‘Love Bohol,’ but make it science

Best known for its enigmatic dome-like chocolate hills that change color with the seasons; its pristine white-sand beaches, heavenly waterfalls, freshwater springs, rivers, and mangrove orchards that show the sensational and vibrant marine life, not to mention also the fresh air and clear skies that envelop the whole island – Bohol is truly one of the best places to visit in the Philippines and, definitely, one of the rightful places to learn science. 

 

With its abundance of natural wonders, the echoes of science resound in Bohol, which explains exactly why it is a perfect destination for travelers that want the best of both worlds: relaxation and science adventure. 

 

However, while its offering of breathtaking spots for leisure buffs and adrenaline junkies is already an open secret, many are oblivious of how the province can also be a perfect island destination for science explorers and enthusiasts – a fact that remains a mystery to many visitors of the island, and even to their own natives.  

 

Hence, for the very first time, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) brought three of its flagship science promotional programs to the island province, immersing hundreds of young Boholanos to an enriching and fun-filled science adventure. 

 

First is the Climate Science Youth Camp, which seeks to promote oceanography and meteorology as a field of study and as a career for the new generation. Letting the students experience science by appreciating and interacting with nature, this project forwards that the knowledge and exposure to the various concepts in environmental science and their applications can help the youth understand the dynamics of the ocean and the atmosphere and infer the effects of climate change to earth systems. 

 

In this camp, scientists and researchers are gathered to give students and teachers a close-up glimpse at nature and provide them with first-hand training on how to take care of the environment. 

 

Meanwhile, the nuLab: STEM in Motion, is a mobile interactive learning facility that features exciting hands-on learning through fun and easy science activities. It has served hundreds of Filipino students from several municipalities nationwide, traveling into different provinces across the country to teach various modules in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). 

 

Equipped with a huge interactive board, individual monitor for students, laboratory-grade equipment, wireless sensors, and more, nuLab offers a modern mobile learning environment that can help pique students’ interest in the sciences. 

 

Driving both these science promotion initiatives is the project dubbed “#Push4Science: Maging DOST Scholar Ka”, which engages municipalities without S&T Scholars through a massive communication campaign that promote the DOST-SEI Undergraduate S&T Scholarships and inspire students to take up STEM courses in the college level. 

Finally, after many years of conducting these science programs in various areas of Luzon and Mindanao, the DOST-SEI has now brought the science adventure to the breathtaking province of Bohol. 

 

For a couple of weeks, Bohol had been both a home and a learning ground, a place where many young Boholanos had the chance to discover science and connect to the world around them, together with the company of some of the country’s brilliant and astounding scientist-facilitators and science advocates.  

And the Institute hopes that that the young souls whom they have helped learn in this province can later take on the challenge in imparting their newfound knowledge, as well as in helping bring out in the future generations the joy and excitement of learning science.  

There is this quote by Marcel Proust, “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” 

The DOST-SEI encourages these young Boholanos to never stop becoming the voyagers of the unknown, explorers of new lands, and speakers of the scientific truth.  

Truly, their home province had given them an experience that was so unique and satisfying. They have learned there. They have loved there. It was a voyage that they never expected. And to be able to look back, they have to remember where it all started. 

 

From the depths and heights 

 

Aiming to introduce the young Boholanos to the hidden wonders of science that surround their province and encourage them to become valuable contributors to climate action and future protectors of the environment, the DOST-SEI conducted the annual Climate Science Youth Camp at the island province.  

“Hindi na ako bulag sa mga epekto ng climate change, you encouraged me, to be better for our community and to our environment,” said Mary Precious Alyzza Golosenda, a ninth grader from Mahayag National High School.

This year, a batch of students and teachers from different municipalities of Bohol got the chance to be junior marine scientists and junior weather specialists during a nine-day intensive science youth camp held in Panglao Island.

The camp introduced oceanography and meteorology through a series of lectures, hands-on laboratory activities, and field exposures with the guide of young scientists from University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) and DOST Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).

With this year’s theme “New Horizons: Connecting Lines Between the Sky, Sea, and Society,” campers have appreciated the interconnectedness of the ocean, the atmosphere, and the community. The modules centered on the following subjects about the earth’s atmosphere: temperature, pressure, rainfall, greenhouse gases, weather, hazards, extreme weather conditions, and automatic weather station (AWS) observation.

They also tackled oceanic temperature, circulation, chemistry, marine biology, and focused on issues such as ocean warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification and the impacts of coral bleaching.

Statisticians from the Institute’s Research Unit also exposed the campers to community-based research and participatory assessment of climate change impact.

Through up-close and personal interaction with the scientists, Boholano campers unlocked new skills such as collecting seawater samples for plankton and water quality analysis, basic snorkeling, and conducting research. For their field exposure, campers were brought to Pamilacan Island to explore the corals and seagrass and to Panglao Poblacion seaport to observe mangroves which serve as protection to their home province. They also visited the PAGASA Weather Station to see the instruments used in gathering data for weather forecasting.  

One of the fresh faces in this year’s batch of facilitators was Engr. Lean Michael Malabanan or fondly called by the campers “Kuya Malabs,” who taught a module on storm surge activity.  

The 26-year-old engineer turned meteorologist captured the interest of the campers as he conducted simulation experiments to introduce numerous factors crucial in understanding waves and storm surges. 

