Tag: science

Week 2: Science in Action – the National Science and Technology Week

If last week was science in theory, this week it’s science in action. I was supposed to go visit the National Museum and explore the nearby derelict places of interest but instead I opted to attend two timely events. 

The first was DOST’s National Science and Technology Week held at SMX MOA. It’s a free event where the latest technological innovations by Filipino scientists are displayed. It’s like a giant science fair. I already saw this event last year but it was only this year that I got to attend. 

The theme was Philippines: A Science Nation Innovating for Global Competitiveness. The hall was divided into various sections so researches can be grouped into agricultural sector, IT sector, industry sector and etc. In every exhibit I visited, I can recall my Pisay days whenever we had to present our IPs (investigatory projects). The entire hall looked like a massive IP presentation. 

Audience

There were A LOT of students. As in, A LOT. I went alone and was glad I did. There was just so many students it was dizzying. Many of the exhibitors were also actively engaging with students so it was kinda hard to talk to them. These are high school students btw. 

I got a sense that the exhibit was mainly for the students – perhaps to inspire them to pursue science and technology; perhaps to complement what they learn in the classroom. It catered to other professions too and there  were even separate registration booths for entrepreneurs but if there were fellow entrepreneurs there, they are very hard to spot. 

  
I just hope that entrepreneurs and private businesses would also attend the fair. It’s because they will be the ones who can breathe life to the inventions of these scientists. As scientists their role is to invent better solutions – faster machines, better agricultural products, etc. They conduct groundbreaking research reminiscent of our thesis days. However, their study will remain a study if no enterprising business would get it and build it to scale. 

If their inventions don’t see the light of commercialization, how can it serve for the betterment of the people?

Philippines – A Start-up Hub

Good thing there are companies like Ideaspace who are ready to invest in solid groundbreaking ideas. 

Ideaspace has invested in Croo, a device that can be embedded in accessories so that when you’re in danger you can just click it and it will automatically send an SMS to your loved ones. They also invested in iHarvest, a technology by an Adamson student that seeks to hasten the milling process. 

  

Ideaspace is a startup incubator by PLDT where pioneering ideas are given the chance to flourish through fundings and an entrepreneurship mentoring setup. If your idea like those above are selected in the competition, then you have a chance to market them to the public because resources are made availble to you. 

Schools as Breeding Ground for Start Ups

When I attended the APEC’s Startup Summit (Slingshot MNL) they stressed how important it is to create a startup ecosystem in the country mainly in the universities. 

Going around the exhibit hall, I saw how possible it is to have a startup ecosystem in the country. 

  
  
The UP Diliman booth showcased their winning car in a Shell competition and their innovative guitar. I, of course, felt the UP pride but it was upon seeing the FEU booth that made me realize how truly innovative Pinoys are and that we can definitely compete in the global invention arena. 

The Hamis is an invention where in order to turn on your motorcycle, your helmet must be in place. The ignition is connected to the helmet. There is also the automated book drop collection where every book dropped is automatically linked to your library file. It follows the same logic as the resume scanner which can intelligently scan every paper resume. PUP was also innovative with it’s bamboo power generator. 

To me FEU and PUP were able to identify real world problems and come up with ingenious solutions. Now I hope they present it to Ideaspace and get funding to develop further. 

The Government’s Efforts

The government is also doing its part to innovate and provide better solutions. 

I particularly liked the concept of One Lab. It seeks to simplify lab testing of your products via any DOST lab. As manufacturers or budding entrepreneurs we need to have a product tested – for chemical content, biochemical reactions, etc. One Lab is an online platform that allows you to see what tests are availble in which lab, how much they costs and if vying for certain accreditations what tests are needed. Further, if the lab you chose cannot accommodate you for some reason, they will simply be the one to forward your samples to another lab but they will remain as your primary contact. 

  

  
Another government project I hope sees the light is the use of TV Whitespace as wifi signal. I’m not sure how it actually works but the government also has an initiave to digitalize everything – from obtaining records to transacting with government agencies. 

Perhaps the most impressive government initiative would be the Hybrid Road Train. It seeks to address the massive transportation issues in Metro Manila. I tried the demo ride and it’s a smooth vehicle. It can accommodate 240 passengers in one go and it runs with a mix of diesel and Lithium batteries. It’s environmentally friendly and 100% Pinoy made. It doesn’t need a track to run into but it will require a dedicated lane in the highway. It’s not yet clear when it can be implemented as they still need major investors to fund the initiative. 

   

This is how the train would look like on the road. The unusual roof drew flak in social media.
 
The concept is very similar to the tram except that this version is modernized. 

Addendum 

I saw this giant poster about statistics of S&T Human Capital throughout the years and I’m proud to say I’m part of the Pisay statistics. 

  
I also saw this research that when implemented will solve one of the Millenium Developmental Goals – higher access to potable water. 

It’s a candle-type ceramic water filter formulated with red clay that filters microbial contaminants in the water making it potable. 

  
Another innovation that caught my eye is this loom. It’s intended to improve the use of local fabrics like abaca, jute, pinya and cotton. I remembered Mr. Kengkoy, the social enterprise from Bicol that sought to provide better livelihood to mothers in a town in Albay by using their woven jute cloth as raw material for backpacks. 

