By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Ilonggo students can get an interactive scientific experience in the NuLab: STEM in Motion mobile science learning facility, which is now on a stopover at the Iloilo Convention Center from November 22 to 26.
The mobile learning bus of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) is one of the key exhibits at the ongoing 2023 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Iloilo City.
NuLab project leader Candy Ilaw said the science bus is designed to help students in remote areas experience science.
“We want to cater to students from schools that do not have science laboratories. The NuLab brings fun and interactive learning modules for free,” Ilaw told Daily Guardian.
Ilaw said there are 14 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) modules which include topics on nanotechnology, aerospace engineering, nuclear science, earthquake risk analysis, science media literacy, Internet-of-Things programming, oceanography, robotics, entomology, and environmental science.
She emphasized that these modules were developed by DOST scholars and the interactive discussions are also facilitated by scholars who are now in the academe.
The mobile learning bus is equipped with a huge interactive board, individual monitors for students, laboratory-grade equipment, and wireless sensors, among others.
According to Ilaw, the mobile learning bus can accommodate 24 students in one session and hold two sessions per day.
She further noted that NuLab wants to help students discover their potential in the various STEM fields and encourage them to take tertiary courses related to STEM education.
“We want them to contribute to national development by becoming one of the pool of experts in the field of science and technology in the future. We want to have an increase in manpower in that area to contribute to the national building,” she said.
The NuLab was launched during the 2019 NSTW at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. It started traveling across the country later in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ilaw said they have only so far reached provinces in Luzon and Visayas.