 

Malabanan, a DOST scholar graduate under RA 7687, graduated from the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) in 2018 with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Currently, he is working as a weather observer under the Climate and Agrometeorological Division of the DOST-PAGASA. 

By creating opportunities for students to engage with scientists and experience their real lifework, DOST-SEI aims to encourage more students to pursue S&T careers in the future, and hopefully develop more climate scientists for the country. 

 

All the way to the streets 

Aside from making the Boholano youth learn science through nature and training them to be the next generation’s climate advocates and protectors of the environment, the DOST-SEI also sparked their interest in STEM. 

 

Aiming to widen its reach in the Central Visayas, the DOST-SEI’s NuLab: STEM in Motion bus embarked on a three-day road trip from Manila to bring science closer to around 400 young Boholanos.  

 

The bright yellow mobile learning facility, simply called NuLab, visited five (5) public high schools in partnership with the DOST Regional Office VII, Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) – Bohol,  and the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Bohol. The bus journeyed through the coastal towns of Ubay and Bien Unido before reaching selected schools in the city of Tagbilaran. 

NuLab is DOST-SEI’s program to address the lack of science laboratory facilities in underprivileged schools in the country. Inside the bus, there are individual screens for students, wireless sensors and a large interactive board that can simulate a science laboratory which can encourage students to venture into STEM fields. 

 

Throughout NuLab’s visit, students had the opportunity to learn from some of the country’s leading scientists and professionals. Balik Scientist and DOST Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Deputy Director Vallerie Innis Samson introduced the practical uses of nuclear science, while her fellow Balik Scientist and Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF-JAZC) Marine Sciences Laboratory Director Janneli Lea Soria taught a module on environmental science focusing on the geological features of Bohol province. 

 

University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) professors Dr. Ariel Babierra and Dr. Jomar Rabajante taught Bezier Curves using a fun and interactive mathematics module, while chemist-entrepreneur Miko Lorenzo Belgado introduced the students to a world of chemistry. 

 

Among the roster of NuLab’s scientists-facilitators is DOST scholar Lorraine Joyce del Rosario who taught the students the basics of microbiology. With the laboratory-grade equipment and a carefully designed module, Del Rosario made science learning exciting and inspiring even for non-STEM students. 

“I wanted to be an instrument also to promote STEM to students, to young people, so that they too, can be inspired to take up science courses or to be in the science field in the future,” said Del Rosario. 

Del Rosario, 26, majored in Biology at the University of the Philippines Baguio and became a DOST-SEI scholar on her third year in college under the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) of the Institute. Currently, the young scientist is finishing her masteral thesis at the University of the Philippines Diliman under the Advanced Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP), one of the graduate scholarship programs of DOST-SEI. 

One student from Ubay National High School who participated in the microbiology module taught by Del Rosario expressed her newfound perspective in STEM careers. 

“Before I participated in the NuLab event, my first course for college was Political Science. After my experience in NuLab, it broadened my experience and I discovered that there are many STEM courses available,” said Grade 11 student Alaiza Samon. 

 

Pushing for more Boholano S&T scholars, scientists 

DOST-SEI’s initiatives are more than just STEM mentoring programs. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage students to pursue science and technology courses and help them finish their studies through various undergraduate scholarship programs. 

Under the #Push4Science: Maging DOST Scholar Ka campaign, the Institute introduced the opportunities and benefits of being a DOST scholar to the Boholano youth.  

 

Currently, qualifiers of DOST undergraduate scholarship receive P7,000 monthly stipend, tuition subsidy, along with other allowances such as those for clothing and transportation. 

“We encourage young people to pursue STEM careers and SEI will help them kasi nagpoprovide kami ng scholarship, number one program namin yan sa mga university students. And even to pursue their MS or PHD, both locally and abroad,” said Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of the Institute.

Through administering the science and technology scholarship programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the Institute aims to fill the shortage of science experts and meet the growing demands of S&T professionals in the country.

Meanwhile, DOST scholar graduates like del Rosario and Malabanan are stepping in to volunteer as facilitators in the various DOST-SEI programs. Aside from fulfilling their return service, the two young scientists are paying it forward to the next generation of potential scholars.

“In our country, we lack scientists. We need more people in the field of science, specifically in the field of STEM because we are going to be instrumental in improving the quality of lives in our nation through research building and through information dissemination,” said del Rosario who is also in her sixth year of teaching at the University of Santo Tomas Senior High School (UST SHS).

The Institute is hopeful of producing more scientists like del Rosario and Malabanan who will serve and uplift the country by imparting their knowledge and expertise to the future generation of scientists and innovators.

And they hope that through bringing the fun and wonder of science to hundreds of Boholano students, they can encourage more of them to become part of the S&T workforce who will work together for the progress of the nation.

From this entire science adventure in Bohol, one thing can be realized – Bohol is many things. It is a land rich in history, natural resources, and good scenery. But most importantly, it is a land that manifests the beauty and wonder of science. And the DOST-SEI firmly believes that by harnessing the youth’s potential, it can also produce the country’s future pool of great scientists and STEM advocates.

With the knowledge they have gained and the notions of science that they have learned, the young Boholanos will certainly perceive Bohol with a changed viewpoint – not just on how they see it, but also on how they can protect it. Because while science tells them that loving Bohol should have been done a long time ago, it also tells them that in doing so, there is never too late.