BPI, DOST Award Young Scientists for the Year 2016

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented the Best Project of the Year Award to Jerome Alan S. Japitana, a BS Chemistry student of the University of Santo Tomas at the 2016 BPI-DOST Science Awards, held at The Mind Museum in Taguig yesterday April 5, 2016.

Also the winner in Basic Research Award, Japitana’s study “Using Non-Precious Materials in the Development of a Cost-Effective Cathode Catalyst for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells”, studied the use of cobalt to improve the efficiency of fuel cell performance. Fuel cells are viable option for environmentally-sustainable and economically-feasible source of energy.

The Best in Applied Research Award winner Joselv E. Albano is a BS Biology student from Ateneo de Davao University. His project “molecular Detection and Expression of merA and Mercury Reduction by Pseudonomas putida”, demonstrates the promising ability of the mercury-reducing bacteria in the bioremediation of contaminated areas. Bioremediation can be a less expensive and more efficient method of alleviating elemental mercury that pose a great danger to human health.

With the aim to generate and reinforce the interest of our youth to pursue science and technology as a career, BPI Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, launched the BPI-DOST Science Awards a decade ago to primarily inspire, recognize, and support the most outstanding young scientists and innovators from across the Philippines.

Against the backdrop of global warming and climate-defined future, our team for the search for the 2016 Best Science Project: “Engineering our Future through Environmental Sustainability” has resulted in the identification of 30 brilliant young scientists from 11 partner Universities whose research projects focus around the discovery and use of sustainable materials, solutions for agriculture, disaster mitigation, health, technology, and many more.

Preceding the Awarding Ceremonies, a short Environmental Forum focused on “Engaging the Youth for Environmental Sustainability” took place to discuss the pressing environmental issues, the Phililippines currently deals with. The panel included Atty. Gia Ibay of Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, Mr. Tony Lambino, Head of Public Policy, Ayala Corporation and Mr. Carlo Delantar, Country Director, Waves for Nature and Founder of Floreia. Moderated by Mr. Glenn Banaguas of the Environment and Climate Change Research Institute, the discussion tackled the delicate water, energy and food nexus, currently being threatened by effects of climate change.

Now on its 27th year, the BPI-DOST Science Awards has recognized over 800 outstanding science awardees from its partner universities nationwide: Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Davao University, De La Salle University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University, Silliman University, University of the Philippines Diliman, University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas and Xavier University. Up to three exceptional students are selected per partner institution every year. An awardee is selected on the basis of his academic performance and must be nominated by the school.

The Best Project of the Year and Best in Basic Research Winner Jerome Alan S. Japitana received P75,000.00, while the Best in Applied Research winner received P50,000.00. All regional finalists received P10,000 while the national finalists received P25,000.00.

Aside from the cash awards, all awardees went through a Technopreneurship Workshop facilitated by Ms. Maoi Arroyo of Hybridigm, and her team last April 4, 2016, in the hopes of planting the seeds of entrepreneurship in young budding researchers and innovators as a career option.

BPI Foundation will be holding awarding ceremonies at the campuses of its partner universities in the months of April and May 2016 for the awardees to be locally recognized for their achievements and contributions to nation-building.

Please visit http://scienceawards2016.bpifoundation.org for more information on the speakers and the 2016 awardees.

DOST-SEI, Intel, FIT-ED announces ‘innovation prize‘ for the youth

The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently partnered with Intel Technologies Philippines and the Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (FIT-ED)—a non-profit organization advocating ICT learning among communities—to launch a project that will bank on creativity and innovativeness among teenagers.

Dubbed as “imake.wemake”, the project seeks to unleash the creativity of young Filipinos in innovation using accessible technologies that can address a certain community issue or social problem. The competition, which is launched this February, is open to teams with 15-18 year-old members who can propose an innovation or a product that can “solve a problem” using the Intel Galileo platform.

The Intel Galileo is a microcontroller board that can be used as a development tool in building simple to complex projects such as LED lights, robots, automation features in appliances, and many others.

