Sep 25, 2024 - 16:15
By manilatimes.net

DoST-ASTI highlights blockchain applications across various sectors

IN an era of rapid technological advancement, terms such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cybersecurity, big data, robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become some of the newest buzzwords.

However, these technologies are not mere trends but key forces reshaping how public and private institutions operate.

Thus, adapting to these changes is crucial, and who better prepare for the future of these technologies than our next generation of scientists and engineers?

To contribute to this need, the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DoST-ASTI) held a tech forum titled «ASTIg Tech Talks Season 2: Blockchain for Young Innovators” at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Tent in Pasay City as part of the 2nd National Youth Science, Technology, and Innovation Festival (NYSTIF) on Sept. 20, 2024.

In line with the NYSTIF's theme „STEM VIBE: Engaging the Youth in Providing Solutions and Opening Opportunities,” the forum aimed to ignite young minds with the potential of blockchain, encouraging them to explore science, technology, and innovation as powerful tools to create a better and sustainable future.

The forum's first speaker, DoST-ASTI senior science research specialist Roxanne Aviñante, introduced the concept of blockchain to the student participants.

Emphasizing its immutability, she described blockchain technology as a tamper-proof and tamper-evident database “that keeps data safe and secure across many computers.”

She further explained that it uses a distributed ledger to record its transactions.

She also mentioned that, alongside AI, cybersecurity, big data, and cloud computing, blockchain as an emerging technology is experiencing high demand and interest.

The second topic of the event, focused on non-fungible tokens (NFTs), was presented by science research specialist 1 Marc Jerome Tulali.

He explained that NFTs are digital assets or tokens stored in blockchain, each representing a unique item such as artwork, digital content or media.

As a fun fact, Aviñante said that blockchain's first