Tuklas-Taláb is a virtual science camp for high-performing students of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) who are aspiring scholars of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) senior high school strand. Tuklas-Taláb is a virtual space for young mathematicians, scientists, and engineers to come together and be excited in their shared enthusiasm for STEM subjects as like-minded peers.
Tuklas-Taláb takes on a name that highlights themes of discovery and adventure that ultimately leads to an understanding of what is effective, potent, and powerful about science and technology. The program design, therefore, incorporates various learning-based activities that stimulate curiosity and build confidence in the students’ abilities to learn and think critically. The program presents the students with instances of problem-solving that lead to their acquisition of practical experience in the field of science.
Tuklas-Taláb is also keen on fostering a community for these young intellectuals. The science camp seeks to inspire the future innovators and scientists of the Bangsamoro by introducing them to the pioneers of the STEM field. The program was designed to demonstrate the ability of science and technology to not just increase efficiency and provide economic relief through innovation, but also help communities thrive more sustainably and conscientiously in these contemporary times.
The BARMM Context
Years of economic and sociopolitical marginalization and a long history of conflict and wars has made the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) among the poorest regions in the country. This means that the Bangsamoro has accumulated generations and generations worth of disenfranchisement from access to various human rights and privileges like quality education, healthcare, cultural representation, and an efficient and fair economy.
It is within this context that the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) has worked with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to assist various MVP partner madaris (Islamic schools) in the Bangsamoro in their journey to fostering a strong educational system for basic education in the region. Apart from sending volunteer teachers for secular subjects in partner madaris in the BARMM, MVP also hosts special programs such as this Science Camp in order to address a specific concern; for instance, the alarming statistics of a decline in STEM graduates in the region’s senior high schools.
Hence, the need to inspire young intellectuals to pursue STEM courses through a deeper understanding of its necessity and hopefully, through a more inspired point of view after having been presented with the intellectual community and the industries that are ready to support them in their journey as young academics and future leaders of science and technology.
Ultimately, the ‘Tuklas-Taláb: Active Learning-Based Science Camp’ is a space for dialogue and discovery. Hopefully, the students who were hesitant to pursue their introductory interest in STEM courses would be inspired to go for the scientific and technological opportunities presented to them through the Tuklas-Taláb Science Camp.
The Tuklas-Taláb Science Camp
The ‘Tuklas-Taláb: Active Learning-Based Science Camp’ is hosted through Google Classroom and Zoom for live video conferences, open forums and discussions. The lectures would be recorded and archived to be accessible in the Google Classroom for asynchronous discussions and engagement. Announcements will be given online and the facilitators are reachable through Facebook Messenger and other streams of communication.
This latest run of the MVP Science Camp was week-long, from May 24 to 26, 2021 and May 31 to June 2, 2021. It featured discussions by Mr. Mikael Angelo Francisco, Editor-in-Chief Flipscience, on the “The Role of STEM in Society,” and talks by Mr. Jason Cyril L. Tajores, Faculty of the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Senior High School on “Dreamers and Doers: Why Everyone is a Scientist.” The first day of camp also featured input on the “Physics of Everyday Life” with Dr. Rachel Remedios, Physicist and Faculty from the Physics Department of ADDU. Day one was concluded by introducing to the campers their asynchronous activity – Science Experiments. This asynchronous, at-home activity was designed to make their learning experience fun, interactive, and doable even in the comforts of their homes. Each video entry will be presented and uploaded on MVP Facebook page for an online contest.
Day two of the Science Camp hosted sessions with Ms. Aujefel Amor Y. Lee, a Geologist and the Assistant Director for Academics at the ADDU SHS, and with Ms. Lourdes Tibig, a Member of the National Panel of Technical Experts Climate Change Commission. They talked about “Geocentric – A Closer Look at Planet Earth” (by Ms. Lee) and “How Humans are Changing the Earth, literally,” (by Ms. Tibig). Day two’s special guest was Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., our very own DOST Undersecretary Officer in Charge, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
Day three is with Dr. Ma. Cristina Sampaga De Las Llagas, a faculty member of the Biology Department, ADDU (on “The Science of Life”); and with Mr. Reymark Placambo, Cluster Leader of the Biology and Earth & Life Sciences in the ADDU SHS, (on “How Biologists are leading the fight against the coronavirus”). The day’s special guest is Dr. Lourdes Cruz of the National Scientist National Academy of Science and Technology.
Day four featured Dr. Lourdes Simpol, who is a Chemist and the former director of Tropical Institute for Climate Studies (on “Chemists are Magicians”); and Mr. Ed Ivan Bardoquillo, RCh, Chemist and Faculty member of the Chemistry Department, ADDU (on “A Chemists’ Solution to Plastic Pollution”). The participants were delighted to also have heard from Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director of the DOST Industrial Technology Development Institute as the day’s special guest.
Day five had sessions with Engr. Ottoman Montani, Jr., Chairperson of the Robotics Engineering Department of the ADDU (on “Robotics Engineering in the Philippines”) and with Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, the Chairperson, Aerospace Engineering Department, ADDU, who championed aerospace engineering (on “Space for the Philippines”). The special guest was no other than Dr. Joel Marciano Jr., the Director of the General Philippine Space Agency.
The sixth day of the ‘Tuklas-Taláb: Active Learning-Based Science Camp’ was all about interaction and dialogue among the participants. All the other days had them convene as small groups as well, but for this final day of camp, they were able to share their reflections and experiences within the bigger group. This last day of the camp was also graced by an inspirational message from Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr., Undersecretary of Health. Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, Chairperson of the Aerospace Engineering Department at Ateneo de Davao University, gave the closing remarks to culminate the camp.
The sixth day of the ‘Tuklas-Taláb: Active Learning-Based Science Camp’ was all about interaction and dialogue among the participants. All the other days had them convene as small groups as well, but for this final day of camp, they were able to share their reflections and experiences within the bigger group. This last day of the camp was also graced by an inspirational message from Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr., Undersecretary of Health. Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, Chairperson of the Aerospace Engineering Department at Ateneo de Davao University, gave the closing remarks to culminate the camp.
