The MSU-IIT won the Best Poster Award for the Semiconductor Materials and Electronics R&D Track during the 4th Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City on July 20, 2015.
The event was attended by faculty members and students of all graduate and post graduate programs of the College of Engineering.
The award-winning entry entitled “A Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Interface Circuit using Negative Voltage Converter with Active Diode and DC-DC Converter” by Qadier I. Jilluh taking up his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (Microelectronics) and thesis adviser Prof. Allenn C. Lowaton from the Microelectronics Lab (MicroLab) of the Electronics Engineering. The work of Jilluh and Lowaton bested thirteen (13) others entries from UP-Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and Mapua Institute of Technology.
A highlight of this event was the Poster Competition with entries from ERDT scholars around the country. MSU-IIT’s entries totaled six (6) research and development (R&D) tracks namely, Agriculture; Energy; Environment and Infrastructure; Information and Communications Technology; Manufacturing and Machinery; and Semiconductor Materials and Electronics.
This year’s congress theme “Agriculture and Science and Technology for Inclusive Growth”, recognizes the pressing concerns of the agricultural sector and the contributions that science and engineering can share with the community.
Plenary speakers were Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Acting Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization Director Rex L. Bingabing, Mie University Professor Emeritus Makoto Hoki, and Phil-LiDAR 2 Program Leader Ariel C. Blanco.
The ERDT Congress is a yearly event where researchers, ERDT scholars, visiting professors, industry, government, and other experts gather and get inspired by plenary lectures of highly distinguished professors and experts all over the world. It is also a venue for the ERDT scholars to publish their academic works through a poster competition.
The ERDT is funded by the Philippine government through the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to create a critical mass of master’s and doctorate graduates in various displicines of engineering. ERDT is implemented through a consortium of eight universities in the Philippines with graduate programs in engineering.
The ERDT member universities are: UP-Diliman, UP-Los Banos, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Mapua Institute of Technology, Central Luzon State University, the University of San Carlos and the MSU- Iligan Institute of Technology. –Contributed news
ASEAN Eng. Eulalio C. Creencia, a professor of chemical engineering at the College of Engineering, represented the Institute during the 3rd AUN/SEED Working Group Meeting on July 9-10, 2015 at the Pathumwan Princess Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
The meeting was attended by a total of 46 participants from different ASEAN countries as well as representatives from JICA and AUN/SEED Secretariat.
The participants discussed the operational matters of Phase III and exchanged views on how to enhance the current project activities including the Graduate Degree Program, Collaborative Research Program, Financial Procedures, ASEAN Engineering Journal, strengthening the University-Industry Linkage and other areas.
Creencia proposed the concept of “return service and payback contract” for graduate degree programs, a concept that is fully implemented by MSU-IIT. It has been observed that many graduates no longer return to their sending institutions after finishing their degrees, and some grantees drop out of their programs with only a few months into the program due to financial problems. To encourage more submissions of proposals for collaborative researches, Creencia also proposed that proponents must receive the comments and results from the evaluation committee.
Measures to improve project implementation were proposed and submitted to the JICA Coordinating Office in Thailand for consideration during the meeting and suggestions for post Phase III activities were also noted.
The Network now consists of 26 leading institutions from 10 ASEAN countries with the support of 14 leading Japanese Supporting Universities (JSU). MSU – IIT is the third member in the Philippines with the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University as the other two.
AUN/SEED Net is mainly supported by the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and partially supported by the member countries and member institutions.
The College of Engineering (COE) celebrated another milestone as it inaugurated and dedicated its new expansion building on November 20, 2014. Officials and dignitaries led by MSU System Pres. Macapado A. Muslim witnessed the event.
Since its humble beginning in 1977 and the inauguration of its first building on September 30, 1980, the College has now developed into a stronghold of the Institute producing board exam topnotchers and highly skilled engineers. It now offers 11 undergraduate, 4 Master’s, and 3 Doctorate programs.
In his message during the ceremony, Atty. Edgar Alan A. Donasco, Dean of the College, remarked that indeed, “It’s a grand day for COE.”
