34th AEW CELEBRATION CULMINATES IN AWARDING RITES
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This year's observance of the Atomic Energy Week culminated this morning with awarding ceremonies presided over by DOST Undersecretary Fortunato dela Pena and PNRI Director Alumanda M. dela Rosa.
Recognition was conferred on PNRI model employees, service awardees, special AEW commendees, and winners of the poster contest that was held during the week for Quezon City High School students.
The 34th AEW celebration had been a week-long affair that saw approximately 7,000 students and guests flocking to the Institute to tour the different laboratories and facilities, view technical exhibits, and listen to the lectures on the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
Special guests also graced the occasion, such as Congressman Luis Villafuerte, who keynoted the Opening Ceremonies, DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, DOTC Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin, former PNRI Director Carlito Aleta, officers from the Nuclear Research Foundation, and other former employees of the Institute.
Both guest speakers during the week - Congressman Villafuerte and DOST Undersecretary dela Pena - acknowledged the role of PNRI in national development and exhorted its staff to intensify their efforts in promoting nuclear technologies as well as in making more people aware of the benefits they bring.
The annual observance of the AEW is, in fact, geared towards such end, hence the yearly opening of PNRI's doors to the public.
For this year, the organization of the AEW celebration was spearheaded by Ms. Estelita G. Cabalfin, who is Officer-in-Charge of PNRI's Nuclear Services and Training Division.
SOLON PUSHES NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN CURRICULUM
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Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte yesterday proposed the integration of nuclear science in Science subjects to increase public awareness of the benefits of nuclear science and technology, especially among the youth.
In his keynote address at the opening ceremonies of the 34th Atomic Energy Week held yesterday at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) - Department of Science and Technology (DOST) complex in Diliman, Quezon City, Villafuerte said Science subjects should include nuclear science and technology.
"As we have Science subjects (in elementary and high school curriculums, we should) introduce in Science subjects a part that will consist of nuclear science and technology," he said.
"I would like to see a greater awareness of our people about nuclear science and technology. Maybe we should support conferences or even seminars and workshops elsewhere throughout the country in order to create awareness," he said.
Villafuerte, vice-chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, said nuclear science and technology is "a subject that the public has very little understanding of."
He said nuclear science and technology is "feared by a lot of people" as it is usually linked to nuclear weapons.
Citing the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant, Villafuerte said it is one of the "most misunderstood power generation technology" in the country.
"By and large, it (nuclear power plant) is a very safe technology. There are adequate control procedures to deter and prevent any danger to life, limb and property," he said, adding that other developing and industrialized countries actually use nuclear power plants for power generation.
Aside from public awareness on the benefits of nuclear science through the integration of nuclear S & T in Science subjects, Villafuerte said the country must also provide additional scholarships and trainings to strengthen nuclear S & T in the country.
He said youths should be encouraged to take up courses involving nuclear science and update their knowledge and skills by taking up further studies.
"Konti ang may Master in Science (M.S.) and doctorate (Ph.D.) in nuclear science," Villafuerte observed.
He said to further strengthen nuclear science and technology in the country, the government through PNRI, should put together a comprehensive list or inventory of research and development programs, beneficial uses of nuclear S & T in various fields, including education, food and agriculture, medicine, industrial applications and services.
The inventory must include the existing and additional equipment needed in the pursuit of a stronger nuclear science culture in the country.
Source:
Madel R. Sabater, Reporter
Manila Bulletin
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Nuclear Technology Products and Services to be Showcased at Atomic Energy Week Celebration
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Mutant ornamental plants... radiation-modified products from carrageenan (a seaweed product) such as hydrogel dressing and plant growth promoter... food products and cosmetic materials treated with radiation... nuclear techniques and services such as gamma irradiation...
These are some of the products and services developed by nuclear technology that will be featured during the celebration of the 34th Atomic Energy Week on December 11 to 15, 2006 at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in Diliman, Quezon City. The theme for this year's celebration is Harnessing Nuclear Technology for a Peaceful Tomorrow.
The PNRI is a research and development institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the national authority on nuclear matters.
PNRI Director Alumanda M. dela Rosa said that the AEW celebration aims to generate awareness of the Filipino people on the beneficial uses of nuclear technology in different areas such as in food and agriculture, health and medicine, industry, the environment and on nuclear safety and security.
The keynote speaker for the opening ceremonies on December 11 is Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte, Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Appropriations and Sub-committee on Science and Technology. DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro will give a message.
The daily activities slated for the open house celebration of the Atomic Energy Week are guided tour of the facilities, viewing of exhibits, film showing, radioactive source hunting, and lecture series on nuclear science. The topics for the lecture-series are Fundamental Concepts About Radiation, Biological Effects of Radiation and Radiation Safety; Electricity Generation from Nuclear Power; Radiation Protection and detection; and Effects of Radiation on Ornamental Plants.
An on-the-spot poster making contest for Quezon City high school students will be held on December 13. This activity is sponsored by the Quezon City Office of the Mayor.
For those who are interested to participate in any of the AEW activities and for further information about the celebration, contact Rhodora Leonin or Justina Cerbolles, PNRI Information Officers, at 920-8787 or 929 6010 to 19 ( PNRI Trunkline) local 286.
Introduce Filipino students to nuclear science, says PNRI head
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The chief of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute said bringing nuclear science into the classrooms will help Filipino students learn and appreciate more the potential benefits the government can generate from atomic energy, like weaning away the country from its dependence on fossil fuel.
PNRI Director Alumanda Dela Rosa said harnessing nuclear power is strategic to any country's supply of energy, "which is the key to social and economic progress and holds the promise of more food, better health and greater productivity."
She added: "We are pinning our hope on the next generation of Filipinos who will be able to participate in the quest for new discoveries within the atom and we could provide them the facts during their formative years in high school and college so that when they become decision makers, they know the facts and they can decide."
The Institute, which succeeded the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, conducts summer training courses on nuclear science for high school and college teachers at the PNRI training center in Diliman, Quezon City. The program runs for six weeks.
PNRI also holds nuclear awareness seminars in schools and accepts educational tours at the PNRI laboratories. It also sponsored the participation of teachers in international seminars and training programs through its linkage with foreign atomic energy agencies.
"We believe," she told the 134th general assembly of FUSE (Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education), "we need to touch base with students, particularly those in secondary level and the reason for this is that atomic energy, when properly utilized, holds the promise of abundant power."
Turning to the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Dela Rosa said the controversial facility's sister plants in South Korea, Brazil and Slovenia, with the same technology are now operating and do not posed any serious problems.
Under the plan drawn up by the Department of Energy, the "window of opportunity" to harness nuclear power as source of energy may come in year 2025, which would drastically reduce the country's dependence on imported fuel and greatly diversify fuel sources.
The government, Dela Rosa recalled, had commissioned studies as early as the 1960s to determine the viability of a nuclear power plant in the country and in the 70s, during the oil crisis, decided to adopt a nuclear power program that led to the construction of the Bataan facility.
The years 1985-86, the PNRI head said, were a bleak period for nuclear power development as "nuclear power became a taboo in official planning circles."
Dela Rosa explained to the FUSE assembly, which strongly pushes Science, Math and English as the principal anchors of the education system, that nuclear science supports the development of emerging sciences such as biotechnology.
"The development in this field could not have been fast without the use of radioisotopes to trace the structures and functions of DNA and proteins." Radioisotopes are also utilized to scan the body for cancer and monitor the success of the treatment.
