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Top 10 Facts About Josette Biyo

 Rosette Biyo is a Filipino educator and former executive director of the Philippine Science High School System. She was born on March 19 1958 with a net worth of 5 million dollars. She is quite famous with an outstanding record.

She has received accolades from various institutions including internationally. She has greatly contributed to science and education as a whole living thousands touched.

DrDrosette Talamera-Biyo has also received awards like the 2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching Award and various awards which will be named. She got her degree from the University of the Philippines and her PhD from De La Salle University in Manila.

She has always loved her home and has wanted to help educate the students in Manila and empower them. She is known for turning down high-rank positions to stay and teach the young minds in the Philippines. Here are the top 10 facts about Josette Biyo.

Read more about the 10 most famous Filipinos here.

1.She has a degree in biological sciences

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The doctor earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of the Philippines Visayas in Miagao. The studies entailed using the latest technology to analyze molecular medicine, ecology and the environment of plant and animal development,  physiology, and cell dynamics.

She always enjoyed learning and studying and hoped to venture into the medical field but instead decided to venture into the teaching path. She no longer pursued her intentions in the medical field.

2.She got a PhD in biology

After taking the job offer as a teacher, she went back to Manilla and did her PhD in biology at De La Salle University in Manila also known as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle. It is a private institution and is known for its academic excellence and outstanding students.

3.She did a dissertation that examines the sea grass community

While she was pursuing her PhD she did a dissertation that examined sea grass community dynamics on Guimaras Island. The research was entitled ‘Community structure, growth and productivity of sea grasses in the coastal area of Tando, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras Island, Central Philippines (Dr. Biyo, 2011)’.

The dissertation she did was published in the Philippine Scientist Journal. After completing her research she spent around eight years teaching in a rural community in her home province, Iloilo

4.She was conferred with an honorary doctorate in humanities

Manila Central University, photo by Judgefloro.

The Manila Central University conferred the doctor with an honorary doctorate in humanities in 2004. She played an important role in science and has often been known for using her proficiency in biology to educate the residents in primary health care

Her methods are not as expensive as other medications as she uses locally available ingredients and plants which make her unique and creative.

5.She was the former Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School system

The facade ( of the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus in Pawing, Palo, Leyte, photo by Honhonhonhue.

Dr Biyo was offered a position at the Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus in 1995. She worked as the Executive Director from October 17, 2011, to March 31, 2014. She performed the role well and was later absorbed as the director of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute.

She enjoyed working there and planning educational trips and developed a formal method of science teaching and research. She formulated the Upgrading learning Institute for Teachers which aims to train high school teachers all over the country in Science, Math and English.

6.She spent eight years teaching in a rural community in her home province, Iloilo

Dr Biyo spent eight years teaching in a rural community in her home province, Iloilo. With her sterling track record, Dr. Biyo could have secured a position in a university abroad or the popular schools in the Philippine capital.  However, Dr. Biyo chose to remain in her hometown and teach on a rural campus in Iloilo

She confessed that she has received so many opportunities to work in the US and abroad but she has always turned them down and as she says, PSHS-WVC felt that it was her calling (Sagalongas, 2008)

7.She has a unique teaching method

She has always been known for her unique teaching method. Her methodology drives students to obtain more than what the books have to offer like holding science forums in and after school.

Students are able to learn many learning and life behaviours that maximize the student’s careers. She incorporated ideas like building a physical library of science books, conducting field studies, establishing personal connections with research institutions and laboratories

She went the extra mile to teach students field and lab techniques to aid in research work with other exceptionally good mentorship and teaching programs in different fields.

8.A small planet was named after her

To honor her, a small planet orbiting space between Mars and Jupiter has been named after her by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, and USA.

The said small heavenly body known as planet 13241 is now called Planet Biyo which was discovered by LINEAR at Lincoln Lab’s ETS in 1998.

9.She published her master’s thesis on the comparative toxicity of crude oil

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The award-winning educator published her master thesis titled ‘Comparative toxicity of crude oil derivatives-hydroquinone, resorcinol and catechol to gametes and embryos of the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla L.’ In 1989. While in her PhD she assessed seagrass community dynamics on Guimaras Island.

10.She has received so many awards

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The award-winning educator has received several awards and accolades such as the Outstanding Teacher of the Philippines, 1997, outstanding Young Filipinos, 1998, International Excellence in Teaching Award during the ISEF in 2002, Award for Continuing Excellence and Service (ACES), 2004 Distinguished Lasallian Award, 2004 and the Doctor of Humanities (honoris causa), 2004 (Manila Central University) just to mention a few.

She also received awards like the Lingkod Bayan Award, 2007, Special Award, 2007, 50 Great Men and Women in Science, 2008 (Department of Science and Technology), National Award for Community Service, 2008 (Rotary Club of Makati) and the Honorary Fellow, 2009 (Philippine College of Physicians).

Dr Biyo is truly phenomenal and talented in all she does. She has awards to show for it. She takes pride in her work and has always wanted to share it with her home town and people. She began several projects such as the Filipino Patriot Scholars Project in 2017.