Dr. Aida Yap Appointed as NISMED Director

Dr. Aida I. Yap

Dr. Aida Istino Yap has been appointed by the Board of the Regents as the new NISMED Director effective 31 May 2018.  She takes over from Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, who held the position from December 2011 – 30 May 2018.

Dr. Yap joined NISMED as Science Education Specialist I in June 1996.  She has served as Chair of the Elementary School Mathematics Group, Deputy Director for Administration, and Deputy Director for Research and Extension.

She earned her doctoral degree in Mathematics Education from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.  She finished her MA in Mathematics Education from the University of Tsukuba, Japan and graduated cum laude in BS Mathematics from the University of the East-Manila.

Dr. Yap has been actively involved in the Institute’s programs and projects and has spearheaded a number of research projects, professional development programs, and extension activities of the Institute. She envisions NISMED to be a leader and a hub in research and innovation in science and mathematics education.  She plans to strengthen collaboration with other UP constituent units, government agencies and private partners, and international institutions to extend NISMED’s reach as a research unit and extension arm of the University.

She also aims to implement processes and tools for transparency and efficiency in the Institute’s daily operations and adopt strategies that will foster a positive working environment that ensure equal opportunity and a collegial relationship among the staff.

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UP NISMED Staff Honored at the Parangal sa mga Retirado

Three UP NISMED staff were honored at the Parangal sa mga Retirado held at the GT-Toyota Auditorium, Asian Center on May 9, 2018.  Ms. Lolita M. Mondigo of the Audiovisual Group, Mr. Nolito L. Llaguno of the General Services, and Mr. Nilo M. Rocas of the Printing Section were each awarded a medallion and a certificate of appreciation.

The Parangal sa mga Retirado is held every year in recognition of the “loyal and dedicated service” of retirees to the University.

Dr. Angela D. Escoto, Chancellor Michael M. Tan, Mr. Noli L. Llaguno,
Vice Chancellor Evangeline C. Amor, Vice Chancellor Virginia C. Yap, and
Dr. Soledad A. Ulep during the Parangal sa mga Retirado ceremonies.

Dr. Angela D. Escoto, Chancellor Michael M. Tan, Mr. Nilo M. Rocas, Mr. Rocas’ daughter and
grandson, Vice Chancellor Evangeline C. Amor, Vice Chancellor Virginia C. Yap, and
Dr. Soledad A. Ulep during the Parangal sa mga Retirado ceremonies.

Dr. Angela D. Escoto, Chancellor Michael M. Tan, Ms. Lolita M. Mondigo,
Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, Vice Chancellor Evangeline C. Amor, and
Vice Chancellor Virginia C. Yap during the Parangal sa mga Retirado ceremonies.

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UP President Danilo L. Concepcion and UP Researchers Visit Université Clermont Auvergne

The UP delegation, led by UP President Danilo Concepcion (fifth from left), met with faculty and administrative officials of Université Clermont Auvergne to discuss ways of collaboration in relation to disaster risk and resilience. [Left to right: Rolando Talampas, Naomi Irapta, Michaël Grégoire, Catherine Morgan-Proux, Pres. Concepcion, Cécile Bernard, Didier Laporte, Vianney Dequiedt, Benjamin van Wyk de Vries, Mahar Lagmay, Gaby Concepcion, Julie Morin, and Eligio Obille Jr.]

University of the Philippines President Danilo L. Concepcion visited Clermont-Ferrand, a university city in the central part of France on 10 -12 May 2018.  Pres. Concepcion met with faculty members and administrative staff of Université Clermont Auvergne to discuss areas of further collaboration between the two campuses. Assisting in this meeting were Prof. Mahar A.Lagmay of the National Institute of Geological Sciences, Prof. Rolando G. Talampas of the Asian Center, and Eligio C. Obille of the National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development.

The University of the Philippines (UP) and Université Clermont Auvergne(UCA) have enjoyed a long-standing academic cooperation during which numerous faculty and student exchanges have been made. The objective of this particular visit was to explore and expand the possible areas where cooperation can be strengthened, mainly in the field of risk and resilience in relation to natural hazards and climate change. The two universities plan to engage in resilience research through trans-disciplinary programs that cross the boundaries between the sciences, humanities, and arts.

