Filipino youth bag outstanding science awards

To the four Filipino youth who took home awards from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Reno, Nevada, age and economic standing is not a hindrance to success. Besting 1,563 students from 56 countries, Angeli Yap-Dy, 14, of Capiz National High School; Jovani Tomale, 16, of Davao City National High School; and the team of Kevin Jer David, 16, and Orven Jules Dumaoang, 16, of the Philippine Science High School Diliman Campus took home three awards and a collective cash prize of $2000 for research projects that exhibited the youths’ commitment to science and technology innovation.

 “We salute our young scientists who again made the country proud in winning in the most prestigious international science fair. Congratulations too to Intel for being a strong partner of DepEd [Department of Education] in helping develop a culture of science, math and engineering research in our schools,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

Fish bile

Yap-Dy received a 2nd Special Award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, taking home a $1000 cash prize.

Her research, Study of the Cytotoxicity Against Human Lung (A549) and Colon (HCT116) Carcinomas, Antioxidant and Anti-Bacterial Properties of Milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) Bile, looked into the properties of milkfish bile as a potential anti-cancer drug.

“I was inspired to do this study since cancer is the number one killer disease that the whole world is experiencing today,” Yap-Dy told The Manila Times, adding that it took her one month to finish the project. “The best way to cure cancer is through chemotherapy. But, that is very expensive. So, it prompted me to conduct this study, which used small fish bile because it is considered as waste and it’s abundant.”

An incoming junior, Yap-Dy said that it took her about a month to complete her entire project. She also stated that she plans to continue this research because the judges from the Intel fair said that it is “very promising” and just needs to be furthered.

Sexing of RP eagles

Tomale, an incoming freshman scholar of Ateneo de Davao who will take up BS Accounting, also won a 2nd Special Award, this time from the American Statistical Association. He also won a cash prize of $500.

Tomale’s “Mathematical Models for the Gender Determination of Philippine Eagles [Pithecophaga jefferyi]” demonstrated a mathematical algorithm by which the gender of the Philippine Eagle could be determined. His study is expected to prove useful in the breeding of the endangered national bird.

“Actually, this study was out of a simple experience,” Tomale told The Times. “We had a field trip at the Philippine Eagle Foundation. I found out that they were having problems determining the genders of the eagles. That triggered me to find an effective and practical method of determining their gender because it is alarming that the Philippine eagles are endangered and people are having trouble breeding them.”

 Tomale said it took him an entire year to finish the project because of financial hardship and lack of resources. He added, however, that these challenges persuaded him to continue as his findings would eventually benefit the endangered birds.

Sea weeds vs. disease

David and Dumaoang’s study, “Screening for Quorum Sensing Inhibitors from Surface-Associated Bacteria of Halymenia durvillaei,” looked into the process by which disease-causing bacteria communicate and how this communication process can be disrupted so that the bacteria becomes less resistant to antibiotics and cannot cause diseases.

Their study, which focused on the usefulness of red seaweeds in disrupting the method of communication of disease causing bacteria (quorum sensing), won for David and Dumaoang, both incoming freshmen at the University of the Philippines Manila, a Grand Award for the category of Plant Sciences and $500 for their team.

“There is a big problem right now regarding anti-biotic resistant bacteria,” Dumaoang told The Times. “Through our study, we found out that compounds that could isolate bacteria that actually renders them no longer resistant to antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to determine those compounds and maybe develop them into drugs.”

Questions, experiments

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is a prestigious pre-college science competition that annually brings together an estimated 1,600 young scientists from approximately 50 countries to share and reward their independent research, showcase cutting-edge science, and compete for nearly $4 million in awards and scholarships. More than 1,000 experts from all fields of science and engineering are selected to judge the exhibits and interact with the students. This year, nine Filipino delegates were sent to the said competition.

“The usual paradigm of students right now is that science is something that can only be learned from the classroom,” David told The Times. “That’s not true. We learned that the bulk of science is something that can be learned when you ask your own questions and design your experiments to find the answers. We really enjoyed these things.”

Inspiration for youth

Yap-Dy said, “I want this to be an inspiration for other Filipino youths because right now we need a lot of scientists and researchers. And it doesn’t even matter how young you are. All you have to do is work hard and keep learning.”

According to Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, “The real end point of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is to elevate the recognition of achievement of the younger generation in academic and learning exercises. I hope that more young people will look at these students and realize they can be recognized for using their brains. You don’t have to be a quarterback, a basketball player or a baseball player to be recognized by your peers and the public.”

Travel grant

Now in its 59th year, the Intel ISEF is the world’s only science project competition for students in the ninth through twelfth grades. Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education, owns and has administered the International Science and Engineering Fair since its inception in 1950. In 1997, Intel became the title sponsor of the ISEF, providing heightened visibility to the fair, transforming the Intel ISEF into a world-renowned program with true international flavor and participation.

The embassy of the United States of America in Manila supported this year’s activity with a travel grant for one of the Philippine delegates to Intel ISEF. –Angelo Cantera And James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter, Manila Times