The Department of Science and Technology will lead the celebration of the 2009 National Science and Technology Week that starts July 20. Various activities that showcase recent developments and achievements in domestic science and technology along with technology fairs and scientific fora are lined up for this year’s celebration.
The annual event also aims to raise public understanding of science and technology as well as DOST’s role and contributions to national development.
This year’s NSTW keeps in step with current global challenges through the theme “Responding to Global Challenges through Science and Technology.”
Various symposia related to climate change and business fora will be held to try to provide a venue for discussions on prevailing world climate change scenarios, and encourage Filipino technopreneurship.
Meanwhile, the science communities in Quezon City, Manila, Bicutan, and in Los Baños, Laguna will hold separate celebrations within the weeklong NSTW while regional celebration schedules are spread throughout July.
The Quezon City and Metro Manila Science Communities will focus on disaster mitigation and health issues, respectively. The Los Baños science community will present lectures mainly on agriculture and aquaculture sciences. The Bicutan science cluster will offer several livelihood seminars at SM City in Bicutan.
The NSTW, previously called as the Philippine National Science Week in the 50s, was instituted by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 2214 in 1982. It was later amended through Republic Act 169 on April 23, 1993 which declared the third week of July of every year as the National Science and Technology Week. NSTW has since become the platform for informed exchanges on important S&T issues, developments, and locally developed technologies. [S&T Media Service]