PNRI celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Highlighting the growing role of females in the advancement of science and technology, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) joined the rest of the world as it celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2021.
Through the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the United Nations recognizes the critical role that women and girls have in science and technology. The celebration aims to promote a wider participation among women in sciences, and to advocate for gender equality in the field.
PNRI held two virtual forums on women scientists in the Philippines, both of which were hosted live at the PNRI Facebook page.
Watch the Virtual Forums at the PNRI FB page:
Virtual Forum 1: Women in Nuclear Science - Women Empowering Women
Virtual Forum 2: How To Be You po? - Women Inspiring Women
In the morning, Forum 1 on “Women in Nuclear Science – Women Empowering Women” featured leading Filipina scientists and educators in the field of nuclear science and technology.
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara opened the forum with an inspiring roster of projects and innovations spearheaded by Filipina scientists and researchers.
Among the forum speakers who shared their experiences and advices to the younger generation of women scientists and researchers are former PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda Dela Rosa, PNRI career scientist and Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardee Ms. Glenda Obra, and Department of Education – National Capital Region Education Program Supervisor for Science Ms. Micah Pacheco.
This was followed in the afternoon by “How To Be You po? – Women Inspiring Women” which is a question and answer panel discussion between women leaders in various scientific fields and industries, and younger female researchers in nuclear science and technology. The topics ranged from women’s challenges in the scientific field both in the academe and the workplace, to anything under the sun, including balancing careers and family life.
The veteran panelists include Philippine Space Agency Deputy Director General Dr. Gay Jane Perez, PNRI career scientist and Atomic Research Division Chief Dr. Lucille Abad, former PNRI Deputy Director and PRC Board of Chemistry member Dr. Soledad Castañeda and APAC-RTI Area Sales and Applications Manager Ms. Kristina Maaño. Meanwhile, the youth panelists are PNRI researchers Ms. Andrea Luz Nery, Ms. Jennyvi Ramirez, Ms. Bin Jeremiah Barba and Ms. Christy Mae Betos.
The celebration was capped with a brief socials event with female researchers and staff at the PNRI compound. The attendees observed social distancing and other protocols mandated by the government in community qurantine areas.
In the days leading up to the celebration, PNRI also held a countdown featuring Filipina scientists in the field of nuclear and radiation applications serving as inspiring Women in Nuclear Science or WINS. These include Dr. Dela Rosa, Dr. Abad, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Division for Asia and the Pacific Director Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya, PNRI Nuclear Reactor Operations Section Head Dr. Alvie Astronomo, and PNRI research specialist Dr. Jasmine Albelda.
