Featured speakers
Off the Lip 2020 features a series of featured events, including a preconference workshop and talks by invited speakers listed on this page. Please see the program for the schedule of these featured events.
Sue Denham
Wotelsat UK Ltd (UK) Alexander Flor
UP Open University (PH)Mona Nasser
University of Plymouth (UK) Rogel Mari Sese
Regulus SpaceTech (PH)Lody Padilla Espenido
WeDpro / University of the Philippines Diliman (PH)Angelo Vermeulen
Delft University of Technology (NL) / SEAD (Space Ecologies Art and Design)
Sue Denham
Where do new ideas come from? Cognitive innovation and multidisciplinary research training
The human drive for innovation is insatiable and creativity is highly prized. Yet for many the need to temper the lure of the new by conservation and resistance to change is equally important. How do we reconcile these competing drives? What makes some people creative? And how can we facilitate innovative thinking? These were some of the questions the European-funded project, CogNovo, addressed through its highly ambitious and visionary model of PhD training. In its conception, CogNovo represented new thinking around knowledge production that encouraged creative thinking, innovation, collaboration and mobility across disciplines and cultures and offered research training to an international cohort of 25 students from a range of disciplines including Cognitive Neuroscience, Computational Modeling, Humanities, Experimental Psychology, Creative Arts and Cognitive Robotics. In an extra twist, CogNovo was formulated not only to support research into innovation and creativity within the individual PhD research projects, but also to explore how the programme itself, through its training activities could encourage innovation and creative thinking amongst its researchers. In this talk I will discuss the CogNovo experience from the perspective of participants, both students and faculty, highlighting the best of what we learnt from this process.
Sue Denham, PhD, is the director of Wotelsat UK Lld Company (UK), which focuses primarily on satellite telecommunications activities and engineering-related scientific and technical consulting activities. Prior to her position at Wotelsat, Sue was Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Plymouth (UK) where she worked for 24 years. She was the director of CogNovo, an innovative doctoral programme funded by the EU Marie-Skłodowska Curie initiative and the University of Plymouth, to foster research training in the emerging field of Cognitive Innovation. Between 2014 and 2017, CogNovo offered transdisciplinary training that combined scientific studies of the neural correlates and mechanisms of creativity, with investigations into the role of creativity in human cognition, and their application in sustainable technological and social innovation.
Alexander Flor
The FICS Manifesto
In his talk on the Information-Communication Sciences and Living Systems Sustainability, Alexander G. Flor presents the perspective of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies search for a solid academic foothold within the disciplinal space. Established in 2004, FICS is unique because of the clustering of computer science, information systems, multimedia arts and communication science under one college. Capitalizing on its innovative beginnings, its academic agility as well as the affordances attendant to open and distance eLearning, the Faculty turned to transdisciplinary sciences such as systems theory and discovered Autopoiesis as a potential buttress. The paper presents a manifesto on the role of information and communication sciences in the evolution, growth and sustainability of living systems at all levels.
Prof. Alexander Flor, PhD, is full Professor, UP Scientist III and Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies. Formerly Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, he was the first dean of FICS serving two terms prior to his reappointment in 2016. He chaired the Technical Committee for Alternative Learning Systems of the Commission on Higher Education and held the inaugural SEARCA UP Centennial Professorial Chair during the University's 100th year. He was Fulbright post-doctoral fellow at the East West Center Institute of Communication and Culture in 1989 under Sumiye Konoshima and Meheroo Jussawalla, later on collaborating with Godwin Chu as EWC research fellow in 1992. Dr Flor authored books on knowledge management (SEAMEO-SEARCA, 2001), ethnovideography (SEAMEO-SEARCA, 2003), development communication (UPOU, 2003 and 2007), environmental communication (UPOU, 2004) and informatization (UPOU, 2009). In 1990, he argued that development communication is the Fifth Theory of the Press. In 1993, he coined the term “ethnovideography” to brand his method of participatory video documentation of indigenous knowledge. In 1994, he associated Asian social movements with the concept of the collective mind. In 1995, he introduced environmental communication into the UPLB development communication curriculum followed by ICT for development (ICT4D) and knowledge management for development (KM4D) shortly thereafter. He is currently an editor of the Sustainability Science Journal published by Springer and the United Nations University. He served as technical adviser to international development assistance undertakings in 16 countries.
Mona Nasser
Evidence Synthesis in Interdisciplinary Research
Mona Nasser will be leading a preconference workshop on using methods in evidence synthesis and evidence-based research in an interdisciplinary research program on sustainable development. Please note that only those who specifically registered for the workshop can attend the workshop.
To maximize the workshop experience, please bring your own laptop.
