Field
Location (during time of takeover)
School/Institution
| Undergrad | Ateneo de Manila University |
|---|---|
| Masters | University of the Philippines Diliman |
Featured on October 11, 2020
Tomorrow, the Nobel Prize in Economics will finally be announced. It’s only fitting then that our Pinoy Scientist of the week is a marine economist! Meet Tara Abrina, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Development Economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Tara took up a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. After graduating, she worked as a research officer at the UP Marine Science Institute, where she was part of the Philippine Coral Bleaching Watch and investigated the socio-ecological impacts of marine protected areas.
Tara’s Master’s thesis revolves around the valuation of damaged coral reefs in the Philippines. Meanwhile, as a Research Associate at the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies, she engages in research on equitable fisheries value chains.
As you may have guessed, Tara loves the ocean. In fact, she broke 2 Philippine records by diving over 100 feet without air! To celebrate her achievement, a local dive shop made her into a standee!
Other fun facts about Tara:
- She primarily gets around the city by driving a motorcycle scooter.
- She’s a cat person! Tara volunteers for Cats of Araneta City to feed, spay, neuter and adopt community cats. Her cat Miso is also adopted.
