Young makers' innovative potentials and sustainable solutions recognized at the 6th imake.wemake competition; Cavite Science Integrated School, Philippine Scien

The innovative potential of youth, combined with the power of technology proved to be a dynamic force on the road to developing a culture of innovation during the 6th imake.wemake:create.innovate.collaborate competition Final Presentation and Awarding Ceremony on June 28 at Crimson Hotel, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently conferred the prestigious Youth Innovation Prize (YIP) Award to three school teams whose technologies exhibited novelty and patentability, functionality and unique selling point, collaboration, design and feasibility, extensibility, and practicability.

This year, innovations in forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable microplastic pollution control took center stage. With the win, the three school teams each received P200,000.00 cash prize, sponsored by Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) through HCPI Vice President, Atty. Louie Soriano; a trophy, and P20,000.00 cash prize for their respective coaches.

Cavite Science Integrated School bagged the YIP award for "Project KALINGA: Geolocation Estimation of Forest Activities Using Triangulation and Sound Classification." The project aims to address the long-standing issue of illegal logging and deforestation in the Philippines and aid forest rangers in monitoring them. It works by using the triangulation method and sound classification to estimate the geolocation (or geographical location) of sound sources – specifically, to detect sounds of equipment used in illegal forest activities like chainsaws and vehicles. The team is composed of Uno A. Café, Rainier M. Guinto, Sigmund Francis S. Manalo, and Precious A. Zapanta, with Elain E. Malones as their coach.

Philippine Science High School-CALABARZON Region Campus also seized the YIP award for "SAMGIOP: Development of an IoT-based Sensory Device for Leaf Damage and Abiotic Factors in Cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) Using Raspberry Pi." As an innovative response to the pest infestation problem in cabbages, their technology works via a two-part system: the SAMGIOP rover which detects leaf damage, and the SAMGIOP slave which detects abiotic factors – non-living chemical and physical aspects of an environment. The monitoring device relies on the Internet of Things (IoT) mechanisms with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) embedded in the Raspberry Pi. The team is composed of Harvae C. De La Cruz, Joanna Daniella C. Fajardo, Ma. Hannah Isabel L. Suguitan, and Anjirehl Ernest Godfrei C. Zapata, with Marizel B. Villanueva as their coach.

"E-QUIA: Remotely Operated Electrostatic Collector of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Microplastics in Freshwater Environment" of Vinzons Pilot High School, likewise, successfully secured the YIP award. Addressing the environmental damage caused by microplastics, particularly in freshwater, E-QUIA is a remote-controlled device that collects microplastics from freshwater environments via an electrostatic filtration system. The device uses an environmental-friendly method of separating microplastics from freshwater via electrostatic charges. The team is composed of Alliyah C. Cambronero, Reynier Francis E. Espinola, Allen Misty B. Jalina, and Lea Monina G. Pioquinto, with Jason N. Bargo as their coach.

The winners were determined based on scores by the Board of Judges composed of Engr. Percival Magpantay of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Engr. Carlos M. Oppus of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and Engr. Edison A. Roxas of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), through Ms. Graciela Mendoza – head of scholarships and community education, also bestowed the Young Scientist Award (YSA) to four students who were carefully selected from a pool of 80 aspiring young scientists. Winning the award are Sigmund Francis S. Manalo and Precious A. Zapanta of Cavite Science

Integrated School, Harvae C. De La Cruz of Philippine Science High School-CALABARZON Region Campus, and Reynier Francis E. Espinola of Vinzons Pilot High School.

The YSA is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) college scholarship awarded to outstanding students who exhibit admirable values and a strong commitment to STEM education. With the scholarship, the grantees can pursue a STEM course of their choice at any university or college in the country.

GBF has been DOST-SEI's yearslong partner in promoting a strong culture of science among the Filipino youth to encourage, recognize, and support them in pursuing careers in STEM on the road to becoming future innovators and nation builders.

To complete the roster of winners, Lala National High School received the C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions (CEALS) Innovation Award, through C&E Adaptive Learning Solutions (ALS) Vice President, Mr. Gerric Gomez. CEALS is a special award given to a school team whose project exhibits excellent design using the Arduino platform and has strong market potential. Their project, "Automated Calamansi Harvesting Robot," focused on effective and efficient crop harvesting that maximizes crop yield and minimizes its losses. It functions by detecting fruits on trees using RGB-D Fusion Mask R-CNN and carefully harvesting them using a robotic arm, thereby avoiding damage to the fruits and trees. The team is composed of Guilmarc C. Baculao, Luilaine R. Lumanas, Carlo James C. Saladaga, and Jetrice Lesuzest L. Tanguihan, with Harold C. Delostrico as their coach.

As a consolation prize, C&E ALS also gave all the finalists an opportunity to get a certification on their Arduino skills. The Arduino Fundamentals Certification is an online exam that tests students', makers', and professionals' knowledge of electronics and programming, thereby helping young makers hone their skills and become part of the growing community of innovators in their pursuit of technological development.

C&E ALS is one of the big players in the field of science, technology, and innovation and a DOST-SEI's partner in empowering young emerging scientists by providing them with innovative tools and services – such as the Arduino platforms which were utilized in the projects – that support the unique demands of the future, and the Philippines' needs to harness a critical mass of STEM professionals.

The Final Presentation and Awarding Ceremony is the culmination of the 6th imake.wemake which started with 89 innovation proposals from public and private high schools, nationwide.

The Board of Judges selected the top 20 proposals that focus on the novelty, innovation, and impact of the project on pressing societal and community issues in agriculture, health, food security, transportation, education, business, disaster mitigation, and the environment.

Eleven (11) high schools from Luzon, three (3) from Visayas, and six (6) from Mindanao were invited to participate in the week-long bootcamp on Arduino Platform and Electronics held on March 13-17, 2023, at the Sequioa Hotel, Paranaque City where students learn to use different kinds of sensors, actuators, and interface it with Arduino.

DOST-SEI Dr. Josette T. Biyo congratulated all the winners and participants for their creativity and hard work and urged them to continue to nurture and harness their creativity to help solve problems in their community. She promised that the DOST-SEI will continue its efforts to cultivate an army of highly talented and deserving students who will improve the country's global competitiveness through the Institute's undergraduate and graduate scholarships. She also thanked DOST-SEI's partners – HCPI, GBF, C&E ALS, and the coaches – for sharing the advocacy, and for the undying dedication and support to champion the vital role of STEM in national development.

"We, at DOST-SEI, will continue to provide a common space for the Filipino youth's creative, innovative, and collaborative skills in creating innovations that forward impact."

Dr. Biyo also led the announcement of the opening of the 7th imake.wemake competition. (DOST-SEI Media Relations)