Atty. Damcelle Torres-Cortes is an Assistant Professor at the College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Banos. She brings to her classes rich experience in development management particularly in designing and implementing country and sector-wide reform programs in justice and human rights, and grounded expertise in policy development. She is a member of the Philippine bar and holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science (cum laude) from the Ateneo de Manila University; Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines College of Law; and Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where she was a Mason Fellow. She is currently on study leave taking her PhD in Science Communication at the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University where she explores the intersections of science and law and its implications on policy and governance.