HARI Foundation, DOST-SEI launch Hyundai New Thinkers Summit

MANILA, Philippines - HARI Foundation, Inc. (HFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., and the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) launch the Hyundai New Thinkers Summit with the theme “The Power of Youthinking: Youthink. Youtalk. Youtransform.”

The Hyundai New Thinkers Summit is designed to be a premier local leadership and learning convention where outstanding high school students interact with industry experts and idea generators of the country. For its pilot year, the Summit invites 80 3rd year high school students from 40 pre-selected public high schools in Metro Manila and Regions III and IV to engage in activities and dialogue on Innovation and Climate Science.

The following major topics are slated to inspire and train the student participants to become future leaders and innovators, or “Hyundai New Thinkers.” These are Climate Science; Youthink, which addresses the “i-Generation” or the new breed of young techies or digital natives; Youtalk, which tackles “Leadershift,” or the ability of the youth to take on leadership roles in society; and Youtransform which focuses on “Kin+Ethics,” or youth-inspired advocacy and campaigns for nation-building.

Invited to speak about the abovementioned topics are scientists and experts from the University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI), led by Dr. Aletta Yñiguez, and University of the Philippines and the National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), led by Dr. Carlos Primo “CP” David; ABS-CBN Chief Digital Officer Donald Lim; Ideaspace Founder Earl Martin Valencia; columnist and entrepreneur RJ Ledesma; Lloydluna Communications CEO Lloyd Luna; Synergeia Foundation President & CEO Milwida Guevarra; and Mano Amiga Pilipinas Founder Eleanor Pinugu.

Through HARI Foundation, Inc. (HFI), HARI commits to localizing Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) global bid to promote a lifestyle of authentic caring and sharing. HFI aims to be an upstanding agent of change to empower Filipinos to lead productive and responsible lives and to contribute its share in building a strong and proud Filipino nation. This will be realized through HFI’s mission of spearheading relevant, creative, and results-oriented social, economic, and environmental programs to effect positive societal change, engaging and inspiring its stakeholders, industry partners, and the local communities to work together towards sustainable nation building.

The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute is one of the service institutes of the DOST engaged in providing scholarships, awards, and grants and developing, implementing, and supporting programs to promote science and technology culture in order to create a pool of future scientists and engineers for the country. SEI plays a critical role in the development of innovative ways to teach and learn Science and Technology to improve the quality of science education in Philippine schools.