TNB adviser holds SciComm workshop in Palawan

Article by: Seymour B. Sanchez

The adviser of The New Builder recently conducted a Science Communication Workshop in Palawan. Held last August 18 at Palawan State University, the event was part of the Department of Science and Technology-MIMAROPA Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week.

Seymour Sanchez, who has served as adviser of TNB, the official student publication of Mapúa University for more than seven years now, talked about the “Fundamentals of Documentary Filmmaking for Science Communication.”

The workshop brought together students and educators to explore how to make science both accessible and engaging.

PalSU President Dr. Venzon L. Limpiada opened the event, which featured insights from Sanchez, who is also an award-winning advocacy filmmaker and long-time film educator, and Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo, an entomologist and Professor 12 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The sessions focused on practical methods for humanizing technical concepts. Dr. Barrion-Dupo stressed the vital distinction between simply laying out research data and crafting a relatable story that resonates emotionally with an audience.

On the other hand, Sanchez walked participants through documentary structures, camera styles, and visual techniques tailored to communicate clear social and educational messages.

Both speakers are also members of the Board of Judges for the 10th Indie-Siyensya Film Festival.

Following their talks, Juan Antonio Tuazon from the DOST-Science Education Institute outlined the rules for Indie-Siyensya, the nation's premier science filmmaking competition dedicated to cultivating a strong science culture among young Filipino creators.

Sanchez brings extensive industry experience to his mentorship roles. He is also the Secretary of the National Committee on Cinema under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, representing the Education sector, and an Advisory Committee member of the Academic Film Society under the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

He previously served as the Bacolod Film Festival director in 2024 and FDCP Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages from 2022 to 2025.

“I’m grateful to DOST and PalSU for providing me with the opportunity to equip the next generation of storytellers with the tools to translate scientific concepts into visual narratives,” Sanchez, who used to be a DOST-SEI undergraduate scholar, shared.

Through hands-on initiatives like the PalSU workshop, educators and filmmakers continue to prove that when science meets thoughtful storytelling, complex research can inspire real public understanding and action.