“The technology empowers people, most especially the young tech savvy ones, to imagine and create something out of that imagination,” said SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo. “Through this initiative, we want to make them think and be creative in utilizing the technology in making their innovations or products in mind become reality.”

Biyo added the imake.wemake project also intends to hone the students’ skills in communication, critical and analytical thinking, engineering and technical proficiencies, as well as the value of risk and failure analysis.

Submissions will come in the form of a project proposal stating the rationale, problem statement, objectives, methodology, and plan for the development of the innovation. A team from DOST-SEI, Intel, and FIT-ED will lead the assessment of the proposals.

Ten team-projects will be selected and will receive technical assistance and a unit of the Intel Galileo board from DOST-SEI. They will also undergo training, to be led by Intel Technical Consultants, before the build-phase, which can be up to three (3) months.

After the build period, teams will have to present their products and demonstrate their functionality through Poster and Project Presentations to the Jury.

Three prize awardees will emerge among the 10 and shall be conferred with the Youth Innovation Prize by DOST Secretary Mario Montejo including a P50,000 cash prize.

“As we aim to produce more scientists and engineers it is important that we let our students make something out of their imaginative minds. This competition will certainly be a good platform for creativity and we hope that they find their niche in innovation and become great ones in the future,” Biyo remarked.

DOST-SEI, UPLB agree to host 5th ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey

The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to jointly organize the hosting of the 5th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APTJSO) in June this year.

SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo and UPLB Chancellor Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. lead the signing ceremony held at DOST in Taguig City, Wednesday, 13 January 2016, before members of the Working Committees. UPLB Graduate School Dean, Dr. Jose Camacho, served as witness in the signing.

SEI-UPLB inks partnership. SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo and UPLB Chancellor Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez Jr. lead the signing ceremony held at DOST in Taguig City last Wednesday 13 January 2016, before members of the Working Committees. UPLB Graduate School Dean, Dr. Jose Camacho (leftmost), and SEI-STMERPD Chief Ms. Ruby R. Cristobal (rightmost) served as witnesses in the signing.

The event is now set on 12-18 June 2016 at UPLB and carries the theme, “Climate Change and the Rainforest.”

Dr. Sanchez said the hosting was a “no brainer” for UPLB as it seeks to strengthen its partnership with DOST and showcase the facilities and environment of the campus, known as the heart of the Los Baños Science Community.

“We immediately said yes to this partnership because science and technology, and mathematics education are mutual obligations and advocacy of UPLB and DOST,” said Sanchez. “UPLB is ready and in the coming months leading to June, we will prepare even more for this international endeavor.”

The ASEAN Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO) is an annual competition since 2012 to develop gifted and talented students aged between 13 to 15 years in science and technology fields and to nurture future scientists and engineers. It is participated in by the ASEAN member states, and China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, and Sweden.

The event is primarily composed of a poster exhibition, a laboratory skills competition, field exposures and project pitching. The host country has the task of finalizing the specifics of each activity, including the theme, topic, rules and mechanics. SEI and UPLB together with other units of DOST compose the Technical and Working Committees.

In its four-year participation, the Philippines remains an undefeated champion in the Laboratory Skills Competition, a feat that could as well add some pressure to this year’s national contingent, according to Biyo.

“Our teams, ever since, have come from different campuses of the Philippine Science High School System and we remain confident that we have the capability to perform well and win,” said Biyo.

The hosting will be the Philippines’ share in nurturing gifted students in the sciences from the ASEAN region as well as from other countries. The ASEAN+3 Center for the Gifted in Science (ACGS), based in the Republic of Korea, is the overall organizer of competition, in cooperation with the ASEAN-member countries, China and Japan.

