DOST is giving away P20k—just make a TikTok vid

Science-loving TikTokers, your nerdiness might finally pay off. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is giving away P20,000 to winning TikTokers who are eager to school their viewers.

TikTok Philippines and DOST have joined forces to promote the country’s scientific innovations, using their online platforms to showcase local developments. Among those platforms, of course, is internet hub TikTok, where pretty much anything reigns—including science.

Alongside TikTok’s local branch is the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), which will be hosting a video challenge through several hashtags.

The first contest, #PinoyInnovator, is on the lookout for TikTokers who have a nifty resourceful side, to create an innovative “device” using common household items. The proclaimed geniuses will be announced in April 2021 and will be hailed as this year’s “Pinoy Science Innovators” (in the TikTok realm, that is).

Meanwhile, the second contest #PinoyScience takes a page out of EduTok, as it challenges users to explain the science behind any one of DOST-PCIEERD’s scientific projects. This will run from April to July 2021, with three winners announced every month starting May.

According to Science and Digital News, the winning creators can take home P5,000 for third place, P15,000 for second place and—ding, ding, ding—P20,000 for first place.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the DOST-PCIEERD to help promote awareness and understanding for science and innovation, as well as inspire the Filipino youth to discover their creativity and talents. Inspiring creativity and bringing joy is at the heart of what we do at TikTok,” says Tiktok head for public policy Kristoffer Rada.

“TikTok is committed to helping facilitate education and learning in the Philippines. Through our #LearnOnTikTok series, we will be working with creators to produce more educational content on the platform,” he added.

There you have it, nerds. Get TikToking—it’s for science.

Screenshots from Bill Nye’s TikTok