Taking the lead in nuclear science education in the Asia-Pacific Region, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) will host the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Workshop on Curriculum Development and Launching of Nuclear Science and Technology for Secondary Schools from February 5 to 9, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Quezon City.
In partnership with officials from the Department of Education (DepEd), the workshop is one of the activities of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Project for 2018 – 2022 entitled “Educating Secondary Students and Science Teachers on Nuclear Science and Technology” which aims to expand and sustain nuclear science education in secondary schools in Asia and the Pacific.
Around 40 foreign and local participants from 20 countries, including participants from PNRI, DepEd and the DOST – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) are expected to attend the workshop.
The workshop aims to launch the regional program and organize the regional team in participating IAEA Member States for developing strategies that will help increase the interest of students in the region regarding science and technology in general, eventually leading to future careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
In particular, the program will also help to provide a more accurate perspective of nuclear science among secondary school students and a better understanding of nuclear and radiation applications in their daily lives.
As part of the regional workshop, the PNRI and DepEd will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the IAEA on February 8. DOST Secretary Fortunato De La Peña and DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones are expected to sign the MOU in the presence of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who will visit the country this February.
Planned to be implemented for five years, from 2018 to 2022, the activities for the project include the training of secondary science teachers and students on nuclear S&T through scientific visits, hosting of expert missions and the conduct of national seminars and workshops. Educational and learning resource materials on nuclear science will also be developed in various formats.
Along with Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines previously participated as a pilot country in an earlier IAEA outreach project which introduced nuclear S&T in the region’s secondary schools. PNRI engaged in the outreach program in 2015 with the DepEd Schools Division Office Quezon City, and later expanded the program in 2017 with the DepEd – National Capital Region, which is in charge of millions of students among the country’s most popular cities.
Experts from the IAEA trained Filipino science teachers on the use of interactive experiments, novel tools and high-tech instruments such as cloud chamber kits and radiation survey meters to reignite the interest of young students in nuclear science.
With the new project well underway, the IAEA is poised to provide more technical and financial assistance towards nuclear science education, not only in the Philippines, but throughout the Asia-Pacific region. (DOST-PNRI, S&T MEDIA SERVICE)
