The search for outstanding individuals and groups having nationwide impact in the field of science education has been extended to accommodate more nominations, an official from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) said.

Dr. Ester Ogena, director of DOST's Science Education Institute, said the deadline for nominations to the 2nd Gawad Leadership and Innovations for Development Relevant to Science Education (Gawad LIDER) has been extended to February 26, 2010.

“We want to entice more people to come out and nominate individuals and institutions who have contributed to the betterment of science education in the country,” she said.

Emphasizing that higher prizes are at stake this year, Ogena explained tha Gawad Lider is conferred to individuals and institutions or organizations that have consistently demonstrated leadership qualities leading to improvements in the field of education in the sciences.

With prizes pegged at P200,000, winners for Exemplary Leadership Award Categories will also get medals for "consistently demonstrated leadership qualities leading to improvements in the field of education in the sciences which have generated nationwide impact."

She said that the same items will be given to this year's winner of Exemplary Innovation Award "for the introduction of a technology-based innovation that benefits education in the sciences."

Ogena said any person or institution/organization who has demonstrated sustained leadership capability through the conduct of a project with significant impact on education in the sciences may be nominated for the Exemplary Leadership-Individual and Institution Category.

She said the nominee in the Individual Category of the Exemplary Leadership Award should have led the implementation of a program or project for at least five years.

Ogena noted that any individual or organization that has introduced a technology-based innovation and has successfully used or adopted these innovations that contributed to the advancement of education in the sciences may be nominated for the Innovation Award.

She said an innovation is operationally defined as the development or enhancement of devices, equipment, gadgets, tools, or products or procedures that resulted in greater effectiveness and higher efficiency in teaching and learning in the sciences.

SEI will receive nominations coming from any head of an institution, community leaders, organization or individuals for the Gawad Lider awards, she added saying that nomination and application forms may be obtained from the SEI office and at the DoST Regional Offices.

Awarding of the winners will be conducted during the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week in July 2010.