By Framelia V. Anonas
MediaCore, PCASTRD

The Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development intensifies its information drive from the boondocks of Benguet to the shores of General Santos City on its priority areas and programs and for better appreciation of the country's pursuits in advanced science and technology.

“Our ultimate goal is to develop a scientific culture in the country,” says PCASTRD executive director Ida F. Dalmacio, referring to the council's energized efforts in information dissemination and advocacy.

PCASTRD is an agency of the Department of Science and Technology tasked to develop the advanced S&T sector that covers biotechnology, information and communications technology, materials science, photonics technology, space technology applications, and electronics instrumentation and controls.

Such technology fields are not so familiar among the common people.  Known studies such as Hoban's “Social Acceptance of Biotechnology (2001)” for example reveal that consumer awareness on biotechnology is moderate but knowledge levels tend to be quite low.

To popularize biotechnology, PCASTRD organizes information seminars in cooperation with the academe, consumer groups, non-government organizations, and other government agencies. 

The council believes that interpersonal channels, such as fora and seminars are still the best means to reach out to the public because experts could immediately attend to queries.  The seminars also are held for free to be accessible to the public.

Along with biotechnology, other seminar topics that draw strong interests are on ICT, space technology, and nanotechnology.  Other hot topics include PCASTRD's services such as scholarship grants, support to R&D projects, laboratory and library upgrading. PCASTRD also actively promotes its R&D, thesis, and dissertation awards, which will be conferred in December to coincide with the agency's 16^th anniversary.

In the fourth quarter of 2003, PCASTRD went on seminar and information swing in Pangasinan, Benguet, Cebu City, Bohol-Leyte, Iloilo-Bacolod, and Davao City.

Earlier, PCASTRD and other members of the science community led by the National Academy of Science and Technology, and the National Research Council of the Philippines came out with a resolution on the human genome and human rights.  The resolution was a result of jointly-sponsored fora on the Human Genome Project participated in by members of the science community and the House of Representatives' S&T committee.

Information campaigns were all well-attended such as those held in General Santos City, Cavite, Zamboanga City, and Baguio City.

 PCASTRD also whips out regular broadcast interviews, news releases, popular information materials, technical papers and proceedings, and participates in technology fairs and exhibits to showcase results of advanced S&T research.  Such activities generate inquiries from companies, entrepreneurs, professors, students, and individuals that indicate rising public awareness and appreciation of advanced S&T.

“We are making this effort to create a conducive socio-cultural environment.  Promoting S&T literacy and advocacy would not only help people become aware, but also develop better appreciation of S&T concerns.  Hopefully, this would improve our country's prospects for national scientific and technological development”, Dr. Dalmacio said.

For more information on PCASTRD's priority areas and services, the Council can be reached at  telephone nos. 837-7516, 837-7522, or 837-2071 locals 2100 to 2109; e-mail address  pcastrd@dost.gov.ph, or URL http://www.pcastrd.dost.gov.ph