MUSEUM VISIT. L-R: XU Engineering Resource Center director Engr Dexter Lo, Xavier's resident artist JC Salon and Ms Earth England 2015 Katrina Kendall, pictured at Museo de Oro Monday, Feb 15. Photo by N Bagonoc.
Miss Earth England 2015 Katrina M Kendall visited Xavier University on Feb 15 as part of her environmental advocacy tour.
The Filipino-British beauty queen whose mother is a native of Cagayan de Oro went to see the Engineering Resource Center, Engineering laboratories and the McKeough Marine Center where she met with some faculty members to learn about some of Xavier’s initiatives in promoting a sustainable environment. She also stopped by the Museo de Oro.
“Part of my advocacy is a focus on education,” said Kendall who acknowledged the importance of research and development in advancing technologies for a greener environment.
She added that she chose Xavier because it is the alma mater of her mother, Floramae Manaya-Kendall.
“My mother and many of my family members studied here,” shared Kendall.
She considers Cagayan de Oro as her second home having visited the city many times when she was growing up.
Kendall’s interest in the environment goes way back before she was crowned Miss Earth England.
“As a child, I loved the outdoors,” she related. When she went to university, she decided to study chemistry. She did very well, earning a first class master’s degree in chemistry with specialization in environmental and sustainable chemistry from the University of Edinburgh.
Kendall’s interest lies in catalysis, green chemistry and inorganic chemistry. She has done research on greener mining techniques and hydrogen fuel as an alternative energy source.
The 26-year-old sees schools as having an important role in raising environmental awareness among the youth.
“People are very receptive to making changes,” she observed. “What is needed is to raise awareness on how they can make better choices, and schools are a great place to do that.”
She cited simple ways that each one can contribute to sustainability, such as not burning trash and reducing the use of plastics.
“We really need to support each other to make the right decisions,” she said.
Cagayan de Oro is the last stop of Kendall’s environmental awareness campaign tour. Prior to coming to the Philippines, she visited Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.