Elementary and high school students, as well as their parents and teachers, were enlightened and updated on the applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture and medicine during two learning events organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC) for this year's Philippine National Biotechnology Week (NBW). The Understanding Biotechnology for High School and Elementary Students, co-organized with the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB), involved exercises on simple DNA extraction and DNA origami, as well as presentations from local biotech scientists and researchers on the principles of genetic engineering and food and environmental safety of GMOs. The students were also quizzed on the said topics, while the science teachers were provided with the latest copies of the book "Understanding Biotechnology" by NAST Academician Dr. Evelyn Mae Mendoza.

The Healthcare Forum on Biotechnology, co-organized with the Department of Health's Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), gathered parents, consumers, and the general public to discuss the applications, benefits, and status of modern biotech in human healthcare particularly food safety of GMOs, vaccines, and genetic testing for mutation-causing cancer in humans, as well as genetic counseling for cancer patients and their families.

Both activities aimed to enhance the general public's appreciation on modern biotech; they were held on November 24, 2015 at SM Dasmariñas, Cavite.

For more information about modern biotech research updates and communication efforts in the Philippines, visit SEARCA BIC's website.