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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)

The DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD), in collaboration with Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) and Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME) organized the 15th National Medical Writing Workshop and 8th Writeshop for Young Researchers on 29-30 January 2019 in Palacio del Sur, Marcian Garden Hotel, Zamboanga City. The workshop aims to help young investigators in health and health social sciences acquire practical knowledge and skills in preparing a scientific article for publication in a scholarly peer-reviewed journal.

Out of the applicants from all over the Philippines, 32 young researchers in health and health social sciences with a completed research project, drafted a manuscript for submission to a scholarly journal, passed PCHRD and PAMJE’s screening process, and granted free workshop registration, accommodation, and meals during the workshop.

The speakers for the event, Dr. Jose Florencio Fabella Lapeña, Jr., professor of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Philippines Manila and President of PAMJE; and Dr. Cecilia  Maramba – Lazarte, Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of the Philippines Manila and Vice President-Internal of PAMJE; taught the participants about the structure and the individual components of a scientific paper. Moreover, the participants also learned how a manuscript is prepared and processed, the significant role of editors and peer reviewers and what to look for in a manuscript.

Based on the lectures and exercises, participants had the opportunity to review and revise their manuscripts under the guidance of the guest speakers. The 32 participants were divided into seven groups and each group was assigned a mentor-facilitator.

All the participants presented a 7-minute power point summary of their revised manuscripts on the 2^nd day of the workshop. 7 of the 32 participants were awarded the “Readiest to Publish Paper”. The award is given to participants whose papers were organized, well-written, and with greater potential to get published in peer reviewed journals. Winners for this batch were from CAR, National Capital Region, Region 5, Region 7, Region 9, as follows: Ms. Vera Cruz of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Ms. Ma. Joanna Carla Z. Garcia of University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Mr. Manuel Yoro of the University of the Philippines Manila, Mr. John Paul A. Tada of the Bicol University, Mr. Johnny J. Yao Jr. of the Velez College, Ms. Dorothy Faye Tan of the Zamboanga City Medical Center, and Mr. Norman Jake C. Mabalot of the Universidad de Zamboanga.

The participants of the writeshop are bound to submit the revised and improved article to an appropriate scholarly peer-reviewed journal within three (3) months after the workshop. For more information, interested parties may visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph or contact Mr. Halid M. Tamano through contact numbers 062 955 3654 (Halid M. Tamano/ DOST-IX Press Release)