The Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) underscored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it will support science communication.
"AI is not here to take away our jobs but to make us more efficient in what we do," DOST-STII Director Richard P. Burgos said in a forum at the National Youth Science, Technology, and Innovation Festival (NYSTIF) on Oct. 25 in Pasay City.
Burgos pointed out how AI can assist people in saving time and energy by performing tasks that are not easily achievable without advanced tools.
The forum titled "AI at SciComm: Recipe for Success or Disaster?" aimed to help students learn how to responsibly use AI tools to communicate science with the creative assistance of AI to reach a wide and diverse audience.
Over 200 junior to senior high school students from 15 educational institutions joined the event.
Responsible AI use
Prof. Benjamin M. Vallejo Jr. from the University of the Philippines Diliman-Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) reminded the students to use AI in science communication responsibly.
"AI cannot replace us because it still needs human agency. Humans still have full control over the expected results," he said.
Vallejo also advised the students to choose AI tools that are committed to human protection and data privacy.
Meanwhile, UP Diliman (UPD) College of Science-Science Communication Department head Timothy James Dimacali discussed the ways in which AI is being used to create new forms of art.
"AI shows us that there are new ways of seeing the world, and they help inform our artists," Dimacali said.
He said that when used responsibly, AI can be a tool for productivity and creativity. In this way, AI can be proven to be a tool for efficiency rather than a threat to our legitimacy and creativity.
Dr. Johnrob Y. Bantang of UPD-National Institute of Physics (NIP) also emphasized that students need to be equipped with skills they need to use AI effectively in the real world.
"We should not think of AI as a solution that will solve all problems in life," he said.
He explained that integrating virtues into school tasks can encourage students to do good, seek the truth, and make ethical decisions.
"We must be responsible for matters that require not only critical thinking but also ethical and emotional abilities to find solutions," he added.
Heart of science communication
Meanwhile, Prof. Avril Adrianne Madrid of the University of the Philippines Los Baños-College of Development Communication (UPLB-CDC) presented the results of a study on the public's perception of science.
The study found that five out of 10 Filipinos often perceive science as abstract and technological rather than as a subject that is relevant to their everyday lives.
“They view science as abstract, while technology is seen as real. They are more interested in the products of science than the processes behind them,” Madrid said.
"Science communication entails everyday conversations about science. As science communicators, it is our duty to make science accessible and relevant," she added.
She introduced UPLB’s initiatives aimed at providing the public with engaging exposure to science-based information—the "Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyle for Planetary Health" (HEAL-PH) mobile application, which has the power of AI.
HEAL-PH can identify food items in images, categorize them into food groups, and offer nutritional information per serving, which made them the winner of mobile applications of the “Food is Life Exemplified: Planetary Health Diet” development competition aimed at cultivating healthier eating habits among Filipinos.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/27/nast-phl-launches-mobile-app-to-promote-healthy-eating-habits