L-R:  Frances M Gumapon, Jun Rangie Obispo and Franz Daryl Magriña

Three XU students were bestowed the prestigious BPI-DOST Science Award during a ceremony held at the AVR 1 on Feb 16. Frances M Gumapon, BS Biology, Franz Daryl Magriña, BS Electronics Engineering, and Jun Rangie Obispo, BS Computer Studies, were recognized for their excellence in the field of research.

Gumapon’s study titled “Microbial Load Gradient of the Ambient Air in the Landfill Site in Zayas, Carmen” computed the amount of bacteria present in the ambient air of the landfill in Zayas toward the residential areas, and identified the bacteria to the genus level.

Magriña’s research, “An Experimental Study of Coconut Husk as an Alternative Sound Absorbing Acoustic Material,” proved the effectiveness of coconut husks as an alternative to commercial acoustic materials.

Obispo’s thesis on “Ontology Layer for the Distributed Registry of Children with Special Needs” harnesses the use of artificial intelligence in helping health care professionals retrieve relevant information on special-needs children.
Gumapon, Magriña and Obispo are the 22nd batch of awardees from XU since the Awards inception in 1989. They will each receive a plaque of recognition, a BPI Express Teller card for their cash prize of P25,000 and an offer to join BPI as a junior officer.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Gumapon said that the ceremony was not just about receiving an award but also about taking part and paying forward. “The reason for the endless hours in the lab is the value of our study, “she said recognizing the contribution of their researches in advancing national development. She added that she is grateful “for the opportunity to contribute.”

XU President Fr Roberto Yap, SJ iterated the role of science and technology in helping manage disaster risks in relation to the calamity caused by Typhoon Sendong two months ago. “We do this work not for our own sake but so we can serve others.” He said he hopes that the awardees will pursue a scientific career and use “science for building our city, our country, our region.”

The BPI-DOST Science Awards recognizes the contributions of budding scientists and researches to nation-building.

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