The Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist Program aims to strengthen academic and technological human resources in the sciences. It started in 1975, was suspended in 1986 but resumed in 1993, during the Ramos presidency. The program aims to bring back Pinoy science talent from overseas to teach, do research or science consultancy with the academe, government or even industry. About a year ago, my high school buddy and ex UPIS science club member, Yale computational geochemist and system administrator Dr Mihali A Felipe corresponded with me on his plans to apply for the program. This was approved and this July he is spending a month a UP to teach students and lay the groundwork to establish a computational chemistry research effort. Computational chem has immense importance since using computers, the need to do expensive chemical experiments can be minimized. Also the approach has obvious environmental applications. In the environment, large scale exp...
"It is surely harmful to souls to make it a heresy to believe what is proved" - Galileo