If the future rests in the youth, then the students from the Philippine Science High School (affectionately called “Pisay” or “PhiSci”) are just the perfect fit. They took center stage on the last day of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the young brilliant minds in the country presented their research studies and talents in robotics.
The last day event titled “Aghamazing na, Scienterrific pa!” featured student exhibits from the PSHS system that focused on the students’ scientific studies in the 12 campuses all over the country, including the newest campus in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao.
Some of the most promising researches included the following: Android-based Road Quality Assessment Tool from PSHS-Main by Gabriel Borja; Goat’s Foot Creeper and Coconut Leaf Pulp for Cardboard Production from PSHS Ilocos Region; the Ferntastic, Ferntabulous, Fernilicious Fern called Barangbang for its antimicrobial properties and Cat Claw pesticide from PSHS Cagayan Valley Region; Wireless Programmable Relay Switches from PSHS Central Visayas Region; Mahogany Seed as Biodiesel Fuel Substitute from PSHS Easter Visayas Region; the Larvicidal Properties of Sweet Basil Against Aedes aegypti (dengue virus) from PSHS Bicol Region; and the Solmech Charger for Cellular Phones from PSHS Central Mindanao Region.
What attracted the visitors composed mostly of elementary and high school students from Metro Manila and nearby provinces was the ROBOlusyong Atletika, an exhibit and demonstration of robotics technology applied on interactive games, robots that perform simple tasks of moving and carrying things, voice activated robots, and radio controlled vehicles. Other exhibits featured amazing tricks and mind boggling experiments like the math magic Tricks using colored toothpicks and the Growing Cystals using chemistry.
The Pisay exhibits were opened by no less that DOST Undersecretary Fortunato dela Pena, PSHS System Director Josette Biyo and heads of the PSHS regional campuses. “I am very happy to see so many students today despite being a Saturday and I commend also the teachers who accompanied them. We welcome all to view our exhibits were they will learn a lot about science and technology and how they are used in agriculture, industry, information technology and many more,” said Usec. Dela Pena.
After his brief message, Usec. Dela Pena also enjoined the visitors to explore the exhibit areas and display panels where they will see the other technologies developed and innovated on by DOST like the AGT; the electric hybrid road train; metrology laboratory; VISSER and LEAP programs for education; artificial insemination for goats and carabaos; superior planting materials for coconut, rice and abaca; the SETUP booth of regional products and services; Project NOAH and DREAM-LiDAR for disaster risk reduction; MOSES tablet; cupola furnace; and many more.
This year’s event dubbed Expo Science 2013 carries the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines” featuring DOST technologies and innovations in the fields of agriculture (certified seed production), aquaculture (LAMP technology for shrimps), industry (plasma cutter), electronics testing (ADMATEL), health (OL Trap and eHealth Tablet), transportation (Automated Guideway Transit), information and communications technology, education (LEAP program), and climate change (Project NOAH and MOSES tablet).
For added information and highlights of the science expo please log on to www.nstw.dost.gov.ph/nstw2013/.
Students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Southern Mindanao Campus show off their crawling robot that can be used for games and as an interactive toy. This is just one of the many exhibits by PSHS students nationwide using robotics technology during the Expo Science 2013 of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last July 23-27, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)
