Research Fair 2020, the Philippines’ premier student research event, concluded last February 1 at UP Diliman, after three days of grueling competitions and informative talks and seminars.
The 19th edition of Research Fair centered around its two sub-events: the Research Competition (RC), a contest between the brightest student-researchers in the country, and the Youth Science Convention (YSC), a talks and seminars series regarding trends breakthroughs in research.
Themed “CHRYSALIS: Transforming Youth Potential into Scientific Breakthroughs,” Research Fair reinvented itself to cater to today’s youth researchers, as evidenced by its newly-introduced Lab Tours and fresh catalog of topics for the YSC.
Day 1: Youth Scientists battle at the RC Exhibit and Project Presentation Round
#RF2020 started off with the Opening Program held on January 30, at the UP Film Institute. Engr. John Andrew Kane Jovellana gave the Opening Speech, giving emphasis to the importance of research.
In the afternoon, researchers who made it through the RC’s pre-evaluation round presented their works to the esteemed judges in the Exhibit and Project Presentation Round held at the UP College of Fine Arts Atrium.
On the other hand, students also flocked the UP Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) David M. Consunji Theatre where Day 1 of the YSC was held. Here, respected professionals gave talks about oral communication and tips in conducting research.
Day 2: RC gets real with the Closed-Door Defense Round
Among the previous day’s presenters, five entries from each of the three RC categories (Applied Science, Life Science, and Physical Science) made it to the Closed-Door Defense Round. Our student-researchers underwent another grueling round of presentations and questions from our respected judges.
The YSC continued on its second day, giving talks on emerging research fields and upcoming research opportunities. The first ever Lab Tours were held in the afternoon, with forty participants getting a chance to see firsthand the University Laboratory for Small Satellite and Space Engineering Systems (ULyS3ES) and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB).
Day 3: We crown the RC Grand Champion!
Research Fair moves to the UP NISMED Auditorium for Day 3. In the AM session, participants listened to the last set of YSC talks on new research developments.
The PM session kicked off with the Final Defense round, where six finalists presented their research to the judges and the live audience. In the end, Philippine Science High School – Main Campus’ Reneez Felix and Aubrey Lipa were crowned Grand Champions, and took home P10,000 prize.
Research Fair is organized by the University of the Philippines Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students Inc. (UP ALCHEMES), with a mission to strengthen the nation’s scientific foundation through the development of research skills at a youthful age.