He further shared how the College, like other colleges in the Institute, has suffered shortage of classrooms especially with its population that has quadrupled from the 500 it had started with.
For his part, Dr. Feliciano B. Alagar, Acting Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development and former COE dean, described how the plan for the expansion building was initially conceptualized.
“It all started as a dream,” he shared.
In his message to the attendees, Alagar narrated that he summoned Prof. Geronides Ancog and asked for his assistance through his students to design an expansion building.
“His [referring to Prof. Ancog] first question was, ‘How big, sir?’ I said, ‘really big.’ I can read his reaction, he thought I was dreaming.”
Indeed it all started with a dream, but what Alagao did not realize was that Ancog was also a dreamer.
The 5-storey building, as described by Alagao, is “a showcase of fine engineering design.”
It has green features like passive ventilation and lighting. Its walls are light, sound proof, and insulated. The building is also equipped with rainwater harvesting system and fire fighting system. It is also PWD friendly and has fine landscaping and parking spaces. It has three elevators and has its own 220kVA GenSet.
With its goal of sustaining academic excellence, the building’s roof decks also provide ideal spaces for faculty and student researches to conduct their studies.
Alagao also revealed that by 2015, “the other wing shall be started.”
The project was funded by the CHED Disbursement Project (DAP) funds through the efforts of Pres. Muslim.
“One of our main justifications to CHED was that with the facility, our application for AUN-SEED Net membership shall be bolstered – we even became [a] member even before it is completed. Another justification was our Washington Accord accreditation, and is currently a work in progress. We also promised to increase our research outputs through publications, which COE is currently doing right now,” Alagao further explained.
Ancog, the Technical Project Leader, referred to the building as “a legacy.” The endeavor was genuine service for MSU-IIT.
“It’s my honor to welcome you all to this new building of MSU-IIT,” he gestured to everyone present.
Pres. Muslim for his part urged everyone to be grateful for all these talented and skilled individuals who have devoted much time in the realization of such dream.
“We should thank people who show leadership, commitment, and generosity,” he said.
He added that “Iligan [referring to the Institute] is the principal jewel when it comes to Science and Technology. This building is your building. You deserve this.”
The laying of a time capsule led by Pres. Muslim, Institute Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol, Atty. Donasco, and Prof. Ancog was also done as part of the event. The capsule, which contained messages from the present Engineering family, is a legacy to future engineering students. It will be opened 37 years from now or during the 75th anniversary of the College.
Alexander O. Mosqueda, Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology (DChE&T) was a recipient of a month-long, Short Term Research in Japan Program (SRJP) of the ASEAN University Network/ Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN/SEED-Net) held at the Interdisciplinary Graduate School for Science and Technology of Tokyo Institute of Technology (TIT) from October 17 – November 15, 2014.
His funded research was conducted at the TIT’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology. The research work entitled, “Hydrothermal Treatment of Municipal Solid Waste and Biomass” used a reactor for the hydrothermal treatment of municipal wastes.
Mosqueda had Professor Kunwo Yoshikawa as his host mentor.
Aside from the laboratory and equipment experience, he was also able to defend his previous study entitled, “Synthesis of Clay-based Ceramic Carbon Composite” during a SRJP seminar.
The SRJP Program of the AUN/SEED-Net selects thirty (30) qualified individuals from the ASEAN countries that fund their researches of choice at least once a year.
Earlier this year, ASEAN Engineer and DChE&T Prof. Eulalio Creencia also participated in a SRJP. He conducted a study on Gasification under the same host school and professor.
Mosqueda, when asked to share his experiences during the SRJP said that the culture and approach of research is commendable for researchers do it by groups, but every researcher has a separate individual focus on product and analysis. Researchers also have regular seminars at least twice a month, for the reports of their studies in progress, he added.
He also said that he appreciated the freedom given to grantees to do their work and it was clear that the mentors would see to it that the grantees would spend at least eight hours in the laboratory daily.
The SEED-Net Project was officially established as an autonomous sub-network of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) in April 2001.
