Better awareness for Filipino scientists

Few people know that the Philippines has a number of nuclear physicists, nanotechnology experts, biotechnology researchers, and computer scientists.

Yet Filipino scientists strive to champion the capabilities of the country’s scientific community.

“We have to build public awareness about what we’re doing and build interest enough to bring more people to become part of the science community,” according to Fortunato Dela Peña, Department of Science and Technology undersecretary.

Dela Peña said the Philippines has a good pool of scientists, some of whom are already working feverishly on various researches, including nanotechnology and biotech, which can become viable commercial ventures in the future.

He added that many young elementary and high school students excel in science and mathematics, some of whom actually win competitions here and abroad.

“The interest is high for some students but we want more of the younger generation to become part of the scientific community.”

More importantly, many of these projects can also build a library of intellectual property for the Philippines.

Dela Pena cited that the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has also been closely working with DOST to speed up the processing of copyright and patent filings from researches and discoveries.

“They wanted the speed of filing to be shorter so that the scientist can further focus on his work,” Dela Peña said.

With the recent conclusion of this year’s National Science and Technology Week celebrations Dela Peña said the department is now focusing on the upcoming annual convention of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PHILAAS).

The event would bring together scientists and researchers to showcase their recent projects. There would also be several discussions on a number of topics, specifically on nanotech, biotech, and energy development.

The IPOPHIL will also be represented to discuss the importance of patents and patent filing.

The DOST’s Science Education Institute will also be discussing the first Pinoy Science Storybook. It will contain stories of well-known scientists as well as Filipino scientists who have contributed to the advancement of science.

Among the scientists included are Alexander Fleming, Marie Curie, Gregor Mendel, Louis Pasteur, Isaac Newton, among others.

Filipino scientists included in the storybook are Ramon Barba, Emerita de Guzman, Rafael Guerrero III, Julian Banzon, and Francisco Quisumbing. The storybook, which will be presented to students in Grades 1 and 2, would be published in early 2010.