Pictured are the brilliant winners of the 2nd Philippine Nuclear Science Olympiad held at the NART Building, DOST-PNRI, Diliman, Quezon City on May 16, 2025: 1st Place- Wins Keinrich Chen (Saint Jude Catholic School), 2nd Place - Jeremiah Auza (PSHS - Central Visayas), 3rd Place - Shaun Mannix Yap (Saint Jude Catholic School), and honorable mention awardees 4th Place - Nouel Christian Amaguin (Manila Science High School) and 5th Place - Thomas Eugene Leung (PSHS - CAR). (Photo by Patrick James Lee Alfonso, DOST-STII)

While many Filipinos still associate nuclear energy with danger due to historical incidents like Chernobyl or Fukushima and the unfinished Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, which symbolizes political and safety concerns, many STEM students are still showing interest in nuclear science, especially in relation to sustainable energy, health physics, and nuclear engineering.

This sentiment was also echoed by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) Director Carlo A. Arcilla as he encouraged young Filipinos to pursue a career in nuclear science during the 2nd Philippine Nuclear Science Olympiad (PNSO). “I encouraged everyone to try hard to be on the team because the Philippines is embarking seriously on nuclear energy… 

Nuclear is not just nuclear power, it’s many things otherwise. So, good luck to everybody. Very important is to have a wide-based approach to nuclear science, it’s a fascinating field,” said the DOST-PNRI chief.

Now in its second year, the PNSO is organized by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), in collaboration with DOST Regional Offices and the Philippine Science High School. The competition aims to promote awareness and understanding of nuclear science and technology among Filipino youth, fostering a new generation of scientists equipped to solve the nation’s future energy and environmental challenges. 

Held at the DOST-PNRI, NART Building in Diliman, Quezon City on 16 May 2025, this year’s competition brought together over a hundred students from secondary schools nationwide, aged 15 to 20. Students competed in rigorous elimination rounds that began on April 3, 2025, covering various nuclear and radiation-related concepts such as atomic structure, environmental radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion, radiation risk and safety, history of nuclear science and its various applications. Of the hundred participants, only the top 20 students emerged to advance to the final round. 

Following an intense, almost six-hour final examination, Wins Keinrich Chen of Saint Jude Catholic School emerged as the champion, wowing the judges with his exceptional depth of knowledge and sharp analytical skills.

Also securing the remaining top spots were:

• 2nd Place: Jeremiah Auza (Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas)
• 3rd Place: Shaun Mannix Yap (Saint Jude Catholic School)
• 4th Place: Nouel Christian Amaguin (Manila Science High School)
• 5th Place: Thomas Eugene Leung (Philippine Science High School – Cordillera Administrative Region)

Cash prizes were awarded as follows: ₱25,000 for the champion, ₱20,000 for second place, ₱15,000 for third, ₱10,000 for fourth, and ₱5,000 for fifth—a fitting reward for their outstanding achievements. 

Winners of the 2nd PNSO will represent the Philippines in the upcoming 2nd International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) in Malaysia by July this year. The first PNSO was successfully held in December 2023 as part of the 51st Atomic Energy Week Celebration, where the Philippines secured two gold and one silver medals, with Mohammad Nur G. Casib (PSHS Central Mindanao) and Neil Kyle Olaer Maniquis (Manila Science High School) emerging as the top scorers. Mohammad Nur G. Casib was also named the "Nuclear Science Olympiad Ambassador"—a distinguished title awarded to the highest scorer of the Olympiad.

Director Arcilla concluded the event by congratulating all the winners and reminding them to be a good ambassador of nuclear science, “values are important as knowledge, so do very well, carry the flag, and tell the world - tell those guys – ‘we are here to compete because we will be the first in nuclear and we will be the first in the INSO’. So, good luck and bring home the bacon.”  (By Abigael S. Omaña, DOST-STII)