Science Explorer allows H.S. studes to view Venus in transit

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- The Science Explorer of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), the Philippines first and only mobile science interactive learning facility, allowed high school students of Camarines Norte in viewing the transit of Venus on June 6.

Dr. Filma G. Brawner, director of DOST-SEI, said the Venus Transit Roadtrip of the Science Explorer to Camarines Norte highlighted the importance of astronomy and enticed students to take on S&T careers in the future.

“The activity has provided students with opportunity to observe and learn key celestial phenomena such as the Venus Transit through actual telescopic observation and lectures,” she said.

Venus Transit – a phenomenon when planet Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun—is a rare planetary alignment in pairs that are eight years apart with dual events taking place approximately every 105 years. The world has witnessed the most recent occulation in 2004, the first transit of the planet since 1882. The importance of observing this celestial event goes beyond recording it in history.

In studying transits, astronomers before discovered the existence and distances of other planets in the solar system.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says the Philippines is one of the best view points to fascinate people living in this generation while witnessing the extraordinary astronomical occurrence.

Brawner said a total of 240 students from six selected schools (Vicente L. Basit Memoriual High School, Moreno Integrated School, Camarines Norte National High School and Porifirio Ponayo High School, Daet; Vinzons Pilit High School, Vinzons and San Roque High School, Mercedes) Camarines Norte were given the chance to learn about Venus Transit and actually observe it through telescopes.

The lecture and observation were led by Dr. Rogel Mari D. Sese, Focal Person for the Philippine Space Science Education Program; regional offices of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Education (DepEd), and LGUs – province of Camarines Norte and municipality of Daet.

The transit can be safely observed by taking the same precautions when observing the partial phases of a solar eclipse. The safest manner of observing the transit is to project the image of the Sun through through instruments like pinhole, telescope, and binoculars onto a screen or by using a solar filter. Staring at brilliant disk of the sun without eye protection can severely damage the retina and hence affect or end one’s sense of sight.

“We believe that exposing the young students in this kind of astronomical observation will boost their interest and hopefully motivate them to pursue S&T studies,” Brawner added.

Brawner added that a live stream of Venus Transit observation will be seen in the DOST-SEI website (www.sei.dost.gov.ph) in partnership with the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) to enable Filipinos to witness the phenomenon. She also said the live streaming will maximize participation all over the country and increase the impact of the activity. (MAL-PIA 5, Albay/DOSTV)



Bicolanos urged anew to join GSIS Scholarship Program
11 scholarship slots open for Bicol region

LEGAZPI CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- All regular members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the region are encouraged to join the revised GSIS Scholarship Program for SY 2012 – 2013 on or before the deadline set this June 30, said GSIS Legazpi Branch head Leon Maria Fajardo.

“We would like to seek your assistance in enjoining members under your coverage to join the GSP SY 2012-2013,” Fajardo said addressing the authorized officers of various agencies concerned in the implementation of the said program.

Under the program, 200 scholarship slots will be distributed nationwide based on the number of GSIS members in each region. For Bicol, 11 slots are open for application for the region.

“All regular GSIS members with premium payments for the last six months and are currently employed in government, with a salary grade of 24 or below, are eligible to nominate a scholar for the GSP. The nominated scholar must be a child of the member who is an incoming college freshman in any of the schools accredited by GSIS,” Fajardo detailed.

In this region, Catanduanes State College, Camarines Sur State Agricultural College and Bicol University are the schools included in the list.

Karina Constantina-David, GSIS Board of Trustee member, said during the recently held Dialogue with Public Sector Unions here that the program will prioritize government employees with lower salary.

“The lower the salary grade, the higher the possibility of being chosen for the scholarship grant,” David said.

Each scholarship grantee will receive a maximum amount of P20,000 per semester for tuition and miscellaneous fees and P2,000 monthly allowance.

To date, GSIS has awarded a total of 1,371 scholarship grants since the inception of the program in 1998. 404 of the said grantees are active scholars currently enrolled in various colleges and universities nationwide as of April this year. (MAL/SAA-PIA 5, Albay)