Another research team from Alabel National Science High School bagged yet another award, this time from the University of the Philippines-ALCHEMES Research Fair.
The team composed of Ernest Gabonada, Trisha Belle Pactes, and Francine Sanchez bested 29 other schools from all over the country in the applied science category.
From all the finalists, the roster was cut down to five, and then, in the championship round, the research team from AlSci went head-to-head against the team from Philippines Science High School CALABARZON Region Campus, where they emerged as the champion, and the people’s choice as well.
The research presented by the team is an application of machine learning, which is a subset of artificial intelligence, to the early detection of plant diseases.
Entitled Project PLANTdemic – Automatic, Rapid, and Early Detection of Plant Disease Using Deep Learning, the research involves the use of a browser-based application that enables users to identify early signs of plant diseases, helping farmers increase crop quality and quantity, and ultimately, helping attain food security.
Recently, researchers from AlSci also bagged awards from various competitions including two consecutive Silver Awards from the Young Inventors Challenge, which is based in Malaysia, and the Lion’s Roar Award from the Filipino Science Hub.
They have also been shortlisted as a finalist to the imake.wemake competition of the Department of Science and Technology for two years in a row.
The team is coached by Dr. Shiela P. Butil, MT-II.