DOST named anti-graft champion
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DOST named anti-graft champion. The Department of Science and Technology ranked 5th in the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission’s Top 10 Anti-Graft Champions for the first half of 2009. Other DOST agencies that made it to the list include the Science and Technology Information Institute, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, DOST Region 3, and National Research Council of the Philippines (8th place); Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (9th place); and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (10th place). Receiving the award for STII is its Officer-in-Charge Ma. Isabel Carag-Dario (left) who is concurrently Asst. Secretary of the Office of the Press Secretary, along with Tony Kwok, Hong Kong anti-corruption expert; PAGC Chair Constancia De Guzman, and PAGC Exec. Dir. Cristin Manalang, and Comm. Belinda Salcedo. The anti-graft champions were selected for compliance to the Integrity Development Action Plan, the national anti-graft framework that focuses on corruption prevention, education, deterrence, and strategic partnership. [S&T Media Service]
Balik Scientist kicks off biotechnology research up north
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Dr. Marilyn Baguinon, a US-based scientist recently laid the building blocks of biotechnology researches in northern Philippines at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Through a short-term grant under the Department of Science and Technology’s Balik Scientist Program, Dr. Baguinon introduced to researchers and students the basics of biotechnology research and development, and trained them on the methods in biotechnology R&D activities.
Baguinon is an expert in biotechnology, microbiology, and biochemistry, and also currently associate professor in Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in the US.. She is also a former MMSU assistant professor.
“The students are very interested in biotechnology and they have many questions,” observed Baguinon who served as resource person during the Regional Science and Technology Week in August. She also helped the university in preparing a research proposal on “Molecular characterization of isolates for first and second generation feedstock for ethanol production” intended for external funding.
It is MMSU’s first time to get on a biotech research, so Baguinon has to train researchers initially on molecular techniques. Moreover, in close coordination with MMSU President Miriam E. Pascua, Dr. Baguinon prepared a list of equipment and materials to start a biotechnology laboratory in the university.
Dr. Marilyn Baguinon
Dr. Guillermo Mendoza
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PSHS-Davaoâs futuristic gizmo
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Philippine Science High School Davao campus student Al Tristan Bandiola shows “King Spider”, a spider robot that’s capable to interact through sensors attached on its frame. This PSHS-Davao’s futuristic gizmo and other mostly food items produced by Mindanao based SMEs, which received DOST assistance such as product and process enhancement and technology related services were on display Sept. 23-27 during the Mindanao Cluster Science and Technology Fair in SM City Davao hosted by DOST Region XI. [Joy M. Lazcano, S&T Media Service]
Nobel laureate and Green Revolution icon Norman Borlaug, 95
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The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines joins the world community in mourning the death last September 12 of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.
Dr. Borlaug was considered “The Father of the Green Revolution” for his contributions to the development of high-yielding crop varieties and introducing agricultural innovations to the developing world. He earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his significant work in stabilizing global food security and averting widespread famine.
NAST elected Dr. Borlaug as honorary member on March 10, 2000 to become the first and only eminent scientist to hold the distinction from the Philippine government’s highest recognition and advisory body on science and technology.
He was guest speaker for the Dioscoro L. Umali Lecture Series at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Manila over nine years ago and spoke on “Global Food Security–Harnessing Science and Technology in the 21st Century.”
Read more: Nobel laureate and Green Revolution icon Norman Borlaug, 95