PAGSULAT NG

BALITANG AGHAM
AT TEKNOLOHIYA HARVY B. CALMA
Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus
 Pagsulat ng iyong
kuwentong
makaagham na may
puso
S&T
DTOT on CAMPUS JOURNALISM
DTOT
2018
ANO ANG PAGSULAT NG
AGHAM AT TEKNOLOHIYA
Sagot: hugis.
Pagsulat ng balitang agham

≠ Scientific writing
- Technical writing
- journals, research proposals

= Journalistic writing
- Popular writing
- news, magazines, blogs, etc
Scientific vs. journalistic writing
Gampanin ng mga Mamamahayag

• maging tulay sa pagkakaroon

ng kaisahan sa pagbibigay
ng mahahalagang
impormasyon sa pagitan ng
mga siyentipiko/
mananaliksik at ng publiko
ano ang pinagkaiba ng balitang agham at
teknolohiya sa ibang balita?
 Nagagawang magkaroon ng
kaalaman ang publiko
patungkol sa kagandahan at
kakaibang hatid ng S&T
 Naipaliliwanag ang mga
konsepto sa agham gamit ang
mga simpleng salita
 Nagagawang maiugnay ang
agham at teknolohiya sa
buhay ng tao
Science news:
• goes beyond facts
• is an effort to make science
interesting
• is storytelling
It should answer the question SO
WHAT?
Good
It should relate to people.
It should put a human face.
news!
9

What?
• DIWATA-1 is the Philippine's first
microsatellite. It weighs 50 kg and carries four
optical payloads (telescopes & cameras)
Where? When?
• Launched to the International Space Station
(ISS) on March 23, 2016
How?
• Deployed into orbit from the ISS on April 27,
2016 at an altitude of 400-420 km with speed
of around 7 km/sec
Who?
• First satellite built and designed by Filipinos
Why?
• To carry out scientific earth observation
missions for 20 months
Other facts:
• Nine Filipino engineers from the DOST-
Advanced Science and Technology Institute
(ASTI) and UP developed Diwata-1. They
were called the "Magnificent 9"
• Microsatellite: Approx. 50 cm linear
dimension and weight is bet 10-100 kg
• Missions include weather observation,
environmental monitoring and disaster risk
management
• Follows orbit of the ISS
• Collaboration among the Philippines' DOST,
UP Diliman and Japan’s Hokkaido University
and Tohoku University
• Filipino scientists who were involved in the
Diwata-1 project can teach and train local
engineers
• Leads to development of the local electronics
and aerospace industries which would
complement a satellite-building industry
• "small investment“ compared with govt
spending ₱56 million for satellite imagery of
an area affected by Yolanda
10
 First Filipino-made satellite 'Diwata-1' It explains science
concepts in common
launched into space language
By Arra Perez, CNN Philippines
Updated 18:25 PM PHT Wed, March 23, 2016
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Diwata-1, the country's first microsatellite, launched
into space on board an Atlas V rocket on Wednesday (March 23) at around 11 a.m. PHT.
The rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida in the U.S.
The Filipino-made microsatellite will be brought to the International Space Station (ISS),
where it will be calibrated before rocketing into mission.
At the space station, Diwata will be housed in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)
nicknamed “Kibo,” and by the end of April, the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-
SSOD) will release Diwata-1 into space at an altitude of 400 kilometers from the Earth's
surface.
Diwata-1 will be in orbit for about 18 to 20 months.
The microsatellite has four specialized cameras for imaging weather patterns, agricultural
productivity, and land and water resources. Diwata-1 is expected to be in orbit for
approximately 20 months, taking images twice daily.
And while country's first microsatellite is still in orbit, its sister Diwata-2 will be launched
late 2017 or early 2018.
 A viewing session of the rocket launch was organized at the Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.
The session will connect the Philippines (UP and Department of Science and
Technology) and Japan (Hokkaido University and Tohoku University) through video
conferencing.
It should relate science or
A 'heavyweight fairy' technology to the lives of people.
Named after a Filipino mythological character, the 50-kilogram Diwata, or "fairy," was
designed and developed by an all-Filipino team of scientists and engineers who are
now based in Japan.
Diwata is a flagship project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
meant not just to place the Philippines in the map of space innovation, but also to reap
its contributions to agricultural productivity, food security, and even tourism.
"[They] were trained in this technology in our hope of providing vital information to
1 our farmers so they will be prepared on what crops to plant, when to plant and how
they can provision contingencies in overcoming the ill effects of El Nino up to the
middle of 2016,” said DOST Sec. Mario Montejo.
“The satellite will also aid the rest of the country in terms of agriculture and tourism,
2 with the satellite giving data that will help farmers decide what crops to plant and
where, while also capturing the country’s natural wonders."

12
 Once launched into space, the microsatellite will be able to send critical information
on weather systems which are crucial for local farmers in adjusting their planting
methods and procedures with the prevalence of climate change.
Now that satellite data and imageries will be more accessible, Montejo expressed
optimism that this satellite technology will also boost the capability of the Philippine
3 Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to
make accurate forecasts and weather monitoring.
"These same data can be used to monitor our forest cover and natural resources,
implement a responsive disaster risk management program like Project NOAH
(Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), enhance water resources
4 management systems, and improve weather monitoring and forecasting," said
Montejo

it makes people aware of the

wonders of science &
technology

13
Basics of a science story

Bring the science down to earth.

Explain concepts and principles in language that common
people understand.

Bring out the human in the scientist.

Highlight aspects of his or her personality that everyone
can relate to – a hobby, a stage mom/dad, a pet.

