Fifty Grade 9 and 10 students and their coaches in Guimaras recently attended a hands-on training in science promotion through multimedia platforms.

The initiative, organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) with support from DOST VI and DOST Guimaras, aimed to empower the youth as advocates of science and technology in the province.

The training workshop, “Science Journo Ako goes to Guimaras: Creating Engaging Science Stories Through Multimedia Platforms,” is part of the Science Journo Ako Advocacy Program, a DOST-STII initiative that seeks to cultivate future science journalists and communicators across the Philippines.  By equipping students with science journalism skills, the program aims to foster a culture of science appreciation and understanding, inspiring students to communicate the importance of science and technology to their communities.

During the workshop, students and teachers explored science news and feature writing, mobile photography, photojournalism, and social media content creation.  These skills are increasingly crucial as social media continues to serve as a powerful tool for reaching and engaging wider audiences. Participants learned how to create compelling, informative content to raise awareness about science’s impact on everyday life.

To put their skills into practice, the students visited two DOST-assisted local businesses in Guimaras, Boboy’s Delicacies and McNester Food Products. These firms exemplify how science, technology, and innovation (STI) are making a difference in the local economy and people’s lives.  As part of the training, participants created various multimedia outputs, including social media reels, photo releases, and feature stories. Their projects highlighted how DOST’s support has helped these businesses thrive and how the community benefits from it.

The students’ engaging stories and visuals effectively communicated the positive role of science and technology in transforming local businesses and improving livelihoods. Through this experience, they gained invaluable skills and firsthand insights into the power of multimedia storytelling to promote science and inspire others in the province of Guimaras. 

The training workshop is part of the Science Journo Ako Advocacy program launched by the DOST-STII in 2015. The program collaborates with academic institutions, state universities, and organizations committed to enhancing science communication and fostering a culture of science among students, faculty, researchers, and industry practitioners. 

To date, Science Journo Ako has conducted more than 72 seminars/webinars, equipping over 7,000 students, researchers, and science communication enthusiasts with valuable knowledge and skills.

(DOST Guimaras  with reports from DOST-STII | Photos by PAUSambas)