By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

Developing young Ilokano girls’ love for science, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) conducted an immersion camp for 53 female high school students in Ilocos Norte. 

Dubbed “Girls STEM Camp with MMSU Women in Science,” the five-day activity held from February 21-25 aimed to develop the students’ potentials in pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The immersion camp was supported by the United States Embassy through its Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF). 

It was composed of nine training sessions on mitosis and meiosis; electromagnets; weather forecasting; preparation of semisolid dosage forms; antioxidants, color, and chemistry; learning mathematics through art: pattern generation; surveys and the digital world; bioethanol and 70% nipa alcohol sanitizer production; and aquaponics systems. 

Delivered by women science professors of MMSU, the training sessions were simultaneously conducted at the College of Arts and Sciences Biology Laboratory, MMSU PAGASA – Agrometeorological Station, University Tuklas-Lunas Development Center, Center for Flexible Learning – International Room, and the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center building. 

Dr. Jan Rich Guira, project leader, assured that the students’ passion for STEM careers will certainly be ignited through engagement in lectures, hands-on activities, fieldwork, and other learning opportunities during the camp. 

“We hope the immersion camp will provide the young girls with the competencies and confidence to pursue STEM careers, and to eventually address gender gap in the said field,” expressed Dr. Fiorello Abenes, project leader, consultant to the NBERIC, and former MMSU Balik-Scientist.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, Postdoctoral Fulbright Alumnus at Kansas State University; and Dr. Aris Cajigal, dean of College of Teacher Education and PhD Fulbright Foreign Student Program Alumnus at the University of Georgia, serve as project collaborators. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)