The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - IX conducted a 2-day activity entitled NAST Lecture Series: Dialogue with NAST Scientists and Symposium for the Youth held in Zamboanga City on 21-22 January 2019. The said lecture series aims to introduce the programs and services of NAST Philippines.

 

 Academicians from the National Academy talked about various topics on Food, Aquaculture, Seaweeds, and Schistosomiasis to over 250 educators and students. Among those that were discussed were “The Science Behind Food Shortage in the Philippines” by Acd. Eufemio T. Rasco, which emphasized on the inconvenient truths of rice consumption. The talk on “Developing Our Coastal and Oceanic Aquaculture for Food Security and Livelihood Generation” by Acd. Rafael D. Guevarra III accented that aquaculture is the fastest growing food-producing sector in the world and contributes to our food security and livelihoods of our coastal communities. Moreover, the “Seeweed Utilization and Products” by Acd. Marco Nemesio T. Montaño pointed up on seaweed biodiversity, its importance, uses and benefits.

Academician Jose Maria P. Balmaceda highlighted that math is not confined to the classroom but rather it is everywhere, and that a capacity to understand and learn math is innate in all in his talk on “Mathematics: A Language, an Art, a Way of Knowing, a Tool for Understanding Phenomena”. While Academician Remigio O. Olveda stressed that schistosomiasis is endemic in 28 provinces in 12 regions, with an estimated 28 million people at risk of infection during his talk on “Schistosomiasis in the Philippines: Innovative control measures are needed of elimination is the goal.”

 

The lecture series was attended by different institutional heads, research directors and managers from state universities and colleges. Students actively participated and raised different questions with one particular student who said that he aspires to become an Academician in the field of computer technology.

For more information, interested parties may visit http://www.nast.ph or contact Mr. John Apolinario through contact numbers 062 991 1024 (Angeline M. Hipolito/ DOST-IX Press Release)