To boost the skills of aspiring Bangsamoro student inventors, the Ministry of Science and Technology has launched and conducted the first-ever Bangsamoro Students’ Innova-Thon Training from May 7 to 9, 2024, under the theme, ‘Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)’.

The three-day event, held at Alnor Hotel and Convention Center in Cotabato City, welcomed around sixty (60) participants from Grade 11 students, accompanied by their teacher advisers or coaches from selected schools in Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur.

MOST Top Officials, including Bangsamoro Director-General Engr. Abdulrakman Asim, Director II of Technical Management and Operation Services Nasrodin U. Buisan, RCh, Chief Science Research Specialist Rocaya Edres, LPT, MSciEd, Executive Assistant III Prof. Hashim Manticayan, and other personnel, graced the occasion. The training resource speakers are Paul Randy Palua Gumanao, RCh., Special Science Teacher III, Engr. Gladwyn A. Tomarong, REE, Special Science Teacher III, Sheena Dawn Villanueva Ferraren, Special Science Teacher IV, hailed from the Philippine Science High School – SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

The training equipped students with creativity, innovation, and intellectual property (IP) skills at an early stage to develop Bangsamoro-made inventions. It encompassed lectures, critiquing, improving the creative process, integrating IP rights, innovation development prototyping, technical evaluation, and ideation mentoring to enhance their innovations addressing current issues and problems in the Bangsamoro region.

Moreover, the student innovation training aimed to cultivate critical thinking skills, identify real-life problems, and conceptualize refined solutions. Students presented their ideas using prototypes and received feedback from trainers and mentors. Through this initiative, young inventors could showcase their creativity and contribute significantly to scientific knowledge and progress.

#MOSTUpdates2024

[Information and Communication]