The UP delegation was met at the train station by Prof. Benjamin van Wyk de Vries of the Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans at UCA, accompanied by Prof. John Murray, a visiting researcher from the School of Environment at the Open University in the UK. Upon arrival, the delegation was immediately taken around the city whose rolling streets were built on the slopes of a volcano.The use of lava stones was evident everywhere, most especially in the towering Gothic cathedral that stood out magnificently in the city center.

On top of Gergovie Plateau. UP Pres. Concepcion, M. Lagmay, and G. Concepcion
listen to Prof. van Wyk de Vries (second from left) as he explains the geological
setting of Clermont-Ferrand.
The famous Puy de Dôme volcano looms in the distance.

On the next day, Prof. van Wyk de Vries brought the delegation to the top of the Gergovie Plateau to learn more about the surroundings of Clermont-Ferrand, whose geological setting may be compared to that of certain places in the Philippines. He pointed out various features, among them the Chaîne des Puys, a line of volcanoes surrounding the city, and explained their origin. After a short drive to Ceyrat to take a look at the Limagne Fault, Prof. van Wyk de Vries then brought the group to the Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans for a quick tour.

Over lunch at Pavillon Lecoq, Pres. Concepcion spoke with a number of UCA staff who wanted to learn more about the ways that the two universities could collaborate. A smaller group of people moved later to the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme to discuss about the broad strokes of future cooperation, which would include, among other things, a review of the existing memorandum of understanding,the establishment of learning agreements for student exchanges at the Masters and PhD level, and the provision of assistance in the capacity building of UP faculty.

Example of the proposed use of geomojis for risk communication

Prof. van Wyk de Vries and his fellow researchers are excited to find out how this proposal will be met by the global audience, specialists and non-specialists alike. UP NISMED could contribute in the further development of the proposed drawings and exploration of their prospective uses by conducting tryouts of teaching and learning materials where teachers and students will use the geomojis while they learn about Earth and Space concepts as provided by the K to 12 Science Curriculum.

¹Geomojis – a symbolic alphabet to communicate Earth Sciences (poster), Benjamin van Wyk de Vries, Dougal Jerram, VladislavRapprich, Andrew Harris, and Dana Martin in theEuropean Geosciences UnionGeneral Assembly 2018,Vienna, Austria, 8–13 April 2018

² A global framework for the Earth: putting geological sciences in context, Van Wyk de Vries, B., Global and Planetary Change, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2017.12.019 (in press)

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UP NISMED Celebrates 52 Years of Commitment and Service

(Left to right) Dr. Lourdes R. Baetiong, College Secretary of the UP College of Education,
Dr. Josefina Ll. Pabellon, former UP NISMED Deputy Director,
and Dr. Soledad A. Ulep, UP NISMED Director (top photo), cut the ribbon
at the launching of new UP NISMED publications (bottom photo).

The University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP NISMED) marked its 52nd year of service to the country. A number of events marked the celebration on 21 November 2016. These include launching of new publications, a public lecture, and a recognition program to honor UP NISMED staff for their loyalty and commitment. Teachers and students from UP NISMED partner schools as well as former UP NISMED staff joined in the celebration.

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Launching of New Publications

UP NISMED launched its coffee table book titled NISMED: A Journey of Commitment and Service on 21 November 2016. Former UP NISMED Deputy Director Dr. Josefina Ll. Pabellon graced the occasion and gave a commentary on the coffee table book on behalf of the former Director of the Institute, Prof. Porfirio P. Jesuitas. Written to commemorate its 50th anniversary, the book is a five-chapter narrative that recounts how UP NISMED started as a project under the leadership of Dr. Dolores F. Hernandez, the founding Director of the Institute. It also documents UP NISMED’s contribution to the development of science and mathematics education in the country the past 50 years. To quote Dr. Ester B. Ogena’s foreword from the book, “This book is actually a map of UP NISMED’s journey. The purpose of the map is not to look back and see where it all started, but to be able to see a picture of an institution in focused and consistent action. This is a synergistic product of a team of people, without whom this never would have come about.”

Complimentary copies were distributed to the staff, donors, and partner institutions of UP NISMED.
Along with the coffee table book, UP NISMED launched its Lesson Study Guidebook and four science and mathematics short stories namely, Serenaders of the Countryside, The Adventures of Big-Eyed Tarsi, The Hidden Sun, and The Curious Little Chick.

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