PNRI Celebrates the 44th Atomic Energy Week
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Dr. Carlos Primo David, Officer-in-Charge of PNRI, shows some of the applications of plant mutation breeding to DOST officials and members of the media.
Participants of the Second Philippine Nuclear Youth Summit held on December 7
PNRI Celebrates the 44th Atomic Energy Week
Spearheading the country’s progress in nuclear science and technology, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) celebrated the 44th Atomic Energy Week (AEW) from December 5-9, 2016 at the PNRI compound.
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.
With the theme, “Teknolohiyang Nukeyar para sa Kaunlaran ni Juan", 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.
PNRI Officer-in-Charge Dr. Carlos Primo David commended PNRI’s efforts in both the development of nuclear and radiation applications and reaching out to various sectors to maximize its benefits.
“We want to public to know that we exist and that the products of our research are quite relevant, maybe not in terms of producing power from nuclear technology just yet, but in terms of the applications of nuclear science in other sectors, such as industry competitiveness, agriculture productivity, health science, and the environment.”
To meet thousands of visitors from various sectors throughout the week, twelve exhibits by PNRI’s own scientists, researchers and regulators featured their various projects and services to compete for the Best Technical Exhibits Category. The PNRI Chemistry Research Section won first place with their exhibit entitled Chemistry Research Section, We Explore, We Develop featuring diverse applications of carrageenan and receptor binding assay for red tide monitoring. The second place was won by the Agriculture Research Section exhibit Smart Juan: Ang Makabagong Dalubsaka which featured a timeline of agriculture history and its development of precision farming and sterile insect techniques. The Biomedical Research Section’s Teknolohiyang Nukleyar: Kalusugan Ang Handog Para Kay Juan won third place which featured food irradiation, honey alginate wound dressing and cytogenetic services, while the People’s Choice Award went to the Radiological Impact Assessment Section’s PNRI Emergency Response: Minimizing the Consequences of Ionizing Radiation.
Technical Sessions were also held on December 5 and December 6, with experts from PNRI and other scientific institutions delivering lectures on the applications of nuclear analytical and isotopic techniques in air quality and algae studies, records of nuclear activities through Philippine corals, radiation processing, nuclear medicine, and the establishment of several advanced facilities such as a research reactor, accelerator, subcritical reactor assembly and neutron laboratory.
Meanwhile, students, teachers and young professionals attended the Second Philippine Nuclear Youth Summit held on December 7. Speakers from PNRI along with youth leaders from Malaysia and Indonesia inspired the students to engage in science and mathematics-related courses, especially nuclear science, and to encourage the youth nuclear S&T professionals and students to initiate the establishment of the Philippine Young Generation in Nuclear. The Summit also showcased Filipino creativity and skill as the youth participants competed in various games and group dynamics.
Speaking of competitions, twenty teams of high school students from across the country competed in the national level of the 2016 Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ). Manila Science High School won first place, followed by Pasig City Science High School and Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas. The first placer received a cash prize of Php 50,000, the second placer Php 40,000 and the third placer Php 30,000, all including plaques and certificates of recognition.
At the closing ceremonies on December 9, PNRI recognized the achievements of its scientists and researchers who recently won twelve DOST International Publication Awards, which also resulted in PNRI being awarded the Best DOST Institute Award for 2016 by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Dr. Teofilo San Luis of the Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine (PSNM) delivered the closing remarks.
PNRI Celebrates the 44th Atomic Energy Week
- Details
PNRI – DOST Features Advances in Nuclear Science and Technology in 44th Atomic Energy Week Celebration
The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (PNRI-DOST) will feature the latest advances in nuclear science and technology in the fields of agriculture, industry, medicine and the environment during its 44th Atomic Energy Week celebration on December 5 to 9, 2016 at the PNRI compound in Commonwealth, Diliman, Quezon City.
The activities for this year’s celebration will focus on the theme, “Teknolohiyang Nukleyar para sa Kaunlaran ni Juan”.
The Institute will provide free guided tours to the exhibits and selected PNRI facilities and laboratories to students, teachers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and the public during the five-day celebration.
Experts will give presentations during the technical sessions on the beneficial applications of nuclear science and technology on December 5 and 6.
