The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) increased the prize for the winner of the second Gawad Leadership and Innovations for Development Relevant to Science Education (Gawad Lider), to encourage more teachers to exemplify leadership and commit to science education.

Dr. Ester Ogena, director of the DoST Science Education Institute (SEI), said the higher stakes will make the annual award more prestigious and “entice more people to come out and nominate individuals and institutions who have contributed to the betterment of science education in the country.”

“Any head of an institution, community leaders, organization or individuals may nominate an individual or institution or organization for the Gawad Lider awards,” Ogena said.

Exemplary Leadership Award is conferred to individuals and institutions or organization that have consistently demonstrated leadership qualities leading to improvements in the field of education in the science education, which have generated nationwide impact, she said.

Ogena added that nominees for the Exemplary Leadership in the individual and institution category should have demonstrated sustained leadership capability through the conduct of a project with significant impact on education in the sciences.

“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,” she noted.

“On the other hand, the Innovation Award is given to an individual or institution for the introduction of a technology-based innovation that benefits education in the science,” she said.

Ogena said any individual or organization, who 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 clarified that any 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 could be seen as an innovation.

Nomination and application forms may be obtained from the SEI office and at the DOST Regional Offices. Deadline of submission of nomination is on January 15, 2010 at the DOST Regional Offices andJanuary 31, 2010 at the SEI office.

The awarding of the winners will be conducted during the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week in July next year.