PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN BERLIN ENGAGES FILIPINO ACADEMICS AND PROFESSIONALS IN GERMANY
31 March 2025, Berlin – Around thirty Filipino students, graduates, and professionals in various disciplines in the sciences and the liberal arts participated in a gathering of Filipino academics and professionals hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Berlin on 22 March 2025.
The participants were affiliated with prestigious institutions, including the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, University of Potsdam, University of Hamburg (Law and Economics), Humboldt University, Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics, the Hertie School, Musikhochschule Freiburg, Rolls Royce, University of Europe for Applied Sciences, German Institute for Global and Area Studies, Senckenberg am Meer Research Institute, and the Universität Freiburg.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad called on the participants to work together, saying, “You are part of a growing Filipino academic and professional community in Germany… We can accomplish a lot if we work together to enhance the people-to-people link between Germany and the Philippines, promote greater cooperation between the two countries, and empower our community. The Embassy views you not just as individual scholars but as a network of potential changemakers – capable of generating ideas, innovations, and initiatives that can help shape a better future for our community and for the Philippines… The Embassy will always be here to support your efforts, but today, it starts with you,”
The three-hour event provided the participants with an overview of consular and other services and programs of the Philippine Government for overseas Filipinos and updates on the Overseas Voting process for the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections.
DOST Usec. Leah Buendia, on the screen, fields a question on the Balik Scientist Program, which gathered much interest from the audience.
Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah Buendia who joined the event virtually, discussed the Balik Scientist Act, which institutionalizes the Balik Scientist Program (BSP), and shared the program’s successes over the years.
A participant introduces herself to the group.
Three of the participants were given the opportunity to discuss their respective projects and calls for collaboration during the session. Dr. Ariel Hernandez of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies sought collaboration on his project on Philippine policy innovations on human resources management.
Former International Atomic Energy Agency executive and President of the Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES) Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya invited participants to collaborate with PACES and support disadvantaged but outstanding Filipino university students through scholarships in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Prof. Dr. Denise Margaret Matias, faculty member of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development urged participants to serve as mentors or join as mentee under the Filipino Sustainability Scientists academic writing series and to collaborate with the Pinoy Scientists platform of PhilSA Space Science Missions Bureau Director Dr. Reinabelle Reyes.
A networking session followed with participants exchanging contacts and ideas and discussing projects and future collaboration with each other or with their institutions. (END)
