Visual Reporting with Infographs

DEVC 263 is Communication of Scientific Information. Although I have considered this field my bread and butter for the past 4 years, I did not realize that there is a LOT to learn, and that my work does not even come close to what the hardcore science communicators do.

For our mid-terms, we were asked to communicate scientific information in either a semi-technical or a popular way. I am still debating what to present (5 days to go!). I decided to explore the world of infographs, which I can probably use in my work as well.

I used Infograph, a web-based software for creating infographics.

Sustainable Energy Finance - PHILIPPINES | Create infographics

Video Production: Cross Country Knowledge Sharing

I actually submitted a different video proposal for my DEVC 207 class. An unexpected turn of events during the past few months (Project Pagsulong, 3 big production projects in the office, unexpected out of town trips, not to mention busy schedules of my intended interviewees for the subject matter) prevented me from focusing on my original proposal on a video about the use of Styrofoam.

I am therefore giving in and submitting a video I created for the office, which I believe still showcases my video-conceptualizing abilities. :-) (I still intend to do my Styro Story once my intended interviewees are available since it is an advocacy that I want to pursue)

Title:                           Cross Country Knowledge Sharing: Paying it Forward

Running Time:         5 minutes, 26 secs

Videomaker:             Marianna Alfa Fernando-Pacua

Date:                         Updated February 20, 2013

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The documentary was created as a contribution to the International Finance Corporation’s pool of videos for the “Smart Lessons” program – a knowledge management portal which enable sharing of lessons learned from implementation of IFC Advisory Services  Programs.

The video talks about the importance of knowledge sharing among countries in East Asia and the Pacific in the implementation of the Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) program.

SEF Philippines was implemented based on lessons learned from SEF pioneers from Europe, Russia, and China. As one of the first SEF programs in Southeast Asia, the SEF Philippines team is eager to pay it forward and share their story to other markets as well. Their good relationship with one of their partner FIs, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), has made the local bank a staunch ally in promoting SEF. Join the SEF Philippines and Indonesia teams as they take BPI beyond their business and help promote SEF in Indonesia.

Camera:                              

Flip Video HD

Editing software:           

Flip Video and Windows Movie Maker

Footage:                             

Interviews by Marianna Fernando-Pacua

Clips from “The Business of Energy” documentary co-produced by the ABS-CBN News Channel and IFC

Animation from  IFC’s Philippines SEF Program, created by Ideals Creatives

Music and Audio - The Byaheros Ad

TMA 6 asked us to combine voice, music and special effects, and create a one minute production that sells an idea that pushes for the betterment of society

I decided to create an ad for a social enterprise that my friends and I are starting. :-) 

The Byaheros Impact Tours aims to provide socially-responsible tours and activity packages for travelers who are looking to expand their social, environmental and cultural awareness and for those who want to see the “real” Philippines and be immersed in the community.

I'm not really familiar with audio editing software so I used a lot of steps to come up with this crude product: 
- video grab of "Tara na Byahe Tayo" DOT Tourism Jingle from YouTube  
- convert this to audio using AoA Audio Extractor
- cut audio using Windows Movie Maker
- recorded narration using my Macbook's videocamera, then converted again to audio using AoA
- remixed audio on Movie Maker

Hah. But it worked! 

Do check out our Twitter and FB!

Music credits
Written by Rene Nieva , for DOT Philippines 2006

Go Reusable When Able ! A campaign?

I am a Reuse/ Recycle junkie. When I was a kid I used to keep a "Craft Box" , filled with "can still be used" stuff , mainly for artwork. My mom called it Junk Box.

The Craft Box is gone now, replaced with random drawers of "can still be used stuff" all over our house in Laguna, condo in Taguig, and a growing pile in the dark corner of my office filing cabinet. I know there is a fine line between clutter and being thrifty. Just so you know I am not trying to defend my messiness! I do want to get in control.

Anyway, the point is, I hate disposeables , and try as much as possible to use "real" stuff. But being human, laziness takes over and I pick up those plastic forks and styro cups. I also feel bad about using disposeable diapers... I have to compensate that somehow!

Now, enough with the confession and on with the mission.

Giving credit to Mc Donalds!  Cardboard now..

