How is it to be a Filipina in STEM

How is it to be a Pinay scientist and engineer in the Philippines? Last year, American engineer Isis Anchalee shared her story on Medium.com about her experience working in the US tech industry especially the stereotyping she experienced. She encouraged others to use the hashtag #iLookLikeAnEngineer to redefine how an engineer looked like. A lot of women responded on Twitter, including myself, and what most of us already know, there really is no typical look for women engineers. Women engineers are as diverse in looks and in background as any profession.

Does the same sexism exists in the Philippine tech industry? As Reinabelle Reyes, Filipina astrophysicist noted, Pinay scientists are lucky because gender isn’t really an issue in science and technology in the country.

Today, there is no need to use those name plates because the Philippines is one of the top countries in the world where men and women are given equal rights and opportunities. Among 142 countries, the Philippines ranked 9th in the Global Gender Gap Index 2014 of the World Economic Forum.

Filipino Professionals in STEM

The “Human Resources in Science and Technology in the Philippines” (HRST) study of the DOST-SEI revealed that there were only slightly more male than female. Based on their 2010 survey, men accounted for 54% while women accounted for 46% of the total Philippine STEM workforce. This number is way better than that of the United States whose women represent a mere 24 percent of the STEM workforce according to a 2011 study Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation.

The DOST-SEI study also revealed that the number of Filipino science and technology workers doubled in the span of 20 years from 362% in 1990 to 593% in 2000, and rose to 721% in 2010. This represent 40% of the 1.8 million Filipinos categorized as “professionals” among the 31 million working population in 2010.

The increase in workers in STEM have a positive effect on our competitiveness and innovation. Our ranking in the 2015 Global Competitiveness Index rose from rank 52 in 2013 to rank 47 in 2015 out of 141 countries (see report here). The Philippines also improved its ranking by 17 spots and now ranked 83rd among 141 countries in the 2015 Global Innovation Index (see report here).

The DOST-SEI study also revealed that engineering, architecture and related professions remain male-dominated while medical professions like midwifery and nursing, remain female-dominated. There were also significant decrease in key professions in the fields of mathematics, statistics, life science, physics, and chemistry while the most numbered occupations were nursing and midwifery, and engineering.

Data culled out from the Commission on Higher Education report of graduates for Academic Year 2012-2013 (see report here) show that the courses that has experienced a decrease in the number of professionals are the courses with the least number of enrollees.

CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan noted, “With science and technology courses seriously under-subscribed, the human resources needed for research and development will not be available. This will have a negative impact on national development and global competitiveness.”

True enough, the fields which experienced a decrease in enrollment are the fields needed in research and development and has a big impact on our level of innovation. Although our over-all ranking in the 2015 Global Innovation Index increased, the Philippines lag behind in education (132) and human capital and research (121).

Why We Need More Women in STEM in the Philippine Countryside

We don’t only need more women pursuing a career in STEM but more especially in the provinces. The DOST-SEI study revealed that 211,000 (29.2%) of the country’s science professionals are concentrated in the National Capital Region, followed by Region IV-A and Region III with 127,000 (17.7%) and 89,000 (12.4%), respectively. The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has the least number of S&T workers with only around five thousand.

The numbers are so glaring that one can conclude that the farther you are from Metro Manila, the lesser opportunities you have as a science and technology professional. We do not only suffer from a lack of women in STEM but also in economic disparities between different regions in the country, so much so that most of our STEM workforce look for opportunities abroad. Based on the same study, the number of our STEM overseas Filipino workers also increased from 40,000 in 1990 to 113,000 in 2010 or almost tripled in a span of 20 years.

Although we cannot stop our professionals to look for better opportunities in Metro Manila and abroad, their decision to stay and work in the Philippines especially in the provinces will have a long term positive impact to the country.

• Local Problems, Local Solutions

Local scientists have a better understanding of local problems enabling them to come up with appropriate solutions using local resources. Engineer Aisa Mijeno has gained a lot of accolades for designing a lamp that uses saltwater as electrolyte. Her innovation can provide a low-cost solution to people who are living off-grid and are relying on kerosene lamps for lighting. Science Teacher Dr. Josette Biyo who is now the Director of the Science Education Institute of DOST developed innovative methods in teaching science research to her students and encouraged them to study local plants and animals.

• Innovations can Improve Lives and Boost the Local Economy

Innovation is the engine that drives the economic growth of a country and Filipinos are naturally innovative. We need more scientists and researchers especially in the countryside who can create new products and processes that do not only provide solutions to society’s problems but are also commercially viable. A robust manufacturing sector will help the local economy by providing jobs and using local resources.

