APAN 56: DOST-ASTI takes part in DRRM and Telemedicine Working Groups

7 Sep 2023 4:30 PM

 Venue set-up of APAN 56 in Colombo, Sri Lanka © Photo from Arteculate Asia 

The Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) successfully conducted its 56th meeting last 21-25 August 2023 at Colombo, Sri Lanka, bringing in individuals seeking ideal exposure to knowledge and experience in technology in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The  Lanka Education and Research Network (LEARN) hosted the event which featured workshops, training programs, keynote speeches, and tutorials on advanced network technologies and applications. 

Among the activities was the Disaster Mitigation Working Group (DMWG) session where DOST-ASTI Director Dr. Franz de Leon gave the opening remarks. In his statement, he recognized the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding communities and the environment from the challenges posed by disasters. He added that the working group’s “collaboration and dedication to this cause reflect the commitment to creating a safer and more resilient world for generations to come.” 

In the afternoon session of the DMWG, Adrian Aristotle Dellagas, technical researcher of the Institute presented a backgrounder and initial results of the recently concluded Understanding Lightning and Thunderstorms for Extreme Weather Monitoring and Information Sharing (ULAT) project. 

Mr. Dellagas giving his virtual presentation of the ULAT project during the DMWG session 

He also featured the establishment and inauguration of the Ground Receiving Station at Dumangas Climate Field School, Iloilo in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Hokkaido University, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and the local government unit of Dumangas, Iloilo. 

Screenshots of Mr. Lara’s presentation during the Internet Governance session 

Supervising Science Research Specialist and Philippine Research, Education, and Government Information Network (PREGINET) technical lead Bayani Benjamin Lara participated as Chair of the Sessions in two back-to-back topics of Internet Governance and Cyber Sovereignty and Fragmentation. 

The Internet Governance session featured speakers from several national research and education networks (NRENs) in the Asia-Pacific and presented topics covering the laws, rules, regulations, and their respective impacts on the country to which they belong. 

Similarly, the Cyber Sovereignty and Fragmentation session focused on an in-depth discussion on cyber sovereignty and fragmentation of the Internet, the existing legal framework and policies to deal with cyber security, protection of privacy, human rights, and freedom of speech without compromising national security. 

On the fourth day of the conference, Alvin de Gracia, PREGINET Network Operations Engineer participated in the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons (PALES) Dissect session in line with PREGINET’s partnership with the Telemedicine Network of the Philippines and his membership in APAN’s Medical Working Group. 

Participants of the Medical Working Group’s PALES Dissect session 

The goals of the session were to demonstrate the applications of advanced laparoscopic surgery in malignancy through case presentation, discuss the strategies and techniques of the surgical case, feature advances in procedures, techniques, technologies, and innovations, as well as to and learn from the MIS faculty across the PALES MIS Fellowship programs.

About DOST-ASTI and APAN 

DOST-ASTI’s connection with APAN was established in 2003 through PREGINET. To formalize and strengthen its participation, DOST-ASTI formed a memorandum of understanding with APAN in 2008 to become a primary voting member of the consortium. Through this collaboration, APAN and DOST-ASTI collectively participate and promote activities relating to the development and deployment of next-generation networking applications and services in research and education. DOST-ASTI is a part of the Disaster Mitigation Working Group (DMWG) and Medical Working Group (MWG) of the said research consortium.