Gumawa ng kasaysayan noong July 2024 ang 23-year-old Filipino student scientist na si Mahmooda Aziza Bhatti.
Siya ang nagwagi ng pretihiyosong medalyang ginto sa Life Science category sa idinaos na World Youth STEM Invention Innovation 2024 sa Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nakapag-uwi rin siya ng apat na special awards dahil sa kanyang pag-i-introduce ng mga bagong ideas sa pagpapalaganap ng sustainable practices, at pagkakaloob ng mas ligtas na paraan para makontrol ang pagdami ng tick o garapata.
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Kabilang sa kanyang mga awards ang Platinum Award (Best Project College Category), Semi Grand Award (Research Sponsorship), Best Innovation, and Best Video Presentation.
Nakuha niya rin ang Special Awards for Eco-Friendly Product Research sa Asia Pacific Conference for Young Scientists 2024, at isa siya sa honorable mention sa Asia Pacific Conference of Young Scientists.
Ang achievements ni Mahmooda ay binigyang-pugay ng alkalde ng San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, noong October 9, 2024 sa Facebook.
Residente si Mahmooda ng San Jose Del Monte at kasalukuyang nag-aaral sa Bulacan State University Sarmiento Campus.
Kumukuha siya ng Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English minor in Mandarin.
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INVENTION NI MAHMOODA, MAS LIGTAS GAMITIN
Pagbabahagi ni Mahmooda tungkol sa kanyang award-winning research, “My work focused on using Rauvolfia serpentina [serpentina] and Peperomia pellucida [pansit-pansitan] as an antiparasitic spray against Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille, commonly known as the brown dog tick."
May kakayahan ang brown dog tick o garapata na magparami sa katawan ng aso at kumalat sa mga tahanan.
At tampok sa research ni Mahmooda ay isang natural at plant-based alternative, kumpara sa ibang tick repellents na yari sa mga kemikal na mapanganib sa kapaligiran at maging sa kalusugan ng tao.
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Naging silver medalist din ang kanyang research sa preliminary round ng 9th International Invention Innovation Competition sa Canada noong August na isinagawa via online.
"These achievements reflect my dedication and resilience, as well as the rigorous preparation I put into each panel defense I faced.
“My love for science and the unwavering support of my father have been my strongest motivators."
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INTERES SA SCIENCE IMPLUWENSIYA NG AMA
Lumaki sa isang biracial family si Mahmooda. Isang Pakistani ang kanyang ama, at Filipina naman ang kanyang ina.
Bata pa lang ay fascinated na siya sa maraming bagay at masaya siyang nag-e-eksperimento gamit ang kung anu-anong materyales na nakikita lang niya sa kanilang bahay.
"My Pakistani father played a significant role in shaping my interest.
“I started reading his medical books at a young age, which deepened my curiosity about science."
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Isang retired businessman and pharmacist ang kanyang amang si Mutahir Saeed Bhatti.
May online store ito na ang mga produktong itinitinda ay natural medicine na inangkat sa US.
"My father never discarded anything. He always found ways to repurpose items and transform them into something useful.
“Watching him turn seemingly useless things into valuable resources greatly inspired me.
"His ability to see potential—where others might not—help me appreciate the practical applications of scientific principles and motivated me to pursue my own projects and experiments."
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12 YEARS OLD NANG MAKAGAWA NG ANTI-ACNE REMEDY
Twelve years old pa lang ay nagawa nang i-channel ni Mahmooda ang kanyang interes sa pag-i-eksperimento.
“As someone with acne-prone skin, I turned to medical journals and books determined to find solutions to my skin problems."
Gamit ang turmeric, neem at oats, at ilang mahahalagang payo mula sa amang pharmacist, nakagawa si Mahmooda ng natural acne remedy.
Wala siyang kamalay-malay na ang kanyang naging experience na iyon tungkol sa life science and invention ang magti-trigger ng mas malawak niyang interes at passion para sa iba pang discovery and innovations.
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MAHUSAY RING WRITER
Sa kabila naman ng interes ni Mahmooda sa science, mas pinili niyang kumuha ng kursong may kaugnayan sa language.
Isa rin siyang campus journalist.
Pinatunayan niyang kaya niyang pagsabayin ang pagiging analytical thinker at mahusay na manunulat.
Noong 2023, nanalo siya ng gold medal sa Malaysian Young Scientist Organization international essay writing competition.
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Dahil sa kanyang tagumpay na ito, pinagkalooban siya ng "Natatanging Kabataan sa Larangan ng Akademya at Agham" ng Sangguniang Kabataan sa kanyang hometown.
Aktibo rin si Mahmooda sa pagpapalaganap ng youth empowerment, at madalas siyang mag-volunteer sa iba’t ibang inisyatiba para sa mga kabataan.
"Balancing these roles allows me to combine my passion for science with my commitment to social impact and communication."
May payo si Mahmooda sa mga kabataang malaki rin ang interes sa science at gustong makalikha ng sariling invention.
Aniya, "Start by looking at what’s around you and try to solve small, everyday problems first.
“These challenges can teach you valuable lessons and build your problem-solving skills.”
Huwag rin daw matatakot mag-eksperimento.
“Even if it seems like a minor issue. Sometimes the smallest observations can lead to the biggest breakthroughs."