Students from the Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus (PSHS-CVisC) took the spotlight, bagging awards at the Innovation Science Environmental and Entrepreneurship Fair 2023 (AISEEF 2023) held at Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang, Indonesia.

In a statement, the PSHS system stated that the event was held from Feb. 10 to 14. According to PSHS, teams of student innovators won three gold awards and other special awards.

AISEEF is a competition for creativity in the field of scientific innovation and entrepreneurship among students (SD/SMP/SMA/Equivalent) and students at the International level. This activity is expected to foster creativity and innovation in the fields of science and entrepreneurship.

A total of 368 participating teams from 15 countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United States, and Vietnam joined AISEEF 2023 which was organized by the Indonesian Young Scientist Association (IYSA).

Lifestyle Inhibitor by Keeping Track of Sodium Intake (LIKSI) through Bodily Fluids to Limit Dietary Intake by Keith Geralde, Rob Eishico Rentuza, Eugene Verano, Jacklord Pongasi won the Gold Award and the Dean of Faculty of Engineering Diponegoro University Special Award.

The team of David Elijah Corsini Atup, Josefino Nino Ligan, and Chesyne Danielle Pepito won the Gold Award, Best Poster Special Award, and Malaysia Innovation Invention Creativity Association (MIICA) Award for their Image Processing Device for Microplastics Assessment and High-Quality Evaluation of Water (IMAHE).

Meanwhile, the Guard Apparatus of Infrared Levels Assessment and Arduino-based System for the Bedridden’s Welfare (GALAW) by Bianca Margareth Lo, Nicole Conrad Obrero, and Angel Karl Gordo clinched the Gold Award and the Best Project Special Award

Dr. Benito A. Baje, Ro-Ann S. Laude, Arlene Cahoy-Agosto, Engr. Gencianus Alphonsus Retardo, and Paul Isaac Dizon served as mentors and coaches.

“Innovation makes students appreciate the application of concepts learned in school to the real world setting. Innovation is one way of fostering collaboration among students and enabling them to create new solutions in solving problems,” Baje said.

According to Baje, PSHS-CVisC provides students with opportunities and appropriate venues for them to create, innovate, collaborate, and serve.

When asked about how PSHS-CVisC develops the innovation skills of students, Baje said, “The integration of the Design Thinking Skills in the Physics curriculum which I am teaching, helped a lot in igniting the students’ curiosity to develop technical solutions on a pressing problem within the community. Also, the establishment of a MakerSpace in PSHS-CVisC where students have a chance to development and uncover their potentials prepared the students in endeavors like winning the AISSEF 2023.”

PSHS-CVisC Campus Director Rachel Luz Rica congratulated the winning teams and thanked the parents and teachers for their support.

“Success like this also helps strengthen home and school partnership because we are able to collaborate and support our students to bring their STEM education experience in Pisay-Cebu to the international level,” Rica said.