THE Philippines, through the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School (DOST-PSHS) System, hosted this year’s Asean Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO) at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga from July 5 and until July 11, 2026.
The APT JSO is an annual international program for gifted students ages 13 to 15 from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states, China, Japan and South Korea.
The program develops scientific thinking through hands-on learning, cross-cultural collaboration and real-world problem-solving experiences in science, technology and sustainability.
For its 11th edition, this year’s regional gathering carries the critical theme "Climate Action and Responsible e-nnovation for Sustainability (ASEAN+3 CAReS)”, highlighting the role of young people, educators, and scientific communities in addressing climate change and building resilient, sustainable societies.
With the DOST-PSHS System at the helm, this year’s event aimed to strengthen regional cooperation in science and provide a platform for young innovators to address shared challenges.
Welcoming the international delegates, PSHS System Executive Director Ronnalee Orteza emphasized that because challenges such as climate change and food security transcend national borders, "the solutions must also be shared."
"The future will not be shaped simply by the smartest people; it will be shaped by those who choose to work together," Orteza said.
Asean+3 Center for the Gifted in Science (ACGS) Program Director Soo-Young Lee echoed this focus on partnership, highlighting the event's purpose beyond academics.
"APT JSO is a journey of discovery, a journey of collaboration, and a journey of friendship," Lee remarked.
“Be curious, share your ideas, learn from one another, and enjoy every moment of this journey,” she added, encouraging the participants to embrace the experience.
Asean Secretariat Science and Technology Officer Dony Cahyono also said that the Asean+3 Junior Science Odyssey serves as a highly effective platform for students to engage in cross-cultural knowledge sharing and learn directly from leading experts, gathering innovative ideas that they can eventually integrate into their own local communities.
“I think this is a kind of very good platform for students to learn, to exchange their knowledge as well as bringing home the knowledge so they can inspire other people on how to solve such disaster issues in the future,” he said, highlighting the long-term impact of this knowledge exchange.
By participating in the event, delegates gain practical insights into climate change and natural disasters, specifically learning from the unique disaster-response experiences of the host country, the Philippines.
With young people making up approximately 30 percent of the Asean population, regional leaders underscored the strategic importance of empowering the next generation to lead green transitions and technological advancements.
Asean Economic Community Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh urged students to be curious, collaborative, and deeply responsible in their future endeavors.
“The future will not belong merely to those who consume technology. It will basically belong to those people who will be able to create, who will be able to shape it, who will be able to use all of this innovation in a very responsible way to address society's greatest challenges,” Singh declared.
For her part, DOST Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services Maridon Sahagun connected the event's theme to the pressing realities of natural disasters, noting that resilience requires both technological investment and deep ethical consideration.
“Technology alone is never enough; innovation without responsibility can widen inequalities,” Sahagun stated.
Issuing a powerful call to action for the young scientists, she added, “The future of Asean will not be determined by the technologies we as a region invent. It will be determined by the values that guide these inventions."
She introduced the Philippine-inspired guiding principles for the week: “Katuklas” (co-discoverers advancing knowledge and innovative solutions), “Kaugnay” (collaborators strengthening connections across cultures and borders) and “Kaisa” (co-advocates championing climate action and responsible innovation).
These principles reflect the program's commitment to discovery, collaboration, and collective action for a science-driven and resilient future.
By hosting APT JSO-11, the Philippines showcased its commitment to nurturing scientific talent and promoting regional cooperation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM education.
During the 11th ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey, student delegates immersed themselves in a variety of academic and hands-on scientific activities.
They attended expert lectures and participated in laboratory assessments on critical environmental topics including geographic information systems or GIS, remote sensing, climate resilience, disaster science and blue carbon ecosystems.
The students also conducted practical field studies, which included exploring nearby forest ecosystems and learning from the disaster-response lessons of Mount Pinatubo.
Beyond traditional academics, the Odyssey strongly emphasized cross-cultural collaboration and project development.
Delegates engaged in group dynamics, team-building exercises, and focus group discussions to foster regional friendships and intercultural understanding.
They networked with leading experts during the “Meet the Scientists: Advocacy and Works” panel discussions and celebrated regional diversity through a cultural exchange and food festival as well as an APT JSO film festival.
The week-long event culminated in collaborative project development and final pitching sessions, where international teams of young scientists presented their innovative, science-based solutions for climate action and sustainability.
Visit www.pshs.edu.ph or www.dost.gov.ph for more information.