Science Tourism, Anyone?

Syen-Saya Festival at UPLB

A new term has been added into the tourism lexicon in the Philippines – science tourism.  This was what the Syen-Saya Festival (July 28-30, 2011) at the UPLB Campus was all about, according to Mr. Roberto Cereno, Chair of the Los Baños Tourism Council, Director of the UPLB Makiling Botanical Garden, and Coordinator of the Syen-Saya Festival.  Robie, to friends and colleagues, told me that this was the first time “science tourism” was used in the Philippines, and we (Philippines) were the first to use it in Southeast Asia.  Syen-Saya, onbviously a play with the words “syensya” and “masaya” refers to science being fun and therefore must be enjoyed not only be kids but by the adult population as well.

Science tourism is a tourism festival that focuses on science and technology education as the underlying theme.  Well, at least that’s how I look at it.

Student-guests enjoyed the interactive science exhibits of the UPLB College of Arts and Sciences, such as this on jumping marbles.

The Syen-Saya Los Baños Science Festival 2011, which was mainly a science discovery exhibit, was held at Baker Hall on the UPLB Campus.  Bus loads of elementary and High School students, from various parts of CALABARZON and Metro-Manila, enjoyed their visit to the festival.  The exhibit, which was labeled “Wonderama” was comprised of three blocks.  Block A featured “interactive exhibits” that demonstrated the application of basic science principles; Block B featured science appreciation through “locally and nationally recognized science and technology experiments conducted by high school students in the Philippines.”  Block C highlighted science application, which focused on creating “awareness on, as well as, address timely and relevant issues such as climate change, food and agricultural production, energy, and the environment through highly interactive exhibits.”

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Let me say a little more on Block B of the exhibit because this is what excites me very much.  According to a friend, Ms. Lerma Moran, Coordinator of Block B, this section of Wonderama showcased “high school science projects and investigative research with significant results” and have won national recognition.    Participating schools in this exhibit were: UP Rural High School (UPLB), Los Baños National High School (Los Baños, Laguna), Agusan del Sur National High School (San Francisco, Agusan del Sur), Pedro Guevarra Memorial National High School (Sta. Cruz, Laguna), and the Pitogo National High School (Makati). 

I found the projects very interesting because they dealt with seeking solutions to common problems using local alternative solutions, such as using flower petals extracts to cure bacterial infections, use of solid waste materials for hallow blocks, the miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) extracts as potential antibiotic, production of bioethanol from tobacco wastes, using kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) as ingredient for ice cream, luhang dalaga (Pedilanthus tithymaloides) extract to control drywood termites, tubang-bakod (Jatropha curcas) seed oil as varnish component, among others.

We do have plenty of scientific-oriented minds among our youth.  The exhibit on the projects of these elementary and high school students has demonstrated to other youths that they do have bright future in the field of science and technology.  Let’s hope that the DOST scholarships supporting youth science education in the country continues and even increase in terms of depth and breadth.

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Let me try my hand at history.  I believe that the precursor of Syen-Saya was an obscure program started by the Society for the Advancement of Research, Inc. (SAR).  SAR was organized in the 60s by young scientists, the likes of Emil Javier (currently President of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Ruben Villareal (former UPLB Chancellor), Santiago Obien (former Director of PhilRice, the late National Scientist Pedro Escuro, among others.  I happened to be a member of this Society, and, in fact, I was President for two terms in the 1990s.

SAR was the Society that initiated what was then called the Youth Research Action Program, where elementary and high school students from all over the country were invited to come to UPLB for a month to undergo science research apprenticeship under the supervision of UPLB scientists.  Participants in the YRAP were selected through science competitions at the provincial and regional levels.  The 20 students selected from the national competitions come to UPLB for their summer science apprenticeship.

SAR became inactive after my term as President, but I was able to have all the reports of the YRAP compiled.  Such compilation contains the complete reports of YRAP participants for the first 11 years.  This report is deposited in the UPLB Library for reference.

YRAP was sponsored by SAR, but today’s science competition among the youth is basically a DOST-supported annual program in collaboration with universities.  UPLB has been very active in this program.  In fact, the LBCSFI is an active participant in this endeavor.  Still, YRAP is historically the precursor of today's youth science competition. 

Am I glad to see this effort continued.  I’ve always believed that if we want to develop a science-oriented citizenry, we’ll have to start with the young.  Yes, there’s not much hope to develop science-oriented citizens out of our adult population.  We have to provide high quality science education to our youth so that we, as a people, might be able to harness science and technology for national development.

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A technology showcased in the Syen-Saya festival that I think would be very useful, if commercialized, is Aquaponics, developed by Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes, Jr. of the UPLB College of Engineering.  Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture.  The demo model on exhibit shows a barrel of water (fishpond) connected by tubes to a water pump that pumps the water to the beds of pebbles where vegetables are planted, from where the water is drained back to the barrel.  Simple.  Water from the pond (together with fish wastes) is pumped into the plant bed where the organic matter from the pond is used by the plants.  The plant bed is comprised of pebbles (crushed rocks), which also filters the water before it drains back to the pond.  Very practical technology for backyard production of fish and vegetables.  I’d like to do this in my backyard.

Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes, Jr. (left) explains his Aquaponics technology to interested visitors.

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Syena-Saya, the Los Baños Science-Tourism Festival 2011, was sponsored by the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI), which is comprised of all the science-oriented agencies and institutions in the Los Baños and Bay areas.  The presidency of the LBSCFI is rotated among the member institutions, and this year the President is Chancellor Gigi Alfonso of the UPOU.

Congratulations to the LBCSFI for this highly edutaining science-tourism festival.  Congratulations, too, to Robie Cereno for a job well done, in spite of the fact that he was operating mainly with the help of some volunteer DOST scholars.

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Archeo Jars Back With a Vengeance

I don’t know what they’re called, that’s why I call them archeological jars.  After the first batch of jars were constructed on the sidewalks of the UPLB campus, there was a lull in construction.  I thought this was due to numerous murmurs of complaint about these jars whose purpose perhaps many didn’t understand.  I, for one, still don’t know what they’re called or what they’re for.  Anyway, since they’re constructed on the side walks, perhaps they serve to prevent illegal parking on the sidewalks.  If that’s the case, then there’s some sense in those being there.  They could also serve as rest benches for seniors like myself as they go about their brisk walking exercises on campus.  Or simply, a resting bench for students after a difficult quiz or long exam.  

The jar construction has began again.

Here’s a view of those new jars on Kanluran Street.  Don’t they look great in straight line!

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