The Centro Escolar University renews its partnership with DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute to boost science communication activities to promote science on campus. Present during the MOU signing were CEU president Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, DOST-STII chief Alan C. Taule, CEU Media and Communication department chair Jose Cris Sotto, and DOST-STII senior science research specialist Joy M. Lazcano. (Photo by Rachel Rieza, DOST-STII)
Centro Escolar University (CEU) has renewed its partnership with the Department of Science and Technology - Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) to promote science and technology through a series of science communication activities designed to enhance the skills of its communication students.
The collaboration was formalized last 20 May 2025 at the CEU Mendiola campus, Manila with a memorandum of understanding signed by CEU's outgoing president, Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, and DOST Assistant Secretary for Technology Transfer, Communications, and Commercialization, Dr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr.
Through the Science Journo Ako (SJA) advocacy program, this partnership will provide communication students with opportunities for training in multimedia production, learning sessions, expert engagements, resource sharing, and internships.
“This is a way to encourage more young people to pursue science programs,” shared Dr. Padolina. She noted that while many aspiring students gravitate toward hard science courses, only a few enroll in programs such as Bachelor of Science in Biology (BS Bio) or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BS Chem). “It is great that we have this program,” exclaimed Dr. Padolina.
In 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two institutions collaborated to co-produce "Centrong Agtek," a flagship mini talk show broadcast on social media. This project helped students develop an appreciation for the field of science by learning from various experts and scientists featured in the show's first run.
With renewed enthusiasm, DOST-STII and CEU plan to create more science-related content to encourage students to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In a message delivered by Information Resources and Analytics Division Chief Alan C. Taule, Assistant Secretary Juanillo expressed a commitment to proactively engage with stakeholders. He outlined plans to integrate new skills and knowledge in science communication into the training of local scientists, researchers, students, and academic institutions. He also praised CEU for its efforts to promote science among its students, stating, “CEU has embraced our philosophy of using science communication as a powerful tool to advance progress by informing the public about the benefits of our developed technologies, knowledge, programs, and initiatives.”
According to CEU’s Media and Communication Department Chair, Mr. Jose Cris Sotto, the university plans to feature health and science topics and experts in their podcast. They are also considering collaborating to repackage some of DOST's broadcast content for their various social media platforms. Juanillo hopes that many schools will follow CEU’s lead in mainstreaming science content as supplemental information to expose students to more science-related material online.
The SJA is a science communication advocacy program aimed at capacitating and introducing science learning sessions to augment awareness of science and technology among communication students. (By Joy M. Lazcano, DOST-STII)
