Reynaldo V. Ebora, Ph.D., Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, introduces the Balik Scientist Program of DOST to STEM professionals and students, 10 October 2024, Philippine Embassy in Brussels.

10 October 2024 — The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) presented the Balik Scientist Program to professionals and students of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at the Philippine Embassy in Brussels.

The delegation was led by DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, Ph.D. Accompanying him were Deputy Executive Director Melvin B. Carlos, Ph.D., Director Fezoil Luz C. Decena, Dr. Jesselle S. Laranas, and Ms. Eriza C. Asilo.

The Balik Scientist Program aims to strengthen the scientific and technological human resources of the academe, public, and private institutions, including locally registered enterprises, in order to promote knowledge sharing and accelerate the flow of new technologies in the country.

DOST-PCAARRD presented the benefits and responsibilities of becoming a Balik Scientist as well as research gaps which could be narrowed through collaboration with potential Balik Scientists in the agriculture, aquatics and natural resources (AANR) sectors. They also introduced two of PCAARRD's capacity building initiatives: the International Graduate Research and Education Assistantship for Technology (iGREAT), which provides financial assistance to scholars of the Special Foreign Scholarship Programs of DOST-PCAARRD and Science Education Institute (SEI), and the Sandwich Program, which provides grants for graduate students abroad doing research in PCAARRD's priority areas.