One of the highlights of the 44th AEW celebration is the holding of the Philippine Nuclear Youth Summit (PNYS) on December 7. The PNYS will serve as a forum for the youth to share information and knowledge and offer high school and college students as well as young professionals a voice in the future and inspire them to pursue a career in nuclear science.
Teams of high-school students from public and private schools across the country will compete with their knowledge in nuclear science and other related topics during the national level competition of the Philippine Nuclear Science Quiz (PNSQ) for High School Students to be held on December 8 at the PNRI Auditorium.
As mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 1211 in 1973, the annual AEW is celebrated every second week of December to help generate awareness of the Filipinos on the beneficial uses of nuclear science and technology.
For more information on the activities for the 44th Atomic Energy Week, please contact the PNRI Nuclear Information and Documentation Section at 920-8787 and 929-6011 to 19 local 286, or visit www.pnri.dost.gov.ph and the facebook page DOST – Philippne Nuclear Research Institute.
Contact person for this media release:
Justina S. Cerbolles
Information Officer
Nuclear Information and Documentation Section
Technology Diffusion Division
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Contact details
Telephone no. : 920-8787 and 929-6011 to 19 local 286
Email address : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Medical Professionals from the Provinces Study Radioisotope Applications
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Participants of the 6th Course on Medical Use of Radioisotopes (CMR) and the 3rd Course on Radioisotope Techniques (CRT)
The trainees participate in an exercise on radiation survey and protection at the PNRI Nuclear Training Center
Medical Professionals from the Provinces Study Radioisotope Applications
Riding on the government’s thrust to bring progress to the country’s various regions, medical professionals from Mindanao, Visayas and other provinces beyond Metro Manila were among those who completed the 6th Course on Medical Use of Radioisotopes (CMR) and the 3rd Course on Radioisotope Technology (CRT) at the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) on 5-30 September 2016.
The training course was conducted by the PNRI Nuclear Training Center (NTC). Experts from PNRI and partner agencies lectured on nuclear science and technology on the use of radioisotopes in the medical field as well as the equally important aspect of radiation protection, nuclear safety and security.
Of the 27 trainees for the CMR, around half were from provincial hospitals and medical centers, many of which are either new or prospective licensees of PNRI. Participants came from major cities in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila. Successful completion of the CMR is one of the requirements for designation as Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) , and consequently, for fulfilling of regulatory requirements for radiation safety in nuclear medical centers and hospitals.
Meanwhile, five researchers and staff members from PNRI participated in the CRT. While the CMR focuses on medical applications of nuclear and radiation technologies, CRT focuses on the nuclear applications in agriculture, industry, environment protection, healthcare, and research.
Common topics that were taught to participants in the CMR and CRT were nuclear physics, radiation chemistry, use of monitoring instruments, biological effects of ionizing radiation, basic principles of radiation protection and nuclear regulation.
Midway through the courses, separate classes were held for the CMR and the CRT. The medical course included lectures and demonstrations on calibration of monitoring instruments, radiation therapy, cellular radiobiology, radioimmunoassay, cytogenetics, radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear medicine, and positron emission tomography. On the other hand, the CRT participants learned about radiation and radioisotope applications in agriculture, industry, geology and environmental research, food irradiation and radiation processing of other products. The participants were also introduced to PNRI’s state-of-the-art equipment through experiments on gamma spectrometry, liquid scintillation counting, and x-ray fluorescence analysis.
Visits to the Philippine General Hospital, particularly its linear accelerator, radiation therapy and brachytherapy facilities and to several PNRI facilities, such as the semi-commercial Cobalt-60 Multipurpose Irradiation Facility, the Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, the Technetium-99m Generator Facility and the Philippine Research Reactor – 1, enhanced the learning experiences of the participants.
Formerly the Radioisotope Techniques Training Course (RTTC) with iterations for medical personnel and general training, the new CMR and CRT courses reflect PNRI’s continuing efforts to improve and update the knowledge and skills of professionals engaged in the use of radioisotopes in their respective fields. The first RTTC was held on April 1959, and was one of the first human resources development program in nuclear science and technology in the country.
At the course culmination, participants presented case studies which aim to assess the comprehension of knowledge gained in the course as applied to their particular practice.
