Ramon Castañeda

I aim to help enable the nurturing of a conducive environment for science and research communication to thrive in the Philippines.

Research at DLSU •

SALIksik: Lasallian Research Communication Fellowship Days 2 and 3 Photo Album

Continuing from the introductory session earlier this month, DLSU's Research Communication and Data Analytics Office held days 2 and 3 of the "SALIksik: Lasallian Research Communication Fellowship 2024" focused on storytelling through research communication, engaging with a Filipino audience, multimedia and social media content production, and building relationships with stakeholders for the University's attending faculty researchers and research centers' heads.
Research at DLSU •

Centers Chat: Let's Talk Funding Hacks Photo Album

DLSU's Research Communication and Data Analytics Office, together with the Research and Grants Management Office and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, held the first iteration of "Centers Chat" last October 9 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall Roof Deck. Aimed to cultivate a greater sense of community and even more effective undertakings for all Lasallian researchers, this series of fireside chats will discuss different foci per session.
For its launch, Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research Center Director Dr. Wilfredo Roehl Licuanan led the discussions on funding hacks, tackling matters beginning from the application stage and checking of eligibility criteria, to determining the appropriate funding type and monitoring the project.
Commoner •

How an oil spill emphasizes the need for a good grasp of science (for everybody)

An oil spill typically takes weeks, depending on the length of cleanup time and severity of destruction. As of writing, it has since been two weeks since July 25—and the spill was discovered almost immediately.

While the country awaits updates on its resolution, what needs to be shed light on is how long its damages will last—and what would be affected.

Despite being first and foremost a threat to marine ecosystems, an oil spill’s damages go beyond environmental aspects. Others that would also be affected include livelihood, food, the economy, and health.
Commoner •

Backtracking on the what's and when's of the Bataan oil spill

Weeks back, torrential rains and winds from Super Typhoon Carina brought about strong waves, capsizing MT Terra Nova—a tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel. This caused it to sink 34 meters underwater in the area of Limay, Bataan.

This incident eventually led to an even more dangerous environmental disaster: an oil spill stretching roughly to 14.4 square kilometers in Manila Bay. For reference, Boracay Island's area is only 10.32 square kilometers in total.

In just a matter of days, it spread across nearby provinces, and even almost reached Metro Manila coastlines.

As of August 9, the oil spill that started in Bataan is still there. So, what exactly is happening now?
Commoner •

What's fair for a Grab fare? Fast-rising Grab fares and an ailing public transport system have brought Pinoys to a standstill

Commuters in Metro Manila can attest to the worsening situation of finding transport options to get from point to point. There are transport network vehicle services (TNVS) like Grab that have long been options since their dominance of the ride-hailing services in the Philippines. But with their fares now ballooning, are rides that offer more convenience, comfort, and safety simply for those who can afford them? On top of that, is the country maybe more focused on improving the TNVS market rather than studying and investing more in improving public transportation? More demand for services like that of Grab takes advantage of the already car-populated metro by utilizing a good number of these vehicles for ride-hailing services, but does this somehow reduce the need for more vehicles to be bought and occupy the traffic-laden roads? Without proper measures, Filipino commuters will remain disadvantaged.
Commoner •

Convenience at an Inconvenient Cost: The High Price of Grab Rides

With all commodities’ costs skyrocketing, it is completely reasonable for commuters to want to know where and how they spend their every buck.

According to the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) company Grab, these surges in pricing simply follow an algorithm. But is that simply the answer to the complex and ambiguous calculations for our rides? Are commuters, drivers, and riders simply hostage to the algorithm? That’s a hard pill to swallow for many to whom ride-hailing apps have become a lifeline. If a remedy for these surge fees cannot be immediate, real transparency on the algorithms that calculate surge charges should be a given. It is time TNVS become the customer-oriented businesses that they make themselves out to be.
IIASA - International Institute for Applied System •

Breaking boundaries through citizen science

The way we do science has come a long way—from having only experts work on scientific projects, to where many projects now also include members of the public as participants. This change is thanks to citizen science, which creates opportunities for science to be taken to the next level.Designing, conducting, and evaluating science has always been a complicated process. In addition, the entry requirements for participation have traditionally made scientific endeavors rather exclusive, often requi...
DOST-TAPI •

DOST-TAPI marches nationwide for month-long TechnoBYAHE Writeshop Series

To further its mission of providing opportunities to technopreneurs, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) conducted a series of writeshops across various regions of the country for the entire month of March. Led by the Applied Communications Unit for Non-inventors (ACU-n), DOST-TAPI launched the writeshop series through TechnoBYAHE—the Institute’s branded event to promote its Technopreneurship Programs.
DOST-TAPI •

TECHNiCOM helps plant the seeds of GeoMap in new DOST-TAPI undertaking

According to data from the World Bank, 42.5 percent of the country’s land area as of 2020 is made up of agricultural land. Yet, despite the abundance of opportunities to maximize the country’s potential as an agri-superpower, a crisis plagues the industry.
But an emerging technology in the form of GeoMap aims to address the industry’s struggles by allowing users to input data and retrieve insights on what to do next.
The LaSallian •

Understanding adulthood, nostalgia, and the toys that made us

Since time immemorial, toys have been around to serve as entertainment for the young; in some cases, to serve as methods to placate their sudden emotional outbursts. Indeed, when one thinks of a toy, an accompanying mental image of a child lovingly clutching onto it appears. There exists a certain mindset that toys are only exclusively enjoyed by children, and that adults have cast aside the enjoyment of their youth.
The LaSallian •

Rant and Rave: ‘Pokémon BDSP’ faithfully pay tributes to Sinnoh originals

The Sinnoh region of the Pokémon franchise is arguably one of the most iconic in-game locations the franchise has to offer, with many a fan favorite arising from this generation. Thus, it wasn’t much of a surprise to Pokémon fans when the remake of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl was announced earlier this year, in the form of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl (BDSP).
The LaSallian •

Makings of a strongman: Deconstructing President Rodrigo Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte is not a man in need of a lofty introduction—just the mere mention of his name is enough to incite strong emotions in an individual, whichever end of the political spectrum they belong in. As the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines, he has been at the helm of our country for over five years, though not without major controversies, owing mostly to his brash and expressive nature.
Commoner •

The Science Behind Being Transgender, Explained

Worldwide, June is celebrated as Pride Month—an opportunity to highlight the struggles and plight of the LGBTQ+ community, alongside the milestones of progressive development in society. While more people recognize that gender is a spectrum that goes beyond the binary understanding of it, society as a whole still has a lot to learn.

Of course, while there is enough science-based evidence and research to affirm being transgender as a valid experience, this confirmation is not necessary. It should be understood that while science can be used to rebut those who question transgenders, this cannot solely be the verifying factor—and neither is transmedicalism. Rather, it should be the proper understanding and respect for each individual’s gender identity.
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