AMEL 2022 is Booked!, Ongoing Reg for ASPAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022, and PSHC's "Be ExSCITech!"
"MASTER CLASS FOR SCIENCE COMMUNICATORS"
The ASPAC Masterclass for Emerging Leaders (AMEL) 2022 for science communicators and will be held virtually on July 28 and 29. We have over 40 participants (the maximum!) who registered across the network. We are very excited for this!
Thank you for being so game about this masterclass! We wish our new masterclass participants inspiration and loads of fun learning from the masters and from each other!
Regular Registration now ongoing for the ASPAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN BURSA, TURKEY!
This year's ASPAC Conference will be in Bursa Science Center inTurkey from October 5-7 (with Oct 4 as the pre-conference and Oct 8 for the field trips). The theme is "The Role of Science Centers and Museums in Culture and Change."
One of our keynotes is a neuroscientist, Dr. Pireeni Sundaralingam, who will blow your mind with the latest insights about how our brain is coping with all the modern upheavals in being human. A detailed description of her keynote will soon be found in our ASPAC conference 2022 website.
We encourage everyone to consider going in this first in-person annual conference since 2019! If you can come, it will be our form of strong affirmation that amidst all the very tough challenges in the world now on all fronts, the work we do will help us change ourselves and the world for the better and therefore, worth all the time, energy and resources we devote to it. Click here to register!
Be ExScitech!: Nurturing Science Culture in the Philippines
by Angelito Navarro
“Be ExSciTech!” - which means “Be Excited with Science and Technology” is the main tagline of coined by our team, the Philippine Science Heritage Center (PSHC), the only government science center under the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) that promotes science and technology in the country.
PSHC believes that nurturing science culture and heritage is one of the important keys to the development of the country. It can encourage young minds to learn more scientific knowledge and pursue careers in science and technology. It may also inspire many people, especially lawmakers and implementers, to use science as a basis for decisions that may impact different sectors of society.
I am Angelito Navarro, Science Research Specialist at and I am handling the non-formal learning activities and the promotion and marketing arm of PSHC.
Under the management of NAST PHL, PSHC is the main repository of the country’s contributions, achievements, and accomplishments in the field of science and technology. PHSC focuses on Filipino scientists and we aim to promote and instill science culture in the general public, especially the young minds.
The title “National Scientist” is the highest honor and title that Filipino scientists can get. As the PSHC is currently going through its renovation, one exhibit is open to the public - the Hologram Exhibits of the Living Filipino National Scientists. As of this writing, only 42 individuals have been conferred with this title, 11 of whom are still alive. This exhibit aims to inspire the visitors and highlight the richness of our heritage in science and technology. To cope with the series of lockdowns and movement restrictions caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, PSHC also developed the “PSHC Virtual Tour App” featuring this exhibit.
Bringing Filipino scientists closer to the Filipino public
To promote and instill science culture in the Philippines, PSHC conducts non-formal learning activities to bring science closer to the public, especially the youth. One program we have is the “Meet Your Scientist” where visitors can meet and physically interact with an actual scientist. The invited scientists can talk about their journey and personal experiences in becoming well-known scientists.
PSHC also conducts the “Salinlahi (Legacy) Symposium Series” where we bring well-known scientists to far-flung areas in the country where science is not easily accessible. The scientists discuss different concepts in a chosen topic and conduct a simple science experiment demonstration. They also encourage the participants, particularly the students, to take their careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Recognizing the role of science teachers in the promotion of scientific culture, PSHC is also conducting the “Salinlahi Guro ng Siyensiya” (Science Teachers’ Legacy) – a seminar workshop for science teachers and facilitators. It aims to equip science teachers with the latest pedagogical information about teaching science and science communication.
Collaboration with another ASPAC member, the National Museum of Science and Technology - Bangladesh
The PSHC is also collaborating with different science centers in different countries. Last April 22, 2022, the delegates of the National Museum of Science and Technology, Bangladesh (NMST) visited us to see our exhibit and activities. NMST is also a member of ASPAC. They also presented their best practices, exhibits, and activities to promote science in Bangladesh.
On June 21, 2022, I also had the chance to interview Mr. Sukalyan Bachhar, Senior Curator of NMST Bangladesh, to learn more about their institution. He shared that NMST Bangladesh is also arranging the National Science and Technology Week at the district and national levels. Each district can send two participants to the national level and the students with the most viable project are encouraged to further develop it.
Through their Young Scientists program, they are helping science students bring their ideas to life. The projects should have the potential for national interest and socioeconomic benefits. If the student’s project is chosen, it will be developed for three months through mentorship and financial support. ***
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and IF YOU LOVE TO WRITE...:
Whatever your role in your organization, if you love to write, please send me your article on whatever it is you think would be worthwhile to share with ASPAC. I cannot predict or limit what that will be as there are so many connections between our work and the rest of what others in the world are doing, This is especially ripe in these strangest of times. We are excited to see your insights! Please send me your piece and we will see how it fits in our ASPAC human story. We are excited to unearth the evolving pool of ASPAC writers! Thank you!