By Yani Ferrer

By Rhianna Ramos

On Friday, March 6, the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand council held the second session of “STEMinomenon,” as part of its week-long Women’s Month initiative “SiSTEM,” at the ASHS Cafeteria.

The program ran from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring speaker talks that highlighted diverse experiences of women in science, technology, and innovation.

“This is actually the last day of SiSTEM,” STEM Council Chairperson Axel Recla said, expressing gratitude to those who supported the week’s activities, including the booth fair and earlier talks.

Recla also encouraged students to carry the initiative’s message beyond the event itself by continuing to recognize women’s achievements and struggles while fostering a community of respect.

Ms. Amiana saguid — ASHS Batch 2020 graduate and a research and development chemist and process engineer — delivered the first talk entitled “How to become a universal solvent.”

She reflected on her journey from being an ASHS STEM student to working in the corporate research sector, highlighting how her role bridges the gap between laboratory research and manufacturing operations.

Saguid explained that her work involves analyzing production processes and translating technical knowledge from research teams to operators on the production line, ensuring that systems run efficiently while maintaining product quality.

To end her talk, she emphasized the importance of adaptability and empathy in collaborative work environments, encouraging all students to challenge rigid societal expectations.

The next speaker, Ms. Trisha Tarnate — a registered chemist and a 2025 board passer currently serving as Lead Chemist at McCormick Philippines, Inc. — focused on redefining what it means to be a scientist.

She recounted how she once imagined scientists as eccentric figures working alone in laboratories, but later realized that scientific work is rooted in curiosity and continuous learning.

Tarnate reflected on how her perception of scientists changed over time, stating, “A scientist is someone who is willing to learn and take their time to understand more about the world.”

She also shared that experiences such as imposter syndrome during her studies in chemistry challenged her confidence but ultimately strengthened her commitment to the field.

Through these reflections, Tarnate shared the importance of representation in STEM, encouraging students to see themselves as capable of contributing to scientific advancement.

The final speaker, Ms. Mona Obedoza, a social innovator and founder of “The Purposeful Mochii,” delivered a talk on artificial intelligence (AI) and the importance of diverse perspectives in technology.

Obedoza discussed bias in AI systems and explained that the data used to train algorithms can sometimes reflect existing societal inequalities.

She cited examples such as recruitment algorithms and financial tools that unintentionally produce gender disparities due to biased datasets.

Highlighting the broader implications of representation in technological development, Obedoza noted that diversity plays a crucial role in shaping fair and inclusive innovations.

She explained, “If we don’t have different perspectives in technology, we risk limiting the ideas and innovations that could be created.”

Obedoza also shared insights from her research on generative AI, in which she examined how AI systems may provide different responses to men and women when giving advice.

Her findings illustrated how subtle biases can appear even in seemingly neutral technologies, reinforcing the need for a more inclusive environment in STEM fields.

The second session of “STEMinomenon” marked the conclusion of the SiSTEM initiative, which combined educational talks with advocacy-driven activities such as the Women in STEM Booth Fair.