Pinoy Scientists

Hallo! Guten Abend! This is Erwin ( ) again for .

Tonight I will be talking about my journey of how I ended up pursuing a PhD at the University of Rostock in Germany. I am re-posting part of a revised version of my original post from two years ago.

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As I look back on my academic career, I may have not known it from the beginning but all the little things that happened in my life pointed me to this direction. I did not dream of becoming a scientist, more so pursuing a PhD. I don’t ever remember a single person from my high school class who wanted to be a scientist. When I took the UPCAT, I chose BSBAA. In a society that values lawyers, accountants, engineers and money as a measure of success, sino ba namang gustong maging scientist lalo pa’t mahirap lang kami. Fortunately, I passed the UPCAT pero DPWS (Degree Program With Available Slots). Eto yung unang redirection sa career ko, pero if not for this I would not have considered a career in science. Chem was really hard - kalahati halos ng class eh bagsak or mostly passing. May one point pa during the registration period that I was told to do a BS GE kasi sa GE courses lang mataas kong grades. During my masters, I did thrive pero sobrang lala ng undergrad trauma that I did not attend a University Scholar recognition kasi feeling ko hindi ko deserve. 😂 When I got accepted as a research assistant at UP Marine Science Institute, I was trained paano magfieldwork, magbasa ng scientific papers, at magtanong. My research on submarine groundwater discharge opened doors for me - I presented my work in Wellington , Sapporo, Busan, and many other local conferences. This was also my ticket and the reason why I was accepted into the PhD program in Rostock (I did apply for PhD positions in Japan and Asia but I was not accepted into these programs, another redirection). I was accepted into the Soil Physics group with zero knowledge of soil physics and modeling. Still, baon ang lakas ng loob and years of research experience in the Philippines, inilaban natin itong PhD. I had to drop my Physics class in UPD and retake it later. And yet here we are, I have a PhD in Soil Physics.

It’s me again, Erwin (), this time for !

The first time that I went out of the country was when I presented my MSc thesis in Japan. A few months later, I found myself speaking about SGD again - this time in New Zealand. It was during this time that I realized that I wasn’t just learning about the environment, my own world was expanding as well. I began to believe that I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.

Then came my PhD, Europe had never really been part of my plan but I was given the incredible opportunity of working and studying in Germany. Traveling across Europe became part of the journey - not because it was cheaper to move around when you’re already living in EU but also because of the excellent transport network there and the fellow Pinoy scientists I meet scattered across different countries.

Moving to Canada was a different kind of transition. Transportation was more challenging, forcing me to learn how to drive and get a car. Yet, there was comfort in the quiet and stillness of snow-covered surroundings.

Pursuing a career in science has its perks and cons but one thing is for certain: this has broadened my perspective of the world but also my hope for a better Philippines (pero mas nauunahan ako ng frustration most of the time 😅)

It’s !

Hi again, this is Erwin ( ). Have you ever felt a sudden rush of cold water while swimming at the beach, or noticed the water turned blurry while snorkeling? Chances are, you’ve already encountered submarine groundwater discharge, or SGD, even without realizing it.

SGD happens when groundwater flows out to the sea and it is far more common than you might think. It can be found in almost any coastline. One common misconception is that SGD needs to be fresh. The “groundwater” in SGD refers to any type of water – fresh, saline, or usually brackish.

As a tropical, highly fractured, and archipelagic country, the Philippines likely has high SGD and this could be playing an important role in supplying nutrients to coastal ecosystems. In some cases, when there’s too much pollution on land, SGD could transport these contaminants and could cause the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (red tides).

There are reports in the Philippines (as featured in KMJS) that local communities use SGD seeps as drinking water sources, often attributing healing or mystical properties to SGD.

O di ba, akala mo lang wala pero meron merong SGD! 😂

If you’ve seen or experienced SGD yourself, share your story in the comments. 😊

1) video from Gia Albano
2-3) KMJS screen grabbed from YT
4) Gabuyo & Siringan, 2022

P.S. check out these amazing SGD mapping work by Tiffy Uy (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02918-y) and MRose Gabuyo (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydroa.2021.100118).

As this week comes to a close, I'd like to share what I love most about my field: its incredible diversity of applications. 🔬✨

Because of this, I often find myself learning new concepts and techniques. While I am primarily a chemist, applying my research to biological systems has required me to explore molecular biology 🧬 and nanomaterials ⚛️. That constant opportunity to learn and grow is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a scientist.

Another highlight is being part of a collaborative team focused on translating research into real-world industrial applications that create meaningful societal impact.

An important part of the pinoy scientist experience is the people you meet along the way. Being exposed to people from different backgrounds and cultures is both enriching and fulfilling. It broadens your perspective, strengthens your professional network, and reminds you that science works best when it is collaborative.

Perhaps one of the most underrated experiences is meeting fellow Filipinos abroad who are navigating similar journeys. 🇵🇭 There is something comforting about finding a sense of community and shared experience, no matter where you are in the world.

Thank you Pinoy Scientists for this opportunity and see you all next time! 👋

- Jaro (.vg)

Around 12 years ago, my parents brought mini-me ( .vg ) to the Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo since they knew I've always been interested in science (thank you Mythbusters).

Looking back, I wouldn't say this trip was the moment that made me want to become a scientist. There were many roads I could have taken. But it was one of many experiences that quietly nudged me toward that path.

I think that's true for a lot of people in STEM. We don't wake up one day with a sudden revelation that we want to dedicate our lives to research. It's rarely one moment but more a collection of them.

Not every kid who visits a science museum will become a scientist, and that's okay. But giving young people meaningful and exciting experiences with science can become an important building block for the future.

So if we want more people in STEM, giving someone a good experience with science is a simple yet crucial step in the right direction.