By Shane Rachel del Rosario
Science for and with the people.
This is what the Department of Science and Technology - Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) lives on as they aim to transcend geographical borders and conquer information gaps by making Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) materials accessible through their first science and technology offline library-in-a box.
‘Democratizing STEM’
Dubbed STARBOOKS or Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated KioskS, it harnesses digital technology to deliver science, technology, and innovation information to remote indigenous communities.
STARBOOKS was developed by former DOST Assistant Secretary and DOST-STII Officer-in-Charge Raymund Liboro. In one of his interviews, he was hopeful that the innovation could be “the simple solution” to “raising the level of our aptitude in science and mathematics.”
Originally designed to be an offline-onsite S&T library information and resources tool, former DOST Secretary Mario Montejo also proudly described STARBOOKS as the agency’s “humble contribution to the world of education and science.”
It made its public debut during the 2011 Regional Invention Contests and Exhibits in Davao City, after becoming one of the highlighted technologies during the weeklong invention contest. A year after, it had its first mass deployment in Region VIII through a partnership between the DOST Regional Office VIII and the Department of Education Leyte Division, benefitting 44 public schools in the said province.
‘One-stop S&T info source’
STARBOOKS contains thousands of easily retrievable STEM digital resources that can be accessed even without an internet connection.
Photo retrieved from: https://www.science.ph/article/dosts-starbooks-to-expand-reach-via-partnership-with-national-library
It was also described as a “compendium of S&T information gathered from all over the world.” Through the portal, anyone can have digital access to scientific information physically available at the STII, DOST Science and Technology Information Network of the Philippines (SciNeT), Philippine eLib project sources, freely available online resources, and subscribed databases.
The digitized resources can be accessed in various formats, such as text and video or audio. They are placed in specially designed “pods” set in a user-friendly interface.
The ‘STAR’ in STARBOOKS
With only a few adopters during its early years, the first Philippine Science digital library finally had its share of glimmer after being recognized for its role in delivering scientific information to the marginalized and underserved sectors of society.
In 2014, all regions of the country had their own STARBOOKS installed in various provinces. Local government units recognized its impact on educational institutions, especially in remote areas that lacked books and other learning resources.
STARBOOKS was also presented at the World Library and Information Congress of Library Associations and Institutions in Lyon, France. Following Typhoon Yolanda’s devastation in 2013, the presentation centered on the portal’s installation in public schools devastated by the typhoon as part of the government’s Building Back Better relief initiative.
A year later, it bagged the Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects from the American Library Association at the San Francisco Public Library in the United States for “making science and technology materials available to the general public in remote areas that have few information resources, no libraries, and little to no Internet connectivity.”
Aside from these, some of its awards include the Outstanding Library Program for 2015 by the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians, Silver Anvil for Public Relations Tool and Gold Anvil for Public Relations Program in 2017, Finalist in the 2017 Government Best Practice Recognition by the Development Academy of the Philippines, and the FOI Special Award at the Freedom of Information Summit in 2019. It was also honored with “Excellence in Government Communication Programs” in the 18th Philippine Quill Awards.
‘Going out of the box’
But STARBOOKS’ glimmer does not end with its awards. It continues to ‘go out of the box’ and pursue moves that would further expand its pursuit for democratizing STEM education.
In 2016, STARBOOKS had its 1,000th site installation in Calauan, Laguna, which also marked the launch of Super STARBOOKS, an upgraded version of the innovation. The offline system also rebooted with a new and improved interface design and additional content. In Cateel, Davao Oriental, a solar-powered STARBOOKS was also introduced.
They also saw the pandemic as an opportunity to further improve innovation and find alternative ways to engage the public and various stakeholders. Two mobile applications were launched in 2021, the STARBOOKS Quiz Mobile App and the STARBOOKS Online App.
‘Shining brighter at the NSTF 2024’
STARBOOKS is one of the Filipino innovations set to showcase its shine at the National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF) in Thailand this August 16-25, 2024.
The NSTF is the largest science and technology fair in Thailand, with about 200,000 visitors each year, mainly composed of elementary and high school students. It aims to promote science and technology as well as display the latest innovations in various fields such as agriculture, education, and space.
Their participation is in line with DOST’s move to showcase Filipino innovations on the global stage, foster international collaborations, and further the commercialization of local technologies.
‘Science for and with the people’
STARBOOKS proved that Filipinos could shine even in the national and global innovation scene. Holding a greater purpose of bringing science and mathematics closer to the underserved communities, it leaves the premise that inventions could not only bring potential solutions but also empower people.
** This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.**
