Field
Location (during time of takeover)
School/Institution
| Undergrad | University of the Philippines Diliman Biology |
|---|---|
| Masters | University of the Philippines Diliman Biology |
| Teaching | University of the Philippines Diliman Biology |
| PhD | Newcastle University Biology |
Featured on October 15, 2023
Joining us this week is Jelaine Gan, who is taking up her PhD in Biology at Newcastle University in the UK.
Jelaine graduated with a Bachelor’s and Masters in Biology from UP Diliman and immediately after took up a role as a Biology Instructor at the Institute of Biology. There, she taught laboratory classes on the fundamentals of ecology, general biology, and vertebrate biology to undergraduate students.
During her stint at UP Diliman, Jelaine was also active in various task forces and committees related to promoting environmental sustainability among students and staff. She also co-chaired a campus technical working group for biodiversity management, where she created an updated inventory of UP Diliman’s flora and fauna as well as advanced policies and communication campaigns to promote biodiversity management.
With her passion for biodiversity, Jelaine also founded the Facebook and Instagram page “The UP Wild,” to raise appreciation for the beautiful urban biodiversity present in the UP Diliman campus. Beyond online awareness, she also organises nature walks, forums, and citizen science events for the public through the page. She is also a member of the following organizations: Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Raptorwatch Network Philippines Foundation, Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, and the Antipolo Valley Ecological Society.
A few fun facts about Jelaine:
- She joined a birdwatching club, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, at the age of 14. Now, she can identify most birds in the city by their calls.
- She loves bread so much. One of her life goals is to try as many different types of bread and pastries as possible, and she keeps a record of her taste-testing in her bread diary.
- Just a few months ago, she published a book entitled “Wild City: A Photographic Guide to Amphibians, Mammals, and Reptiles of Metro Manila“, which encourages Filipinos to explore and learn more about the biodiversity in our cities.
Let’s all welcome Jelaine to the Pinoy Scientists community!
