Assistant Professor DJ Darwin Bandoy of the UP Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine receiving his award. Photo provided by Prof. Bandoy.
Two professors from the University of the Philippines won the top two spots in the Final Pitch Session of the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship with the UK Royal Academy of Engineering held in March in London.
The panel of judges awarded first place to Assistant Professor DJ Darwin Bandoy of the UP Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine, for his research on quorum sensing inhibitors for veterinary application. Second place went to Dr. Chelo Pascua, associate professor of Geology in UP Baguio, for his research on water filtration technology.
According to Dr.Bandoy, “the panel of judges for the pitch were composed of UK’s top engineers in the Royal Academy of Engineering as well as tutors of Oxford Innovation from Oxford University.”
“This validates UP’s position in leading innovative research that is responsive to the needs of the nation,” added Dr. Bandoy.
Associate Professor Chelo Pascua. Photo from Mindanao Cluster, Phil-LiDAR1 website.
Bandoy and Pascua were among the 15 Leaders in Innovation Fellows with the UK Royal Academy of Engineering awarded earlier on February 7 under the Newton Agham program of the British government together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Asian Institute of Management. This program aims to co-develop and implement programs that strengthen science and innovation capacity and create solutions to development challenges in the country.
Both UP professors have been conducting research on developing technologies and inventions that aim to address national concerns, such as antimicrobial resistance and clean water. Dr. Bandoy’s researches cover: antibiotic drug residue; viral and bacterial diseases of swine; and, effects of medicinal plants on bacteria and biofilms. Dr. Pascua’s researches and publications revolve around: materials synthesis; mineralogy; environmental materials applications; geohazards; carbon capture and storage; natural analogues; mineral-water interactions geochemistry; and, groundwater contamination.
