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Establishing more science centers in the Philippines will
help boost its economy brought by the possible increase in
manpower who are highly trained in science and technology,
the president of California Science Center (CSC) said.
CSC
president and chief executive officer Jeffrey Rudolph said
having more science centers in the Philippines would
motivate and inspire the people to pursue a career in
science and technology, creating a steady supply of
manpower on this area, the Science Education Institute of
the Department of Science and Technology (SEI-DOST) said
in a press release.
“To the
extent that the
Philippines
desires to develop business and commerce in areas related
to science and technology, it is critical that the work
force be effectively trained in this area,” Rudolph was
quoted by SEI as saying.
CALIFORNIA Science Center president and CEO Jeffrey
Rudolph delivers a talk on the role of science centers in
education at the Science Café held at the SM Science
Discovery Center. He stressed the need to build more
science centers in the country to boost the economy.
--MARK IVAN C. ROBLAS/SEI
The DOST
has been providing assistance to several science centers
in the Philippines, which are in La Union, Marikina City,
Naga City, Iloilo City and Davao.
The SM
Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in
Pasay City is the newest facility of this kind that
features interesting and highly interactive exhibits, the
SEI said.
Rudolph
said science centers also help produce a critical mass of
science-conscious citizens who are able to discern
positions in policies involving science and technology.
“Science
centers can help all citizens become more comfortable in
making decisions about scientific policy matters,” he
said.
Rudolph
pointed out that the Philippines need science centers to
motivate the young generation to take up courses in
science and technology, as well as educate them in the
most creative way.
“I believe
the need for science centers is common to any country that
values education and, particularly, values the importance
of science and technology. Science centers play the
critical role of motivating young people to want to pursue
further education and learning in the sciences, and they
provide opportunity for people of all ages to understand
science and technology, and become more informed
citizens,” he said.
Rudolph
said it is important that all sectors of
society—government, the private sector and industries—to
take part in putting up science centers in the Philippines
to the benefit of the country.
“I
personally believe that such support could improve
existing science centers and encourage the development of
new ones, all of which would be an important educational
and economic benefit to the country,” Rudolph was quoted
by the SEI.
Dr. Ester
Ogena, director of the SEI, said the government has
continually worked with the private sector in promoting
science and technology, especially through the
establishment of science centrums in the country.
“We have
always encouraged the private sector, NGOs [nongovernment
organizations] and even LGUs [local government units] to
put up science centrums to create a conducive learning
environment for science and spur the interests of many
young Filipinos. We hope that, in the near future, more
science centrums would be built all over the country and
create equal opportunities for those in the more
disadvantaged locations,” she said.
“Bringing
science and technology to the regions spurs growth through
investments and infrastructure. Further, it puts forward
the untapped potential of Filipino scientists who are
unable to go to the metropolis.”
Ogena said
Filipinos should realize that science could be found in
everyday life, and science centers provide the means to
rediscover the wonders science bring to the world.
“Going
beyond awareness, we want the Filipino people to
experience, feel and realize that science is around them
and we should use it to its fullest potential. And what
better way to let our countrymen experience science but by
bringing science to them,” she said. | 
