SEEKING to encourage senior high school students to pursue a career in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the Department of Science and Technology -National Capital Region, the Marikina City Government, the Office of the First Congressional District of Marikina, and the Marikina Schools Division Office launched the Push4Science campaign on Tuesday.

Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro and Marikina First District Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro led the launching of the campaign titled “#Push4Science: Marikeños Exploring Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Change through STEM”, which will run from November 28 to 29.

For the campaign, the DOST, Department of Education, and the City Government of Marikina inked a memorandum of agreement which aims to promote science, technology, and innovation, as well as increase interest and enrollment in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and its related courses for undergraduate students.

This seeks to enable the youth to discover various opportunities in STEM including scholarships and careers, in the form of mentoring, campaigns, demonstrations, film screenings, and training.

“The Push4Science campaign, this initiative is not really a campaign. It is a call to action. A beaconing towards a future where the brilliance of Marikina’s youth, our students who are present today, is harnessed for the betterment of our community and beyond,” Mayor Marcy said.

“At the heart of the Push4Science campaign lies the commitment to propel our senior high school students towards excellence by becoming DOST scholars through targeted training,” he added.

For her part, Cong. Teodoro said the city’s collaboration with the DOST is founded on “innovation, human-centeredness, and societal impact.”

“Today, we are in the first stage of the push for science project and this initiative aims to encourage our Marikina students to apply as DOST scholars who will pursue degrees in STEM or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” she said.

The lawmaker emphasized that building a STEM-competent workforce will propel the country to the future.

“As a former educator, I find that the solutions we seek in life lie in the academic potential of our youth—a potential we can harness for continued progress,” the congresswoman said.

After the MOA signing, the DOST turned over VISSER STEM kits to Marikina schools. These kits allow students to conduct over 50 science experiments in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.