STEM and ART - The First One Women Show of Dr. Josette T. Biyo at the PICC

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Dr. Josette T. Biyo (née Talamera; born 1958) is a Filipino educator and former executive director of the Philippine Science High School System. She has received international recognition for her contributions to science and education. 

A small planet has been named after her by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory and USA. 

Early Life and Education

Hometown: Born in Janiuay, Iloilo.
Initial Dream: She originally aspired to be a medical doctor but pivoted to teaching due to financial constraints.

Academic Degrees

B.S. Biological Sciences: University of the Philippines Visayas.
M.S. and Ph.D. in Biology: De La Salle University, where she specialized in seagrass community dynamics.

Honorary Doctorate: Conferred with a Doctor of Humanities degree by Manila Central University in 2004. 


Career Highlights

Rural Educator: Spent eight years teaching in rural Iloilo, where she developed outreach programs and used local plants to educate residents on primary health care.

PSHS Leadership: Served as a science teacher at the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) – Western Visayas, and later as the Executive Director of the entire PSHS System (2011–2014).

DOST-SEI Director: Served as the Director of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

Current Role: As of early 2026, she continues to mentor the next generation as a professor at West Visayas State University. 

 
Major Achievements

Intel Excellence in Teaching (2002): Became the first Asian to win the grand prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for her "culture of science" teaching philosophy.

Asteroid 13241 Biyo: In recognition of her 2002 win, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory named a minor planet located between Mars and Jupiter in her honor.

Multifaceted Talent: Beyond science, she is a recognized artist and poet, having held a one-woman art show and released musical compositions on Spotify. 

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