Three students from the Philippine Science High School - Main Campus (PSHS-MC) got their research [project recognized in the recently concluded Thailand International Science Fair 2023 in Mahidol Wittayanusorn School
In a statement, the PSHS system stated that the event was held from Feb.13 to 16.
It stated that Michael Jeffrey D. Real, Sidney Lance C. Fernando, and Marco Raphael S. Liceralde presented their research project: Development of a Neural Network for Classifying Selected Fabaceae Family Plant Leaves, along with 77 other research projects from 50 schools representing 16 countries worldwide.
With the Android application, Filipino researchers are able to identify plants from the Fabriceae family in a field setting without the need for internet connectivity and plain backgrounds for the images.
Based on the findings of the research, a convolutional neural network (CNN) for Fabriceae leaf identification can be used as a potential alternative to manual identification, including in the context of images from a natural environment. In a mobile application form, CNNs may reduce the need for keys, prior botanical knowledge, or other tools used for identification.
Also, the study may potentially build interest in botany and taxonomy.
The team was selected to present their scientific research to Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the opening ceremony of TISF.
Participants in TISF 2023 include Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Korea, Lao P.D.R., the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Thailand.
Jason Alcarez and Adrian Sumalde served as research advisers and research teachers, respectively.
The research project also won as champion in the applied science category of the 2023 University of the Philippines ALCHEMES Research Fair on February 10-11.