Mona Nasser DDS, MSc, PgCert, FHEA, PhD is an Associate Professor of Evidence-Based Dentistry at the University of Plymouth. She is the co-convener of the Cochrane Priority Setting Methods Group, member of the steering group of the Evidence based Research Network and the President-Elect of the Evidence based Dentistry Network of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). She teaches critical appraisal and evidence-based health care to undergraduate, postgraduate students and other researchers. She has published >70 peer reviewed publications ranging from systematic reviews, meta-epidemiological studies, medical history to oral health inequalities and human health in spaceflight. Her research programmed focuses on a) How do the methods of clinical epidemiology inform decisions about priorities, funding, and project management by officials of public agencies and staff of philanthropies hat support health research? (b) How can engaging a diverse range of stakeholders in “speculative research scenarios” e.g. future space missions to stimulate the development of new and useful methods in clinical epidemiology (c) How can new approaches to social engagement enhance the engagement of disadvantaged groups in health research.
Lody Padilla Espenido
Growing Old in the Philippines
For Filipinos, respect for elders is integral, essential and intrinsic. Just what is the state of the elderly in the Philippines? This paper provides a profile of senior citizens in the Philippines. With the elderly numbering about 7.3 million or 7.3% of the population, 1.3M are indigents, living in poverty and lack of social protection. They continue to suffer from health problems and disability, lack of geriatric care, elder abuse and loneliness. As well, this paper expounds on the current policy environment on the elderly. The Philippines subscribes to the United Nations concepts of active aging and healthy aging. While there are government legislation, programs and projects, there is still the need for complete and proper implementation of the law. The challenge remains on how to encourage the society, communities and families to have a more positive perception of ageing. Wellbeing can be achieved inspite some sickness or disease. Everyone should be able to live long, happy and healthy lives. Activities that enhance the usefulness and fulfillment of older persons should be implemented. How we treat our elderly will be our children’s model on how they will also treat us when we too grow old.
Lourdes “Lody” Padilla Espenido is a development worker and a member of WeDpro, a nonprofit in the Philippines working to protect women and youth against all forms of violence. She is lecturer at the College of Social Work and Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman. For 6.5 years, Lody was the Program Coordinator of the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP), the small grants community support facility of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), which funded projects that contribute to the development of Filipino communities. She was also the community grants manager for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives for 3 years. Generally, she is interested in social development and community organizing as well as in sustainable community projects and social enterprises.
Rogel Mari Sese
Utilizing Space Science and Technology Towards Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals
From the skies to our homes, the contribution of space technology has permeated and become embedded in modern society. However, it is yet to still reach its optimum utilization and benefit in terms of safeguarding human lives, especially for developing countries. As the rest of the world strives to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the United Nations, more countries are establishing their own national space agencies, in recognition of the importance of space science and technology and benefits that it can bring. The Philippines is the most recent entrant to the modern space age, having established its national space agency in August 2019. In this talk, I will be discussing the cross-cutting applications of space science and technology in the context of developing nations aiming to achieve the SDGs. Using the Philippines as an example, I will focus on key space issues for developing countries such as disaster resiliency, social development, food security and economic growth. The holistic approach in the development of the Philippine space program highlights the interdisciplinary nature of space, thereby setting a precedent in the world, demonstrating that even developing countries can greatly benefit from space science and technology. Finally, I will discuss the challenges of science communication in promoting space in developing countries that requires a unique approach compared to those being done in other space-faring nations.
Rogel Mari Sese, PhD, led the lobbying for the legislation of the Philippine Space Act in Congress and Senate, which would establish the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA). PhilSA is envisioned to harness space technology to address some of the country’s most pressing challenges, from disaster risk reduction to agriculture, food security and climate change. He is also the president of Regulus SpaceTech Inc, a pioneering space consultancy and services company that provides investment and business development opportunities to the emerging Philippines space sector. Dr. Sese is one of the few astrophysicists in the Philippines and is regularly featured in various media channels. He has a doctorate degree in physics (specializing in computational astrophysics) from the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Angelo Vermeulen
Sustainable Futures and the Horror of Perfection
When humanity is going to stay in space for prolonged periods of time, inside spacecraft and extraterrestrial settlements, spacefarers will have to become increasingly autonomous and less reliant on supplies from Earth. As a consequence, the future of human space exploration will rely on the broad adoption of regenerative systems that recycle all waste materials. In his talk, Angelo Vermeulen will show what we can learn from such radically circular approaches, and how we can bring these concepts back to Earth to build a more sustainable world.
Angelo Vermeulen, PhD, is an artist, biologist and space systems researcher who co-founded Space Ecologies Art and Design, an international transdisciplinary network of artists, scientists, engineers and activists who reimagine and reshape the future through critical inquiry and hands-on experimentation. He is a researcher at the Delft University of Technology, where he is developing bio-inspired concepts for interstellar exploration. He advises several European space companies and, together with the LDE Center for Sustainability, connects space technology and horticulture to foster innovation in global food production. Vermeulen has been (guest) faculty at universities across Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia. A Senior TED Fellow, Angelo’s TED Talk about his space-related work has garnered over a million views. He is currently preparing a series of art/science experiments on board the International Space Station.