Twenty-nine student research groups joined Tarlac State University's third Saliksiklaban, which was formally opened today (May 18) by the Office of Technology Development, Transfer, and Commercialization (OTDTC) at the College of Computer Studies AVR of the TSU San Isidro Campus.
This year's university-wide research competition for undergraduate students recorded the biggest number of participating teams since 2018.
OTDTC Director Dr. Wilmark J. Ramos shared that the Saliksiklaban is one of the university’s means to achieve its vision of becoming a globally competitive university recognized for excellence in sciences and emerging technologies.
“Saliksiklaban, as a platform, is a means to generate research projects through student-faculty partnerships that may be later protected by copyright through applications of utility models and patents. It is also possible that your projects may be used in our community through adoption, transfer, and commercialization,” he added.
In the same way, TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco gave a push to the student researchers that being knowledgeable in research could leverage them in their future endeavors.
“Nagsimula rin ako sa mga ganitong activities. Sa mga estudyante nating researchers, if you are planning to be in the academe and in any other offices, ito (research) ang naging bridge for me to attain my academic rank,” Pres. Velasco said.
On its first day, 22 papers under the ABLESS category were assessed by the board of judges, namely PHINMA Education Graduate Studies Dean of Deans Dr. Gladys M. Navarro, UP Diliman assistant professor Dr. Kristoffer Esquejo and YGOAL, Inc. Social Mission Head and PH -LEAD Vice President Mr. Joseph Navarro.
The participating groups are from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA), College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG), College of Sciences (COS), and College of Education (COEd).
Representatives of every group presented their papers alongside their posters and underwent an on-the-spot question and answer with the judges.
After the evaluation, Dr. Navarro motivated the student researchers to consider themselves not only as mere researchers but also as investors and creators of knowledge.
“We have to keep on moving forward. This is the challenge for us, students and researchers – we are not just researchers, we are to be developers and innovators. Gone are the days when we have to produce originally. Tapos na yun. That was industry 1.0. Yan 'yung mga discovery ng ilaw, discovery ng steam engine, at kung paano patakbuhin ang mga makinarya. Tapos na tayo sa panahong 'yun. Lahat ng ginagawa natin ngayon ay ini-innovate natin ang nagawa na ng science. And that is where we have to move forward from here on”, she said.
Tomorrow (May 19), seven groups under the STEM category will be evaluated by a different set of judges. Winner for both categories will also be awarded tomorrow.
