HARI
Foundation,
Inc. (
HFI), in partnership with the
Department of Science and Technology-Science
Education Institute (DOST-SEI), immersed 40 selected high school students and 20 teacher delegates in a nine-day learning experience in marine science and hydrogeology with the goal of developing a new generation of
Filipino climate scientists via the
Hyundai New Thinkers
Camp at
Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro on April 1 to 9, 2014.
The camp was divided into two major sub-camps: the Hydrogeology camp led by the
University of the Philippines-National
Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS) and the
Marine Science camp led by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).
From April 2 to 4, the UP-NIGS held in-class and hands-on lectures on basic climate science activities such as river profiling, water quality of springs, soil erosion and water filtration, compass and global positioning system (
GPS) reading, and beach profiling. The hydrogeology camp consisted of exposure trips to the Aninuan
River, Tabinay River and Beach, and Talipanan Falls.
From April 6 to 8, the UP-MSI led exposure trips to the sea grass community, mangrove forest, and coastal reefs in
Boquete,
Puerto Galera. Campers had hands-on learning sessions about the basics of plankton and water quality sampling, snorkeling, and the reasons behind souring oceans.
To cap the Hyundai New Thinkers experience, HFI
President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo congratulated the participants who completed the program and urged them to carry on in their proactive steps for the environment.
Likewise, she expressed her gratitude to the UP-NIGS and UP-MSI for sharing their knowledge and inspiring the participants to consider climate science as a college degree.
"I look forward to seeing the students here today be the future climate scientists five to 10 years from now.
Climate Change is happening and we live in a climate change vulnerable country. For HARI Foundation and DOST-SEI, this nation's best strategy is to hone tomorrow's Filipino climate scientists and innovators through education in order for us to better adapt and survive the threats of our ever-changing climate."
Participating schools from
Metro Manila are
Manila Science High School, Pateros
National High School, Kasarinlan
High School,
Philippine Science
High School-Main
Campus Quezon City, Sta.
Lucia High School,
Taguig National High School,
Rizal High School,
Ramon Magsaysay High School, and
Valenzuela City Science High School.
Region III schools include
Bataan National High School,
Emilio C. Bernabe High School (Formerly
Bagac High School), Mariveles National High School,
Marcelo H. Del Pilar National High School, Maronquillo High School,
Claro M. Recto Information and Communication Technology High School,
Philippine Science High School Central, and
Olongapo City National High School.
Rounding up the pioneer group of potential Hyundai New Thinkers are students from
Region IV schools,
Cavite National High School,
Sisters of
Mary School, and Morong National High School.
The Hyundai New Thinkers Camp is the third phase of the Hyundai New Thinkers
Circuit, a revolutionary education program spearheaded by HFI to pick top students from selected high schools to groom the country's future leaders, innovators, and climate scientists or "Hyundai New Thinkers."
The first phase was the Hyundai New Thinkers
Summit held on
October 2013 where students were inspired by industry experts and idea generators of the country to lead progressive and innovative thinking. The second phase is the Bayanihan
Project held last
November 2013 to
February 2014 where the students proposed and implemented climate science development projects, which will help their communities address various climate change problems. The third phase is the Camp for an overall exposure to what's in store for the students, should they pursue the life of a climate scientist.
The final phase of the circuit, the Hyundai New Thinkers
Spotlight, will take place on June 2014. The students with the best Bayanihan
Projects and the most potential to be a climate scientist will be granted scholarships to pursue a college degree related to environmental science.
They will be evaluated based on the best community development programs that the students implemented.
Criteria for the selection of projects are ingenuity, efficiency, and sustainability.
- published: 25 Jun 2014
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