Students to launch satellites in soda cans during World Space Week celebration
05 October 2015
Students from 12 public and private high schools in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal and Laguna are set to launch their Can Sats—soda can-sized satellites that can gather basic atmospheric data—that they assembled in more than a month, in the country’s first-ever CanSat Competition to be held in celebration of the 17th World Space Week in Los Baños, Laguna.
Launched in August this year, the Can Satellite Competition aims to entice students to go into space science studies by letting them experience actual satellite development process, launching, data collection and transmission, and mission data analysis that will teach them the basics of weather forecasting.
Annually celebrated every 4-10 October, the World Space Week is commemorated to provide a venue for students and educators to learn more about space science and its benefits to humankind as declared by the UN General Assembly in 1999. This year's celebration follows the theme "Discovery" and will feature deep space exploration such as the discoveries of new galaxies, exoplanets, asteroids and comets.
1,030 college juniors qualify as 2015 DOST-SEI scholars under RA 10612
14 September 2015
In support of the government’s objective to strengthen the quality of education in the country, a total of 1,030 third year college students aced the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) exam administered nationwide on 12 July 2015.
The JLSS is a scholarship program of the DOST-SEI under the Republic Act (RA) No. 10612 titled, “An Act Expanding the Coverage of the Science and Technology (S&T) Scholarship Program and Strengthening the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools.” Otherwise known as the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013”, this law builds on the current S&T scholarships offered by the DOST-SEI as provided for in RA 7687 or the “Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994.”
The implementation of R.A. 10612 supports the execution of Section 8 of the K to 12 law which urges the hiring of teachers from among the graduates of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses.
1st Ph Can Satellite competition launched
04 September 2015
In an attempt to engage young students in an actual satellite development process aimed at learning space science, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently launched the first ever Can Satellite Competition in the country.
In its Game Reveal, 12 public and private high schools from Region III, Region IV-A and the National Capital Region proudly flashed their can satellites (Can Sat), which they assembled in a five-day development and training workshop held on 24-28 August at the National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education for Development, University of the Philippines Diliman.
The competition, which is part of the Philippine Space Science Education Program (PSSEP), is patterned after the Can Satellite contests being done in many countries. The Can Sat is a soda can-sized satellite which can gather basic atmospheric data such us temperature, air pressure and Global Positioning System, among others. The activity brings the process of satellite development and its importance closer to younger audiences.