STEM Link Up Ignites Curiosity and Connections at 3M Innovation Center
In partnership with 3M Philippines, we successfully launched our first STEM Link Up of the year last May 17, 2025 at the 3M Innovation Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Our organizers, partners, and participants are all smiles after a fruitful day of immersing in STEM
The STEM Link Up is a year-long program under the STEM Warriors Club initiative designed to connect students with real-world STEM professionals and pathways. Through engaging events and immersive experiences, it empowers the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and changemakers.
This kickoff event brought together over 50 students and teachers from various high schools and state colleges and universities across the National Capital Region, such as Taguig City University and the University of Makati. Participants had the unique opportunity to interact with experts and explore exciting careers in environmental policy, rice science, and data science.
The Link Up featured three speakers in a panel discussion: Mr. Keith Sigfred Ancheta, an Environmental Policy Specialist at Parabukas and Program Officer for Community Building at Manawari SEA; Ms. Gela Myan Bueno-Mota, an Associate Scientist at the International Rice Research Institute; and Mr. Oshean Lee Garonita, a geospatial data scientist at the Asian Development Bank. Each speaker shared not just the technical side of their work, but also their personal journeys, struggles, and insights that led them to where they are today.
From L-R: Executive Director Lynn Pinugu with Oshean Garonita, Gela Bueno-Mota, and Keith Ancheta
For Gela, who shared that she initially didn’t know what to study in college, it was her interest in food that drew her to study food technology, and eventually molecular biology and biotechnology, where she focused on making rice even more nutritious. Her reasoning was simple: “Rice is the staple food of Asians. We probably cannot last a day without eating a bit of rice,” she said, her fellow panelists nodding in agreement.
Meanwhile, Oshean’s childhood interest in exploring unknown territories in board games was what led him to engage in urban planning and work with geospatial data. “Ever since I was a kid, I really loved maps. It started with the game Pokemon… [and] the wonders and the mysteries of not seeing [certain] places yet.”
He encouraged participants to look for a mentor or a community, adding that many platforms now exist, and that it is only a matter of finding the right people to connect with.
For policy specialist Keith, it wasn’t quite a straightforward path, as a licensed professional teacher who studied microbiology and is now at the forefront of shaping policies on climate action and environmental protection. But he shared that having a mentor was helpful for him when he was conducting his Master’s thesis: “If you encounter a failure it’s normal to be scared because you don’t know what will happen next. But at the end of the day, your thesis advisor [can] give you the best advice on how to move forward.”
“Science is nothing if we do not do it [in] the service of others”
The Link Up also included a workshop on presenting data, which was led by Oshean. In the workshop, participants were given a dataset, which they had to organize and present in a visually appealing chart or graph.
Participants collaborated with their teams to create their presentation.
To top it off, 3M Innovation Ambassadors led participants through a tour of the center, offering a behind-the-scenes look at 3M’s cutting-edge technologies and commitment to solving real-world problems through innovation.
3M, with the participation of its Innovation Ambassadors, hosted an interactive 1.5-hour tour for our participants.
For many students, the experience was eye-opening:
“I had so much fun and learned so many things. Truly a memorable experience.”
“I learned a lot and this event showed me how important teamwork and innovation are in STEM.”
Our students from Mano Amiga Academy were also enthusiastic participants of the event.
Beyond inspiration, students walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and practical next steps:
“I’ll attend more workshops like this, do my own research, and look for a community or a mentor.”
“I’ll network with professionals, join more events, and help organize initiatives.”
Big thanks to our partner 3M Philippines for making this event possible—and for sharing their space, expertise, and passion for innovation. As the STEM Link Up series continues throughout the year, we look forward to creating more spaces for learning, connection, and discovery.
Stay tuned for our next events and keep linking up with STEM!
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