A look back at new science parks, new species, and other scientific milestones. Barely two weeks before the last year of the Earth ends, GMA News Online SciTech section would like to recognize the top ten events in the local science scene.
Science and technology--particularly science--may be one of the most under appreciated beats in news reporting. But hey, we do have news. This reporter sorted out the top ten highlights of this year in science and technology through a list.
And the countdown starts at:
10. The Mind Museum and Zamboanga's science park
Science is still not entirely embedded in Pinoy consciousness, said experts. But, believe it or not, both the private sector and the government have been quite aggressive in pushing science and technology education in the country.
Good news: His statements sparked international attention and was reported in various international agencies.
Science is still not entirely embedded in Pinoy consciousness, said experts. But, believe it or not, both the private sector and the government have been quite aggressive in pushing science and technology education in the country.
For one, the Zamboanga City local government unveiled its plan to build a P22.44 million science park
which will house a science centrum, and a museum with around 56
exhibits from Van de Graff generator,
Bernoulli blower, and a lot more.
Bernoulli blower, and a lot more.
Creating a buzz even before its actual launch on March of this year is The Mind Museum, boasting of a 12,500-square meter worth of interactive exhibits that intend to make both kids and adults love science.
9. Typhoon Pablo's devastation moved PHL delegates at climate talks
Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño,
gravely affected and in tears upon hearing of the casualties Typhoon
Pablo caused Mindanao, appealed to his fellow delegates at the Doha
climate talks to take action against climate change.
Bad news: But if Saño was able to touch the hearts of the media and the international audience after citing Typhoon Pablo's devastation, the Doha Climate Change Conference still failed to meet his (and the rest of the Philippine delegates) expectations.
As Saño said in an earlier press briefing about battling the effects of climate change: “We're on our own now."
8. Trap that dengue!
Yearly, thousands of Filipinos die because of dengue. A dengue vaccine
might be in sight but it still cannot be released for public
consumption. For the meantime though, Filipino researchers have found a
way the disease can be better managed.
In 2012,
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) came out with the
results of the pilot test for their Ovi-larvicidal Trap System (OL
traps) meant to minimize the number of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Regions where OL traps were installed experienced a significant decrease in dengue cases.
Meanwhile, scientists from the Institute of Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology-National Institutes of Health (IMBB-NIH) University of the
Philippines lead by Dr. Raul Destura developed a rapid test kit that
could help diagnose dengue in an hour or less.
The traps have so far been proven efficient and cost-effective. Best of all? They will soon be available to the public.
The traps have so far been proven efficient and cost-effective. Best of all? They will soon be available to the public.
7. The albino bat and other new species
The Philippines is blessed with 7,107 islands of nature's wonders and,
year after year, scientists from all over the globe troop to our country
to dive, climb mountains and scour our forests for new species of
plants, insects, birds, fishes, and what have you's. 2012 was no
different.
Some of the new species found in the Philippines this year are Peri's snake eel, albino bat in Masbate, frogs in Leyte, owls, and 11 different genera of ants.
The Philippines is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, and is put under one of the global conservation hotspots.
On Dec. 12, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
has called upon the public to intensify their efforts to conserve our natural resources, particularly to take care of our biodiversity.
Take that, Galapagos Islands!
6. Pinoy kids garner plums in international science and tech contests
Dr. Filma Brawner of the DOST Science Education Institute has formerly stated in an interview that a good method for improving our science and technology education is encouraging better performance of our country's representatives in international contests.
True enough, Filipino students have been bringing home the bacon
from international math and science competitions. This despite the
"two-year handicap" caused by the oversight of our previous basic
education curriculum covering science subjects.
Some of the awards we received this year include:* Gold and Silver medals for World Robotics Olympiad 2012 (Nov. 9-11)
* 23 medals from 2012 International Math and Science Olympiad (Oct. 28- Nov. 2)
* Filipino student bagged a perfect score in Australian Math Contest (Aug. 2)
* Philippines ranked 2nd overall in Taiwan International Mathematics Competition (July 23-28)
* Two bronze medals and an honorable mention in International Math Olympiad (July 4-16)
* More than 100 awards in the Australian Science Contest (May 23)
* One silver and three bronze medals at Singapore Math Olympiad (Feb. 6-11)
5. UP Diliman monorail, proudly Pinoy-made
The Philippines has only three working public rail transport to date:
the Philippine National Railways serving Metro Manila and some of the
provinces in Southern Luzon, the Light Rail Transit and the Metro Rail
Transport, both situated in the capital region.
But DOST, together with the University of the Philippines (UP) recently inaugurated what's been dubbed as the "harbinger of the future of mass transport systems developed and made locally by Filipinos," a monorail train that is the "Automated Guideway Transit System" running inside the UP Diliman campus.
4. Pinoy scientist is Ramon Magsaysay Awardee
Armed with scientific knowledge and a passion for making farmers into scientists, this year's Ramon Magsaysay Awards included Dr. Romulo Davide, the brother of another Magsaysay Awardee, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide.
A native of Cebu, Davide believes that camote, as well as other upland crops could help farmers become millionaires in the future.
Included in the top three are two projects that aim to address our
problems with disaster management. GMA News Online SciTech put these
near the top spot as the two projects are expected to deliver their
promises in the coming years, for the benefit of the entire country.
On the third spot:
3. Project DREAM + LiDAR
Disaster-stricken and flood-prone, the Philippine government invested a whopping P1.6 billion for a 3D mapping project of the country's most flood-prone areas, launched in Nov. 22 and 23.
To those asking, areas within the Pasig-Marikina River, Laguna de Bay,
and Cagayan River in Mindanao are definitely part of the 3D mapping
project. Think about the number of lives that can be saved through
better zoning.
Project DREAM (Disaster Risk and
Exposure Assessment for Mitigation) consists of an office in UP Diliman,
and two light planes equipped with LiDAR or Light Detection and Ranging
technology.
Coming as this year's runner up for the top science news of 2012 is no other than...
2. Project NOAH
In connection with Project DREAM, Pres. Aquino, DOST, in partnership
with a number of government agencies and universities, launched earlier
in July what might be construed as an ominous name for a disaster
prevention and mitigation project: Project NOAH.
Project NOAH stands for Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards.
Currently, it has a website that aggregates weather forecast data from
PAGASA, and a mobile app.
This project aims to "promote and
integrate advanced science and technology to enhance disaster management
and prevention capacity of the Philippine government."
And the ultimate science and technology news of 2012 award goes to:
1. The Cyber Crime Law fracas
On Sept. 12, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law
what internet freedom advocates have since variously taken to calling
"Digital Martial Law 2012", Republic Act No. 10175, or the "Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012."
With its aim to protect netizens against the abuses that can be
committed online, the law has been criticized as curtailing civil rights
more than punishing cyber criminals.
Within a week or two, Filipinos online and offline conducted several forms of protests, from widespread social media blackout, to online outrage, and formal petitions before the Supreme Court.
On top of it all, the ensuing events led to how Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III became what he himself call as the "online whipping boy" for his purported role in the legislation.
If you want proof, simply Google some blogs that compiled all the Sotto memes and quotes. Cue: "Estudyante Blues" by Freddie Aguilar.
If you want proof, simply Google some blogs that compiled all the Sotto memes and quotes. Cue: "Estudyante Blues" by Freddie Aguilar.
The issue even caught the attention of international press groups and
foreign internet freedom advocates, shining light on the country's
debate through a global context. --KDM, GMA News
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