FIVE Filipino students recently bagged major prizes in the recently held Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
The first winner was Hester Mana Docasao Umayam, a 15-year-old student from Philippine Science High School-Cagayan Valley Campus, who was one of the seven fourth place winners in the individual Behavioral and Social Sciences category.
Umayam’s winning project is entitled “Ethnomathematics in the Geometric Patterns in Woven Fabrics of the Indigenous Kalingas in the Philippines.” As described in the title, Umayam used mathematical techniques, particularly the relatively new ethno-mathematics, in analyzing the cultural significance of patterns used in fabrics created by the people of Kalinga.
Umayam also won $500 for her work.
Another individual winner is 16-year old Melvyn Carlo Torres Barroa of Capiz National High School. His winning project, entitled “Fish Mucus: Its Potential Antimicrobial Effects on Human Pathogens and Possible Role in Innate Immunity,” won him fourth prize in the Microbiology category.
Barroa’s project won him $500.
The Philippine delegate to the ISEF is also proud for bagging a fourth-place award in the Team category; three students from the Philippine Science High School Quezon City won $500 for their work entitled “Screening Isolation and Characterization of Fluorescent Proteins from Nudibranchs.”
Students Ivy Razel Bernardo Ventura, Janine Cindy Santiago, Mara Elaine Villaverde focused on almost pure research of how to obtain fluorescent proteins from the sea creatures called nudibranchs. The protein extracts are then used for medical research as these are known to have antibacterial uses.
The Intel ISEF is the most prestigious student competitions for the sciences. This year’s event, held from May 13 to 19, drew over 1,500 students from 40 countries.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
congrats, hester. she’s my classmate in philippine science high school cagayan valley campus, together with alex, another classmate, we represent the school to the intel philippine science fair, and we are proud that we’re part of it, and happy that one of our classmate won in international level.
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 am
Congrats to Hester, Melvyn, Luigi, Razel, Janine and Mara. Good luck in your studies!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:52 am
Although our performance last year was better, three 4th Awards in the Intel ISEF Grand Awards is still a decent performance.
Of the 251 projects entered in the Team Category, 2 won Best of catagory, 7 won first awards, 14 won second awards, 21 won third awards, and 28 won fourth awards.
Of the 63 individual projects entered in the Microbiology Category, 1 won Best of catagory, 2 won first awards, 4 won second awards, 5 won third awards, and 7 won fourth awards.
Of the 66 individual projects entered in the Behavioral and Social Science Category, 1 won Best of catagory, 2 won first awards, 4 won second awards,6 won third awards, and 7 won fourth awards.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:12 am
You should have also included luigi who won a special award, It maight not be a major but still not all countries received a special award as well I am a Filipino but teaching in the United States I also have a contestant but am happier with the filipinos who won. KUDOS and congratulations.
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 pm
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