RP needs more science museums, government, private sector told

The government should build more science museums in the country as more and more students are getting hooked on the subject, an official said yesterday.

Space Science chief Bernardo Soriano of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) urged the government and the private sector to join hands for this endeavor to further boost the interest of the Filipino youth in science and technology.

"It’s not only for art’s sake, but also for scientific purposes," Soriano said.

He noted an increasing number of Filipino students showing interest in science, particularly astronomy.

As basis for this, Soriano cited the revenues of the Pagasa planetarium in Quezon City which improved by P100,000 last year with 24,000 visitors recorded.

He revealed that the 30-year-old planetarium will acquire new laptops and digital cameras this year for enhanced viewing of the stars in the facility’s dome.

The planetarium has an 88-seating capacity. It offers an ideal setting for all kinds of cosmic educational tours that provide a scientific concept of the universe. This concept includes the size and content of the observed universe, its creation, history and possible future, the development of the solar system.

Soriano said modern technology such as cell phones, computer games, and other gadgets have increased Filipinos’ interest in science and technology.

"Science makes people curious, inquisitive," he said.

Meanwhile, Soriano also pushed for a revision of the present school curriculum, most especially in science subjects.

He said Filipino teachers have different understandings of some concepts or theories in science, and as such he urged the government to train more science teachers to improve science education in the country. — Helen Flores