THE Philippines, by way of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School (DOST-PSHS) System, hosted this yr’s Asean Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO) on the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga from July 5 and till July 11, 2026.
The APT JSO is an annual worldwide program for gifted college students ages 13 to fifteen from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states, China, Japan and South Korea.
GIFTED YOUTH GATHERING eleventh Asean Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey delegates and their instructor coaches from the Asean member states, China, Japan and South Korea with members of the Asean 3 Center for the Gifted in Science board of administrators, Philippine Science High School System government committee and key officers from the Department of Science and Technology in Clark, Pampanga, on July 5, 2026. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOST-PSHS SYSTEM
The program develops scientific pondering by way of hands-on studying, cross-cultural collaboration and real-world problem-solving experiences in science, know-how and sustainability.
For its eleventh version, this yr’s regional gathering carries the vital theme “Climate Action and Responsible e-nnovation for Sustainability (ASEAN+3 CAReS)”, highlighting the function of younger folks, educators, and scientific communities in addressing local weather change and constructing resilient, sustainable societies.
With the DOST-PSHS System on the helm, this yr’s occasion aimed to strengthen regional cooperation in science and supply a platform for younger innovators to deal with shared challenges.
Welcoming the worldwide delegates, PSHS System Executive Director Ronnalee Orteza emphasised that as a result of challenges reminiscent of local weather change and meals safety transcend nationwide borders, “the solutions must also be shared.”
“The future will not be shaped simply by the smartest people; it will be shaped by those who choose to work together,” Orteza mentioned.
Asean+3 Center for the Gifted in Science (ACGS) Program Director Soo-Young Lee echoed this deal with partnership, highlighting the occasion’s objective past lecturers.
“APT JSO is a journey of discovery, a journey of collaboration, and a journey of friendship,” Lee remarked.
“Be curious, share your ideas, learn from one another, and enjoy every moment of this journey,” she added, encouraging the individuals to embrace the expertise.
Asean Secretariat Science and Technology Officer Dony Cahyono additionally mentioned that the Asean+3 Junior Science Odyssey serves as a extremely efficient platform for college students to interact in cross-cultural information sharing and be taught straight from main consultants, gathering progressive concepts that they will finally combine into their very own native communities.
STRONG COLLABORATION (From left) Philippine Science High School System Executive Director Ronnalee Orteza, Asean 3 Center for the Gifted in Science Program Director Soo-Young Lee, DOST Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services Maridon Sahagun and Asean Secretariat Representative Dony Cahyono collectively spotlight the robust collaboration between host and accomplice organizations to empower younger scientific minds towards local weather motion and accountable innovation for a sustainable future.
“I think this is a kind of very good platform for students to learn, to exchange their knowledge as well as bringing home the knowledge so they can inspire other people on how to solve such disaster issues in the future,” he mentioned, highlighting the long-term influence of this information trade.
By taking part within the occasion, delegates achieve sensible insights into local weather change and pure disasters, particularly studying from the distinctive disaster-response experiences of the host nation, the Philippines.
With younger folks making up roughly 30 % of the Asean inhabitants, regional leaders underscored the strategic significance of empowering the following technology to guide inexperienced transitions and technological developments.
Asean Economic Community Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh urged college students to be curious, collaborative, and deeply accountable of their future endeavors.
“The future will not belong merely to those who consume technology. It will basically belong to those people who will be able to create, who will be able to shape it, who will be able to use all of this innovation in a very responsible way to address society’s greatest challenges,” Singh declared.
For her half, DOST Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services Maridon Sahagun linked the occasion’s theme to the urgent realities of pure disasters, noting that resilience requires each technological funding and deep moral consideration.
“Technology alone is never enough; innovation without responsibility can widen inequalities,” Sahagun acknowledged.
Issuing a strong name to motion for the younger scientists, she added, “The future of Asean will not be determined by the technologies we as a region invent. It will be determined by the values that guide these inventions.”
She introduced the Philippine-inspired guiding principles for the week: “Katuklas” (co-discoverers advancing information and progressive options), “Kaugnay” (collaborators strengthening connections throughout cultures and borders) and “Kaisa” (co-advocates championing local weather motion and accountable innovation).
These ideas replicate this system’s dedication to discovery, collaboration, and collective motion for a science-driven and resilient future.
By internet hosting APT JSO-11, the Philippines showcased its dedication to nurturing scientific expertise and selling regional cooperation in science, know-how, engineering and arithmetic or STEM training.
During the eleventh ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey, pupil delegates immersed themselves in a wide range of educational and hands-on scientific actions.
They attended skilled lectures and took part in laboratory assessments on vital environmental subjects together with geographic data methods or GIS, distant sensing, local weather resilience, catastrophe science and blue carbon ecosystems.
The college students additionally performed sensible area research, which included exploring close by forest ecosystems and studying from the disaster-response classes of Mount Pinatubo.
Beyond conventional lecturers, the Odyssey strongly emphasised cross-cultural collaboration and challenge improvement.
Delegates engaged in group dynamics, team-building workout routines, and focus group discussions to foster regional friendships and intercultural understanding.
They networked with main consultants throughout the “Meet the Scientists: Advocacy and Works” panel discussions and celebrated regional variety by way of a cultural trade and meals competition in addition to an APT JSO movie competition.
The week-long occasion culminated in collaborative challenge improvement and last pitching classes, the place worldwide groups of younger scientists introduced their progressive, science-based options for local weather motion and sustainability.
Visit www.pshs.edu.ph or www.dost.gov.ph for extra data.