Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Master Trainer Awarded "Champion" During the 57th BIOTA National Convention in the Philippines
During the 57th Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA) National Convention and Scientific Sessions held in April, Josephine Joy Tolentino-Antalan, a GLOBE Master Trainer and a Biology Teacher from the Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus (PSHS-CLC), was awarded “Champion” under the Biodiversity & Conservation category of the event’s paper/ poster presentation for her research, “Visualization and Potential of Mosquito Breeding Sites in the Philippines Using GLOBE MHM Application.”
In the presentation, Tolentino-Antalan highlighted the growing global public concern of mosquito-borne diseases and demonstrated how The GLOBE Program’s Mosquito Protocol, in conjunction with its Data Visualization Tool and MHM Application, can be used to mobilize local communities and citizen scientists alike to collect, document and share relevant mosquito data in order to mitigate the spread of diseases transmitted by them. Tolentino-Antalan’s paper/ poster drew much interest from individuals and institutions who are curious about learning how to use GLOBE Mosquito Protocols and the MHM Application as a research tool for mapping and understanding mosquito breeding habitats, and how it can be used and adopted by local communities and governments in reducing or controlling the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The delegates’ fascination on the poster is expected, considering that mosquito-related diseases -- such as dengue and malaria -- are a perennial problem in the Philippines where the five-year average number of cases of dengue is 254,279 with a 0.59-case fatality rate (or 1,489 average annual deaths for the same period, per 2015–2019 PSA data).
The BIOTA is one of the largest professional organizations in the Philippines with active members all over the country. Its objective is to promote biology education through participation in the development of curricula and instructional materials; provision of student-oriented activities in biological sciences; and establishment of effective linkages with private and public institutions involved in biology education and research.
In addition to Tolentino-Antalan’s award, she was also elected as one of the Board of Directors (Basic Education Level) of the National Governing Board of BIOTA Philippines for 2023-2025. She intends to use her new position “to reach out to more secondary schools in the country to do The GLOBE Program and become citizen scientis... and conduct capacity building trainings for teachers and students.” Tolentino-Antalan’s recognition helped promote research and awareness on mosquitoes, their habitat, life cycle and the health risks they pose in society. This is particularly important for Filipino communities considering that each year some 200,000 Filipinos are afflicted with mosquito-borne diseases. Along with promoting research and awareness on mosquitoes, Tolentino-Antalan helped promote GLOBE's advocacy on hydrosphere and allied protocols; this is important because the event provided invaluable publicity for and public awareness of The GLOBE Program.
Josephine Joy Tolentino-Antalan joined The GLOBE Program in 2018. Besides being a certified GLOBE Trainer and Master Trainer, she is also a member of the Science Education Working Group, and was instrumental in the successful implementation of the Philippines’ Local and Regional Mosquito Workshop Campaign (L/RMW) from 2018 to 2020. She holds the rank of Special Science Teacher IV at the PSHS-CLC –- the Philippines’ premiere science high school. The GLOBE Program (Philippines) congratulates Tolentino-Antalan for her latest accomplishment. Tolentino-Antalan is open for collaboration opportunities; for more information, visit her GLOBE webpage.
Images courtesy Rod Allan A. De Lara, Country Coordinator, Philippines.