Scholarship / Battling with the negative effects of climate change for further efficiency in swine industry [4]

KGSP Goal of study and study plan

Hello! here I am again, posting another essay for my KGSP Goal of study and study plan, hoping that you guys can help me improve this. Thanks you very much for spending your precious time reading and correcting my work.

Battling with the negative effects of climate change for further efficiency in swine industry

Heat stress has detrimental effects on the performance and welfare of pigs especially to modern strains with high growth and reproductive potentials, it compromises food security and self-sufficiency. It is a challenge not only in tropical and subtropical areas but also in temperate regions. During heat stress, pigs reduce their appetite to reduce their heat production and this results in the decrease of growth in growing-finishing pigs and reproductive performance in sows. Hence, this will be the focus of my research if I'll be given opportunity to pursue a Master's Degree in Animal Science and Biotechnology at Seoul National University.

During my undergraduate studies, my field of specialization was production and management. Through that, I was able to appreciate the importance of good management practices in improving the productivity and profitability of swine enterprise. While working, I got exposed to different pig farm settings. Swine subsector is the second largest among the agricultural sectors in the Philippines, with backyard farms dominating in the total hog population. What was commonly considered as big challenge for both scale was the negative effects of climate change. Daytime temperature in top producing regions ranges from 26 to 38 °C while relative humidity, 69 to 84 percent. These conditions would normally cause heat stress to pigs especially that they lack functional sweat glands. Commercial farms can afford tunnel ventilation technology to reduce building ambient temperature but that is not the case for backyard farms.

Although hog production is increasing annually, further efficiency and productivity may be achieved if heat stress can be alleviated. In my research, I would like to either explore genetic selection to improve heat tolerance or nutritional modification to reduce dietary heat increment and increase dietary nutrient density. Climate change will likely increase the average ambient temperatures in the future and will just worsen heat stress problems unless our pigs develop a mechanism to adapt quickly and naturally to abrupt temperature changes. I will apply all the principles that I can acquire from studying the Program in Animal Science and Biotechnology to lessen the negative effects of heat stress in pigs. This research will benefit not only commercial farms but also backyard farms in temperate and tropical areas.

All these will be done during my academic years in Korea. I believe that conducting this research will be fruitful with the aid of Seoul National University's advanced biotechnology information, expertise and facilities, including their partner research institutes. After conducting this research in Korea, I will publish the paper. I am also going to validate the results in the Philippine setting and make contribution to my country's economy.

Scholarship / To advance in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Letter of Self-Introduction for KGSP 2018 [3]

Hello everyone! I am applying for KGSP Scholarship for Graduate Degree and I need to write a letter of self-introduction. I have never tried writing one and I am not good in writing so it bothers me a lot. Please help me improve my essay. Thank you in advance!

The instruction was to write about:

1) Your course of life, your view of life, study background, your hopes & wishes, etc
2) Your education and work experience, etc., in relation to the KGSP program
3) Your motivations for applying for this program and
4) Reason for study in Korea

And here's my essay...

"Once you stop learning, you start dying."

This famous statement has become my guiding principle in life. Since young, my parents have instilled in me the value of education that is why I always find joy in learning new things. From elementary to high school, I have always been among the top ten percent of students. I graduated cum laude (converted GPA, 4.5/5.0) from Central Mindanao University, one of the most prestigious universities in the Philippines. The knowledge, skills and experiences I have acquired in the past have strengthened my point of view. I have become a strong and optimistic person despite the uncertainties in life.

I was 15 when I entered college. As far as I can remember, I studied Agriculture because of my personal experiences growing up in a middle class family. Our financial struggles have urged me to secure a degree and a well-paying job. During those challenging times, our small farm has greatly helped us secure food and additional income for the family. Also, both my parents were graduates of agriculture. My father was an agricultural technologist while my mother was a rural extensionist. I was a witness of how important agriculture is to people.

Living away from home was a big challenge and it made me become more responsible and independent. Struggles of balancing academic and extracurricular activities helped me develop good time management habits. During my third year, I took the lead in organizing social, cultural and community service events in the university town. I was also a member of an extension club where I volunteered doing community services like free vaccination to animals. Through these involvements, I have developed good leadership skills and learned to mingle with a variety of people. I spent my internship months at the University Projects where I was able to put into practice my knowledge in poultry, swine, and small and large ruminants. During those times, I was able to participate in the daily activities in the farm, diagnose and treat diseases of animals, assist veterinarians during surgeries and attend to the needs of the animals. My thesis months were the most challenging. Aside from lack of financial resources, my patience was tested when procurement of experimental materials got delayed. Fortunately, I have started coordinating in advance because I have anticipated things might not come out in favor of the scheduled date. But still I was thankful because I was able to collaborate with Philippine Carabao Center at CMU, a government agency recognized for its conservation and propagation of water buffalos as important source of milk and meat. In the end, my proactive mind and hard work have paved the way for me to graduate with honor.

Months after graduation, I passed the licensure exam. I decided to work at a government office and landed as an extensionist at ______. I teach Swine Nutrition and Artificial Insemination to farmers, businessmen and fellow extensionists. I also develop plans for a sustainable agriculture and provide technical consultations. At the same time, I am also the center's manager for trainings and assessments on Animal Production (Swine) NC II. Also, I am working with the Bureau of Agriculture & Fisheries Standards on the creation of the Good Animal Husbandry Practices for Swine Production. I have attended countless trainings, seminars and conventions related to agriculture that equipped me the knowledge which I am sharing to our clients. All of these have become invaluable work experiences to me and it helped me develop a strong work ethic and sense of commitment. I feel very fortunate and proud that through my job, I am able to help produce food and enhance the quality of life of livestock producers because for me, the essence of life is being able to contribute to the society you are living in. During this three-year period of working with diverse personalities and powers, I have acquired good communication skills and adaptability in a foreign environment. However, the same experiences have made me realize that there is so much more to learn because not all that I have learned can explain some real life scenarios. The more answers I have given, the more questions I have left unanswered. Which is why I decided to pursue a master's education.

I believe studying abroad will provide more opportunity to enhance my talent and explore much diverse ideas, and to appreciate life from a different perspective. I have chosen South Korea because it is one of the strongest biotechnology nation globally, leading Asia Pacific in research and development industry. Also, Korean government supports the acquisition of core technologies and development of biotechnology infrastructure. Seoul National University has also left me a strong impression as the leading research university of the country. I have read that their developments have played important roles in the advancement of the nation. With state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled professors, I am certain that SNU's Agricultural Biotechnology Program will quench my thirst for further education and equip me the skills necessary to help more people.