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.

Harvard's "Scientist of the Year" keynotes 2009 S&T week celebration in Manila

Harvard University's pick as "Scientist of the Year" in 2007 was a Filipino scientist who recently keynoted the National Science and Technology Week opening program at the Manila Hotel.

Dr. Baldomero Olivera is an award-winning Filipino scientist renowned for his major research on con snails-a carnivorous, predatory, marine snail common in the Philippines. Found to have significant applications in neuropharmacology, Olivera was able to support development of painkillers from snails.

While serving as professor of biology and neuroscientist at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, he visited several Philippine institutions last year to present his research findings to local researchers, students, and the public under DOST's Balik Scientist Program.

This year Olivera kept the science communities in the country in step with current world developments through the exposition of his work. Focusing around the celebration's theme "Responding to Global Challenges through Science and Technology," he truly provided global perspective which he hoped were shared and spread in DOST's various science communities and in its regional offices.

The science communities in Bicutan, Quezon City, Manila and Los Banos recently held various admission-free activities such as technology fairs, seminars, quiz shows, open house, and techno bazaar. The annual NSTW celebrations showcased the recent domestic S&T developments along with various technology-based opportunities to researchers, science workers, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, students, and the public.

Gov't creates Task Force to strengthen technology research and development

In efforts to strengthen the focus on research and development (RnD) and to align all related programs of various government agencies on research, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo created the Philippine Council for Research and Development task force.

According to Department of Science and Technology CAR regional director Ben Ladilad, the task force is chaired by the President herself, with DOST Secretary as its vice chair. Council members include the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, the Commission on Higher Education, and representatives from the academic institutions. The five members from the private sector, involved in science and technology research and development, are now being selected.

Ladilad also explained that the objective of the council is to assure that all output from research will really address a certain need or problem in the business sector, especially Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which is providing livelihood to many this hard times.

According to Ladilad, through the council, researches like that of the DOST's Philippine Council for Health, will be well considered and coordinated with similar (researches) from other government agencies, as well as from the private sector and that of the academe and by doing this, the President can also align various government projects and funding for such purpose.

Ladilad also stressed that through this council, the President, in line with her administration's program thrust to create more livelihood opportunities for the Filipino people or improve their quality of life, would like to set in motion such programs for the next administration to follow or continue.

Call for nominations for outstanding S&T achievements

The government's highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology which is the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is calling nominations for outstanding achievements in science and technology.

Awards and recognition for deserving scientists are at stake in the following categories:

• OUTSTANDING YOUNG SCIENTIST (OYS) is given to young scientists who have made significant contributions to science and technology developments in the fields of Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Health Sciences.
• THIRD WORLD ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PRIZE FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES is given to outstanding young Filipino scientist who has made significant contributions to science and technology, specifically Biology for AY 2010.
• NAST TALENT SEARCH FOR YOUNG SCIETISTS is a project of NAST to encourage young people to pursue a career in science. This is given to the best three (3) scientific paper presenters.
• OUTSTANDING SCIENTIFIC PAPER is given annually for papers adjudged to be outstanding in the fields of Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Health Sciences. The paper should be published in Philippine Scientific or Technical Journals within the five (5) years preceding the award.
• OUTSTANDING BOOK/MONOGRAPH is given annually for books/monographs adjudged to be outstanding in the fields of Mathematical, Physical, and Chemical Sciences, Engineering Sciences and Technology, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Health Sciences. The book/monograph should be published in the Philippines within the five (5) years preceding the award.
• PRO SCIENTIA TRANSFORMATRIX AWARD is given annually to extraordinary enterprise in the application of science and technology in the furtherance and support of our country's continuing bid to gain global competitiveness in all areas of practical endeavor. There is no special format required but strong justification and documentation with a one-hour video clip of the company and its latest activities that contribute to global competitiveness of the country will be expected to accompany nominations.
• THE NAST-HUGH GREENWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AWARD is given annually to a Filipino scientist who has made significant contributions to environmental protection and conservation. With the rapid pace of environmental degradation and the eventual depletion of natural resources, it is vital that the remaining resources are used wisely and further pollution and contaminations be prevented for the benefit of today's and future generations.
• NAST-LELEDFI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH IN TROPICAL MEDICINE is given annually to individuals or groups whose research works contribute to the advancement of the country's knowledge and practice in Tropical Medicine.

Nomination forms are available at the DOST XI, Dumanlas corner Friendship Roads, Bajada, Davao City. The deadline for submission of nominations is on or before November 30, 2009. You may also obtain nominations forms at www.nast.dost.gov.ph or www.nast.ph or call 2215428 and look for Mavik Dado for details. (DOST XI)

DOST building, S&T library in Siquijor to operate soon

A two-storey building of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Siquijor province will soon be completed along Baluarte St. Poblacion, Siquijor, Siquijor.

With a project cost of P2 million, construction of the DOST building was started in June this year and is expected to finish in the middle part of October also this year, says Provincial Director Engr. Mario E. de la Peña of the DOST here.

De la Peña said he is very thankful to the local government of Siquijor for the support and the donation of a 150-sq.m. lot for the building.

He said the LGU-Siquijor has been very supportive in its effort to give better services to the people. Aside from the donation of lot, the provincial director said, Siquijor LGU is also one of the DOST’s strong partner in the development of Science and Technology (S & T) in the region through implementation of various S&T programs.

Recently, he said, the DOST approved the establishment of a public library in the town to cater to the information needs of its constituents, especially students.

Entitled "Science and Technology Support to the Establishment of Public Library Services," the project has a total cost of some P444,115; P200, 000 of which will be funded out of the DOST’s grant-in-aid (GIA) and P244, 115 as the LGU counterpart, de la Peña said.

A memorandum of agreement was signed earlier by the DOST and the LGU-Siquijor jointly "pledging to extend their full cooperation for the effective and efficient implementation of a project to diffuse scientific and technical knowledge through the library system."

Both projects are part of the government initiatives to pump-prime the economy which are also attributed to the tough economic reforms instituted by the Arroyo administration several years ago.

Among the notable economic reforms implemented by President Arroyo include the expanded value added tax (EVAT) law which increased the amount of VAT from 10 to 12 percent. It has been heralded as the single biggest act that led to the surge in revenue collection.

The national attrition law which pushed revenue collecting agencies to work double time to reach revenue targets or face consequences and the tobacco excise tax according to her, have also greatly contributed to the record breaking tax collections recorded by the government.

The EVAT and the National Attrition Law were both enacted by President Arroyo in 2005 while the tobacco excise tax under Republic Act No. 7171 was implemented in 1992.

The President said that aside from shielding the country from the adverse effects of the global meltdown, the economic reforms have also propped up the image of the Philippines as a very viable investment site.

"These (economic reforms) have created a firewall that eases the pressures of the global economic crisis and also, they position us well to have a good environment for more investments and business in the Philippines," the President said.

She noted, however, that the Philippine economy has had it share of downtime too.

"Of course there are challenges. While our growth has been positive, it’s been slower," the President said.

To address this, the President pointed out that the country has embarked on a "spending spree" on vital human and physical infrastructures.

"So, we are working tirelessly to secure our food, fuel and rice needs. We are investing in energy and rice self-sufficiency. We’re investing in education. We are investing in human and physical infrastructure and this will also position and accelerate growth when the world economy rebounds," the President said. - Philippine Information Agency, 06 August 2009