Schools from Visayas and Mindanao Win Top Awards in Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz
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A science high school in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, - Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial High School in Region 7 – triumphed as the champion among 195 schools from 11 regions of the country that participated in the Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ).
The PNSQ, conducted by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) in collaboration with the DOST Regional Offices, was one of the highlights of the Atomic Energy Week ruby anniversary in December 2012.
Another school from the Visayas, the Philippine Science High School Western Visayas campus in Region 6 placed second while the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus in Region 11 won the third place.
Caloocan City Science High School was the first place winner in the Pop Quiz, which was conducted to maximize the participation of schools within Metro Manila and to complement the PNSQ aim of enhancing awareness and understanding of the Filipino youth on nuclear science and technology and its beneficial applications. Parañaque Science High School and Muntinlupa Science High School were the second and third place winners in the Pop Quiz, respectively.
The PNSQ quarter final, semi-final and final rounds and the Pop Quiz were held at Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
The champion team from Dumaguete, composed of Alec Benjamin G. Ramirez and Hannah Jael M. Cadusale received a cash prize of 30,000 while the second and third place winners received 20,000 and 10,000 respectively. Former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, AEW closing ceremonies keynote speaker, and PNRI officials Dr. Christina Petrache, Officer-in-Charge and Victoria Fe Medina, Technology Diffusion Division chief and 2012 AEW Executive Chairperson awarded the winners at the AEW closing ceremonies.
In his keynote address, Cojuangco cited the benefits of nuclear power as an energy source that is “non-polluting, non greenhouse gas generating, the cheapest energy source and statistically and proven by history as the safest energy source ever developed by humankind.” He stressed that the youth should be aware of these benefits and be the future champions of nuclear power “so that the society will lose its irrational fear of nuclear power.”
He also expressed his hope that Philippine society will one day be able to make the right choices regarding nuclear power “because of knowledge and awareness of the truth and realities, rather than the unfounded fears, of nuclear technology“.
Congressman Julio A. Ledesma IV, in his handwritten inspirational message read by PNRI Officer-in-Charge Christina A. Petrache, encouraged the students who participated in the Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz to send to him a statement, through his Twitter account, regarding his question of “Is the Philippines ready to operate a nuclear power plant facility?” Congressman Ledesma chairs the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives. (Click here for the list of PNSQ winners and finalists)
Nuclear Technology Applications to be Featured in 40th Atomic Energy Week Celebration
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Nuclear science and technology applications in food and agriculture, health and medicine, industry, energy and the environment will be featured in activities during the 40th Atomic Energy Week (AEW) celebration on December 10 to 14, 2012 to be spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI).
DOST-PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa said that this year’s AEW celebration will focus on the theme “Nuclear Science, Technology and Innovation: Engine for Growth and Development”.
The AEW annual celebration, as mandated under Proclamation No. 1211 in 1973, aims to generate awareness of the Filipino people on the beneficial uses of nuclear technology.
The activities slated for the 40th AEW celebration include technical sessions on December 11 and 12; Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ) for high school students on December 13 at SM Mall of Asia; free guided tours to some PNRI research laboratories and service facilities; technical demonstration on radiation shielding materials; viewing of exhibits and film showing on December 11 to 14 at the DOST-PNRI in Diliman, Quezon City.
DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo is the keynote speaker during the AEW opening ceremonies on December 10. Former Representative of 5th District of Pangasinan Mark Cojuangco will give the keynote speech at the closing ceremonies on December 14 while Representative Julio Ledesma IV, Chairperson of Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, will give the inspirational message.
The topics for the technical sessions include, among others, Energy Situation in the Philippines; Nuclear Energy; The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Verification Regime; Technetium-99m Production: Issues and Options; Application of Radioactive and Stable Isotopes in Environmental Forensic Investigation; and Food Traceability and Food Safety through the Use of Nuclear Analytical Techniques. These will be discussed by experts from the Department of Energy, National Power Corporation, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, and the DOST-PNRI, respectively.
The Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz, hosted by DOST-PNRI in cooperation with DOST Regional Offices and Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center (NFSDC), will be held at NFSDC in SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. High school students from 11 regions in the country will participate in the semi-final and final rounds of the nuclear quiz. The winning teams in the quiz will receive the following cash prizes: first place – P30, 000; second place- P20, 000; and third place – P10, 000.
The Technetium-99m generator production facility, which was set up by PNRI for local preparation and production of Technetium-99m, will be inaugurated on December 10. Tecnetium-99m is the most commonly-used radioisotope in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
For more information about the activities for the 40th Atomic Energy Week celebration and for tour reservation, please contact the 2012 AEW Secretariat at 920 8787 and 929 6010 to 19 local 286. (Programme of Activities)
Best Scientific Poster Award to NATA Paper on Black Carbon Profile in Metro Manila
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The paper of Philippine Nuclear Research Institute’s (PNRI) Nuclear Analytical Techniques Application (NATA) Section, Nuclear Services Division on PM2.5 Black Carbon Profile in Metro Manila (Philippines) was adjudged as the Best Scientific Poster for the Climate Science Session during the First National Conference on Research in Climate Change and Variability organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology. The award was given at Traders Hotel on September 27, 2012.
The paper discussed that the PNRI, in the course of its implementation of researches on air pollutant source identification and apportionment using nuclear and related analytical techniques, has also generated profiles of PM2.5 black carbon in sampling sites in Metro Manila since 1998. The results of the studies show that the annual mean values of PM2.5 in the four monitoring sites in Metro Manila and in Angat, Bulacan exceed the United States long-term standard of 15µg m-3 and the World Health Organization guideline value of 10 µg m-3. These results indicate a need to address fine particulate air pollution.
Fine particles are particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) or approximately1/30ththe average width of a human hair. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PM2.5 particles are believed to pose the greatest health risks. Because of their small size, these particles can penetrate into the lungs which can then be readily taken up into the bloodstream. The sources of fine particles include all types of combustion activities such as motor vehicles, power plants and wood burning.
In her congratulatory note to the principal author Preciosa Corazon B. Pabroa, NATA head, and to the other authors, namely Flora L. Santos (retired PNRI Chief Science Research Specialist) and NATA staff Angel T. Bautista VII, Joseph Michael D. Racho, and Ryan P. Morco, PNRI Director Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa stated, “let us keep up the good work for excellence and our efforts for our data to be used by the end-user, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources”. (Click here to see the poster)
