Gifted students from across Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Korea gathered in Pampanga province this week for an international youth science event focused on addressing climate change and environmental sustainability.

The 11th ASEAN Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey, which opened 5 July and runs through Saturday, brought together students aged 13 to 15 at the Clark Freeport Zone.

The event is spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Science High School System (DoST-PSHS).

This year’s gathering centers on the theme of climate action and responsible innovation for sustainability, highlighting how young researchers and educators can help build climate-resilient societies.

“The future will not be shaped simply by the smartest people; it will be shaped by those who choose to work together,” said Ronnalee Orteza, executive director of the PSHS System, noting that borderless challenges like climate change require shared regional solutions.

Soo-Young Lee, program director of the ASEAN+3 Center for the Gifted in Science, emphasized that the event serves as a journey of discovery, collaboration and cross-border friendship rather than a purely academic competition.