EUREKA! Kudos to Filipino science geniuses

EUREKA!
Kudos to Filipino science geniuses

By Queena Lee-Chua
Inquirer
Last updated 00:45am (Mla time) 04/14/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Isef), the world’s largest science research competition for high school students, brings together almost 1,500 science aficionados from almost 50 countries. These students share ideas on cutting-edge science, and compete for over US$4 million in awards and scholarships. The finalists for each country are selected from local Intel fests.

Since 1998, the Intel Philippine Science Fair has provided a venue for our high school students to showcase their investigative endeavors. Our local fair has proven to be a success, with a 20 percent increase in participation each year. This year’s Pinoy delegates will represent our country in the Intel Isef in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States in May.

Team projects

Jane Suede, Charlotte Joyce Gamelong and Virna Joy Cabañero of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, La Carlota City, have been chosen for their project, “Attraction and Parasitization Response of the Parasitoid Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead to Oregano, Origanum vulgare Extract.” Their research aims to provide agriculturists with a natural biological control against pests.

Ivy Razel Ventura, Janline Cindy Santiago and Mara Ellaine Villaverde of the Philippine Science High School in Diliman have also been selected for their project, “Screening, Isolation and Characterization of Fluorescent Proteins from Nudibranchs,” which introduces new technology in the study of marine life.

Individual projects

The winning projects reflect a broad range of fields and interests, which are potential breakthroughs in science and technology. Luigi John Karlo Suarez, also of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, has come up with research titled “Marine Bioluminescent Bacteria Isolates of the Vibrio spp. as a Narrow Spectrum Antibacterial Agent against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae & Xanthomonas.” Suarez gives a new way of controlling bacteria infection in plants, and aims to help farmers produce infection-free rice.

The project of Anthon Mark Jay Rivas of Bayugan National Comprehensive High School, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, is “Novel Shield against Gamma Radiation from Tilapia (Oreochromis sp) Scales: The Next Generation Radiation Protection. Through this, Rivas hopes to show that cheap, renewable and environment-friendly protection against radiation may be possible through the use of tilapia scales.

Hester Mana Umayam of the Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus, Nueva Vizcaya, has been chosen for his project, one which is close to my heart, “Ethnomathematics Applications on the Different Derived Patterns from Chosen Kalinga Woven Fabrics.” Umayam uses math to create better understanding of the patterns of Kalinga woven fabrics, especially their socio-cultural implications.

As for the project of Melvyn Arlo Barroa of Capiz National High School, Roxas City, titled “Fish Mucus: Its Potential Antimicrobial Effect on Human Pathogens and Possible Role in Innate Immunity;” the study introduces a potential antibiotic and a natural defense mechanism for fish.

At par with the world

According to Ma. Teresa L. Pacis, external communications manager for Corporate Affairs of Intel Philippines, “The Intel Philippines Science Fair promotes science and technology among the Filipino youth by fanning their passion for research. Through the years, the fair has demonstrated, too, that Filipino students are at par with the rest of the world and that what they are working on may help improve not just their personal lives, but on a greater scheme, the world of the 21st century. The fair is all about raising the bar, a task in which no student should feel incapable of doing, no matter the circumstances.”

Congratulations to our Pinoy science geniuses! May you bring more pride to our country.

For more information, contact Ms Pacis at ma.teresa.l.pacis@intel.com or log on to www.intel.com/education/ph or www.intel.com/community/philippines.

Contact Queena N. Lee-Chua at blessbook@yahoo.com.