“Pamanang Handog sa Bayan [Legacy as Gift to the People].” This theme aptly described the five books, the last in the “Science for the People” book series of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that were launched at a hotel in Quezon City on June 14.
Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and his co-authors described the significance and contents of the books that featured success stories and life-changing innovations in research and development (R&D) programs and projects of the DOST in the six years under his helm.
The books were the “Science for the Arts,” “Science for Healing,” “Science for Resilience,” “Science for Awareness” and “Science for Business.”
The first five books in the series were launched in November 2021. They were: “Science for Change,” “Science for Innovation,” “Science for Human Capital,” “Science for Cooperation,” and “Science for Communities.”
Immortalize hard work
“The books will immortalize the hard work and dedication of our scientists, researchers, communicators and public servants so that our readers will appreciate more the importance of science, technology and innovation in our lives,” de la Peña said during the books’ launching.
Through the books “so many stories have been told,” he said.
“From the mouths of our scientists and researchers as well as from the target beneficiaries of their noble works, [we] would see how conducting S&T-related research and picking the brains of our science heroes would give us a huge chance to achieve inclusive and sustainable development…while addressing the challenges and limitations of a specific area or sector in our country,” he pointed out.
They highlighted the innovative technologies and products that generated local employment and created livelihood and other opportunities, he said.
De la Peña said in Filipino that the books were the “legacy” he, and his co-workers at the DOST, could give as he ends his term at the department on June 30, and thanked all those who helped the department in their quest for science for the people.
‘Science for the Arts’
Executive Director Dr. Marieta Sumagaysay of the National Research Council of the Philippines, co-author of the book, said she believes “there is a dialectical relationship between the arts and humanities with science, technology and innovation [STI].”
“It is creativity that fuels the construction of world views, of which science is one among many, the development of tools that enhance ways of living. The arts and humanities are the fields where creativity is recognized, honored and nurtured,” she explained.
Sumagaysay pointed out that the book “celebrates the milestones” of the DOST “whenever science and technology [S&T] are fused with the arts.”
“There is no [STI] without the arts and humanities. To leverage inventiveness, we believe that it is necessary to recognize that art and science share many basic requirements and techniques that promote creativity and innovation. I believe that science relies on creativity, thus, art is as important as science,” Sumagaysay explained.
‘Science for Healing’
The book focuses on the initiatives of the department that led to battle the ongoing pandemic, said Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya of the Philippine Council of Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), co-author of the book, along with DOST Assistant Secretary Maridon O. Sahagun.
It highlighted on how “investing in R&D is pivotal” in dealing with or in preventing emerging health crises.
Montoya said the pressing health crisis posed by Covid-19 at the latter part of 2019 served as an “urgent call” in the health field to quickly look for solutions or innovations that will respond to the challenges.
This led the DOST-PCHRD to launch the “Addressing and Responding to Covid-19 through Health Research Program,” to provide support and funding to research projects that have been “instrumental” to the country’s pandemic response.
Among those that were featured in the book delved on enhancing and expanding the country’s Covid-19 testing capacity, providing support to the health-care workers, mapping the spread of the disease for evidence-informed policymaking, searching and validating possible treatment regimens, and participating in vaccine clinical trials and generating data on Covid-19 vaccines.
‘Science for Resilience’
Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum, for Scientific and Technical Services, said as co-author of the book, that the difference between victims of disasters and victors is how they handle adversities. The first suffers from the same repeated story; the latter moves forward and builds capacities.
Solidum said: “This book is inspired by the context of Filipino resilience—not merely surviving amid repeated losses and damages—but about living, coping, thriving and adapting to risks. And we at the DOST translated these lessons into innovations and technologies.”
The book lays the foundation in science in terms of early warning systems, human-built physical infrastructure and settlements, environment, water and agriculture, and transportation and energy, he added.
Solidum explained: “The Innovations for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management is our way to connect to the Filipino people and give them the aspiration that we are on our path to disaster resilience.”
‘Science for Awareness’
Director Richard P. Burgos, of the Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), said that the national awareness on STI has increased more than four-fold from 6 percent in 2017 to 24.5 percent in 2021, itself a big accomplishment in terms of communicating STI to the people.
