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The Balik Scientist Program (BSP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is expecting to bring home 7 more scientists before this year ends. Currently, there are 36 scientists who are completing their terms BSPs.

Dr. Leah Tolosa, associate professor in University of the Maryland Baltimore County, is a BSP awardee last October 6, 2008. Being an awardee, she has been organizing seminars, lecture series and workshops in University of San Carlos and the University of Santo Tomas discussing on various topics like fluorescence spectroscopy and ethanol in “kamote” or sweet potato.

She revealed that the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology has developed low-cost optical sensors – device used to measure levels of compounds such as carbon dioxide and oxygen. It used in fermentation process of condiments, such as vinegar and fish sauce. It also used in monitoring of newborn in incubators, analyzing environmental pollutants and in biomedical diagnostics.

These optical sensors are used in biomedical diagnostics to measure metabolites in diabetes cases and the dimensions of a tumor.

Dr. Tolosa has said that the success of chemotherapy can be determined by looking at the size of the tumor. Optical sensors are used mainly for monitoring, so this can be a great help. “There should be collaboration among scientists and other experts in the field in order to enhance and science and technology in the Philippines. Moreover, once the Filipino scientists begin to collaborate with one another, chances are Filipinos can produce high quality idea that can compete to the leading countries around the world and by having seminars; they can encourage youth to think critically and become like them,“ Dr. Tolosa said.

Since 1975, through the Balik Scientist Program, DOST has been encouraging Filipino scientists and technicians based abroad to return and share their expertise to further improve science and technology in the country.