9 teams of ‘cream-of-the-crop’ young innovators receive grants
These interesting projects— technology for search and rescue operations, bioabsorbent, intelligent trash bin for quarantine facilities, shockwave electrodialysis to clean water, air purifier from biomass, fuel cell, mercury and lead detection kit, landfill bioremediation and selfhealing smart concrete—seem to have been made by science and technology professionals who have already finished their Masters or Phds studies.
But don’t be surprised. They are by budding scientists still at the highschool and college levels.
They are projects of nine teams of Young Innovators’ Program ( YIP) who were awarded with research grants by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development ( DOSTPCIEERD) during an online event on September 22.
This year’s YIP awardees were chosen from among 95 research proposals submitted from different parts of the country.
Hibla Team recognition
Duri ng the same event, the DOSTPCIEERD also recognized the Team Hibla of Angeles City Science High School for outstanding accomplishments in its project “Alternative Sound Absorption Material” from biomass such as water hyacinth, bamboo and abaca.
An YIP grantee in 2018, the project is now ready for commercialization after it has received two patents.
The team of Neil David Cayanan, Shaira Gozun and Evan Relle Togol received various recognitions for the project in 2019, including Top 6 winner in the Intel-isef Awards in Arizona, US; Crown Prince Cipta finalist in Brunei Darussalam; and honorable mention from Acoustical Society of America, among others.
Contract signing
The nine student teams and their mentors signed contracts in an online ceremony with the DOST- PCIEERD for the grants of up to P80,000 that will cover their laboratory expenses, testing materials and honorarium for the teachers and students.
DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit expressed optimism for the future of the Philippines’s scientific community with new and budding scientists taking on the challenge of conducting research and development despite the current pandemic.
“As leader and partner in enabling innovations, we will continue in the pursuit of fresh talents and support their endeavors to pursue research and development in the country. We hope that this research grant will entice them to get into careers in research and development in the country,” he said during the webinar.
Paringit said PCIEERD admires “the young researchers on their determination to take on challenges to conduct research and development projects that offer solutions.”
He added: “They will serve as our bright spots for the future of science and technology in our country. They will serve as an inspiration for younger generations to follow. These YIPS also are the source of pride for their respective institutions.”
The grantees
This year’s YIP grant awardees, who were called the “cream of the crop” among the applicants by Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, deputy executive director of DOST PCIEERD, are the following:
• The Team Kaisen from Mapua University has as members Ma. Cathyrine Ravina, Denisse Joy Dayao, Janela Zambrano with mentor Prof./ Engr. Marvin Norona.
Their project is “Sphere: An Ultrawideband Technology- based Innovation for Search and Rescue Operations in the Philippines.”
This project will use ultra- wide band technology that can detect heart rate regardless of the type of wall blocking the victim.
It comes with a remote control and added features vital for the search and rescue operations like Global Positioning System to pin the exact location of victims, built- in lights to better see the situation underground, camera that has a night vision, and a speaker for the controller to speak with the victims underneath debris.
• The FUNGIE Team of Polytechnic University of the Philippines- Sta. Mesa is composed of Irah Faye B. Garzo. Raven Elyze E. Laurella and Ghimel P. Espinosa with Prof. Dr. Lourdes V. Alvarez as mentor.
Their project is “Fungal chitosanbased Microbeads: A Heavy Metal Soil- based biobsorbent.“
The study aims to innovate fungal chitosan- based microbeads into heavy metal soil- based biobsorbent.
The team will collect five fungal samples to isolate and cultivate fungal samples in potato dextrose agar extract chitosan using the fungal isolates.
They will investigate the biosorption capabilities and percentage efficiency of the extracted chitosan in copper, chromium and arsenic. Once the fungal chitosan microbeads are made, they will continue to test and optimize biosorption capabilities and percentage efficiency of the produced fungal chitosan microbeads in copper, chromium and arsenic.
• The entry from Navotas National Science High School is by John Emmanuel Javines with mentor Don King O. Evangelista.
The project is “itrashbin [ Intelligent Trash Bin] Internet- ofThings Trash Bin for Quarantine and Isolation Facilities.”
The project will create a robot designed to collect the waste products of Covid-19 patients and suspected ones, and to disinfect the waste products on the process.
