“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities”
– (a quote from Stephen R. Covey)
The four-day (April 4th-7th) Science and Technology (S&T) Fair 2017 held in Samar State University (SSU) in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd 8), Department of Science and Technology (DOST 8), Eastern Visayas Consortium for Industry, Energy Research & Development (EVCIERD), and the Municipality of Catbalogan City was indeed a huge success for everyone involved.
Day 1 – Bearing the theme, “Climate Change Adaptation” it captured the interest and attention of various research enthusiasts coming from the different schools, universities and colleges within the region. With three research papers vying for the 1st Place in Climate Change Category, the pilot event stationed at the Audio Visual Room (AVR) was jam-packed. The oral paper presenters were: (1) Las Johansen Caluza and Sherrie Ann Cannanua-Labid for World Views on Climate Change: A Latent Dirichlet Allocation Algorithm Application; (2) Elmer Irene for Local and Indigenous Knowledge of Catbalogan Farmers and Fisherfolks for an Effective Community Resiliency Towards Climate Change; and (3) Diane Shane Balindo for Climate Change Impact and Adaptation among Mangrove Dependent Communities.
Day 2 – Cued the official opening and ribbon cutting of the said UCLG ASPAC S&T Fair 2017, conducted in the SSU Gymnasium. It was spearheaded by Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso, University President. Along side were the foreign delegates from the different nations in the Asia-Pacific region. The international delegates took a quick tour by visiting the booths and posters displayed within the vicinity.
Immediately after that, all guests and attendees were requested to proceed at the AVR to witness the oral presentations and the highly relevant talk of Dr. Thelma Cinco, DOST-PAGASA regarding about the climate trends and projections in the Philippines. Shortly after that, three research papers competed for the 1st Place under the category of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management were showcased. The oral paper presenters were: (1) Ernesto Guades for Repair and Strengthening of Earthquake-Affected Building and Bridge Structures using Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in the Philippines; (2) Wenceslao Perante for Validity and Reproducibility of Typhoon Damage Estimates using Satellite Maps and Images; and (3) Rosalina Salazar for Comprehensive Land Use Planning Capacity of Local Government Units in Samar.
On the afternoon session everyone anticipated the keynote message made by Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) discussing the infamous “Big One” – describing an anticipated megathrust earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.2 generated primarily by the West Valley Fault. The aftermath of which would be too devastating that it could kill thousands of lives and millions-worth of property damaged. Furthermore, Usec. Solidum, elevated the consciousness of the attendees towards that innate danger and hazard that various environmental calamities either man-made or naturally occurring could bring. Proper information dissemination, preparation, and being proactive on these serious matters are crucial towards survival, Usec. Solidum, asserted.
Day 3 – Hoisted the theme “Alternative Energy, Science, and Technology Innovations”. In the morning, three research papers contend for the 1st Place in the said AEST Category. The oral paper presenters were: (1) Noel Pacayra for Assessment of Streams in Oras, Eastern Samar: Basis for the Design of Pico-Hydro Project and Potential Site for Installation; (2) Melanie Fajarito for Android Based Wireless Communication Device; and (3) Jay Ashley Gabani for IoT Based Weather Monitoring Device.
In the afternoon, three research papers also competed for the 1st Place in the Student Papers for the Environment Category. The oral paper presenters were: (1) Princess Rowella Bacsal for Disaster Preparedness: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills of a Vulnerable Community in the Philippines; (2) Dionesio Reyes for Mangrove Soil Analysis of Catbalogan Carbon Sink; (3) Michael Arman R. Metran for Solar Powered Improvised Tremor Detector Alarm for Earthquake Safety Comprehension; (4) Kent Marc Kobe Bismarck for Water Rise Alert System; (5) Anne Pauline T. Anover for Benthic Macroinvertibrate as Bioindicator of the Water Quality in Bagolongon River, Mahaplag Leyte.
Day 4 – Carrying the theme “Robotics for the Environment”, the students from the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas (PSHS-EV) Campus made a visual presentation about the topic “Talk on Robotics”, tackling on the brief history of robotics, discussing common microcontrollers and modules used in embedded technologies, and in-campus activities of PSHS-EV that promotes technology awareness, robotics competitions, and alike. The students also demonstrated some of their four wheeled robots, an open source robot kit designed for easy assembling and controlling. These robots are used in competition called “sumobots”. Robot-sumo is a sport in which two robots attempt to push each other out of a circle, in a similar fashion to the sport of sumo.
The afternoon marked the closing of the 4-day S&T Fair, as well as the announcement of winners for the research poster competition and oral paper presentation based from the various categories aforementioned.
Engr. Rosella Gopo, DOST Samar Provincial S&T Director gave her closing remarks, by congratulating all the participants and researchers for a job well done. Engr. Gopo also acknowledged the efforts and commitments given by the panel of evaluators, staffs and personnel from the different organizations and institutions for making the event such a delight to witness.