- Details
- Hits: 3318
Dr. Marilyn Baguinon, a US-based scientist recently laid the building blocks of biotechnology researches in northern Philippines at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Through a short-term grant under the Department of Science and Technology’s Balik Scientist Program, Dr. Baguinon introduced to researchers and students the basics of biotechnology research and development, and trained them on the methods in biotechnology R&D activities.
Baguinon is an expert in biotechnology, microbiology, and biochemistry, and also currently associate professor in Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in the US.. She is also a former MMSU assistant professor.
“The students are very interested in biotechnology and they have many questions,” observed Baguinon who served as resource person during the Regional Science and Technology Week in August. She also helped the university in preparing a research proposal on “Molecular characterization of isolates for first and second generation feedstock for ethanol production” intended for external funding.
It is MMSU’s first time to get on a biotech research, so Baguinon has to train researchers initially on molecular techniques. Moreover, in close coordination with MMSU President Miriam E. Pascua, Dr. Baguinon prepared a list of equipment and materials to start a biotechnology laboratory in the university.
Dr. Marilyn Baguinon
Dr. Guillermo Mendoza
Read more: Balik Scientist kicks off biotechnology research up north
- Details
- Hits: 3845
Philippine Science High School Davao campus student Al Tristan Bandiola shows “King Spider”, a spider robot that’s capable to interact through sensors attached on its frame. This PSHS-Davao’s futuristic gizmo and other mostly food items produced by Mindanao based SMEs, which received DOST assistance such as product and process enhancement and technology related services were on display Sept. 23-27 during the Mindanao Cluster Science and Technology Fair in SM City Davao hosted by DOST Region XI. [Joy M. Lazcano, S&T Media Service]
- Details
- Hits: 3712
The Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute invites inventors, designers, creative researchers, and students in NCR and Regions 3 and 4 to join an invention contest to be held October 13-15, 2009 at the science complex in Bicutan, Taguig City.
The contest’s four categories are invention, utility model, industrial design, and creative research. For the first three categories, entries must be products and designs patented at the Intellectual Property Office-Philippines.
In the creative research category, entries must be researches with significant potential for extensive commercialization. College and high school students with new and innovative projects and models officially endorsed by school heads can participate in this category.
Winners in all categories will receive P15,000 (1st prize), P10,000 (2nd prize), and P5,000 (3rd prize).
Entry forms are available at TAPI or can be downloaded from http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph, which should contain entry’s detailed information, complete patent/registration documents (invention, utility model, and industrial design only), and waiver. Deadline for entries is 5:00 PM on Sept. 25, 2009.
Winners will be eligible for the National Invention Contest and Exhibits during the National Inventors Week on November 16-20, 2009 at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. National level winners will receive awards in various categories such as Tuklas Award (outstanding invention), Likha Award (outstanding utility model, outstanding industrial design, and outstanding creative research), and Sibol Award (outstanding student creative research). Special awards are also at stake.
This annual invention contest is DOST-TAPI’s promotional support to Filipino inventions based on RA 7459 or the “Investors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines.” TAPI is the country’s top agency in promoting technology commercialization and marketing of DOST services. For more information, please call TAPI’s Invention Development Division at (632) 838-1140 or log on to http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph. [Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service]
- Details
- Hits: 3676
The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines joins the world community in mourning the death last September 12 of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.
Dr. Borlaug was considered “The Father of the Green Revolution” for his contributions to the development of high-yielding crop varieties and introducing agricultural innovations to the developing world. He earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his significant work in stabilizing global food security and averting widespread famine.
NAST elected Dr. Borlaug as honorary member on March 10, 2000 to become the first and only eminent scientist to hold the distinction from the Philippine government’s highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology.
He was guest speaker for the Dioscoro L. Umali Lecture Series at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Manila over nine years ago and spoke on “Global Food Security–Harnessing Science and Technology in the 21st Century.”
Read more: Nobel laureate and Green Revolution icon Norman Borlaug, 95
- Details
- Hits: 3180
The country’s top scientists and academics are in talks for the possible development and offering of “Bachelor of Poverty Reduction in Agricultural Management” in state universities in a bid to boost the country’s economic growth and create opportunities for the poor.
The idea was first brought to light in a roundtable discussion last March organized by the Department of Science and Technology’s National Academy of Science and Technology where University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao welcomed the idea and encouraged his colleagues in the academe to offer such program in their campuses.
Cao said UP Diliman can take on such a program because it is “serious in undertaking poverty reduction initiatives.”
Meanwhile, Chancellor Grace Alfonso of the Los Baños-based UP Open University said that offering a degree program on poverty reduction is “timely, necessary, and addressed by many programs of the UP system.”
But she warned that BS Poverty Reduction may not easily become popular. “It is difficult to sell such a program. Only UP can be interested in it.”
But she is hopeful that in a few years such degree may become very popular and recommends that “politicians should take this program.”
(L-R) AIT Outreach Field Coordinator Nick Innes-Taylor, AIT Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Haddawy, UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao, and UP Open University Chancellor Grace Alfonso discuss the possibility of offering BS Poverty Reduction program in UP campuses.
Read more: Scientists, UP administrators consider offering degree in poverty reduction
Today's Outlook
 |
DAILY WEATHER FORECAST |
 |
EARTHQUAKE, VOLCANO and TSUNAMI BULLETINS |
 |
CLIMATEX |
Civil Service Commission Videos
