A science high school in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, - Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial High School in Region 7 – triumphed as the champion among 195 schools from 11 regions of the country that participated in the Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ).
The PNSQ, conducted by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) in collaboration with the DOST Regional Offices, was one of the highlights of the Atomic Energy Week ruby anniversary in December 2012.
Another school from the Visayas, the Philippine Science High School Western Visayas campus in Region 6 placed second while the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus in Region 11 won the third place.
Caloocan City Science High School was the first place winner in the Pop Quiz, which was conducted to maximize the participation of schools within Metro Manila and to complement the PNSQ aim of enhancing awareness and understanding of the Filipino youth on nuclear science and technology and its beneficial applications. Parañaque Science High School and Muntinlupa Science High School were the second and third place winners in the Pop Quiz, respectively.
The PNSQ quarter final, semi-final and final rounds and the Pop Quiz were held at Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
The champion team from Dumaguete, composed of Alec Benjamin G. Ramirez and Hannah Jael M. Cadusale received a cash prize of 30,000 while the second and third place winners received 20,000 and 10,000 respectively. Former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, AEW closing ceremonies keynote speaker, and PNRI officials Dr. Christina Petrache, Officer-in-Charge and Victoria Fe Medina, Technology Diffusion Division chief and 2012 AEW Executive Chairperson awarded the winners at the AEW closing ceremonies.
In his keynote address, Cojuangco cited the benefits of nuclear power as an energy source that is “non-polluting, non greenhouse gas generating, the cheapest energy source and statistically and proven by history as the safest energy source ever developed by humankind.” He stressed that the youth should be aware of these benefits and be the future champions of nuclear power “so that the society will lose its irrational fear of nuclear power.”
He also expressed his hope that Philippine society will one day be able to make the right choices regarding nuclear power “because of knowledge and awareness of the truth and realities, rather than the unfounded fears, of nuclear technology“.
Congressman Julio A. Ledesma IV, in his handwritten inspirational message read by PNRI Officer-in-Charge Christina A. Petrache, encouraged the students who participated in the Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz to send to him a statement, through his Twitter account, regarding his question of “Is the Philippines ready to operate a nuclear power plant facility?” Congressman Ledesma chairs the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives. (Click here for the list of PNSQ winners and finalists)