The AUN/SEED-Net aimed at promoting human resources development in engineering in the ASEAN. As of today, the Network consists of 26 leading Member Institutions selected by the Ministries in charge of higher education of respective countries from 10 ASEAN countries with the support of 14 leading Japanese Supporting Universities.
AUN/SEED-Net is mainly supported by the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and is partially supported by the ASEAN Foundation. MSU-IIT is one of the youngest members of the said network.
Mosqueda with his host mentor, Prof. Kunwo Yoshikawa.
Five faculty members and three 5th year Chemical Engineering students of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology (DChE&T) of the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) presented papers during the 7th ASEAN Environmental Engineering Conference (AEEC) held at Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines, Nov. 21-22, 2014.
This regional conference was an annual venue for networking among experts in the ASEAN in solving regional problems.
The conference was funded by the AUN/SEED-Net was likewise an opportunity for participants to discuss future collaborations and activities related to various engineering disciplines.
It aimed to maximize the outreach of the AUN/SEED-Net for stronger impact by involving external participants, including representatives from government, industry, community, non-member institutions, and other professional organizations.
Hosted by the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) and with the theme “How Can Communities Be Ready for Disasters?: The Role of Environmental Engineering in Community Preparedness, Immediate Response and Environmental Sustainability,” the two-day conference included a keynote lecture and technical sessions on “Wastewater Treatment and Water Pollution”; “Solid and Hazardous Waste Management”; “Green and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems and Environmental Systems”; “Water Quality and Management”; “GeoEnvironment, Soil Pollution and Remediation”; “Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Climate Change and Engineering Education”; and, on “Environmental Systems”.
International experts from Japan, the Netherlands and from the Philippines gave messages and shared their knowledge and experiences on disaster preparedness and mitigation, including experts from Japan, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
The 7th AEEC was participated in by various Philippine universities and member institutions of the AUN/SEED-Net including MSU-IIT.
This year, the DChE&T presented eight (8) research studies. These researches and their authors/presenters were: “Effect of N/P Molar Ratio on Struvite Seeded Map Crystallization in a Fluidized Bed by Engr. Ralf Ruffel M. Abarca; “2k Factorial Design for the Determination of Significant Parameters in Acidolysis of Polyfurfuryl Alcohol Resin” by Engr. Ronald P. Bual; “Monitoring and Profiling of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining at Rogongon, Iligan City: Effects on the Physico-Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Surface Water and Mercury Concentration in Sediments of Mandulog River System” by Prof.Dr. Ma. Sheila K. Ramos; “Eco-friendly Method of Preparing Clay-Based Ceramic/Carbon Composite” by Prof. Alexander O. Mosqueda; “Synthesis of Furfural from Coconut Shells and Husk” by Engr. Rodel D. Guerrero; “Optimization of Alkali-catalysed Biodiesel Production from Used Cooking Oil Through Transesterification and Ozone Technology Under Response Surface Methodology” by Mr. Brian B. Pugate; “Optimization of Furfural Synthesis Using Coconut Shells via Acid Hydrolysis” by Ms. Kimberly Julve; and, “Phosphate Removal from Synthetic Swine Wastewater by Fluidized Bed Struvite Crystallization: Influence of Upflow Velocity” by Mr. Remegio S. Pusta, Jr.
Aside from the paper presenters, the MSU-IIT delegation for the AEEC 2014 also included 5th year Chemical Engineering students: Ms. Juliet Fernandez, Ms. Ellaine Llanos, Ms. Frances Nicole Dumas and Ms. Cherry Mae Bala.
AEEC 2014 was in partnership with the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) and University of the Philippines-Diliman. – Contributed news for OC-OPI
At the Banquet: From top to bottom: Some of the DChE&T faculty and students who participated in the AEEC 2014; Prof. Dr. Ma. Sheila K.Ramos with Dr. Annaliza P. Rollon of the Dept. of Chemical Engineering of UP-Diliman; and Engr. Bual and Ms. Dumas and the other MSU-IIT participants during the conference’s banquet dinner at Hotel Centro.
Mosqueda with his host mentor, Prof. Kunwo Yoshikawa.
At the Banquet: