Field
Location (during time of takeover)
School/Institution
| Undergrad | Polytechnic University of the Philippines Physics |
|---|---|
| Masters | Ateneo de Manila University Atmospheric Science |
Featured on May 19, 2024
Breezing through for this week’s takeover is Pinoy Scientist Marco Polo Ibanez, an atmospheric scientist currently working as a science research specialist for the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST – PAGASA).
Marco graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. He immediately entered Ateneo de Manila University for his Master’s in Atmospheric Science, during which he joined CAMP2Ex, a field campaign of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As part of the urban meteorology sub-group, he conducted research for the Cloud, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes Philippine Experiment, which inspired his final Master’s thesis.
After completing his degree, Marco joined DOST – PAGASA as a science research specialist where he is making full use of his expertise in Radar and Disdrometer data analysis as a team member for the Volcano, Ocean, Typhoon, and Earthquake (VOTE) Project. He also spent some time at the DOST – Science Education Institute (DOST – SEI) as an MS Graduate Fellow. Last year, he headed over to Taiwan for a month to work as a pre-doctoral intern in Academia Sinica under the Research Center for Environmental Changes.
Some fun facts about Marco:
- He’s a pastor’s kid with a deep love for music. From high school until graduate school, he used to be heavily involved in his church’s music ministry.
- He is an Ouido, meaning he can play any song by ear on various musical instruments without reading the musical notation. The Conservatory of Music at the University of the Philippines Diliman was his first choice, but he was discouraged when he found out there was a reading test – he didn’t know how to read notes! This led him to pursue a career in science instead.
- He was a menopausal baby and the youngest among seven siblings. He stands out as the only one who pursued a career in science, while the rest of his siblings thrive in the food industry.
