The Department of Science and Technology will put on show innovations developed by local scientists, researchers, and inventors as part of celebrations for the 2007 National Science and Technology Week on July 16-20.

Science communities will host open houses during the weeklong event that’s planned around the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation for Progress”. The innovations are mainly technology-based solutions to issues on health, environment, security, and energy.

This year’s celebrations are clustered in several science communities such as Bicutan (Taguig City), Diliman (Quezon City), Manila, and Los Baños (Laguna). DOST will lead the events along with its 21 attached agencies, regional offices, the academe, partners, and special guests.

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara will be the keynote speaker during the opening ceremonies on July 16 at Dusit Hotel Nikko Manila in Makati City.

The event’s highlight is the conferment of DOST excellence awards in science research, education, and promotion. Casebooks on information technology, entrepreneurship, among others will also be launched, and scientific meetings will be held the whole day in the same venue.

The open houses, which will run July 17-19, will showcase developments in alternative energy (venue: National Academy of Science and Technology, DOST Complex, Bicutan, Taguig City); information and communication technologies (venue: Advanced Science and Technology Institute, CP Garcia Ave., UP Diliman); health (venue: UP Manila); and environment and biotechnology (venue: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Los Baños, Laguna). DOST’s regional offices will stage their respective open houses as well.

Activities on July 18 will mainly feature the youth, students, and their mentors who are expected to participate in science quizzes, poster exhibits, and related events.

An “Innovation Forum” for researchers, entrepreneurs, businessmen, investors, and other interested individuals looking for commercially viable innovative products and services follows on July 19.

For more information on the NSTW celebration, please contact Dir. Bernie Justimbaste, head of the NSTW secretariat, at 837-2071 local 2073. [S&T Media Service]