By Agence France-Presse

SHILLONG, India–Three thousand Indian tribal chiefs in one of the world’s wettest regions have invited ex-US vice president Al Gore to pick up an award for creating awareness about climate change.

The prize will be presented on October 6 near Shillong, capital of northeastern Meghalaya state, at a ceremony expected to be attended by 300,000 people, organizers said.

Top Indian economists and green campaigners are also likely to be present.

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By Agence France-Presse

PARIS–An “ear of corn” may one day take on a whole new meaning after South Korean researchers determined that plants are sensitive to sound, New Scientist reports.

They hope that farmers may eventually encourage plants to flower or ripen by blasting sound into the fields, the British weekly says in next Saturday’s issue.

Mi-Jeong Jeong of the National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology in Suwon and colleagues explored a long-standing hypothesis that, as plants react to light and also to touch, they may also respond to sound.

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By Queena Lee-Chua
Inquirer

“EARLY in my working life i realized that I am not intellectually superior,” says National Scientist Gelia T. Castillo. “But as a simple sociologist, I found comfort in the thought that science must serve a human purpose. This often means doing science from the ground up and then tapping into sophisticated tools to address problems. When doing workshops in rice breeding, drought, trees, weeds, malaria, or HIV-AIDS, I always look for the people factor. For example, in breeding rice, I ask questions like: For what? For whom? For where? For what purpose? These are all people issues.”

I am proud to call Gelia a friend. Her story “The Eloquence of Seeds,” which shows her love for the natural world, is included in my book “Cogito Ergo Sum and Other Musings on Science,” which won a National Book Award.

Whatever Gelia may say, I affirm that she possesses not just intelligence, but wisdom as well. Take for instance, the fact that for scientists, progress is mainly counted by the number of journal publications; up to now, I still get a thrill when a paper has been accepted internationally. Gelia acknowledges this, but also adds, “Science pursued to address the problems of ordinary people often has other ways of communication than journals. When research fits into real life, the impact on human well-being makes it all worthwhile. Sometimes the proof of the pudding is in farmers’ fields.”

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By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net

AURORA Representative Juan Edgardo Angara recently filed House Bill 137 seeking to require specific tree planting plans on both public and private lands.

Otherwise called the Tree for Legacy Act, HB 137 serves to improve forest management programs to sustain the country’s forest biodiversity.

Angara in a statement explained that the bill is a response to the rapid reduction of Philippine forests, which by 2010 could only amount to 266,666 hectares or six percent of the country’s total land area.

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By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–A world-class science museum that will be built in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City will feature both science and technology, an executive said.

A project of the Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc., the science museum will feature a “learning center” that will be both interactive and educational, said Manny Blas II, managing director of Fort Bonifacio Development Corp.

Walking distance from Bonifacio High Street, the planned science museum will house a 3,000-square meter exhibit area, a food center, a training center, among others, said Maricel Garcia, science curator of the planned museum.

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