SINCE the time our umbilical cords were cut by either a blade or a scissor at birth, we have been dealing with the various approaches of science and technology whether intentionally or unintentionally.
In school, one of the things that elementary pupils usually enjoy doing is their science projects and I remember having illustrated butterflies from its eggs, caterpillars, cocoons and pupas into a flying colorful butterfly.
For this column, I chose to write about Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which is mandated to “provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people”.
DOST’s mission is to direct, lead, and coordinate the country’s scientific and technological efforts geared towards maximum economic and social benefits for the people.
The DOST’s long term vision according to its website is to be the “provider of world-class scientific, technological and innovative solutions that will lead to higher productivity and better quality of life.”
Over the years, said department has developed technologies designed for socio-economic and environmental gains like the use of local raw materials that went through innovations in terms of product or process improvements, making them distinct from their commercial counterparts.
These government-developed technologies are designed to factor in the social, economic, and environmental benefits. The advantage of utilizing local technologies is their low cost compared with the more expensive commercial ones that are often imported.
The DOST Industrial Technology Development Institute also developed technologies that are responsive to climate change adaptation and mitigation such as the Biodegradable Polymers Production Technology.
This technology makes use of widely-available renewable resources and locally- produced nano materials in the production of various biodegradable plastic products such as cutleries and packaging materials. The use of these materials can help reduce solid waste problems and minimize carbon dioxide emissions and dependence on fossil resources.
Also, the DOST, through the DOST-Councils (PCAARRD, PCHRD and PCIEERD) continue to encourage Filipino scientists or scientists of Filipino descent to return to the Philippines to share their expertise to strengthen the scientific and technical human resources of the academe, the public and private institutions including the industry to accelerate the flow of new and strategically important technologies that are vital to national development.
The DOST report states that as of December 2017, 492 Balik Scientists were encouraged to return to the Philippines to share their expertise and these experts were reportedly able to participate in 598 engagements servicing the requirements of the academe, public/government agencies, and the industry.
In a related development, DOST posted news update that the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) revives Technetium-99m Production.
Technetium-99m is a nuclear isomer of Technetium 99. It is a radioactive substance that radiates “Gamma Rays”. This move is to bring the Philippines back on track in improving its nuclear medicine applications.
With PNRI’s Tc-99m Generator Facility, the average cost for importing the workhorse radiopharmaceutical can be lowered by around 20 percent.
Another new development in the country’s science and technology department is the acceptance of thousands of aspiring scientists and engineers who will be entering college with a Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholarship stamp.
After a two-year hiatus due to the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum, the country’s premier science scholarship program is back and it has announced the acceptance of 8,994 new qualifiers for its RA 7687 and Merit Scholarship programs.
Out of the total number of passers, 5,172 qualified as scholars under the RA 7687 Scholarship Program, scholarships for gifted students who belong to economically disadvantaged families; while 3,822 passed under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program.
According to the DOST website, these new S&T scholars, as well as the on-going scholars, will be enjoying the new stipend rate at P7,000/month across all disciplines. They are also entitled to tuition fee subsidy; book allowance; MS/PE clothing allowance; one economy-class roundtrip fare per year for those studying outside of their home province; and group accident insurance.
The scholarship qualifiers must enroll in any of the University of The Philippines campus; or in state universities and colleges; or private higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development; or with Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines Level III accreditation for the S&T priority programs they will enroll in.