SCIENTIA Week 2025 features its first-ever Research Colloquium

Written by Jazztine Domingo

The Science Instructors of Education, Nature, Technology, and Innovation Alliance (SCIENTIA) recently concluded its much-anticipated SCIENTIA Week 2025, with the theme “Festival for the People—Bridging Science to the Community,” held from July 14 to July 17, 2025. The event took place across various venues including the PUP Laboratory High School Grounds, PUP Oval, and online via Zoom and Discord, which aimed to redefine science education through engaging games, performances, competitions, and interactive challenges.

This year’s event’s significant highlight was the first-ever Research Colloquium for SCIENTIA, which provided a crucial platform for future educators to showcase their innovative studies and advocacy. Winners of the Research Poster Exhibition included Group 6 (Beryllium 4) for the Thesis Category, RMHSM Group (Beryllium 4) for Action Research, and Group 8 (Boron 5) for the Systematic Review Category.The opening ceremony kicked off the festivities with its theme “Sulyap sa Maskara ng Kaalamang Pang-Agham” on the Day 1, July 24, 2025, whereas participants engaged in competitive online tournaments for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) held via Zoom and Discord. In the end, team “Be4 and After” emerged as the champions of the MLBB Tournament.

Furthermore, Day 2 with the theme, “Mabighani sa Panagbenga ng Talino” focused on intellectual challenges and sportsmanship. In the morning, the General Science Quiz Bee tested participants’ scientific knowledge, with Khail Nicolas S. de Paz winning the championship. Meanwhile, the afternoon featured strategic mind games: the Chess Tournament, won by Chariza Lyca C. Bobias, and the Sci-Dama, a board game combining moves with science questions, where Ace Andrie D. Abarabar claimed victory. Both Chess and Sci-Dama events occurred simultaneously.

Day 3, “Kasadya: Ang Sinulog ng Ugnayan,” took place on July 16, 2025. This day was dedicated to fostering teamwork and skills through a dynamic, face-to-face Science Camp at the PUP Oval. Activities included Yell Making, Stationary Activities like “Scie or Lie” and “Jargon Buster,” and an Obstacle Course. Teams also participated in a strategic Flag Keeping competition. Team B (Blue) was crowned the overall champion of the SCIE-CAMP activities.

The highlight of the week, as well as its culmination, was conducted on July 17, 2025, with Day 4’s theme “Higante: Lakan ng Agham”. The day featured the Research Poster Exhibition, serving as the designated Research Colloquium for SCIENTIA Week 2025. This event, drawing inspiration from the towering pride of the Higantes Festival, celebrated the growth of research and advocacy. It offered a vital platform for students to present their groundbreaking student-led research projects and creative infographics that merge science, advocacy, and design. The exhibition was described as a window into the minds of the next generation of innovators, changemakers, and educator-scientists, demonstrating science’s crucial step out of the lab and into the streets, where it belongs. The week concluded with a closing program, honouring science, service, and the strength of the united scientific community, as well as recognizing the SCIENTians who showcased efforts and determination in every activity within the week.

SCIENTIA Week 2025 successfully fostered curiosity, critical thinking, and community engagement, truly embodying its theme of “Bridging Science to the Community.” This “Pistang Agham” or “festival of science” was more than just an event; it was a movement focused on reimagining science education, empowering future educators as changemakers and storytellers. The event showcased science as a dynamic and accessible field, inspiring future educators to become champions of community-centered science.