Hosted by EIC Mikael Angelo Francisco, Ask Theory shines the spotlight on Pinoy scientific brilliance, in a fun and entertaining “kwentuhan” format. Each episode of Ask Theory features a Pinoy scientist from one of the various scientific disciplines. In a very casual conversation, guests explain what they do in simple terms, as well as share their fascinating stories: how they got into science, the challenges they face, what motivates them to pursue their fields, what future scientists from the Philippines can look forward to, and so much more.
Episode 16: Paano Ba Nakakahanap Ng Mga Bagong Species?
When it comes to science, there’s always something new to learn and discover. And few things exemplify that better than when researchers find a new plant or animal species. These discoveries serve as proof that our planet holds innumerable wonders and secrets for us to appreciate and unravel. They also remind us of the consequences of our actions, and why we need to consider more than just our own well-being and convenience whenever we make decisions, big or small.
Our guest on today’s show is Shiella Mae Olimpos, a botanist and researcher from the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI). She recently discovered and co-authored a paper on Aeschynanthus rejieae, a new species of lipstick vine from Tawi-Tawi that she found during PBCFI’s Sulu Hornbill Expedition.
We talked about the characteristics of A. rejieae, how one can tell if they’re looking at a potential new species, what makes a plant a plant, why it’s important to keep discovering new species, the fun things about being a botanist/conservationist, and more.
Listen to Ask Theory Episode 016: Paano Ba Nakakahanap Ng Mga Bagong Species? here:
(Full transcript to follow; watch this page for updates)
The Ask Theory Podcast is available via these platforms — make sure to subscribe, as we’ll be releasing a new episode every week:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1GDcxBwETsD4KM1EmTr1aI
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/ask-theory/id1550251048
Anchor: https://anchor.fm/ask-theory
Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/ask-theory
Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80OTAyMWNjMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/gv6jxkki
RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/ask-theory-WJkbLJ
Music: Hopeful Cinematic Ambient by bdProductions
