BRAIN drains is a loss for society. Our country loses sorely needed scientists and researchers to foreign jobs.

So, I was both relieved and delighted that the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) encourages collaboration among Filipino scientists.

Composed of more than 200 scientists in the Philippines, the United States, and other countries, PAASE focuses on brain gain by encouraging overseas Filipinos to contribute to Philippine development.

When I joined PAASE, I discovered that this group walked the talk. Regular e-mail discussions revolved around climate change, education policy, nanotechnology, among others, revealing the breadth of expertise of members.

From today till Wednesday, PAASE holds its 29th annual conference at the Ateneo de Manila University, with the theme ?Linking Science and Engineering to Development.?

Ernesto Terrado, Danilo Romero and Raymond Tan discuss alternative energy, while Carlos Pascual, Fiorello Abenes, Samuel Franco, Catalino Blanche, Terry Sarigumba and Floramante Pastor talk about biofuels. Leonardo Liongson, Jurgenne Primavera, Rodel Lasco and Jerrold Tubay discuss natural resources management, while Asuncion Raymundo, Augustine Doronila and Marco Nemesio Montaño discuss their research on environment. Josefino Comiso, Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Felino Lansigan zero in on climate change and disaster risk.

Health is tackled by Irene Villaseñor, Carmencita Padilla and Samuel Bernal. Baldomero Olivera, Gisela Concepcion and Pedro Jose talk about drugs from natural resources, while Fabian Dayrit, Mario Capanzana and Jacinto Blas Mantaring III focus on coconut research.

Amador Muriel, Joseph Tan and Amelia Guevara discuss advances in science and engineering, while Felixberto Buot, Eduardo Mendoza and Baltazar Aguda talk about computational and theoretical aspects. Carlito Lebrilla, Zoraida Aguilar and Maria Lorna de Leoz tackle bioanalytical methods, while Erwin Enriquez, Romel Gomez and Arnold Guloy focus on nanotechnology.

Science Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña, Ester Garcia and Fernando Aldaba discuss how to build human capital for science and technology, while Victoria Carpio-Bernido, Ernesto Pernia, Fortunato Sevilla and I talk on science, math and engineering education.

Dexter Lo and Kelvin Rodolfo discuss assessments of seismic risk in a Cagayan de Oro barangay and geologic hazards of the Bataan Nuclear Plant, respectively. Raul Suarez will talk about hummingbirds and nectar bats. Elmer Dadios will present his research on steel wall climbing robots, and Vermen Verallo-Rowell, the influenza virus.

Visit the PAASE website at www.paase.org and the conference site at http://sose.ateneo.edu/system.php?LS=staticpages&id=1226487296445.

Jesuit education

Also opening today at the Ateneo is the two-day Jesuit Basic Education Sesquicentennial Congress, in honor of the 150th anniversary of Jesuit education in the country.

Superior General Reverend Father Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, discusses the challenges in Jesuit education today, while Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, focuses on the role of basic education in nation-building, with the help of panelists Eloisa Opeña, principal of Bagong Silang Elementary School; Mayor Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija; and benefactor Rodney Jacob from Guam, USA.

Former Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus tackles administrative leadership, expertise and relations; while Tyler Sherwood, principal of an international school in Singapore, and Emily Altomonte-Abrera, McCann Global chair emeritus, talk about making students globally competitive.

What should Jesuit schools have taught their students -- but did not? Cheche Lazaro will moderate the discussions featuring alumni Dennis Sto. Domingo of Ateneo de Davao, Christopher John Tiu of Xavier School, Elpidio Paras of Xavier University High School, and Yan Yuzon of Ateneo de Manila High School.

Solid education has several aspects, grouped by the congress into Friendship, Fire, and Frontiers. Under Friendship (collaboration and community building), Josephine Maribojoc talks on practicing authentic cura personalis (personal care), Fr. Manuel Francisco, SJ, on designing meaningful community worship, Suzette Alino on making the most of parent-teacher conferences, and Carmela Oracion on partnering with public schools.

Under the theme Fire (inspiration and passion), Karel San Juan reflects on leadership lessons from Jesuit patron St. Ignatius, Ma. Tricia Santiago on the core Jesuit values, Grace Koo on passionate teaching, Gilda Cordero-Fernando on classroom creativity, Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel on social justice, and Patti Betita on image.

Under Frontiers (innovations in education), Jane Cacacho talks on understanding by design, Nilda Sunga on teaching cooperative learning, Thess Nebres-Ladrido and Frederick Perez on designing student-led roundtable discussions, Fr. Anthony Pabayo on teaching with technology, and Leonardo Balmaceda, Jr., Miguel Dailisan, Michael delos Reyes, Robert Joseph Galvan on controlling bullying in schools.

Visit http://www.admu.edu.-ph/index.php?p=2734.

E-mail the author at blessbook@yahoo.com.