For this Pinoy academic in Australia, 'rice is life'

A significant portion of Dr. Vito Butrado Jr.'s research focuses on rice; he is currently a Senior Lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

Dr Vito Butardo Jr is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology in Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. In 2024, he returned to his alma mater UPLB, where he currently serves as a Balik Scientist and adjunct Professor, and serves as a consultant for the Master's in Biotechnology Program. 'You can take the Filipino away from the Philippines but you can never take away the fact that you still want to serve the country, no matter how small or big the contribution is. We are Filipinos. I was a scholar ng bayan, the will to serve our country remains.' Dr Vito Butardo Jr on maintaining ties with UPLB. Credit: SBS Filipino

Key Points

• He completed his undergraduate studies at The University of the Philippines, Los Baños where he was exposed to rice research.
• He worked at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna.
• Technologies in rice farming, planting have been developed in the Philippines and is shared to various conutries via IRRI.
• In Australia, he witnessed advanced technology in growing rice and this encouraged him to pursue further studies and was granted as scholarship at The University of Queensland.
• Dr Vito Butardo Jr is a Balik Scientist at the UPLB and serves as an adjunct professor and consultant in Master of Biotechnology.

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For this Pinoy academic in Australia, 'rice is life'

SBS Filipino

16:11Filipino

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