For the first time in its four-year run, the Science Explorer, the country?s first mobile science learning facility crossed the sea to reach Oriental Mindoro.
Aiming to widen its impact, the Science Education Institute?s (SEI) Science Explorer traveled more than 10 hours to reach the municipality of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro where 540 young Mindore?os from 15 public elementary and high schools got a dose of exciting hands-on learning.
The students in the community experienced the fun of exploring robotics, water filtration, science creativity, weather, fun mathematics, and water rocket-making (physics).
The team was received with a warm welcome by the people of Bulalacao led by Vice Mayor Teresita Bantugan and personnel from the Department of Science and Technology?Oriental Mindoro.
In her message, Bantugan cited SEI for braving the challenge of long travel in order to bring service to the students ? including Mangyans ? of the municipality.
?Salamat sa SEI-DOST sa pagbibigay prayoridad sa Bulalacao [para] sa kanilang programang [ito]. Kami po ay nakikiisa sa kanilang adhikain na palawigin ang kaalaman ng mga bata sa science at technology,? Villas remarked. (We thank DOST-SEI for prioritizing the municipality of Bulalacao for the Science Explorer activity. We are one with them in their goal of promoting science and technology among the kids.)
SEI Director Filma Brawner said the Science Explorer?s trip is the first of its expansion efforts as it targets to bring service to schools in Southern Luzon and ultimately in Visayas and Mindanao.
?We recognize that, being in an archipelagic country, it would necessitate us to put greater effort and cross boundaries to increase the impact of the Science Explorer project and serve more of our students in other regions,? said Brawner citing that all the previous trips were in Luzon.
Brawner also noted that the project has scheduled visits in the Visayas and Mindanao this year.
?This is a move that our schools should look forward to as we are committed to inspire our students from all regions to go into science and be of great help in the country?s drive to development,? said Brawner.
The Science Explorer, which was rolled out in 2010, aims to bring to under-equipped schools a mobile interactive science laboratory that would enable students to conduct hands-on experiments and discover the wonderful world of science.
