The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) is launching a new recognition program for young researchers through the PhilSA High School Research and Innovation Award to Yield Advancement in Space Science and Technology (HiRAYA), aimed at encouraging student-led innovation in space science and technology.
The award will be given to outstanding high school student researchers participating in the Department of Education’s Regional Science and Technology Fair (RSTF) and National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF), with projects aligned to key national space priorities such as disaster risk reduction, climate and hazard studies, space research and development, national security, and space industry capacity building.
Philippine Space Agency Ad Interim Director General Gay Jane P. Perez, Ph.D., said the initiative highlights the importance of nurturing early scientific talent in the country’s growing space ecosystem. She emphasized that future breakthroughs in space technology—including satellite development—may come from today’s student researchers.
HiRAYA will consider research in fields such as atmospheric science, astronomy and cosmology, climate science, remote sensing, control theory, and machine learning applications relevant to space science and engineering.
Entries will be evaluated based on relevance, creativity, scientific and engineering thought, research rigor, technical skills, and clarity of presentation. Recognition will include one award per region at the RSTF level and up to three national-level awards at the NSTF, along with cash prizes, certificates, and plaques.
PhilSA said the name “HiRAYA,” derived from the Filipino word hiraya, meaning vision or the realization of dreams, reflects its goal of developing the next generation of Filipino space scientists and innovators.
The agency is encouraging students and educators to prepare research projects aligned with space science themes ahead of upcoming DepEd science fairs, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s future space workforce.
