UP Diliman to launch children’s book collection about Filipino scientists

The University of the Philippines –Diliman (UPD) is reportedly set on publishing a pilot volume of a children’s book collection about Filipino scientists.

The said children’s book will primarily feature the story of Dr. Deo Florence Onda, the first Filipino to ever explore Emden Deep, the third deepest place in the world. Despite being located barely 100 kilometers away from Eastern Samar, in the Philippine Trench.

This pioneering discovery was inspired by collaborations between the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s College of Science (UPD-CS) and College of Arts and Letters (UPD-CAL) for a series of multilingual children’s books based on the lives of Filipino researchers.

The pilot volume of the Sulong-Agham Book Series is “Doktor ng Dagat,” a story of Dr. Onda’s life and his dedication to raising public awareness about the need to safeguard the country’s abundant marine resources. The narrative is brought to life by Dr. Rosario Torres-Yu while illustrations are crafted by Paul Eric Roca. A feat in terms of accessibility, it is also written in multiple languages: Filipino, English, and Dr. Onda’s native Cuyonon.

Dr. Torres-Yu said that “By showcasing the lives and works of Filipino scientists, this project aims to spark the interest of Filipino children and encourage them to pursue the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. “We hope that this series of stories, beginning with Dr. Onda’s, will help bring about a new generation of scientists and a more science-minded public”.

“Doktor ng Dagat” and the Sulong-Agham Book Series will be formally launched on December 12, 2022 at 4:00 PM in the lobby of the CS Administration Building in UP Diliman. Supling Sining is open to sponsors who are interested in gifting the book to underserved communities, at just P100 a copy.