The researchers will adapt the system of Internet- of-things ( IOT) in which the device will use the Internet to transfer data through a smart phone to control the robot.
• The Team SEA from Philippine Science High School ( PSHS)- Main Campus have as members Paris Miguel U. Bereber, John David F. Magnaye and Davis Nicholo A. Magpantay with mentor Engr. Boon Kristoffer P. Lauw.
Their project, “Shock Electrodialysis Apparatus [SEA],” aims to provide users with clean, more accessible freshwater through shockwave electrodialysis without the need to exert much effort.
This will significantly lessen the impact of water scarcity and saltwater intrusion in coastal/ brackish water communities, and provide new innovations for the market that can be patentable and accessible to most customers.
• The Project Lingap Langhap of Team Lila’s Carlos Jerard de la Cruz, Jan Paolo Pineda and Maria Michaela Tumonong with mentor Joel T. Bautista from PSHS- Central Luzon has the project, “Low- cost 3D Printed Air Purifier System using Activated Carbon Biomass Filter and Philippine Bamboo Exterior.”
The project will develop a low- cost indoor air purifier using activated carbon biomass filter that is designed to have aesthetically pleasing exterior using Philippine bamboo.
The team will conduct user acceptance testing and validation testing among target- users and experts.
• The project, “Proton- Exchange Membrane [PEM] Fuel Cell Using Electrode Processed from Kaong Waste Product,” is by Team Kaong composed of Alexis Anne C. Bonus, Renz John Kurt S. Reyes and Vien Isabella R. Rom with mentor Sheryl D. Fenol of Cavite State University.
Their project will create a PEM fuel cell that will be developed using sugar palm or kaong waste product. The project can develop an energy storage device that can generate a maximum potential of 1.2V. The kaong tree is abundant in upland Cavite.
• University of Mindanao- Main Campus student Steph Kier S. Ponteras with Dr. Chosel P. Lawagon as mentor has the project, “Hg [Mercury] and Pb [Lead] Detection Kit Utilizing D- Limonene from Sweet Orange Peelings.”
The research will make an easy and efficient mercury and lead detection kit to synthesize D- limonene from orange peelings. It will test its efficacy for mercury and lead detection from water sources near mining areas.
The team will fabricate the detection kits to be easily used by any person, especially those in resource- limited communities near mining areas.
• The “Labiorem: Landfill Bioremediation through Biodegradative activities of Pleurotus ostreatus [Oyster Mushroom] to High Density Polyethylene [HDPE]” is the project of Team Sisid students Nikka C. Banez, Princess Angelica S. Besonia, Kyla Carmina F. Consul, Jules Hyacinth B. Macasaet and Ma. Angelica D. Gomez from Angeles University Foundation Integrated School.
Their mentors are Dr. Analiza J. Molina and Emmanuel Carbungco.
The project aims to determine a more ecological approach in addressing plastic garbage issues with the investigation of biodegradative activities of oyster mushroom on HDPE, polyhydroxybutyrate and oxo- biodegradable plastics.
• University of Mindanao- Main Campus student Ivanbert Y. Damasco and mentor Dr. Chosel P. Lawagon will do the study “Synthesis of nanocellulose from durian rinds for the preparation of a self- healing smar t concrete with augmented mechanical properties.”
The projec t proponent s wi l l introduce a new approach in selfhealing cement technology by synthesizing nanocellulose and nanosilica from durian rind together with sodium silicate.
They will develop self-healing smart concrete, specifically to reduce the occurrence of cracks in cement- based products and augment the mechanical properties of reinforced cement.
Fourth year
Sab ularse said at the webinar: “Today is the beginning of an excellent opportunity for these young minds to pursue and explore the world of research and development together with their mentors and come up with innovative solutions to address the current challenges and problems in the Philippines.”
He added that DOST- PCIEERD believes in the creative and innovative minds of our youth.
“We are optimistic that as leaders of tomorrow, the [ YIP] will provide the opportunity for you to create quality research works, publications, products and inventions or patents, he said.
This year’s YIP grant awarding is the fourth time of the DOSTPCIEERD. Established in 2017, YIP recognizes promising researchers under the age of 25.
DOST- PCIEERD has received a total of 233 applications in the past three years. It has supported 20 teams of senior high school, undergraduate and graduate students into realizing their contributions to the scientific community.