Meet your mentors
Titus Cañete
Titus Cañete is a marine biologist and deep-sea ecologist dedicated to democratizing ocean science through hardware innovation. As a National Geographic Explorer and Project Lead at the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE), Titus combats the high cost of exploration by engineering low-cost, deep-sea remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) and environmental sensors out of locally available parts. His recent work includes a collaboration at the University of Rhode Island’s Ocean Robotics Laboratory to build and deploy highly accessible deep-sea camera systems. Honored as a National Geographic 33 global changemaker, his low-cost tech aims to empower local communities to collect critical data and establish new marine protected areas.
Alexa Abangan
Dr. Alexa Abangan is a marine scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), where she sits at the cutting edge of marine biology and artificial intelligence. Her pioneering work focuses on developing machine learning and computer vision models to track fish behavior and engineer smarter, more sustainable fishing gear. From validating environmental hazard maps in the Philippines to earning her Ph.D. in France with IFREMER, Alexa’s global research career perfectly embodies the spirit of innovation in ocean technology.
Andrian Gajigan
Dr. Andrian "Adi" Gajigan is a biochemist, oceanographer, and National Geographic Explorer specializing in marine virology and disease ecology. He is a Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, and a Balik Scientist at UP Marine Science Institute, leveraging cutting-edge genomic tools to study the ocean microbiome. His work connects molecular-scale interactions to global ocean patterns, uncovering how bacteria, viruses, and plankton impact planetary health. Adi brings a passion for democratizing science and using molecular techniques to explore and safeguard our oceans.
Brendon Jay Silverio
Brendon Jay A. Silverio is a University Extension Specialist at Western Philippines University and the Operations Manager for Regional AMCen MIMAROPA. With a strong foundation in Electronics Engineering, he holds an ASTM certification in Additive Manufacturing and is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and manufacturing capabilities in the region.