Young scientists meet

Some 200 recipients of the OutstandingYoung Scientists (OYS) awards attended their first annual convention on July 11 at the Manila Hotel.

Six speakers in different disciplines shared their experiences as scientists in these challenging times. They were Dr. Ernesto Pernia from the UP School of Economics; Dr. William Dar from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics; Dr. Queena Lee-Chua from the Ateneo de Manila University; Dr. Christopher Bernido of the Central Visayan Institute Foundation, and Dr. Eva Marie Cutiongco from the Institute of Human Genetics, UP National Institutes of Health.

Secretary of Science and Technology Estralla F. Alabastro was the keynote speaker, while Secretary Esperanza Cabral of the Department of Social Welfare and Development was one of the plenary speakers.

Highlighting the affair was the launching of the book "In Love With Science," a compendium of 22 stories of struggles, hopes, and dreams of acclaimed Outstanding Young Scientists in the Philippines. The book was edited by journalist and mathematician, Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, and TOYM and Pantas Awardee Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian who is the executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Sold at only P350, proceeds of this book will go to the Outstanding Young Scientists, Inc. (OYSI) to help encourage the youth to pursue science.