By Ina Hernando-Malipot – The Intel Corporation and Society for Science and the Public announced Thursday that four Filipino students won major awards in the world’s largest pre-college science competition, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in San Jose, California, USA last May 9 to 14.
The Philippines was again successful in this year’s Intel ISEF, with four young scientists taking home fourth place grand awards in their respective categories.
Three of the students are Jean Reni Briones de Guzman, Marc Abegonia Mapalo, and Maria Clara Isabel Sia of the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas campus who won in the Team Awards category in the area of Environmental Science for their group study on creating a natural treatment for “Red Tide” using indigenous materials.
The fourth student, MarcArthur Jordan Irlandez Limpiado, also of the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas campus, was successful in the Microbiology category for his individual research on the antimicrobial properties of Philippine seaweeds.
The students each received $500 as cash prizes.
This year’s Philippine delegation was made up of six students from secondary schools across the country who produced the top entries at the 13th Intel Philippine Science Fair, held at the University of the Philippines Diliman last February. Rounding out the Philippine delegation were Hanna Escobido and Brayl Ymbol, who competed in the Physical Sciences category.
The Philippines has been successful at the Intel ISEF in the past.
In 2009, two students from the Philippine Science High School were awarded a fourth place prize for their work on the cancer-inhibiting properties of bacteria found on a certain species of seaweed.
Since 1998, when the Philippines first participated in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the country has garnered a total of 18 Grand Awards and 10 Special Awards, including this year’s grand wards.
For this year, the competition consisted of 1,611 young scientists from 59 countries, regions and territories. In addition to the three top prizes, the Intel Foundation awarded $8,000 to each of 19 “Best of Category” winners and also gave $1,000 grants to the winners’ school and the affiliated fairs they represent.
More than 600 additional awards and prizes were provided by dozens of other corporate, academic, government and science-focused sponsors for their groundbreaking work.
“The 1,600 youths from around the world who attended this week’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair showed me that the next generation of scientific and technological innovation is exciting and thriving,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini.
“I hope that the energy these high school students exhibit about math and science will inspire yet another generation of innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs which will improve our world.”
The Intel ISEF is an important component of the company’s work in advancing science education in the Philippines and around the world.
Education is a key aspect of Intel’s renowned corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort.
“Intel promotes advancements in math, science, and engineering education, as well as research, to encourage and empower the innovators of tomorrow,” said Intel Philippines Country Manager Ricky Banaag.
He also added that Intel’s holistic blend of technology, programs, and resources helps ignite student learning, improve educational outcomes, and equip the next generation to compete successfully in the knowledge economy.
