Young Filipino innovators showcased the skills and creativity behind their new inventions during the BPI-DOST Innovation Awards 2022 held October 28 at the Holiday Inn, Makati City.
The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), in partnership with the BPI Foundation Inc, had named the top three inventions that could help solve pressing issues on immunization, environment, and health, declaring them winners of the awards that were formerly known as the BPI Science Awards.
After completing workshops on presentation skills, innovation, creative entrepreneurship, design thinking, patent, technology marketing and commercialization, collaboration, and networking, the winners were named.
Here are the winners:
St. Louis University in Baguio City. Its winning project is called “TaniKalusugan-BlockVax: A Digitized Immunization Records System using Blockchain Technology,” a digitized immunization records system that tracks all the vaccinations taken by each person in the country. This helps ease health practitioners’ tasks in organizing and managing the immunization data of all Filipinos while keeping the data safe. The team consists of Charles Marco M. Obispo, Hanna Louiza R. Manalang, and Roby F. Soriano, together with their project adviser Kasima Rose M. Mendoza.
Photo credit: Polina Tankilevitch
The University of the Philippines-Visayas. The project, “Carbon Quantum Dots as Innovative Materials for Detection and Removal of Selected Aquatic Pollutants,” explores the application of nanomaterials as nano-catalysts for photodegradation of harmful organic pollutants, and as nano-probes for the detection of heavy metals in aquatic environments. The project was crafted by team members Lorraine Ann F. Mana-ay, Maridel S. Somejo, and Steve C. Turita, with adviser Concepcion P. Ponce.
Photo credit: Emiliano Arano
The University of Santo Tomas. The team’s “Artificial Intelligence-Based Prediction of Colorectal Cancer using miRNA Expression” designs, trains, and tests artificial neural networks in predicting the likelihood of colorectal cancer in patients using levels of expression of specific miRNAs found in blood plasma and colorectal tissue samples.
Photo credit: Tara Winstead
Challenging young minds, Inspiring New Inventions
“We aim to challenge our young minds to create innovations that matter for the betterment of our communities and ultimately, our country. We hope to have inspired today’s young people to continue using their gifts to make significant contributions to the country and to help improve the lives of every Filipino,” said BPI Foundation executive director Owen L. Cammayo.
DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette T. Biyo also expressed her gratitude to the BPI Foundation for its continued support and partnership in the Institute’s advocacy of developing the next generation of science leaders. “Trust that the DOST-SEI will continue to strengthen its efforts to develop a critical pool of science and technology professionals and to provide opportunities for young innovators like you to pursue significant and valuable careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” she said. (Story and photos courtesy of DOST-SEI Media Relations)