  

There are many researches in the area. So many in fact I am confident that the solution to many of our country’s problem lies in the hands of these scientists. All they need is decent funding to bring their inventions to the masses. 

Note: My second adventure for the day was the Inspire Everyday event at the Ayala Museum but I was late and wasn’t able to enter anymore. 

Week #1: Exploring the Mind Museum

I’m still at Week 1 and already I’ve written about 3 adventures. This series is definitely motivating me to write more and explore more.  Science does comes alive at the Mind Museum. I’ve always wanted to explore this place even before it opened. The science geek in me knew I had so much to learn and enjoy in this place. And true enough I was not disappointed.  Armed with a Metro Deal coupon, I tagged my marine biologist friend along to explore. It was a fun coincidence that the travelling exhibit was about the coral triangle in the country.  What I loved about the Mind Museum is how science is creatively presented. For instance, viewing the newly discovered marine species involved placing wooden blocks in a panel that will detect the embeded digital media and flash it on a screen. It was like placing slides under a microscope.     The area I wanted to explore was the giant display of the brain. It was fun how you have to step on a description of the brain part located on the floor to have the appropriate part light up.     Equally fascinating for me was to see replicas of things I observed only under the microscope.

Top and Bottom Left: Bacteria culture in agar. Both of whom I also studied in Microbio. | Bottom Right: Mitosis phases which I observed for onion cells under a microscope

Another fun display in the Life Section was the Pockets of Life which shows how  large certain groups are due to the number of species belonging to them.     I am not a huge physics nor chemistry fan but I find it surreal being reminded of the names of famous scientists who have become household names to me growing up.

The exhibit asks you to pair a scientist with his famous work.

It was also wonderful seeing their famous experiments depicted artistically.

Left: Erathosthenes who measured the Earth’s circumference | Right: Thomas Young who established the wave theory of light contradicting Newton’s light particle theory

A visit would not be complete without marvelling at the giant TRex replica but it was not what fascinated me in the Earth section. I was more fascinated with the trilobite fossile replica. Trilobites are extinct arthropods considered to be the most successful animal having survived for 270 million years – from the Cambrian to the Permian era. I have always loved drawing them back in my Bio days.     I love how the Mind Museum infuses fun with science. To me, science is fun as it is but to many I know they find it a difficult subject. Even for me, not all Science is fun such as Math but the slides in the playground gives Math a whole new perspective. Though honestly, I don’t know the Math equation for these shapes.     The Mind Museum is a fun place to be. And I would love to go there again – and even buy a year-round pass. I might even volunteer to be a mind mover. I just hope they keep up the high quality of the displays. Already some areas are showing signs of wear. It was encouraging seeing some displays closed for improvement but there are many more due for repair. The interactive nature of the displays do call for regular maintenance.     The Mind Museum at Taguig Opens from Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 6pm Visit mindmuseum.org for ticket rates and exhibit schedules

Hello Pluto!

I am excited. For the first time in my life – and probably the only time in my life – I will be part of a major planetary breakthrough.

Ever since I was a kid, I have been fascinated with space and the universe beyond us. The moment I first laid my hands on a space encyclopedia, I was mesmerized. My small young eyes bulged as I took in photos after photos of our Solar System and the other heavenly bodies beyond. I know they were just artist renditions and the real photos were less stellar, however, I remain fascinated.

I dreamed to be an astronomer, maybe even an astronaut, and be part of space exploration.

Space was what drew me to science at such a young age. A passion I’ve long since explored and cultivated eventually ending up mastering the science of life by taking a course in Biology. As my scientific knowledge grew, I veered away from space science and no longer followed it as closely as I once had.

I simply knew bits and pieces – major milestones in history. And now, with this major milestone, I am all glued to watch it unfold bit by bit.

Pluto, in my mind, has always been the ninth planet. Even when they re-classified it into a dwarf planet and said it was no longer part of the major planets of the Solar System, in my heart it remained a planet. I guess I was being more emotional than rational, affixing childhood memories to the far-flung planet. But I was hopeful that one day, we will discover more about the planet.

And now that moment has come. Although Pluto might not really become a part of the major planets, the mere fact that is has been explored – and that I am part of the generation who witnessed it for the first time – is enough for me.

It is humbling to be such a tiny speck in this vast universe filled with such wondrous things.

To read more about Pluto and the New Horizons project, here are some really great links:

Hello Pluto by Mashable

NASA New Horizons Twitter Page

Hello Pluto by Space.com

what does a guinea pig or a lab mice feel as its being experimented upon?

today i felt what they feel…everytime their subjected to experiments…being observed for their reactions.

today we had an experiment. on respiration or breathing and the effects of various aspects on it – excercise, coughing or laughing, speech, pain, hyperventilation, deep breathing, etc.

and as always i was the volunteer (?) [disclaimer: i love volunteering my services for the sake of science]. and while they were instructing me to do this and that and do forth i felt like a lab mice. i actually symphatized with them. so this is how its like to be experimented upon.

you shoul try it sometime. design an experiment and you are the variable. hehe. i mean a scientific experiment.

oh well. for the sake of science.