I cringe whenever I buy food to-go (takeout) and am faced with mounds of food packaging that I know are neither reusable or recyclable. I order food to-go an average of 3x a week, sometimes even for both lunch AND dinner. The favorite containers for to-go are usually -- styroboxes! I know enough about Climate Change to know how bad these are for the environment. I have picked up kilos of these stuff during Coastal Cleanups.

Driven by guilt and concern, I talked to my usual to-go places Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf , and Banapple at the Ayala Triangle Gardens if they would allow me to use my own reusable container for my food. They said yes! Yey! That's a notch off pollution ! I do get weird looks when I produce my "baunan" , but hey, it's worth it. I hope it gets fashionable someday.  (BTW, 7-11  near Paseo Center in Makati also allows me to use my own cup when getting coffee from their machine)

I now look forward to promoting this as a lifestyle, and considering "Go Reusable When Able" as my environmental advocacy, both for my ENRM 252 class and for my own good ;-)

Banapple House Salad Php 120.00. Reusable salad box from Daiso Php 88.00. Impact? Priceless.

And as if by coincidence, I saw this bit of info from my ENRM learning modules:

Reference: ENRM 252 Environmental Advocacy Module. by Felix Librero, UP Open University

 
Think about it!!!!
 
How often do you reuse? Which restaurants allow you to bring your own containers? Which stores encourage use of reusables (including shopping bags , and also personal cup discounts)? 


 I would love to hear your comments and suggestions .

TMA No. 5 = Poster

Click the image to zoom in !!

TMA (Tutor Marked Assignment) 5 for my DEVC 207 class: Create a poster with the following elements:

• Headline
• Secondary statement
• Visuals (this may be drawn by hand)
• Course of action
• Source of information (company, agency or organization)
• Logo (visualization of company, agency or organization) (this may be drawn by hand)

I had to create a teaser anyway for a big move project for my company so I picked that topic. We're moving offices from Makati to the Fort in February 2013. As part of the Footprint Committee - we want to get people ready by asking them to start sorting through their stuff "for a stress free move." It would be a really big pain if everyone just started sorting during moving day itself. An early start would also allow us to recycle more and to identify stuff that can be reused - can be donated or given away :-) Less waste generation for the move!

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Image credits: 

Noah's Ark Cartoon - http://baloo-baloosnon-politicalcartoonblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/noahs-ark-cartoon.html

Wooden Signboard - http://depositphotos.com/3118713/stock-photo-Wooden-signboard.html

IFC Footprint Committee logo  , International Finance Corporation

My Online "Prezume"

Bored with your typical Powerpoint? As the fellows at www.Prezi.com  say, start zooming!

In my DEVC 207 Class, we were asked to create a multi-media mash up of things that could be found around the web, and I decided to make my online "Prezume" (Prezi + Resume , nifty, eh?) for a truly interactive experience. I found many interesting Prezumes around the web, and thoroughly agree that it is a good support to one's traditional resume. Not to mention attention-grabbing , and a good showcase piece for one's creativity.
 
Sharing this one with you if you wish to know more about me and my background ;-) I hope we will be able to work together someday on a development project! Of course, you can also use Prezi for other topics. FYI, it is very iPad friendly too.

(Might be better seen in full screen) 

ENRM 252: Environmental Advocacy

 I have always been an advocate of environmental stewardship, more so when I became a part of the Sustainable Energy team of IFC.  I strive to learn more about climate change and how to best communicate about it so that people will get more involved in our quest to combat climate change.

Hence my choice of elective: Environmental Advocacy.

Here is an excerpt from our course guide:

This course is designed for environmental practitioners who want to bring about environmental change. This course will not be dealing with technical or scientific environmental topics but will be talking about practical ways to help influence people, policies, structures and systems in order to help bring about sustainable environmental change. So I want to get everyone’s cooperation to shift your frame of mind by not looking at this course as a one-time, one-semester activity but rather a lifetime advocacy. Let us all strive to develop not just knowledge and skills but more importantly appreciation and values towards sustained environmentalism.

(Joane V. Serrano Faculty in Charge, ENRM 252) 

Indeed,  concern for the environment should be a lifetime and sustained commitment. Learn with me this semester!