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.

10 state colleges, universities to offer biotechnology courses

Sixteen state colleges and universities nationwide will soon include biotechnology in their existing curriculum in a bid to popularize the subject and eventually help the country benefit from the relatively new field.

The University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Commission on Higher Education, has developed the program instituting a General Education (GE) Biotechnology Course in the curriculum of selected state colleges and Universities (SCUs)

Dr. Cynthia Hedreyda, NIMBB director, said that while there is limitless information on biotechnology, there is not enough popular awareness of the subject.

Biotechnology is defined as “the use of living organisms, especially microorganisms, in industrial, agricultural, medical and other technological applications.”

She said biotechnology education in the country is disseminated primarily through workshops and symposia conducted by scientists, people from the academe, government agencies like the DA and the Department of Science and Technology.

“These attempts, are, however, not sufficient to make knowledge of benefits derived from products of the new technology, particularly the agricultural products of modern biotechnology, widespread,” she said.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the introduction of the biotechnology course is “one of the many initiatives that we are undertaking to vigorously promote the safe and responsible use of biotechnology is its inclusion in the college curriculum, initially in 16 selected state colleges and universities.

He said, “Our aim is to equip Filipino teachers, students and other interested individuals with the basic knowledge, and enable them to make informed decisions on biotechnology products and latest breakthroughs and developments, and related issues on human health and the environment, and ethical concerns.”

“Further, through this initiative we hope to encourage more Filipino youth to pursue a career in the field of biotechnology, either as researchers and scientists or entrepreneurs,” he added.

The Cavite State University and University of Southern Mindanao have begun offering three units of the biotechnology course to their students.

Segfredo Serrano, DA undersecretary for policy and planning, said the integration of the biotechnology course in the college curriculum “will help transform biotechnology education into something we can benefit more from.”

Biotechnology courses cover a variety of topics from the history of traditional and modern biotechnology, the use of biotechnology for health, environment and industry, legal battles, and ethical issues.