World Space Week Philippines

In celebration of the 17th World Space Week, 12 public and private high schools in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna participated in the first ever CanSat launch competition which was held at the UPLB-CTTE grounds in Los Baños, Laguna. Annually celebrated every month of October, the World Space Week is commemorated to provide a venue for students and educators to learn more about space science and its benefits to humankind as declared by the UN General Assembly in 1999. This year's celebration follows the theme "Discovery" and will feature deep space exploration such as the discoveries of new galaxies, exoplanets, asteroids and comets.

Launched in August this year, the Can Satellite Competition aims to entice students to go into space science studies by letting them experience actual satellite development process, launching, data collection and transmission, and mission data analysis that will teach them the basics of weather forecasting.

There was also a water rocket competition wherein my little boy Ivan, did not satisfy himself by being a mere observer. He was allowed to try himself to do a water rocket launch with the help of my friendly officemates, Jules and Anton.

He also got amazed by a mini-plane flying demo by some Filipino experts like Dr. Rogel Sese, who is one of the Philippine experts when it comes to space education program.

The week event concluded with Grace Christian High School emerging as the grand winner. Second place is Philippine Science High School (main campus), third Makati Science High School. They will represent the country to this year 's APRSAF Water Rocket Event to be held in Bali, Indonesia. Congratulations to the future space and aero engineers of the Philippines!

2015 DOST-SEI Scholars/Qualifiers under RA 10612

In support of the government’s objective to strengthen the quality of education in the country, a total of 1,030 third year college students aced the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) exam administered nationwide on 12 July 2015.

The JLSS is a scholarship program of the DOST-SEI under the Republic Act (RA) No. 10612 titled, “An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Program and Strengthening the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools.” Otherwise known as the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013”, this law builds on the current S&T scholarships offered by the DOST-SEI as provided for in RA 7687 or the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994.”

The implementation of R.A. 10612 supports the execution of Section 8 of the K to 12 law which urges the hiring of teachers from among the graduates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses.

“I believe that this scholarship program will not only help produce quality teachers right away but will also ensure dynamic and effective science and mathematics teaching in many schools in the country especially now that the K-12 will be implemented,” Dr. Josette T. Biyo, SEI Director, said.

Qualifiers of this scholarship program will get to enjoy a 2-3 year S&T scholarships with privileges following the existing financial assistance of the RA 7687 scholars. They will be entitled to subsidy in tuition fee and other school fees, monthly living allowance, book allowance, among others, in the last 2 or 3 years of their undergraduate studies.

Upon graduation the scholars are required to serve as STEM teachers for a minimum of two years in any public or private high school in the country, preferably in their hometown. They will also be made to undergo teacher training by the Philippine Normal University (PNU). To ensure that graduates under the program would be able to serve, the Department of Education (DepEd) will assist in the job placement and hiring of qualified graduates with a starting salary equivalent to that of the Special Science Teacher 1 position at the Philippine Science High School. Other incentives include relocation allowance if they would be assigned to teach outside their home region or province; and they would be allowed to teach initially without LET (Licensure Examination for Teachers) eligibility provided that they take and pass the LET within five years of hiring.

Dr. Biyo believes that by fast-tracking graduates in STEM courses, the RA 10612 will strengthen the country’s science and technology education and hopes to inspire more scholar-graduates to pursue a career path in science teaching.

The new JLSS scholars under RA 10612 will get to enjoy the scholarship effective the First Semester of AY 2015-2016.

First Ph Can Satellite Competition Launched

In an attempt to engage young students in an actual satellite development process aimed at learning space science, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently launched the first ever Can Satellite Competition in the country.

In its Game Reveal, 12 public and private high schools from Region III, Region IV-A and the National Capital Region proudly flashed their can satellites (Can Sat), which they assembled in a five-day development and training workshop held on 24-28 August at the National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education for Development, University of the Philippines Diliman. 

The competition, which is part of the Philippine Space Science Education Program (PSSEP), is patterned after the Can Satellite contests being done in many countries. The Can Sat is a soda can-sized satellite which can gather basic atmospheric data such us temperature, air pressure and Global Positioning System, among others. The activity brings the process of satellite development and its importance closer to younger audiences.

