NASA CHALLENGE: Ilonggos try to solve real-world problems

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

TEN finalists from Western Visayas get the chance to develop ideas and applications that will help solve problems in the Philippines and the world through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Apps Challenge Iloilo.

The three-day hackathon started with a data bootcamp on Oct 18, 2019 at the Central Philippine University (CPU) in Iloilo City.

The NASA Space Challenge hosted by the United States Embassy in the Philippines was conducted simultaneously in Manila, Iloilo, and Davao.

Matt Keener, Cultural Attaché of the U.S. Embassy said the Space Apps Challenge provides opportunities for Filipinos to work on ideas and applications that will aim to solve problems in the country and the rest of the globe, based on the data presented by NASA.

“At the end of the event, they will come up with solutions, prototypes that they will present to a panel of judges. The idea is really to teach them how to work collaboratively; how to really focus in using science and technology for problem solving; and applications to solve real world challenges. It will be a wide range of innovations that will come out,” he said.

Two teams from Davao and two teams from Iloilo will be selected to participate in the global judging round organized by NASA where the winners get the chance to present their applications in US and will be invited to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Last year, one of the global winners came from the Philippines which was represented by De La Salle University.

Keener said the team developed a mobile app for fisherfolks to allow them to effectively communicate the corresponding weather conditions and other useful information despite the absence of smart phones and internet.

He underscored the need for Filipinos to use NASA’s global resource of data on environment, climate, or space to solve real world problems in the communities.

“It’s the type of thing that NASA can’t do on its own; it requires people that know the situation on the ground and understand how they can connect this abstracted data and solve real world problems. Philippines is a country that is an island destination and is subjected to the variety of challenges, natural disasters, climate change, ocean, aquaculture resources that the opportunity is right to use all the data that NASA has and solve those day to day problems,” he said.

According to Keener, they saw the opportunity to hold the event in Iloilo as the city is now gearing towards becoming a “Smart City” which harnesses science and technology and innovation in delivering government services.

“The reason we chose Iloilo this year as a city because we know that Iloilo is invested in becoming a Smart City by investing on its youth, in its science and technology, and education. It’s part of the reason why we worked closely with CPU. Government agencies are already demonstrating their commitment with events like Innovate Iloilo,” he said.

Ma. Cynthia Peleña, Director of Libraries of CPU said the ten finalists for the Space Apps Challenge in Iloilo came from educational institutions such as University of San Agustin (USA), Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Region 6 and private individuals who are inclined in innovations and technology.

“We are now discovering ideas, innovative minds, to create an application to solve the problems pertaining to earth, space, and oceans. There are a lot of creative and innovative minds in Iloilo,” she said.

One participant, Carr Brian Griño who works in the Department of Interior and Local Governemnt (DILG) in Region 6 said his passion for space and exploration inspired him to join the event.

“I am a government employee but I am passionate about space, and exploration. Since then, I have attended science fairs. I am an advocate of space technology especially mga programs sa government like mapping of roads using satellite’s data,” he said.

Griño hopes to use his learning from the hackathon to eventually use data and innovation to help the different sectors in the community and contribute to the plans and targets of the LGUs.

“I learned a lot because thru the NASA open data, we can contribute to our economy, and actual situation in the Philippines that would help sectors in the attainment of sustainable development and combat climate change. Data can be helpful in the attainment of plans and targets of the LGUs at the same time sang government through data,” he said.

Nine-year-old Allen Blauuw from Bacolod City, who was the youngest participant in the Space Apps Challenge, said he finds the event interesting as it tackles information concerning space.
“I was encouraged by my dad to join but I find this workshop also interesting. I learned about NASA and space,” he said.

Blauuw said he wants to become a programmer someday to help solve problems in the world.

According to Dr. Emelyn Flores, Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the hackathon can also help expose students and inspire them to do some research and development concerning problems in earth and space.

“I can see these students at this early will be exposed to do some research and development regarding the problems that they see in earth and space and they will be exposed to latest technology that we need like artificial intelligence,” she said.

On October 20, 2019, the winners for the Space Apps Challenges in Iloilo will be announced.
The Space Apps Challenge is the special pre-event of the much-anticipated, Iloilo Innovation Expo 2019.

The first-ever Iloilo Innovation Expo 2019 is a week-long event which will showcase the role of science and technology, innovation to promote sustainable development in the city and the region.

Matt Keener, Cultural Attaché of the U.S. Embassy said “Innovate Iloilo” is the perfect opportunity for the holding of the Space Apps Challenge.

Meanwhile, Innovate Iloilo 2019 will run from October 21-25, 2019 where events such as Iloilo Innovation Summit, ILOILOvation Business Matching and Investment Forum, Iloilo Federation for Information and Technology Job Fair and National ICT Confederation of the Philippines ICT Summit, among others will be held mostly at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district.

Part of the Innovate Iloilo 2019 is the holding of the DOST’s Regional Science and Technology Week and Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits also at the ICON.