The Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) partnered with the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) to launch the 8 th Indiesyensya Filmmaking Competition at the IBS Lecture Hall on March 19, 2024.

This year’s competition has the theme “Science and Filipino Culture: Siyensya sa Kultura, Kultura sa Syensya” and will have two categories. The Youth Category is open to those 13-18 years old, while the Open Category is open to those aged 19 and above.

The Youth Category will focus on the theme “Syensya sa Kultura” and will locate science in indigenous practices and traditions. The Open Category has the theme “Kultura sa Syensya” and will be looking for short films that highlight how Filipinos understand, communicate, and apply science and technology in their daily life.

The winners in each category will be entitled to cash prizes up to PhP 200,000 and a trophy. DOST-SEI will be accepting entries until August 31, 2024. The detailed mechanics and entry form can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/8thIndieMechanics.

IBS co-hosted the launch event of the competition as part of its 41 st anniversary celebration.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Vachel Gay V. Paller, the director of IBS, highlighted the importance of communicating science to the communities and emphasized that bridging understanding between science and the people is a task that researchers must also undertake.

Dr. Ruby Cristobal, vice president of Probe Media Foundation Inc., said that this year’s competition opens an opportunity to highlight indigenous knowledge and local belief systems. This, Cristobal said, will help foster science culture and critical thinking among Filipinos.

Joining the board of judges are UPLB faculty members and researchers Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo, a faculty member at IBS and the curator for moths and spiders at the Museum of Natural History, and Garry S. Montemayor, a faculty member at the College of Development Communication. (Jessa Jael S. Arana)