45th AEW Opening Ceremonies Keynote Speaker Congressman Ron Salo and PNRI Director Dr. Carlo Arcilla enjoy a serving of warm Adlai champorado as a researcher explains the ongoing PNRI mutation breeding studies on Adlai, which may serve as an alternative staple food crop.
Participants from all 17 regions of the country gather for the National Level of the 2017 Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (Photo by JF Vidal, ARS-ARD PNRI).
PNRI Celebrates the 45th Atomic Energy Week
Bringing nuclear and radiation applications closer to the Filipino people, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) celebrated the 45th Atomic Energy Week (AEW) with the theme, “Nuclear Science and Technology for the People" from December 4-7, 2017 at the PNRI compound.
As with every year's celebration, PNRI once again featured the latest advances in nuclear science and technology in the country in the fields of agriculture, industry, medicine, and the environment in an open-house showcase of exhibits by PNRI scientists and researchers with free guided tours for all visitors.
Congressman Ron Salo, one of the authors of the bill for a Comprehensive Nuclear Law, was the keynote speaker on the Opening Ceremonies on December 4.
A self-confessed opponent of nuclear energy at first, he now takes a more progressive stance on the peaceful and diverse nuclear and radiation technology.
“Beyond being the force of nature tapped to serve humanity’s basic needs, it is also one of the few economic forces where supply is much hoped to be sufficient enough to save our citizens from the problems of poverty and hunger. So it is that nuclear energy, purportedly one of the best combinations of excellent baseload power and emission-free power sources, comes back to the fore as a potential major power source in the Philippines’ energy mix,” said Congressman Salo on the benefits of nuclear energy.
“More than nuclear energy, however, it seems that there is more than meets the eye for PNRI in terms of what it can contribute to the welfare of the Filipino people. As I have learned from your officials, a plethora of nuclear and radiation applications are currently being used for increasing the yield of our food crops, for processing of our commercial products and raw materials, and of course, for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, among other marvels of medical science,” he added.
Technical sessions were also held with various experts from PNRI and other government, scientific and academic institutions on December 4 to 5. The first day featured topics on nuclear power such as the preparedness of the Philippines for nuclear power, siting for nuclear installations and waste management for nuclear and radioactive materials. Topics on nuclear and radiation technology were discussed the following day such as real-time environmental radiation monitoring, nuclear emergency preparedness and response, medical applications of cyclotrons and mutation breeding studies.
Meanwhile, senior high school students, teachers and young professionals attended the Third Philippine Nuclear Youth Summit (PNYS) in tandem with the launching of the Philippine Young Generation in Nuclear (PYGN), an organization of young Filipinos that aims to promote the practice of nuclear science and technology in the Philippines. The PNYS featured several activities that presented both physical and mental challenges such as the Nuclear Amazing Race and the Youth Statement Crafting on Nuclear Energy.
Moreover, 34 teams of high school students representing the 17 regions in the country competed in the national level of the 2017 Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ) on December 6.
At the end of the grueling final round, St. Jude Catholic School won first place with P50,000, followed by Cagayan National High School at second place, with P40,000 and Davao City National Science High School at third place with P30,000. Taking home the consolation prize of P15,000 are the students from Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas Campus at fourth place and Commonwealth High School at fifth place.
The annual AEW celebration, as mandated under Presidential proclamation No. 1211 in 1973, aims to generate awareness of the Filipino people on the beneficial uses of nuclear science and technology in food and agriculture, industry, medicine and the environment.
