BALO-I, Lanao del Norte – Three students from Mindanao have earned spots among the Top 20 finalists in the 2nd Philippine Nuclear Science Olympiad (PNSO), a nationwide competition designed to inspire young minds to explore the world of nuclear science.
Organized by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), the Olympiad took place simultaneously across the country, drawing talented students from various regions.
In Mindanao, the participants were from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology – Integrated Developmental School (MSU-IIT-IDS), Philippine Science High School (PSHS) SOCCSKSARGEN Campus, PSHS Central Mindanao Campus, and PSHS Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus.
One finalist, Denzel Van Warquez, a Grade 11 student from PSHS Central Mindanao, expressed his enthusiasm for the potential of nuclear science. “Nuclear science is very relevant. You might not be aware, but there are many hidden uses of nuclear science all around us, especially in medicine and energy,” he said.
Emmanuel Neil Manzares, another finalist from PSHS SOCCSKSARGEN, shared that his journey into nuclear science began when he joined last year’s competition. “Nuclear science is really important because it has many applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry,” he said.
With aspirations to become a nuclear physicist, Manzares encouraged other students to see the value in nuclear science, regardless of their future careers.
These finalists will now proceed to the Team Selection Test, where the top 5 will be chosen to represent the Philippines at the 2nd International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO) in Malaysia this July.
The PNSO is more than just a competition, according to Preciosa Corazon Pabroa, chief of the Nuclear Services Division at PNRI.
“We would like to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Kami naman peaceful lang talaga even sa nuclear medicine, peaceful uses. We do not make bombs, mali ang iniisip ng mga tao na gumagawa kami ng mga bomba,” she explained.
(What we do is purely for peaceful purposes, even in nuclear medicine, it’s all about peaceful uses. We do not make bombs. It’s a common misconception that we’re involved in that.)
Mohammad Nur G. Casib, a Grade 12 student from PSHS Central Mindanao, shared his journey as the first Nuclear Science Ambassador of the Philippines. Last year, he scored the highest among 55 participants from 14 countries in the 1st INSO. His passion for science began with childhood games involving numbers and calculators and was further influenced by the Marawi siege, which inspired his focus on physics, chemistry, and nuclear science.
“Nuclear science, even though it is a tough subject, is really a subject worth pursuing for the betterment of society and the world we live in. So, if you intend to pursue nuclear science, believe in yourself, for one day you can make a change in the world we live in,” Casib said.
While his achievements in competitions are significant, Casib emphasizes that the future of nuclear science lies in research, responsibility, and communication. He’s considering a career in computer science or chemo-informatics but remains open to nuclear science due to its potential to impact fields like energy, medicine, and agriculture. (Lou Ellen Antonio)
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