Students from Tagbilaran City win best science investigatory project contest

Bato Balani Search for the Best Science Investigatory Project Champions. (L-R) University Press of First Asia Executive Director Ms. Hermie V. Salita, Diwa Learning Systems Inc Vice President for Print Products Ms. Racel S. Bolo, Bohol Wisdom School coach Hermilo Arbuyes with students Dianne Lane Madaje, Saimon Anino, and Arthur Elman, and judges Ms. Charmaine Sagayap, Mr. Christopher Allan Tan, and Mr. Eduard Christian Papa

Plant and environmental sciences, microbiology, energy sources, and robots take center stage as Bohol Wisdom School of Tagbilaran City takes the coveted top spot in the recently concluded Bato Balani Search for the Best Science Investigatory Project (BBSIP).

BBSIP—a program by premier science magazine Bato Balani for Science and Technology— aims to recognize the creativity and ingenuity of Filipino junior high school students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

After a long selection process from hundreds of entries nationwide, the top five teams from schools all over the Philippines were invited to showcase and defend their projects last January 26, 2019 at SmartKids Asia Philippines.

The team of Saimon Anino, Arthur Elman, and Dianne Lane Madaje from Bohol Wisdom School emerged as champions with their project entitled The Anti-parasitic Activity of Talisay (Terminalia catappa) Leaves Against Caligid (Lepeophtheirus spinifer) Parasites on Pompano (Trachinotus blochii) Fish.

Their research revealed promising findings for a natural solution to lessening the parasitic and mortality rates of the Pompano, a popular fish in the Philippines known to be the country’s local salmon.

Another finalist that dealt with plant science is the group from Canossa School Sta. Rosa comprised of Alexa Andrea Abary, Alyssa Noelle Baun, Robert Julianna Capilit, Alyssa Marygrace Hugo, and Francesca Andrea Leyson with their study Efficacy of Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Peel and Paper Waste as an Alternative Nutrient Solution for Hydroponics in Growing Brassica rapa (Pechay).

Meanwhile, Kevin Nathaniel Almazan, Jamie Anne Evora, and Justine Anne Evora from Holy Infant Academy Calapan City took on solving a local disaster problem through robotics with their project RESCUEBOT: Earthquake Victims Searching Device for Immediate and Safe Rescue Operation.

Other finalists include microbiology-centered researches from Rinoa Garnet Carola and Ninna Beatrice Rivera of St. Paul College Pasig (Biological Pre-treatment of Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth) Using Trichoderma harzianum for Biogas Production), and from Maica Jane Banaag, Angelica Dela Cruz, and Chenelle Lyra Marquez of Saint Mary’s University Bayombong (Isolation and Morphological Characterization of the Water Fungi and Its Mycoremediation Potential in Biodegrading Petroleum Hydrocarbons).

For school year 2018-2019, BBSIP added a creative and social component by requiring participants to submit a video blog (vlog) showing the entire process of the investigatory project.

Other criteria for judging include the clarity of scientific thought; well-defined procedure and appropriate data gathering methods; organized collection of sufficient data and accurate data analysis; creativity in presenting the problem; innovativeness to carry out the project; and clarity and thoroughness of the project components.

The Bato Balani Search for the Best Science Investigatory Project is a milestone activity of Diwa Learning Systems Inc, the leading provider of K-to-12 educational resources in the country.

To know more about Diwa and its other innovative programs and product offerings, visit www.diwa.ph or follow Diwa on Facebook at facebook.com/diwalearningsystems.