09 AUGUST 2017 – The first batch of the Young Innovators Program (YIP) has officially sealed the deal with the Innovation Council, DOST-PCIEERD, after signing the memorandum of agreement today.
Five teams and two individuals were recognized as YIP grantees during the 7th anniversary of PCIEERD last June 29, 2017 out of the 97 applications. “Why 7? It just so happened that it coincides with our 7th anniversary, but really, they are the only ones who qualified and showed promising outputs,” said Dr. Carlos Primo David, PCIEERD Executive Director, during the MOA signing.
Present at the ceremony were Dr. Voltaire Arzadon, Colegio de Dagupan President, Dr. Jay Jose De Vera, Dean of the College of Engineering in Colegio de Dagupan, and Dr. Dionisia Lanuza, Mapua Senior Science High School Principal. They were assured that the Council’s personnel will work closely with them in the development of their projects to which Dr. Lanuza responded, “I thought we are on our own, it's a different perspective now that I know that you [PCIEERD] will be supporting us in the load of work.”
The YIP aims to provide funding to promising scientists and engineers and up-and-coming researchers with innovative research direction leading to quality research paper, publication or product/invention. The YIP will usher young researchers, as young as high school students, to conduct independent research to accelerate the production of scientific workforce and encourage new and innovative research areas.
“It's very interesting that we started young in the R&D culture/discipline because it takes time for the people in the University since we are too focused on the coursework,” said Dr. Isabel Montes, one of the mentors.
The following are the Young Innovative 7:
Isabel Sieh, Girls Will Code
Isabel Sieh is the Philippines’ youngest programmer at the age of 13 and founder of the company, ‘Girls Will Code.’ She is mentored by Dr. Isabel Montes of UP Diliman in her project entitled, ‘Sustainability: WattAbout.’ WattAbout is an Android app that can accurately keep track of the sustainable act/s that the user does and rewards him/her with points. (Know more about Isabel Sieh and her project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1588286644577904/)
Modesto Remo, Jr.
Our first Pinoy Science Whiz Kid, Modesto Remo Jr., invented a device that gains energy just by walking. And as a YIP grantee, he will be working on the ‘Photovoltaic Dual Axis Solar Panel with Application of Folding System’ with his mentor, Sharmieann Abalayan. This project aims to increase the possibility of higher power output. (Know more about Modesto Remo, Jr. and his project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1600666133339955/)
Karunungan Flight Team
This team is composed of six students from St. Cecilia’s College-Cebu, namely: Christian Lawrence Cantos, Rhenz Jay Estrera, John Rollene Pastor, Jhy Rosheene Paunel, Justine Nid Daffon, and Enrique Pacudan, mentored by their teachers, Wilfredo Pardorla, Jr. and Christopher Caballa, Jr. They are working on the project that aims to build a viable life support system in a high-altitude balloon, and measure temperature, air pressure, and humidity at different altitudes in the country. (Know more about Karunungan Flight Team and their project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1588294897910412/)
Team FLAME (Fire Luminosity and multisensory equipment)
From the Mapua Senior Science High School, Team FLAME consists of: Adrian Robert Doroteo, Darwyn James Goling, Alec Denji Santos, Emmanuel Freeman Paloma, and Jacob Martin Manguiat with Engr. Ericson Dimaunahan as their mentor. Their project aims to create a system that can help firefighters detect possible fire, detect heat signature and fire illuminations patterns, and allow real-time data acquisition that can react and alert authorities faster. (Know more about Team FLAME and their project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1588291444577424/)
UP Likha 3D
This team from the University of the Philippines Diliman targets to level up the utilization of 3D printing in the country. Composed of Joshua Kevin Uy, Mark Keanu James Exconde, and Engr. Jill Manapat (mentor), they aim to develop ‘Locally-Manufactured Wood-Based 3D Printing Material’ using bamboo and other Philippine wood, and ‘3D-Printed STEM Educational Kits from Recycled Plastics.’ (Know more about UP Likha 3D and their project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1605649572841611/)
Team GRASP (Guided Robotic Arm for Specific Procedures)
Kenneth Suarez, Nyle Maliwat, Francis Tolentino, and Joel Bautista (mentor) are students and faculty from the Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus. They invented a system that allows the user to control a human robotic arm through imitating the movements of the user's arm. (Know more about Team GRASP and their project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1605654646174437/)
Colegio de Dagupan Innovators
Project Nocturnal is the study being conducted by the innovators from Colegio de Dagupan, namely: Jade Ace Ventigan, Patrick Ora, and Orpheus Petrola, mentored by Engr. Roderick Cabana. This project can be utilized for security operations purposes by making use of robots: terrain-based and drone, that can shoot and scout. (Know more about Isabel Sieh and her project:
https://www.facebook.com/pinoyscience/videos/1588298757910026/)
Dr. David challenged the Young Innovative 7 to contribute in raising the standards of research and development in the country and create more innovative products, saying that “[YIP] is just part of enculturation of science and technology in the society. Investment in S&T goes a long, long way.
