The SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) facility during the on-site InnovEIGhts ideation session on 3D printing technology.
Representatives from units and departments of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) joined the hybrid online and on-site InnovEIGhts ideation session on 3D printing technology held on 29 March 2022 via Zoom and at the SEARCA Hub for Agriculture and Rural Innovation for the Next Generation (SHARING) center.
The ideation session enabled 55 SEARCA staff to learn the basics of 3D printing technologies and watch a full-scale demonstration of creating 3D printed prototypes. Six of the participants were certified 3D Printing Application Specialists of the Center, equipped to coach and mentor interested learners.
As an evolution of the Southeast Asian Agrimuseum and Learning Center, the SHARING facility aims to provide a memorable, engaging, and educational experience of dynamic navigation through the museum space. The hub also offers interactivity with art, science, and multimedia installations highlighting next-generation agriculture in Southeast Asia or Agriculture 4.0.
SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio emphasized that for SEARCA to realize its 11th Five-Year Plan, embodying a transformative mindset must start first from its staff and personnel.
Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, challenges the participants to be thought leaders in innovation regardless of their role in SEARCA.
“In order for SEARCA to ATTAIN, we must begin with ourselves and adopt innovative mindsets. We must be open to crazy ideas and creative solutions, agile to smarter ways of doing things, and adaptive to changing times,” said Dr. Gregorio.
He also added what the staff and the public can expect with the opening of the learning facilities.
“In our SHARING, get ready to use your hands and minds in action and go crazy with our topnotch high-tech equipment, immersive and interactive learning tools, and engaging content. These are within the reach of SEARCA staff and of course, our farmers and farming families”.
Dr. Gregorio inspired the SEARCA staff. “I challenge everyone to be thought leaders in innovation regardless of your role in SEARCA. We must first ATTAIN inside so that together we can attain better, bigger, and smarter impacts outside the headquarters towards our stakeholders,” he said.
Resource persons from the Puzzlebox 3D Solutions, Inc., a premier digital fabrication equipment distributor in the Philippines, discusses the required steps in a typical 3D printing process.
The SHARING learning space comprises video wall narratives that were produced through a rich collection of images curated from the Center’s photo contests over 15 years. Artists from Paete, Laguna carved wooden columns symbolic of 11 Southeast Asian cultures and farm innovation stories.
In addition, the Makerspace section of SHARING contains equipment such as the top-of-the-line 3D printing machine and 3D pens designed for creative works. A model kit of an open-source tractor can be assembled for hands-on learning.
A display of agribusiness products and stories inspires the entrepreneurial spirit to venue in agriculture as a sunrise industry.
Mr. Glenn N. Baticados, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD), thanks all the participants and organizers of the ideation session.
In his closing message, Mr. Glenn N. Baticados, Program Head, Emerging Innovation for Growth Department (EIGD), expressed his gratitude to the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and the UPOU Multimedia Center for collaboration on potential development of learning objects arising from the ideation session.
“We hope that this session has enabled you all to start creating fun and collaborative solutions in your workplace and encourage an innovative mindset. Feel free to visit us here in SHARING and create something,” said Mr. Baticados.
Ideation sessions for innovation in the works with Ms. Lichelle Dara E. Carlos (center), SEARCA Program Specialist for Open-Innovation and Agri-Incubation, and Puzzlebox.
The learning event was facilitated by Mr. Paul Soriano and Mr. Julius Banquisio of Puzzlebox 3D Solutions, Inc., a premier digital fabrication equipment distributor in the Philippines
Last 29 March 2022, SEARCA presented SHARING as one of the new spaces for agricultural innovation for the next generation to Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones. The DepEd Secretary represents the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council and DepEd serves as the focal agency of SEARCA.