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Published: 07 June 2015

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Thirty-three STARBOOKS units were recently installed in different public elementary and secondary schools in Poro, Tudela, San Francisco, and Pilar in Camotes Islands as well as Bantayan, Madridejos, and Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island – two areas severely affected by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), STARBOOKS or Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station, is the first digital science library in the country. It does not require internet connectivity and has a user-friendly interface.

With most of the classrooms, libraries, books and computers almost washed out due to Yolanda’s wrath, the arrival of STARBOOKS in these areas a few weeks before the start of classes is very timely.

Read more: Perfect timing for DOST’s STARBOOKS in Yolanda hit areas in Cebu

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Published: 04 June 2015

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Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo assures that mechanisms are in place to monitor and project the latest weather patterns in the midst of the current El Niño episode.  

Speaking in a special meeting at DOST-PAGASA Science Garden recently with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan, Montejo said that with PAGASA’s highly-modernized tracking and improved forecasting capability, the country now has the means to mitigate the ill effects of the weather phenomenon through better plans, programs, and activities cascading all the way to the farm level.

“Our priority initiatives in disaster risk reduction and management together with climate change adaptation have resulted in the large-scale upgrading of our corresponding infrastructure.  Now the Philippines is better-prepared to deal with the challenges of El Niño and other extreme weather events. Naniniwala kaming maiibsan ng pamahalaan ang epekto nito, na malaking tulong  sa mga magsasaka at maging sa mga mamimili (We believe the government will allay its effects, that it will be a big help to farmers and even to consumers),” Montejo explained.  Through PAGASA, he added, the Department will continue to closely monitor this occurrence and shall issue periodic updates as needed.

In its latest advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services and Administration noted that a weak El Niño condition is still being observed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, with warmer than average sea surface temperatures of at least 0.5°C recorded since October 2014. It added that according to the latest global climate models, the ongoing El Niño condition may likely continue until mid-2015 with the possibility of strengthening toward the end of the year. (S&T News Service)

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Published: 05 June 2015

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An expert has stated in a National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) roundtable discussion that native wildlife species which are genetically diverse, such as the tamaraw, Philippine deer, and small ruminants should be considered for cryo-conservation or the process of preserving cells by subjecting them to very low temperatures.

Dr. Lerma C. Ocampo, senior science research specialist at the Philippine Carabao Center, was one of the speakers at the discussion conducted last June 5 by NAST, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The discussion tackled the topic “Animal Genetic Resource Management and Cryobanking” and aims to develop policy recommendations for animal genetic resource conservation and guidelines on cryobanking in the Philippines.

According to Ocampo, the tamaraw, Philippine deer, and small ruminants are believed to be disease-resistant, survive climate change, and thrive in local feed resources around them.

Read more: Expert bats for cryo-conservation of tamaraw, Philippine deer in DOST forum

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Published: 03 June 2015

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DOST MOUNTS INT’L SCIENCE FAIR  Student delegates from the Philippines and their mentors (above) proudly wave small Philippine flags during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Philippine International Science Fair (PISF) staged by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School System (DOST-PSHS) in partnership with the First Pacific Leadership Academy. The local delegation is composed of students and teachers from the PSHS campuses and other science schools in the country. Delegates from Sweden (below), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore are also participating in the biennial fair in Antipolo City. With the theme “Innovate to Mitigate”, the PISF tackles environment and climate change issues via workshops, study tour, teacher’s forum, and prototyping sessions with experts. The PISF serves as a ramp-up to DOST’s National Science and Technology Week  at SMX Convention Center from July 24-28, 2015 where PSHS will hold a robotics/interactive science exhibit by students. (Text by Espie Angelica A. de Leon /Photos by Gerardo Palad, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)