The New Generations month in the Rotary World coincides with the Nation’s Science month in September, 2010. Prior to this month, the Rotary Club of ManPaSan launched its Science education project which the members called “SCIENCE CARAVAN - Because our Nation Needs Scientists”. The title is a long shot vision of contribution to our country’s future development and a short term plan to benefit young learners with enhanced knowledge of Science concepts to influence them to take up Science related courses for their future careers.

    As a Science advocate, the proponent Rotarian, Belle Quilantang presented the rationale for the project to her club RC ManPaSan. As acceptable as the rationale was, the members can not immediately implement the project as a significant amount was needed to do so. The club resorted to applying for a matching grant with the Rotary Foundation. However as worthy as the project was for youth and education, the TRF was not able to match the joined funds of RC ManPaSan and four Rotary Clubs in Japan from their District Grants at the time the application was filed. The joined funds of the five Rotary Clubs was however enough to fund initial number of units to teach, illustrate and demonstrate at least seventeen Science concepts (after some calculations) allow hands-on experiences by young learners and which can be transported in a van from school to school – thus its name, Science Caravan. Thus in Rotary Year 2008-2009 fifteen cabinet-like units featuring the seventeen concepts were manufactured and assembled.

    The “caravan load” includes the following: Investigating Perceptions: 1. Face Kaleidoscope, 2. Language Brain , 3. Shadow Compensation, 4. Rotating Snakes, 5. Spinning Discs, 6. Stereoscopic Vision – 1, 7. Stereoscopic Vision – 2, 8. Lines; Investigating Force: 9. Bernoulli Blower, 10. Gyroscope; Investigating Light: 11. Infinity Mirror, 12. Light Mix, 13. Polarized Light Mosaic; Investigating Magnetism: 14. Magnetic Line of Force, 15. Magnetic Levitation; Investigation Shapes: 16. Pythagorean Theorem; Investigating Electricity: 17. Hand Battery.

    The Science Caravan project was officially launched on August 27, 2010 at the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) where Physics and Science teachers from 21 public schools in Mandaluyong were present to be the first to experience the Science gadgets They were provided with manuals on how to demonstrate effectively the gadgets. Physics teachers, Mary Ann Dominguez and Oliver Chua handled the teaching demonstration. Also present at the launch were Rotarians from Zone 8 and AG Ophie Reyes of RC Mandaluyong. The Science Caravan started its mission of school visitation on August 31 at the Mandaluyong Elementary and High School where it stayed up to September 6 and moved on to the Donya Basilisa Yanco Integrated School the next day.

    The TRF coordinating Rotary Club partners in Japan of RC ManPaSan are: RC Kanagawa Shonan, RC Kobe North, RC Osaka Next and RC Chubu Nagoya Mirai. Their representatives are expected to visit the joint project on September 24 at the Ilaya Baranka Elementary School which is scheduled to be visited by the “Caravan” on the same day. The joint visitation of the “Caravan” and the TRF coordinating Rotary Clubs is one of the culminating activities in the school in observance of the Science month of September.

    Catch the “Caravan” in its school visits in the City of Mandaluyong during October and November this year. - Rtn. Belle Quilantang, RC ManPaSan