DOST taps Robogals to urge studes in robotics, engineering

MANILA -- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 10 (Northern Mindanao) has tapped Robogals Cagayan de Oro to encourage more students to try the fields of robotics and engineering.

Robogals is a non-government organization that aims to encourage students to engage in engineering topics by providing them free robotics cl asses.

According to DOST-10, Robogals aims to increase female enrollment in Engineering and Information Technology cou r ses.

It was DOST-10 that approached Robogals, Science Research Specialist Julie Anne Baculio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.

"The partnership started last February 3. The DOST-10 approached Robogals after the group's presentation at the Quantum Information Technology Convention 11," she said.

Baculio acknowledged that DOST needs to draft a memorandum of agreement to make the partnership formal. "We are hoping to sustain the partnership for years. The longer, the better," she said.

Under the DOST-Robogals partnership, the latter will provide free robotics seminars during the agency's Science and Technology (S&T) caravan in Lanao del Norte on February 28.

The second and third leg of the S&T caravan will happen in Camiguin in May, and in Misamis Occidental in August, according to Baculio.

The S&T caravan will be held in municipal covered courts, she added.

"Robogals would accommodate 30 students per caravan because there are only three volunteers available," she said.

Baculio noted that DOST-10 also wants to partner with Robogals for the observance of the Regional S&T Week in Malaybalay, Bukidnon on November 12-14.

"We can reach more students during the S&T Week because this is scheduled for three days. We target 1,500 participants for the whole event," she said.

By partnering with DOST, Baculio said Robogals would benefit from the promotion or exposure, and would also enable the group to reach more students.

"They told us they're having a hard time entering schools to give free classes because they are not well known. This year, they target to be recognized as a nonstock, non-profit organization under the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)," she explained.

Meanwhile, aside from the free robotics workshops courtesy of Robogals, Baculio said attendees of the caravan can also expect some free services from DOST-10.

"We'll give free water testing (pH, color, turbidity), free calibration of weighing scales up to 60 kg., and free materials on our programs," she said. ( PNA)