More Smart Schools monitor rainfall

For a year now, volunteer teachers and students from partner schools under the Smart Schools Program have been monitoring rainfall in their respective localities using rain gauges situated within their school grounds. From a starting number of 17 pilot schools, a total of 50 public high schools are now participating in what is called Project Rain Gauge.

Project Rain Gauge is a joint undertaking of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and Manila Observatory’s KLIMA Climate Change Center, in cooperation with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Department of Education.

Project Rain Gauge aims to spark awareness in the study of earth science by building online meteorological data provided by a network of public high schools who monitor and record rainfall observations around the country.  It also assists in disaster preparedness by providing a community-based early warning system for possible natural disasters like landslides and flash floods.

During the 4th National Meteorological – Hydrological Convention of the Philippine Meteorological Society, SMART shared the mechanics and progress of Project Rain Gauge to the attendees composed of scientists, NGOs, local government units and representatives from the 50 Smart Schools.

Darwin Flores, Senior Manager for Community Partnerships of SMART, presented the system to the participants and was glad to share that at this stage of the project, the students themselves are the ones who want to get involved with monitoring rainfall and understanding the environment better.

Fe Hidalgo, former DepEd undersecretary and SMART Schools Program Advisory Board member says, “Based on our experience with DepEd, project-based activities like this give students the opportunity to observe, write, and analyze data.  This results in a higher level of critical thinking.  The students know that the data is not contrived – that it is useful for the future.  This helps them to see the importance of coming up with evidence-based data.”

More than contributing to the mitigation of disaster, the project develops a convergence among the young bright minds of the country. 

“We’re trying to create an interest in earth science,” says Flores.  “Hopefully, later on, they will be the future meteorologists or scientists of the country.  Because right now, our meteorologists are leaving the country.  They go to other countries because of lack of opportunity here.  But if you engender interest among students, taking advantage of technology, we can make them realize that they are not alone in their corner in Batanes, or in their corner in Compostela Valley, or in their corner in Gen. Nakar. Even though they are physically isolated, connectivity makes it easier for them to understand that they’re part of a bigger network.”

Project Rain Gauge endeavors to create a network of ground stations across the country via Smart Schools to provide supplementary data on local rainfall measurement in specific areas.  Rainfall observations performed and recorded by the schools can be used to determine fine-scale rainfall patterns necessary to describe local climate, and for more accurate weather reporting and forecasting in local communities.

With proper nurturance of our country’s young minds, we will enjoy a scientific understanding of rain and better means of responding to the changes in our environmental landscape.

(Published 22 December 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)

<<Back to News