Explain how S&T relate to your readers'

everyday lives.
Explain to readers how stem cell research has the potential to
discover cures for disease. Write about someone afflicted with a
disease and explain how stem cell research could change this
condition.
Basics of a science story
Avoid jargons. If you must, explain or describe it.
- Write for a 9-year old kid to a 90-year old granny
- Simplify or use illustrations, but avoid oversimplifying.
- Use clear language that everybody can understand. Make sure you
get the facts right.
- E.g., radiation during Fukushima nuclear accident
- = millisievert (1 mSv = 0.001 Sv) and microsievert (1 μSv = 0.000001 Sv)

Always cite your source(s).

- You are a campus journalist. You are not a scientist nor
the expert.
- e.g., writing about new species discovered, trivia,
inventions, etc

Write about the implications instead of

the methods.
- relate science to other parts of society and putting it into a broader
perspective, such as economy, health, socioeconomy
- e.g., use of freeze drying machine
Simplifying the
science
Using metaphors, comparisons,
similes
• important part of science writing
• creates strong images from
everyday life and cultural
references which make science
easier to understand
Simplifying the
science
• Examples:
the atmosphere is a greenhouse
the brain of a chess player is a computer
a black hole is a monster that eats its
victims
stars send out their "last cry" in the form
of X-ray emissions
the immune system is like an army
defending its home country
scientists work like detectives to solve a
problem.
Simplifying the
science
Dealing with numbers
Weight, area, size, volume, length, etc – can
be easier for readers to relate to by making
comparisons with things that we see or use in
our everyday lives.

Help your audience "visualize" the number

rather than leave the number at face value.
E.g., 20-mm rainfall – what does it mean?

- a basketball court filled with water up to the

talus
Where do you find your science stories?

 Primary sources.
 Scientists/experts
Non-scientists: politicians,
neighbours, other journalists, etc.
 Press conferences
 Scientific conferences
Where do you find your science stories?
 Secondary sources.
 Other media
 Press releases
Electronic bulletins / mailing
lists
 Discussion forums
Websites of scientific
organizations or companies
Publications e.g., primary
research papers
Where do you find your science stories?
On research papers:
• Abstract or summary – the study in
brief
• Discussion or conclusions - where you
find
the “so what?”
• Methods and results - could be useful in
preparing to interview scientists or for
adding facts and figures to your report.

But it's best to ask the scientists themselves of

their methods and results - more
comprehensible and less technical.
 Leyte Hotel, Baras, Palo, Leyt e
Melchor R. Heñosa
22
Preparing for your interview

Research
Do as much research as possible. Study terminologies that your source
uses. A well-prepared reporter inspires confidence in the source.

Develop questions
Once you’ve thoroughly researched your topic, prepare a list of
questions
to ask. That will help you remember all the points you want to cover.

Interview the right people

Make sure you get all sides of the story, not only the scientist’s. You might
also want talk to NGO members, politicians, companies, people, patients,
etc. Cover as many people as possible. But do not waste your time on
sources or aspects of the issue that do not enrich your story.
During the interview

• Ask open-ended questions.

They tend to start sources talking (who did what to
whom and how and why?)
You can get the best quotes.

• Avoid asking long questions.

You can use quick follow-up questions, but ask one at
a time.

• Check spelling of names with sources.

Some notes

• Always take notes.

• It’s safer if you record
an interview but
always ask permission.
• Just take down notes
on the stuff you will
use.

25
 How do you angle your science news?

 Highlight something new or noble.

Water filter that uses nanotechnology to make water
potable.

 Touch on the unusual.

Just P500 capital and the business grew to millions.

 Write about people.

A teenage mother who finished her studies through
DOST scholarship – gives hope & inspiration.
A former fisherman who destroyed corals is now a
coral nursery worker.

 Note anything interesting or

significant.
Scholar helping his/her family’s expenses through
allowance
How DOST’s new breed of virus-resistant abaca revived
a community.
 Scientists and experts

Photo: DOST-Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology

Gregorio Y. Zara
- his invention is called: a two-way
television-telephone, or videophone.
Scientists and experts
Dr. Fe del Mundo, National Scientist

Diosdado Banatao
Technologies

Axis knee system

Sensor-based tsunami/ water

level/flood warning system

RTE arroz caldo

Hybrid road train

Flash news!
Hillary Diane Andales
wins the 2017 Breakthrough
Junior Challenge

30
Where can you find topics to write about?
Online
Philippine men and women of science:
http://www.science.ph/stiipub.php?type=pmws
science.ph ww
w.science.ph
DOSTv
www.dostv.ph

Regional: 16 DOST regional offices LGUs, universities, research consortia,

Provincial: 90 provincial offices etc.
- regional S&T laboratories - Researches/inventions
- STARBOOKS - disaster preparedness
- nutrition interventions - entrepreneurs who use technology
- disaster preparedness
- S&T scholarships
- projects
- Inventions
- Events: National/Regional Science
and Technology Week, Inventor’s
Science and Technology Writing | National Training of Trainors on Campus Journalism
December 12, 2017 | The Oriental Leyte Hotel, Baras, Palo, Leyte
Week, Biotechnology Week
Important resources
References:

“Science for the People” (A presentation by Sec. Fortunato T. de la Peña)

“Online Course in Science Journalism.” Accessible at:
http://www.wfsj.org/course/
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/kgould/what-science-writing
http://phl-microsat.upd.edu.ph/
https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition
https://www.nasw.org/articles/issues-science-writing
http://contently.net/2015/08/03/stories/science-journalism-big-problem-can-fix/
THANK YOU 

Science and Technology Writing | National Training of Trainors on Campus Journalism