In this episode of The Forensic Lens Podcast, I examine a persistent structural problem in Philippine forensic science education: the widening gap between what universities prepare students for and what operational forensic agencies are realistically designed to provide. Drawing from years of teaching, mentorship, and professional experience in the Philippines, the UK, and Australia, I discuss why many forensic science students reach their final years academically prepared—yet struggle to secure the internship placements required to complete their training on time.

This episode looks at the limits of operational agencies as training environments, the consequences of expanding forensic degree programs without parallel instructional infrastructure, and why forensic science cannot be taught by separating scientific technique from legal responsibility. More importantly, it asks what sustainable, purpose-built training systems might look like if the discipline is to mature responsibly in the Philippine context.

📖 Read the full article on Agham Road.

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This episode of The Forensic Lens Podcast examines a homicide case from Camarines Norte that briefly captured public attention for its shocking imagery—but was ultimately solved through something far less dramatic: methodical forensic thinking. Moving beyond spectacle, I unpack how ordinary tools like retail barcodes, CCTV footage, and contextual background information were used patiently and correctly to reconstruct sequence, establish convergence, and close in on the truth. This is a reminder of what real forensic work looks like when the basics are done well—quiet, disciplined, and grounded in evidence rather than theatrics.

📖 Read the full article on Agham Road.

🌐 Learn more about my work here.

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As a new year begins, this episode of The Forensic Lens Podcast turns to an unexpected subject: music—and what listening habits reveal about the human brain. Drawing from neuroscience, evolutionary theory, and personal reflection, I explore how music evolved as cognitive infrastructure, why unfamiliar sounds activate learning and neuroplasticity, and how novelty in listening keeps the brain flexible, curious, and socially attuned. In an age of algorithmic repetition, choosing new music becomes a quiet act of cognitive and cultural resistance—one that keeps both our brains and our empathy moving forward.

📖 Read the full article on Agham Road.

🌐 Learn more about my work here.

#TheForensicLens #BiologicalAnthropology #Neuroscience #MusicAndTheBrain #HumanEvolution