He disclosed that six of DOST’s social-media platforms have a total reach of 30 million, and its media coverage in 2021 generated an advertisement value of P9.8 billion and public relations value of P13.5 billion.
Quoting Anne Roe’s “Nothing in science has any value to society if it is not communicated,” Burgos said, “This is where science communication plays a vital role” and DOST-STII becomes crucially important.
The DOST-STII provides the public access to its products and services—such as the S&T Post, Balitang RapiDOST, DOST Digest, DOST website, DOST app, news conferences and webinars, seminars and DOSTv episodes.
The multi-awarded DOSTv is aired on two TV programs, four online shows, 10 segments, has 13 million reach on Facebook and had 2,000 episodes since 2016.
Meanwhile, the Starbooks, or the Science and Technology Academic and Research Based Openly Operated Kiosk System, has been installed in more than 5,800 sites nationwide. It gives access to DOST’s library collection in remote areas without Internet or electricity.
The Department of Education has adopted Starbooks and has committed to preload it on all computers and gadgets for the regions.
‘Science for Business’
Director Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, of the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute, said the book is one of the best ways the DOST could offer in order to reach out and inspire as many inventors, innovators and technopreneurs in the country who are in their journeys toward building their own enterprises.
“We have corroborated in programs of assistance to help each of them in fulfilling a concept prototype, protecting their intellectual properties, creating a working model for market and pilot testing and commercializing their technologies,” she said.
The successes in the fields—such as in agriculture and natural resources, health and nutrition, and advanced engineering and robotics—have resulted in mitigating disasters, eradicating malnutrition and public health problems, improving business operations and productivity, and protecting the environment, Decena explained.
“By reading the snippets of the lives of our noble partners, I have learned and realized a thing or two: that having a creative or inventive mind is not merely measured by social class, educational background, or disposition in life as ultimately anyone can become successful through science for business,” Decena pointed out.
‘Greatest achievement’
Responding to the “Science for Healing” book, Dr. Nina G. Gloriani, head of DOST Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP), pointed out that she considers her engagement with DOST VEP as her “greatest achievement” in her professional life/career in public health.
“I look up to the leadership of DOST, which has time and again poured its whole heart and soul into its many accomplishments, some of which are showcased in these books,” she said.
Citing parts of the book where the role of the VEP was highlighted, Gloriani said the chapter on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (VES) underscored the streamlining process the DOST and other relevant agencies, which helped advance the country’s access to Covid-19 vaccines.
The Task Group on VES (TG-VES), she added, established bilateral and multilateral collaborations on vaccine clinical trials.
It also developed a national Vaccine Development and Manufacturing roadmap that will guide the country toward vaccine self-sufficiency and self-reliance in the future.
“A great contribution of the DOST is its very big support to the World Health Organization Solidarity Trial Vaccines which placed the Philippines in the global map for vaccine collaborations,” she said.
Major contribution of the TG-VES, through the VEP, included its engagement in information and communication activities, that explained Covid-19 vaccine issues to all sectors, including those at the grassroots level, Gloriani noted.
Empowering inventors and scientists
Written in simple language, the “Science for Business” provides diverse examples that can target a mix of investors, inventors, innovators, policy-makers, students and entrepreneurs, said Greg Çiocson of the DOST’s technology transfer and business development team in his response to the book.
In the chapter on technology development, “We will see how inventors and scientists can be empowered, how other stakeholders in transferring the technology broadened their skills in managing the technologies, and its context in the organization, industry, market and the country,” Çiocson said.
Responses
Those who also gave their responses to the books were: NRCP Researcher Dr. Rochelle Irene G. Lucas and Ret. Col. Gilbert Ramos (conductor and musical director of Musikawayan), to “Science for the Arts.”
FASSSTER developer Dr. Maria Regina Justina E. Estuar in “Science for Healing:” Defense Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad and Local Government Undersecretary Nestor F. Quinsay Jr., to “Science for Resilience.”
Frontlearners Inc.’s Leo and Maria Elaine P. de Velez, and BusinessMirror Science Editor Lyn Resurreccion, to “Science for Awareness,” and Techmatch Asia’s Nestor Precioso, to “Science for Business.”
Image credits: Lyn B. Resurreccion