USC Engineering Students sweep 2007 BPI Science Awards

Eng'g studes sweep 2007 Science Awards

Three engineering students were presented the BPI–DOST Science Awards 2007 during ceremonies held at the CAFA Theater at Talamban Campus on February 16, 2007.

Ricarido C. Amistoso (B.S. Ch.E.), Brandon P. Briones (B.S. E.C.E.) and Mel Jairus B. Jabol (B.S. Ch.E.) received a trophy and a P25,000 cash prize from the Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation, Inc., sweeping this year’s awards for the College of Engineering.

The awardees (from left to right): Briones, Jabol, and Amistoso.

The awards, which started in 1989, “has recognized and given incentives to outstanding young men and women… (who) excel in specialized fields of mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry, biology and computer science.”

Since 2005, BPI has partnered with DOST to place an added emphasis on the research projects of students from 10 universities in the nation. Amistoso won this year with his research project, “Bioplastic formation by mixed culture feeding on cassava grate extract.” Briones, meanwhile, was honored for his project called “Microcontroller-based SMS-activated electronic message display board.” Finally, Jabol’s thesis investigated the “In situ production of coconut fatty acid methyl esters (cocobiodiesel) from copra flakes.”

The awardees pose with distinguished guests. From left to right: BPI VP Danilo L. Kimseng, DOST Senior Science Officer Engr. Ed Paradela, BPI SVP Senen L. Matoto, Jabol, Amistoso, Briones, Dean Buenconsejo, VPAA Fr. Teodoro P. Gapuz, SVD.

In his opening remarks, Dean of the College of Engineering Nicanor S. Buenconsejo Jr., Ph.D., summarized the three projects saying that he became “more proud that… these awards went to studies related to the environment, which is a very relevant and urgent societal problem.” Buenconsejo said the projects of Jabol and Amistoso are “highly commendable” because the biodiesel and bioplastic they are developing are “environmentally friendly and renewable.” While the third project does not exactly fall into the same category, Buenconsejo said that he was “even more proud” that Briones “developed a billboard system combining the cellular phone and billboard technologies.”

In his remarks of circumstance, BPI Senior Vice President Senen L. Matoto urged the awardees to “never falter to cultivate a positive outlook and expectation in making this country better.” He said the awards “constitute a triumph of the human spirit but success also constitutes sharing” in the realm of service to the Philippines. “Never be forced to compromise,” Matoto exhorted, “never let the chance pass to create your own legacy.”

Last year’s awards were swept by students from the College of Arts and Sciences, namely Dexter C. Inoc, Chariz Y. Peñalber, and Lelani A. Solera. This year’s best research project awards went to three students from Manila, namely Alexander Edward S. Dy (U.P. Diliman), Kevin Francis U. Ang (U.S.T.), and Paulo Isagani M. Urriza (U.P. Diliman). Dy, who won top honors, received a P50,000 cash incentive and a research grant from DOST worth P200,000.

Author: P. J. Lim
17 / February / 2007