed that the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology has developed low-cost optical sensors, devices used to measure levels of compounds such as carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Optical sensors are used in fermentation process of condiments, such as vinegar and fish sauce; in monitoring of newborn in incubators; in analyzing environmental pollutants and in biomedical diagnostics.
Tolosa said optical sensors are used in biomedical diagnostics, for instance, to measure metabolites in diabetes cases and the dimensions of a tumor.
Tolosa said the success of chemotherapy can be determined by looking at the size of the tumor. Optical sensors are used mainly for monitoring, she said.
Staying in the Philippines for almost a month, Tolosa said there should be collaboration among scientists and other experts in the field.
Since 1975, the DOST through the BSP has been encouraging Filipino scientists and technicians based abroad to come home and share their expertise to further improve science and technology in the country.
