Cebu to host science confab

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology’s National Research Council of the Philippines will host the 12th International Council for Science regional meeting for Asia and the Pacific.

The scientific activity will be held on November 11 and 12 at the Marriott Hotel, Cebu City.

Activities for the meeting include the sharing of best practices and lessons in science and health education promotion, green productivity strategy, among other issues.

Joining the activity will be DOST Secretary Mario Montejo who will lead the Philippine delegation with DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano Yumul Jr.

Yumul will discuss the preparations of the Philippines for its efficient and effective participation in the realization of ASEAN Community 2015 with the theme “One vision, one identity, one community.”

Expected to participate are delegations from the 10 member-nations in the Asia Pacific Region headed by the technical paper presenters from Australia, Thailand, and Korea.

They are Prof. Bruce John McKellar, chairman of the School of Physics in the University of Melbourne, Australia; Prof. Soottiporn Chittmittrapap, secretary general of the NRCP of Thailand; and Prof. Hong-Kum Lee, president of the Korea Polar Research Institute, Republic of Korea.

Other participants will represent the rest of the member-nations, including China, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indian, Iran, and Sri Lanka.

Past NCRP President and outgoing Philippine representative to ICSU, Jaime Montoya, NCRP President Alvin Culaba, and the 16 members of the NRCP governing board with some members of the NRCP management staff will also be present at the meeting.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was invited to grace the activity while DOST-7 Director Rene Burt Llanto is tapped to formally open the conference by welcoming the members of the foreign and local delegations and the DOST/NRCP members.

ICSU is a non-governmental organization founded in 1931 to bring together natural scientists in international scientific endeavor.

Currently, it has 151 members covering 141 countries, including the Philippines, represented by the DOST-NRCP which has been an active member since 1933. (FREEMAN)