Press Release - 2009 May

288 teachers, studes train in Science, Math, Eng’g Camp

Mark Ivan C. Roblas – SEI Web Info Group
SEI information officer, Tel. No.: 837-1925, 8372071 loc 2384

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A total of 288 teachers and incoming fourth year students around the country will undergo a week of intensive training and hands-on activities in science, mathematics and engineering as the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) the first Science, Mathematics and Engineering Camp (SME Camp).

At the opening ceremonies held at the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED) Auditorium, DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro said the SME Camp will unleash the vast potential the country has in terms of science and technology human resources.

“The Science, Mathematics and Engineering Camp is one of our biggest collaboration with research and development institutes, professional organizations and other government institutions in our bid to provide a sustainable supply of S&T human resource in the country. We are optimistic that the spark we start today would carry over to the next generations,” she said.

SEI Director Dr. Ester B. Ogena said the SME Camp is a life-changing experience for the students and teachers who will come face-to-face with scientists and engineers which would show them how it is in the real world.

“They would see the challenges that they have to meet and the potential that they have which they could unleash and bear fruit for the country to partake,” she said.

Ogena said the SME Camp aims to increase the pool of S&T human resources by nurturing talented and gifted students in science and mathematics through mentoring and incentive programs.

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She said the SME Camp will encourage incoming seniors to study and explore science, mathematics, and engineering and stress the value and reward of pursuing advanced scientific/technical degrees and career while developing the skills necessary to achieve success in science and engineering.

“We also want to create pre-college research opportunities for our students and produce more researches that can be published in science journals,” the SEI Director added.

Students and teachers attending the SME Camp will be coming from the nine campuses of Philippine Science High School, science high schools in the National Capital Region and other high schools in Metro Manila that implement a special science curriculum.

The students will be divided into eight subcamps where they would be trained in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mobile Robotics, Information and Communication Technology, Embedded Instrumentation Systems, and Energy Engineering.

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After the subcamp period, the students will then be re-divided into field subcamps in the areas of Field Biology, Marine Science and Geology. They would be taken immersion areas where they could get first-hand experience of field work being done by scientists.

Ogena said that a research mentoring program will proceed after the SME Camp which will be conducted in the respective research institutes that handled the subcamp.

She said that the students will be provided financial assistance for the development of their research studies to allow them to be engaged in more intensive research activity.

“The SME Camp is not an end in itself for our students but a beginning of an exciting life in science, mathematics and engineering,” she said. (30)

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