PSHS-SMC Science Camp
Ignite 2019: Race of the Scientific Minds
November 14, 2019, PSHS Gymnasium, Davao City, Davao del Sur
The USAID PEER PEOPLES project has been tapped by the PSHS-SMC Science Club to participate as resource speakers in their annual Science Camp with the theme Ignite 2019: Race of the Scientific Minds. The two (2)-day no overnight camp focused on developing alternative scientific skills such as science communication, innovation and collaboration, that could potentially prepare the participants to become successful scientists. It included lectures, workshops, and several educational and fun-filled activities.
For Day 1 of Ignite 2019, Dr. Caroline Marie B. Jaraula (Project Investigator) delivered a lecture and workshop on Collaboration. Dr. Jaraula highlighted the essential elements to a productive collaboration including: 1. Rules are defined, 2. Needs and contributions are well-defined. 3. Outputs are expected, and 4. Trust is necessary. Furthermore, Dr. Jaraula presented four (4) major scientific collaborations with global impact including: 1. The International Space Station Program, 2. The Human Genome Project, 3. Millenium Seedbank Partnership, and 4. European Council for Nuclear Research.
After citing collaborations with global impact, she has introduced the PEOPLES Project. She has narrated her personal experiences on how collaboration works for scientific endeavors. Towards the end of her presentation, she showed a video message from one of its collaborators, Dr. Diana S. Aga (Project Co-Investigator) and her Ph.D. student Ms. Isay Angeles having a quick tour of their laboratory at the Chemistry Department, University at Buffalo, New York, USA. This was followed by another video message from Ms. Shyrill Mae F. Mariano, an MS student of the project and lastly a fieldwork video highlighting the training of the PSHS-SMC teachers as well as collaboration with the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao on the various coastal sampling processes.
Day 1 of Ignite 2019 during Dr. Jaraula’s lecture and workshop on Collaboration at the PSHS-SMC Gymnasium (Photo credits: Joanne Constantino)
On the same day, Dr. Lyre Anni E. Murao (Project Co-Investigator) also gave a lecture and workshop on Innovation entitled How to Ignite your Innovation. Dr. Murao took off by defining innovation as the process of creating value by applying novel solutions to meaningful problems. She has provided several examples to further expound what innovation really means. She narrated the stories of Grab (how the transport service made its way), the three (3)-point seatbelt design made by Nils Bohlin (engineer at Volvo), Nike shoes with NFC (near-field communication) tags, how Kodak failed to keep up with innovations, and Roche being on top of the healthcare industry (i.e. antibiotics tailor fit for patients). Dr. Murao left the future scientists with a powerful acronym for IGNITE to champion any innovation: Interact with people that matter, Give meaning to what you do, Nurture partnerships, Invest in crazy ideas, Think big, start small, and Evolve with the times.
Day 1 of Ignite 2019 during Dr. Murao’s lecture and workshop on Innovation at the PSHS-SMC Gymnasium
(Photo credits: Joanne Constantino)