MANILA, Philippines - Eight students from the country’s leading universities recently participated in the World Science Conference-Israel held from Aug. 15 to 20.
Philippine delegates were Maria Patricia Garcia and Patrisha Lazatin from the Ateneo de Manila University; Anthony Jaboneta, Joshua Paman and Alfonso Vicente Jadie from De La Salle University; and Divine Grace Capalaran, Jeremiah Reyes and Jonard Valdoz from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
The Filipino students joined around 400 young future scientists from 70 countries in WSCI where they attended lectures and interacted with 15 Nobel Prize winners and other leading scientists from around the world.
Modeled after the Asian Science Camp, WSCI was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Nobel laureate Prof. Roger Kornberg, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
“The WSCI is unprecedented in both the bridging of disciplines and outreach to youth from all over the world as well as in number of Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists participating. As such, the WSCI will provide a unique platform for inspiration, dialogue and discussion between promising young talents and the attending Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists,” said Nobel laureate Roger Kornberg, chairman of the WSCI Academic Committee.
Danni Danon, the Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space, said the WSCI is a testimony of Israel’s influence and importance in the world of science. “Along its 67 years of independence, Israeli scientists have been demonstrating that they can change the world for the better in each and every field they set their minds on. The Israeli Government is committed to the world of science and will continue to assist in promoting it.”
The WSCI will encourage the young participants to take up the challenge of advancing science and technology in the next generation. It will also help develop international friendships and cooperation among students from all over the world, forge personal contacts among young people, and create young “Science Ambassadors.”