• Women Can Help Solve Problems Affecting Women and Children

When women are involved in research and development, they will help solve problems affecting women as well as children. Dr. Fe del Mundo, a National Scientist and the first female student at Harvard Medical School designed a low-cost incubator made of bamboo and other local materials. She authored more than 100 articles, reviews and reports in medical journals on such diseases as dengue, polio and measles. She also opened the Children’s Medical Center of the Philippines in 1957 using her own money.

• Reverse Brain Drain

DOST has a Balik Scientist Program since 1975 where highly-trained overseas Filipino scientists, technologists and experts are encouraged to share their expertise to accelerate scientific development in the country. Public and private institutions may request a foreign-based Filipino scientist on a short-term or long-term basis and DOST can fund the travel expenses and allowances of the Filipino scientist.

It’s not easy to encourage scientists and engineers to work in the provinces because of salary disparity and limited opportunities. That’s why the national government should invest more on research and development and encourage more investments in the countryside. If we do not develop our manufacturing sector, we will continue to be net importers of processed goods and totally dependent on another country’s technology.

The Philippines need more scientists and engineers if we want to sustain our economic growth. Women are half of the population but their full potential are still considered untapped. Although there are no longer barriers for women to pursue careers in STEM, the number of girls enrolling in STEM courses are still less than ideal especially in the fields of engineering, architecture and life sciences. It’s not because women are less adept in Math and Sciences but perhaps because they lack the role models who will inspire and make them realize they can become scientists and engineers if they want to.

 The Path to a Road Less Traveled

In the recent National Science and Technology Week, the DOST agencies namely Science Education Institute (SEI), Philippine Science High School System and the National Academy of Science & Technology spearheaded the exhibit “She for We: Highlighting the Role, Life and Achievement of Filipina Scientists in the Local and International Scientific Community.” The exhibit highlighted the role of DOST Filipina scholars and scientists in different fields. The exhibit also went around the country through the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao S&T cluster exhibits in order to encourage more girls in the regions to pursue a career in STEM.

It is not only once that I’ve heard parents tell their daughter that she couldn’t be an engineer because it’s a man’s job. If there are parents reading this and if you see in your child an interest in STEM, I hope you will give them your full support. Below are the probable academic path that students can take.

• Senior High School Education
  

This school year is critical since the first batch of senior high school students will choose their track. The STEM academic track should be chosen by students who want to pursue a career in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Enrollment to the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), the country’s premier science high school under the Department of Science and Technology is the best stepping stone to those who want to pursue a career in STEM. DOST-PSHS offers equal opportunities for girls and boys from any economic background as long as they pass the qualifying examinations. The DOST-PSHS from  has 14 campuses scattered all over the Philippines and provide scholarships to qualified students. Visit or call the nearest campus of DOST-PSHS to inquire on visit their website for information on how to apply for the National Competitive Examination or how to apply for Lateral Admission.

There are various private and public high schools offering the STEM track. Check out the website of DepEd for the schools offering STEM track in your locality.

• College and Post Graduate Scholarships
  

Every year, DOST provides scholarships to undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in different priority fields in Science and Technology. The DOST offers equal opportunities for men and women as long as they meet the minimum requirements and pass the qualifying examinations. You don’t have to leave your province to study because you can enroll in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) or various private institutions considered center of excellence by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Check out the scholarship website of DOST-SEI for scholarship opportunities or you may call or visit the nearest DOST Provincial Office.

• Career Opportunities for STEM graduates

Science and Technology courses are given priority by the DOST because their is lack of graduates to fill the need of the industry. STEM graduates have a wide range of career opportunities and STEM jobs are one of the highest paid anywhere. To those who will opt to start their own technology-based companies, there are a lot of local and international angel investors who are willing to fund your tech startup company.

The path to becoming a scientist and engineer has not been trodden by women as often as the men, but many successful Pinay scientists and engineers have shown the way. Pinay scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technology experts (#PinayGeeks) have already proven that gender is not a hindrance to reach your dreams. The government is also giving support and equal opportunities to men and women to pursue a career in STEM. With these privileges come a responsibility to serve the country and I hope our STEM graduates will have the heart to serve the country especially in the provinces where they are needed the most.

Like the first Philippine-made microsatellite that was recently launched into space aptly named Diwata, I hope more Pinays will soon soar high in science and technology because they definitely can.