DOST-SEI Director, Dr. Josette Biyo, said the activity aims to make young Filipinos appreciate space science as its current technological applications become more important than ever.

“We want them to appreciate the benefits we derive from space technology so we can invite them to pursue careers in this line of work,” said Biyo.

Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Executive Director, Dr. Carlos Primo David, who attended the opening program of the training, said that the competition is “a step in the right direction” in terms of government efforts in space science. He said that the government aims to have a Space Agency just like what the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are to USA and Japan, respectively.

“Right now, we have 10 scholars studying in Japan and their goal is to build our first micro satellite, which we hope to launch in 2016. By 2017, we plan to launch a second micro satellite,” David declared.

PSSEP Focal Person, Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, said the outputs of the students were “better than expected” considering the training workshop only lasted for a week. A normal Can Sat training, according to him, takes several weeks up to one month.

Dr. Sese and his team will conduct visits to the participating schools to further guide the teams in assembling their Can Sats.

The Game Reveal marked the start of the Build Phase where teams are expected to improve on their CanSats that they initially built during the five-day training.

The actual competition will be held on Oct. 5 to 7 in Los Baños, Laguna as part of this year’s World Space Week festivities, which will also be in line with the United Nation’s celebration of the International Year of Light.

60 studes, teachers trained in climate science boot camp

Picking up where they left off last year in terms of developing future climate scientists, the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) again amazed 41 students and 19 teachers in what was described by the participants as a “truly awakening” 2015 Climate Science Youth Camp.

Scientists from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) were joined by meteorologists from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and researchers from De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU) in leading this year’s Camp which was held on 13-21 April in Masinloc, Zambales.

Following the theme “The Ocean in a Warming World”, the Camp sought to encourage students to pursue S&T degrees and careers and instill deep appreciation of S&T as a way to address environmental and societal issues. It featured lectures, and hands-on activities about atmosphere, weather, and ocean, and a two-day exposure trip to tackle souring oceans and marine biodiversity led by UP MSI and PAGASA. The participants were also trained in Participatory Action Research (PAR) courtesy of DLSAU as a social science component of the Camp.

SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo said this year’s theme was in support of the global action for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“We very well know that it is important to expose the youth on the science of climate change for you to have better understanding of your role now and what you can do further as you move forward and choose your paths,” she added.

The lectures given by Camp Director Dr. Aletta Yñiguez of UP MSI and Joseph Basconcillo of PAGASA centered on the following subjects about the earth’s atmosphere: temperature, pressure, rainfall, green house gases, weather, hazards, extreme weather conditions, and automatic weather station (AWS) observation. They also tackled oceanic temperature, circulation, chemistry, marine biology, and focused on issues such as ocean warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification and the impacts of coral bleaching.

Campers were taught how to collect seawater sample for plankton and water quality analysis, concepts on souring of oceans, and basics of snorkeling and had exposure trips to the sea grass community, mangrove forest, and coastal reef.

The Campers were also able to visit the community of San Salvador Island where Campers conducted interviews with fisher folks, boatmen, religious groups, local leaders and other residents for their PAR exercise facilitated by Glenn Banaguas of DLSAU and one of the Outstanding Young Scientists of the National Academy of Science and Technology.

Biyo said that the venue served well for the Camp activities and lauded the local government of Masinloc for its coastal resources management efforts.

Masinloc Mayor Hon. Desiree S. Edora meanwhile thanked DOST-SEI for selecting their municipality as the venue for such a “high-impact” project for the youth.

“Our place also faces challenges in water management, drought and floods, and for our youth to be involved in this activity, we are fortunate and blessed,” said Edora.

Finally, Biyo asked the Campers to bring their learning with them as they pick their courses in college and asked teachers to share their experiences with their fellow educators.

“Let’s put to use this experience by considering going to S&T when you choose your paths in college and career. Your training and gifts will be of help to the country,” Biyo disclosed.