By: Adelia M. Guevarra, DOST-ITDI S&T Media Service
PHILAAST President and DOST Assistant Secretary Diana L. Ignacio said the association “… serves as a venue for the presentation of the most recent findings and developments related to the impact of the changing environment on current issues, such as energy sustainability, among others.” Dr. Diana L. Ignacio is the PHILAAST president and DOST Assistant Secretary for Administrative and Legal Affairs.
After celebrating its Platinum Jubilee last year, the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST), through its president and DOST Assistant Secretary Diana L. Ignacio, led the Philippines’ super body of researchers in the conduct of the hybrid annual convention held on 9 September 2022.
Dr. Ignacio said, “The 71st Annual Convention, which will be keynoted by newly sworn in Science Secretary, Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr., will provide a platform for discussion and interaction on food security, governance, and entrepreneurship as its three pivotal Sustainable Development Programs for the next few years.”
She added, “It serves as a venue, as well for the presentation of the most recent findings and developments related to the impact of the changing environment on current issues, such as energy sustainability.“
PHILAAST aims to promote and strengthen the scientific and technological collaboration among its member- and non-member researchers, currently numbering 114,900.
The 71st Convention brought together great minds from the science and industry sectors. Of special note are the presenters of the Entrepreneurship Program who are also authors of the book “Science for Success.” The presenters and authors included Former Science Secretary Prof. Fortunato T. de La Peña; Robina Y. Gokongwei-Pe, president and CEO at Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.; and Maria Ester “Maret” Follosco- Bautista, president and treasurer of the CL Follosco Group of Companies.
The book is the second of three books on entrepreneurship launched by DOST under the “Science for the People Series,” which also included the books “Science for Scale” and “Science for Social Change.” These books highlight the triumphs of small and medium enterprises that were achieved through the help of technological innovation and creative thinking.
In the Synthesis of Webinars part of the convention, PHILAAST Secretary and DOST- ITDI Director Annabelle V. Briones presented the essence of the Energy Series Webinar, which she said: “… called for the Philippines to accelerate energy transitions through a system-of-systems approach that will consider technology, policy, social, and market systems.”
Also, during the celebration, the winners of various awards were announced, namely: the Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara Awards for Basic Research; Dr. Gregorio Y. Zara Awards for Applied Research; Dr. Paulo C. Campos Award for Health Research; David M. Consunji Award for Engineering Research; LEADS Agri Award for Agricultural Research; Dr. Ceferino L. Follosco Award for Product and Process Innovation; Dr. Michael R. Purvis Award for Sustainability Research; and Dr. Lourdes E. Campos Award for Public Health.
The participants included PhilAAST members, educators, academe and government researchers, industry representatives, and other science and technology practitioners.
Established in 1951, PhilASST (formerly PhilAAS) is an association of scientists and technologists in the country that aims to promote science’s value in the community. (30)
