THE halls of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay, Metro Manila were flooded by almost 2,000 chemistry practitioners, students and professionals alike, in the 33rd Philippine Chemistry Congress (PCC) last May 30 to June 1.
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) hosts the event annually in an effort to continually improve the chemistry scene in the country.
The event was packed with various sights and sounds catered to the country’s chemists. As always, there were exhibitors from various brands and companies that showcased their products and services from the latest heating equipment to advanced microscopes and particle analyzers.
The PCC is always a great time for laboratories to shop and peek new additions to their instruments, and even for civilians there is a particular joy in just seeing wonderful new technologies.
At the core of the event are the various educational lectures across the different fields of chemistry. The plenary sessions, which were presentations for the entire participating audience, tackled many different things but ultimately tied to a central theme of chemistry being able to develop the country. There were also poster and oral presentations from the participants.
I was fortunate to have been able to present a paper on the difference between chemistry and physics to aid students confused by the overlap of the two sciences.
Fundamentally, there must be an enriched understanding of chemistry to deepen our appreciation for it. And in the bigger scale, there must be continued research to address the problems of the Philippines.
Truly, many interesting researches were presented that have direct implications to health, environment and energy, among other fields.
The Philippines is experiencing a brain drain as many of our brightest minds leave the country to pursue opportunities overseas. Hence, there must be significant effort to foster unity and collaboration among the country’s scientists.
Science, after all, is a catalyst for innovation.
Chemistry, which has implications in various industries such as food and drugs, could be one of our greatest tools in building a better tomorrow.
As such, events like the Philippine Chemistry Congress are important episodes in the country’s history. There must be continued effort to provide avenues where research and innovation are at the forefront.