As part of the National Festival of Talents’ โCliniquingโ program under the AGHAMazing category, a special educational tour was held at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baรฑos, Laguna today. This enriching experience gathered young science enthusiasts from Pasay City National Science High School including Zyriel Josh Coronel, Ellyza Esteban and Xhian Miguel Alsola along with their science teachers including Aizah Agub, Rosalinda Sinsuan, Shannen Dorothy Gomez, Shiella Mae Narzoles, Christian Jayvon Laluna, Mae Claire Siguros, Maria Theresa Estilong, and Jenny Alingod for a day of scientific exploration and research planning focused on food securityโone of the most pressing global challenges. The event was made possible through the collaboration of the Department of Education and IRRI, then featured a guided tour led by Dr. Rhowell N. Tiozon Jr., a Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in Consumer-driven Grain Quality and Nutrition at IRRI. With his expertise, Dr. Tiozon offered participants an in-depth look into the current state and future direction of rice research and its critical role in sustaining global food systems.
๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
Pascians were given access to some of IRRIโs most advanced and essential facilities:
– Grain Quality and Nutrition Center: Here, students learned about the technologies and methodologies used to evaluate rice grain propertiesโsuch as taste, texture, nutritional value, and cooking behaviorโthat influence consumer preferences and marketability.
– Rice Genebank: Participants witnessed IRRIโs vast collection of over 130,000 rice varieties from around the world, conserved to ensure genetic diversity and resilience against future challenges such as climate change and disease outbreaks.
– Rice Fields: The visit to the experimental rice paddies allowed students to observe field trials and understand how research is translated from lab to land.
– Seed Viability Testing Laboratory: In this facility, they learned about the importance of seed health and storage techniques in maintaining crop reliability and long-term food security.
๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต
The highlight of the day was an interactive session where students were tasked to develop their own research plans centered around the theme of food security. Guided by their tour experience and the insights shared by Dr. Tiozon, each group presented innovative ideas ranging from climate-resilient rice breeding and sustainable farming practices to enhancing rice nutritional content. Dr. Tiozon provided constructive feedback on each proposal, mentoring the young researchers on how to strengthen their scientific methodology, align with real-world agricultural challenges, and focus on community impact.
๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The cliniquing session aimed to immerse students in real-world science while nurturing their potential as future researchers, innovators, and policymakers. It also highlighted the role of institutions like IRRI in shaping a more secure, equitable, and sustainable food future. As the students left IRRIโs campus, they carried with them not only scientific knowledge but a renewed sense of purposeโto contribute to solving one of the worldโs greatest challenges through science, research, and collaboration.
