(L to r) Samuel Parcon, DOST-7 supervising science research specialist; Lilu Alino, chairperson of Cebu Business Month 2019; and Brian Ybanez, DOST-7 science research specialist, discuss the upcoming regional invention contests and exhibition to be held as part of CBM 2019. /Irene R. Sino Cruz
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Department of Science and Technology in Central Visayas (DOST-7) noted a decline in interest in science and technology among students in Cebu and the rest of the region.
Samuel Parcon, DOST-7 supervising science research specialist and chairperson of the working committee of the upcoming Regional Invention Contests and Exhibit (RICE), said that there used to an emphasis on science through the science clubs in schools.
“Science clubs were active before because DOST provides funding for these,” Parcon said during the Kapihan sa PIA on Wednesday.
At present, however, the emphasis of schools even in science high schools like the Cebu City National Science High School was on other extra-curricular activities, Parcon pointed out.
Brian Ybañez, DOST-7 science research specialist and event focal person for RICE 2019, noted that during the previous RICE held two years ago, they received many entries from high school students. However, most entries were not included in the competition because these did not pass the criteria, Ybañez said.
Lilu Aliño, chairperson of the Cebu Business Month 2019, cited the continued talent gap as far as innovation is concerned.
“I think it takes a village where everybody can understand that innovation, research and invention are really the wave of the future,” Aliño said.
She added that everybody could work together and collaborate to encourage the parents to push their children to go into these fields.
DOST-7 has started accepting entries for the various invention contests and will continue to do so until May 24 for Invention, Utility Model, Industrial Design and Creative Research Category and May 31 for Students Creative Research Category. All information on the various category and criteria of the contests is posted on this link: https://bit.ly/2UO1eDN.
The entries will be featured at the RICE 2019 on June 12-14, 2019 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City./dcb