From: b35@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Vic Ilag)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Subject: A Suggestion to the Image Problem
Date: 10 Apr 92 02:43:48 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center



In article <_s4tgkr@rpi.edu> JJ writes:

I think that Filipinos here do care about their country and their culture.  It`s a question
of how far is one willing to go for the benefit of the country.  That can only be answered
by the person himself/herself.  I  think Filipinos here in the US can be useful in  helping
our country.  It just needs some coordination and cooperation.
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In artice  <1992Apr9.135658.1@woods.ulowell.edu> Carlos responds:
 
Yes, we graduate students need some coordination and cooperation.  I think
we can actually start something constructive.  I hope there are more 
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regular readers out there who would be interested in further exploring
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this aspect.  The lines are open...
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       About 2.5 months ago I posted something about the British Scientists
Abroad as a model we can emulate as a means of coordination and cooperation
among scientists abroad to facilitate their return to the Philippines.
Somebody commented on it as similar to the Balik-Scientist program.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the BSA is very different since the Balik-
scientist program is operated by the gov't and has little input if any from the
scientists who are going home. However the BSA is a group formed by the
expatriates themselves.

	Another source of inspiration is what Taiwan and Greece have done and
lately Singapore in the area of biology but I guess it's also being done in the 
other fields. Faculty members at top universities here in the States have
joint appointments with universities back in their homeland. At the same time
there is close collaboration between the labs in the U.S. as well as in the 
motherland. This also facilitates training of people from the homeland
as well as access to facilities here in the States. From what I heard lately
was that competition for science jobs in their respective homelands are so
competitive that for 1 position there are 20 highly qualified applicants!

The suggestion......
	So instead of ostracizing those who want to stay here and discouraging
those who want to go back to the Philippines it would be a boon to everybody 
including the Philippines if we could network amongst ourselves and take   
advantage of this electronic network as a forum where we could share ideas
as well as initiate collaborations. Collaborations don't have to be grandiose,
it could be as simple as asking for a DNA vector for cloning or for a program
to do FFT. Afterall great things start from small things.  Once
one decides to go back the Philippines, he/she would have connections here
in the States. At the same time back home, when he/she meets people who
would be coming to the States or plan collaborations, he/she could then
refer different names of people based here working on a particular area.
Thus a cycle.

	Rhetoric alone could get us nowhere. Being an experimentalist   
(aware that 99% of my ideas might not work but might as well try it) I 
would like to suggest to the people of this net about starting an INFORMAL  
network. Although this group is very diverse there's always room to find
common ground. Science is now becoming so interdisciplinary that there's no
more clear boundaries like in molecular biology where one must also
be proficient in physics and chemistry as well as be computer literate. As a
matter of fact it may be beneficial for one to learn from others coming from 
a completely different field. About 3 weeks ago I read an article in
a recent PNAS, on thermodynamics by Paul Samuelson(yes, the great economist)!

	One case in point is biotechnology (at a more grand scale). Aside
from being a critical technology that the Philippines must have, it provides
us with an opportunity to share and probably open collaborations among
people from different fields. Computer science is playing an important role
in attempting to make sense of genetic sequences and predicting protein
structure. More powerful hardware as well as algorithms are needed for
the determination of molecular structure as well as for computer-aided
drug design.After a gene has been cloned and expressed large-scale fermentation
is required and better engineering is necessary for optimal production.
Improvement of  the properties of biotechnological products
requires better understanding of its physics and chemistry. The economic
and sociological impact of biotechnology also needs to be addressed. Of 
course other areas could be explored. The above description is just an example.

	So if you're still with me, how do we get started? Initially I suggest
that we create a list of interested people and their areas of expertise 
as well as their areas of interest. The list would then be distributed
to everyone who has shown interest.From the initial list additional names could
be added and spread throughout. The list should not be limited to those
with e-mail. Those of us who have access to e-mail could then pass the word
out to others who do not have e-mail and probably encourage them to get one.
Flames and comments are welcome.
IN THREE DAYS PENDING COMMENTS AND OBJECTIONS I'LL TRY TO POST AGAIN TO GET
THE LIST INITIATED UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS TO VOLUNTEER.

vic/leod

Leodevico L. Ilag                      e-mail:b35@mace.cc.purdue.edu
Purdue Macromolecular Crystallography        
Purdue University
W. Lafayette, IN47907
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino