Josette Biyo
Dr. Josette T. Biyo (née Talamera) is a Filipino educator and Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System. She has received international recognition for her contributions to science and education.[1][2]
Early life and academics
Josette Biyo was born on January 19, 1958 in Januiay, Iloilo. She completed a baccalaureate in Biological Sciences at the University of the Philippines Visayas in Miagao, intending to continue on to medical school. Instead, she deferred to a teaching post, and afterward earned her Ph.D. in Biology from De La Salle University in Manila.[2] Her dissertation examined seagrass community dynamics on Guimaras Island.[3]
In 2004, Dr. Biyo was conferred with an honorary doctorate in humanities by the Manila Central University.
Career
After her research concluded, Dr. Biyo spent eight years teaching a rural community in her home province, Iloilo.[1] Dr. Biyo leveraged her knowledge of biology to educate the residents in primary health care using local plants and ingredients. In 1995, Dr. Biyo accepted a science teaching position at the Philippine Science High School Western Visayas. In her three years there, she developed and refined a unique educational philosophy that fosters a "culture of science". She also organized teaching trips for educators on the island Panay, was invited to Laos and Cambodia to speak on her teaching ideology, and developed a formal method of teaching science and research.[1]
Biyo Science Research Teaching Method
Dr. Biyo's methodology encourages students to adopt several learning and life behaviors, in order to maximize their career potential.
- Build a physical library of science books
- Conduct field studies that ask interesting and difficult questions
- Establish personal connections with research institutions and laboratories
- Hold science forums in and after school
- Teach students field and lab techniques to aid in research work.
Dr. Biyo's mentorship and teaching methods have cultivated noteworthy scientists in diverse fields of research, including oceanography, marine life, physics, and robotics.[1]
Awards and honors
- Outstanding Teacher of the Philippines, 1997[4]
- Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos, 1998 (Philippine Jaycees and Gerry Roxas Foundation)[5][6]
- Intel Excellence in Teaching Award, 2002[7]
- Award for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES), 2004
- Distinguished Lasallian Award, 2004
- “Women of Distinction Award”, 2004 (Soroptimist International)
- Fil-Up Award, 2004 (Global Doors Foundation)
- Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa), 2004 (Manila Central University)
- Philippine American Foundation Friendship Award, 2004 (National Press Club)
- Presidential Award, 2007 (Philippine College of Physicians)
- Lingkod Bayan Award, 2007 (Civil Service Commission)
- Special Award, 2007 (Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service)
- 50 Great Men and Women in Science, 2008 (Department of Science and Technology)
- National Award for Community Service, 2008 (Rotary Club of Makati)
- Honorary Fellow, 2009 (Philippine College of Physicians)
Biyo was the first Asian to win the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award.[4] In 2003, MIT's Lincoln Laboratory christened an asteroid in her honor.[8][9]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Scarecrow Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0810872463.
- 1 2 "DR. JOSETTE T. BIYO" (PDF). Republic of the Philippines - Civil Service Commission. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=543206
- 1 2 "Dr. Biyo". Official Website of the Municipality of Janiuay. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ Lubiste, Ma. Diosa (2002-06-16). "Winning Teacher Lauded in Home Province" (188). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ "Three Lasallian educators receive 2nd Metrobank Foundation honors". De la Salle University Newsletter. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ "Intel Education: Highlights from Intel ISEF 2002" (PDF). Intel Corporation. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ Fernandez, Rudy (2003-02-02). "Small planet named after Pinoy science teacher". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
- ↑ Biyo, Josette (2005). A Trip to Planet Biyo. Enthos Publishing House.