Ateneo Intellectual Property Office conducts IP awareness sessions in Palawan

The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) and the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) of Ateneo de Manila University visited Palawan to promote innovation and education through two key initiatives. The team introduced the Lab-in-a-Box Project, an innovative STEM tool providing Physics and Chemistry kits for hands-on learning.

The visit included a two-day Chemistry Training for Teachers led by Dr Erwin P Enriquez from the Chemistry Department. This training aimed to equip educators from Loyola College of Culion (LCC) and Culion National High School (CNHS) with practical teaching skills. Key topics such as molarity, dilution, and the use of laboratory equipment were covered, along with the integration of intellectual property concepts relevant to science education. To further support their efforts, chemistry kits were also generously donated.

On 3 December 2024, the AIPO team visited Concepcion National High School and Salvacion National High School in Busuanga, Palawan. During these visits, Ms Madielaine Fatallo, Research Officer III of AIPO, led basic lectures on intellectual property, helping high school students understand how IP safeguards original ideas and inspiring them to think about how their projects, artwork, and innovations could be protected. Teachers were also introduced to incorporating IP concepts into their lessons, fostering a culture of innovation in their classrooms.

The AIPO team then proceeded to Loyola College of Culion (LCC), where a two-day teacher training program on the use of the Lab-in-a-Box kits was conducted from December 5 to the morning of 6 December 2024. This training equipped faculty members with the knowledge and skills to utilize the lab kits effectively in their teaching, ensuring that students gain hands-on STEM learning experiences.

Following the training, on 6 December 2024, at 2:00 pm, the AIPO team conducted an IP awareness session for the faculty members of LCC. The session began with an informative discussion on patents, utility models, and industrial designs, highlighting their role in protecting technical solutions and innovative ideas. The session continued with an engaging presentation on trademarks, emphasizing how they establish brand identity and protect reputations, especially for educators mentoring entrepreneurial students. The session concluded with a discussion on copyright and related rights, particularly their relevance to teaching materials and educational resources.

The IP awareness sessions underscored the importance of protecting intellectual creations and encouraged participants to view their ideas as valuable assets. By equipping teachers and students with foundational IP knowledge, AIPO inspired them to develop innovations that could make meaningful contributions to society while ensuring their rights were protected.

This initiative highlights AIPO’s commitment to advancing intellectual property education, empowering communities like Busuanga and Culion, Palawan, to embrace innovation and safeguard their creative works. AIPO plans to continue engaging with schools and communities in the region, ensuring that the importance of IP is understood and applied.

For more IP-related sessions like this, you may visit www.aipo.ateneo.edu or email them at aipo@ateneo.edu. You may also check out their Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements.