THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will lead the celebration of the 51st National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) starting on July 20.

This year’s NSTW keeps in step with current global challenges through the theme “Science and Technology, Responding to Global Challenges.” 

The annual event aims to raise public understanding of S&T, as well as DOST’s role and contributions to national development.

Meanwhile, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), will hold its 31st Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on July 8 and 9 at the Manila Hotel.

The ASM will have as its theme “Active Aging: Preparing for Quality Life,” with Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral as keynote speaker.

The scientific meeting takes into consideration the senior citizens whose needs are different from the rest of the population, and must be anticipated and addressed to keep them healthy, productive and happy.

Various activities that showcase recent developments and achievements in domestic S&T along with technology fairs and scientific fora are lined up for this year’s NSTW celebration.

Symposia related to climate change and business fora will be held to provide a venue for discussions on prevailing world climate-change scenarios, and encourage Filipino technopreneurship.

Meanwhile, the science communities in Quezon City, Manila, Bicutan and in Los Baños, Laguna, will hold separate celebrations within the weeklong NSTW while regional celebration schedules are spread throughout July.

The Quezon City and Metro Manila Science communities will focus on disaster mitigation and health issues, respectively. The Los Baños science community will present lectures on agriculture and aquaculture sciences.

Other NSTW activities:

The Quezon City science community has lined up activities for the NSTW.

Global climate scenario and potential science-based ecological remediation are on top of the list of activities to be held at the UP-Ayala Technohub on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

The Bureau of Soils and Waste Management will host symposia on climate change with inputs from DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa); the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Miriam College.

Meanwhile, Miriam College will also conduct symposia on health and medicine on July 23. Topics to be discussed are PCMA Human Milk Bank, and growing concerns over saturated fats from coconut oil. Other activities include exhibits, open houses and lecture series by participating agencies, such as Pagasa, PNRI, Phivolcs and Miriam College.

Visitors can attend free planetarium show at Pagasa headquarters in Agham Road, Quezon City.

Elementary and high-school students in Taguig and Parañaque cities will show their math and science flair in quiz shows to be held from July 20 to 24 at the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The math and science quiz shows to be sponsored by the DOST’s Science Education Institute (SEI) will cover biology (June 20), chemistry (July 21) w, physics (July 22), math (July 23) and robotics (July 24).

The biology and math quizzes will be open to elementary and high-school levels, while math, physics, chemistry and robotics will be open to high-school level only.

The daily quiz shows will have three rounds, with five schools competing in each round. The team that gets the highest score will receive the day’s cash prize.

SEI will also hold an exhibit at the PTRI lobby to provide visitors easy information on science scholarships.

For more information on the science quiz shows, contact Ruby Cristobal at (02) 837-1925.

Other exciting NSTW activities include technology fair at SM City Bicutan, techno-bazaars at DOST compound, free forum on food and awareness seminars.

The seminars will be held on the following days:

July 21: Meal Management and Food Handling (10:30 a.m. to 12 noon), and Tie Dyeing of Cotton Fabrics (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.) at SM City Bicutan;

July 22: Spin casting and Gold plating (8 a.m. to 12 noon) at Heat Treatment Building, MIRDC Compound, Bicutan, Taguig City; Liquid Detergent and Fabric Conditioner (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.) at SM City Bicutan;

July 23: Climate Change and IT Hands-On for High School Graduating Students (8:30 a.m. to 12 noon), PCIERD Conference Room, Rm. 303, DOST Main Building, Bicutan, Taguig City; Waste Management and Utilization: Biogas Digester (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.) at SM City Bicutan; 

July 24: Waste Management and Utilization: Styropore and Sando bag Recycling and Asphalt Paving Mix Using Recycled Sando Bag Wastes (10:30 a.m. to 12 noon), Chocolate Molding and Squash Recipe (1:30 to 4 p.m.) at SM City Bicutan.

The seminars aim to inform the public on technology-based livelihood opportunities and technologies that also help save the environment.

The NSTW, previously called as the Philippine National Science Week in the ’50s, was instituted by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 2214 in 1982. It was later amended through Republic Act 169 on April 23, 1993, which declared the third week of July of every year as the NSTW.

NSTW has since become the platform for informed exchanges on important S&T issues, developments and locally developed technologies. (S&T Media Service)