It is the time of year once again when rains pour down and floods dash through the streets, creating a frenzy of commuters, all waiting to get a ride home and sip a cup of hot soup or coffee.
It is also the time of year when the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) celebrates the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), a week-long showcase of the country’s biggest and latest strides in science and technology (S&T) via interactive exhibits, product displays, science fora, launchings, business discussions, and other activities.
Among those on exhibit will be the various technologies being tapped for improving the country’s weather monitoring and forecasting as well as disaster risk management, as presented by DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute, PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Project NOAH, and DREAM-LiDAR project.
One of the main attractions is a digital representation of the recently launched West Valley Fault System Atlas (WVFSA) by PHIVOLCS, a book containing 33 city maps showing where the fault system traverses. Using this digital representation, geologists from PHIVOLCS will assist exhibit visitors in identifying homes situated within the West Valley Fault System.
Another highlight is the portable PAGASA planetarium which students and kids will surely enjoy.
Other attractions are life-sized and scale models of various weather monitoring equipment such as the automated weather system, automated rain gauges, and the DREAM LiDAR mapping, as well as interactive scale models of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
PAGASA will also show real-time Doppler radar monitoring to allow exhibit visitors to experience real-life weather monitoring from the weather bureau.
Meanwhile, exhibit visitors will get a clearer understanding of storm surges, typhoons, global warming, and others, as PAGASA experts walk them through these meteorological hazards.
Digital interactive hazard maps will also be available for people to identify possible meteorological and geological hazards present in a specific location.
All these and more at the 2015 NSTW on July 24-28 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Admission is free. For more information, go to www.nstw.dost.gov.ph (S&T Media Service)
