Flipping science in the Philippines

Flipscience Mikael Angel Francisco

Here’s a podcast guest who awed me so much that I lost my words at one point. He also left me no excuses for slacking. Advice and inspiration from Mikael Angelo Francisco who runs science portal Flipscience with Hana Abello.

Coral-rich seas

Coral in tropical waters

Do you dive? I don’t, but as a kid, I have swam in coral reefs off the coast of Malaysia. The colours of the corals and the fishes – everything was alive and over the top. While Southeast Asia is the crown of marine diversity, we are losing our corals fast. Marine biologist James Tan tell us about corals and how we can protect them.

Let’s start reporting science

Ep3 title Let's start reporting science

You want to soar as a freelance science journalist in Southeast Asia? It’s tough but fun! My advice is to start small and aim big. Listen and take your pick of the tips dished out by Dyna Rochmyaningsih and Sandy Ong.

Wild pigs of Southeast Asia

Bornean bearded pig

Frizzy beard above the nose; thick warts on the face; chitty-chatty and yet ready to butt heads for sex. Matthew Linkie and Sheherazade tell us all about the many species of wild pigs that roam the forests of Southeast Asia and their deadly new threat, the African swine fever.

Life of science journalists in Southeast Asia

Cover for Monsoon episode 1

Three freelance science journalists talk about what we do in Southeast Asia and what we like about this career (it’s a career for the curious!) and its challenges (show me the money, please).

Scientists collect semen from macaque masturbation

Two macaques grooming in Yakushima National Park, Japan.

Scientists can learn much from an animal’s semen. But it’s difficult to collect semen from wild animals. Primate males however, masturbate often, ejaculating on surfaces nearby. Could scientists collect semen there?