BARMM’s MOST holds Bangsamoro Students’ Innova-Thon Training
COTABATO CITY (May 8,2024) — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) organized the Bangsamoro Students’ Innova-Thon Training, an initiative that empowers aspiring student inventors, held from May 7 to 9, 2024 at the Alnor Hotel and Convention Center, this city,
With the theme of ‘Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)’, the event drew the participation of around 60 Grade 11 students, accompanied by their dedicated teacher advisers or coaches, hailing from selected schools across Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur.
Esteemed officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, 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 distinguished personnel graced the activity.
The training featured a lineup of renowned resource speakers, including Paul Randy Palua Gumanao, RCh., Engr. Gladwyn A. Tomarong, REE, and Sheena Dawn Villanueva Ferraren, all esteemed educators from the Philippine Science High School – SOCCSKSARGEN Region, who shared their expertise and insights with the eager participants.
Designed to equip students with essential skills in creativity, innovation, and intellectual property (IP) rights, the training encompassed a diverse range of activities, including lectures, critiquing sessions, creative process improvement workshops, IP rights integration, innovation development prototyping, technical evaluations, and ideation mentoring.
Central to the initiative was the cultivation of critical thinking skills among students, encouraging them to identify real-life problems within the Bangsamoro region and conceptualize refined solutions. Through the presentation of their innovative ideas using prototypes, students received invaluable feedback from experienced trainers and mentors, further enhancing their capabilities in addressing pressing issues affecting their communities.
The Bangsamoro Students’ Innova-Thon Training not only provided a platform for young inventors to showcase their creativity but also underscored the importance of their contributions to scientific knowledge and progress.
By nurturing a culture of innovation at an early stage, the event laid the foundation for a brighter future, where the ingenuity of Bangsamoro youth plays a pivotal role in driving positive change and sustainable development.
The successful culmination of the inaugural Innova-Thon Training signifies a promising beginning in harnessing the potential of young minds to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, paving the way for a more innovative and resilient Bangsamoro region. (Hasna U. Bacol, BangsamoroToday)
