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DAVAO CITY, Philippines – In celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), the Department of Science and Technology called on young students to actively participate and be involved in science and research and development.
DOST XI Assistant Regional Director Mirasol Domingo told Davao Today on Monday, July 3, that it is better to expose students on the said fields at an early age so that they will be encouraged to do innovative studies and researches. As a result, this will help develop the country’s science and technology sector.
“Our theme this year is ‘Science for the People’ and we believe that it is better to start on the young because our inventors are not getting any younger and of course the number of inventors will decrease if we do not start on (encouraging) elementary students,” Domingo said.
The NSTW aims to recognize the ingenuity of local researchers and inventors around the country.
A competition initiated by DOST for inventors and researchers which runs from July 3-5 at the NCCC Mall in Davao where students from elementary, high school, and college level can participate.
The competition is composed of six categories namely: Invention (Tuklas Award), Utility Model, Industrial Design, Creative Research (Likha Award), Student Creative Research (Sibol Award) for High School and College and the Student Creative Research (Butil Award) which is a new category intended for elementary students.
Domingo said that the Butil Award is the department’s way of reaching out to the young ones to develop their mindset in the field of science.
“Since at this stage, the young ones are very inquisitive, we tend to develop and their mindset into science and technology, and research and development,” Domingo said.
Sasha Dominique B. Casilao, 11, a participant and a student from the University of Immaculate Conception, told Davao Today that the event helps students like her to know more about science.
“The event can help young students to discover more about science and discover more about the different experiments,” Casilao said.
“By reaching them at an early age, they will feel excited towards science and technology and hopefully they will also take up science related courses,” she said.
Apart from the competitions, all projects and programs of DOST in Davao region will be featured and exhibited during the three-day activity. Fora and lectures relating to science and technology will be also conducted. (davaotoday.com)
