From detecting germs to fighting crime, young scientists shine in tilt
Developed by group of students from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, the “potentially groundbreaking” study called iSketch, which allows police and crime investigators to compare hand drawn or computerized facial composite sketches to an online database, was tagged “Best Project of the Year” in the 2012 BPI-DOST Science Awards.
iSketch was one of the six science and engineering projects, which, while competing for cash prizes, scholarship and prestige, reflected not only the best minds among young Filipinos but the harnessing of knowledge to better the lives of ordinary people.
The project offers an alternative to Facefit, a “feature-based computerized composite illustration system” currently being used by the Philippine National Police, especially those in Benguet.
Nonetheless, Sarah Jane Calpo, the BS in Information Technology student who led the seven-member research project, said they hope to see its application nationwide, supplementing the eight FaceFit units in the country that was donated by the Australian government.