Young Researcher from Ateneo de Manila University Meets 35 Nobel Laureates

63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting from 30 June to 5 July 2013
35 laureates and more than 600 young researchers from nearly 80 countries
Green Chemistry is a central topic

The first week of July will see 35 Nobel Laureates congregate at Lake Constance in Germany to meet the next generation of leading scientists and researchers at the 63rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. More than 600 young researchers from nearly 80 countries will be part of this special convention – among them Rene Angelo Macahig, a 32-year-old Assistant Professor from the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, who is looking forward to the scientific exchange in Lindau: “As a young scientist and a Filipino, it will be an immensely galvanizing experience to be able to participate in the Lindau Meeting, interact with some of the brightest minds in the world and be inspired by a generation of Nobel laureates who have pushed the frontiers of science and expanded our understanding of the universe.”

Continue reading→

KKP–DAS Holds Training on Measurement Uncertainty

On 21 May 2013, the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Division of Analytical Sciences (KKP-DAS) held a two-day training course on “Measurement Uncertainty in Analytical Chemistry: A Hands-on Approach” at the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation (PASAR) in Isabel, Leyte. This significant training course revisits the fundamental principles, evaluation strategies and the general prominence of measurement uncer-tainty in chemical analysis amid the changing landscape and demands of Analytical science.

Dr. Sevilla (back row, 2nd from right) and Dr. Coo (front row, 7th from right) with the seminar participants from PASAR.

The decision whether a given result indicates compliance or non-compliance with a specification, it is necessary to take into account the measurement uncertainty associated with the result. The training included hands-on experiences on the identification of sources and spread-sheet calculation of uncertainty in chemistry measurements. The training team was led by Dr. Fortunato Sevilla III of the University of Santo Tomas and Dr. Lilibeth Coo of the University of the Philippines. The seminar includes a discussion and general recommendations, followed by more detailed instructions on establishing rules for interpretation and by several examples.

Participants came from various segments within PASAR to include its laboratory managers, supervisors, analysts and technicians. Participant worked on exercises on the quantification of measurement uncertainty, using in-house chemical analysis data. Measurement uncertainty has become an important parameter for the global quality and acceptability of the results of chemical measurements. It is used as the basis for decision on the fitness for purpose of the results of chemical analysis. It is a requirement in the documentation of measurement data in ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. This training course was a sequel to the previous workshop that KKP-DAS conducted for PASAR on “Quality Measurements in the Analytical Laboratory” held last December 2012.

Participants from PASAR doing exercises on measurement uncertainty.

2013 PFCS Lifetime Achievement Award

Elma C. Llaguno, Ph.D. (1947-2012)

Dr. Elma Llaguno is best known among her students as the quintessential physical chemistry professor who demanded accuracy and elegance in computations and experiments. To her peers and to the Philippine chemistry community, Elma is the gentle yet effective leader who bridged the interests of the older and younger generations of Philippine chemists.

Elma’s contributions to the Philippine chemistry community started immediately after her arrival from her graduate studies at the University of Illinois in 1974 as part of the “dynamic duo” with another physical chemist, Dr. Claro T. Lllaguno. They started their careers at De La Salle University, and later moved on to the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Elma and Claro Llaguno had fruitful teaching, research and administrative careers in both institutions.

Continue reading→

2013 PFCS Award for Service to the Chemistry Profession

Alumanda M. Dela Rosa, Ph.D.

Dr. Alumanda M. Dela Rosa joined the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), presently the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in September 1968 after graduation from the College of the Holy Spirit with a B.S. in Chemistry. She rose from the ranks, starting as a Nuclear Research Assistant, a Nuclear Research Specialist, Division Chief, Career Scientist IV, and Director IV of the PNRI. Her PhD dissertation at the University of Hawaii which started her scientific career dealt with the effects of high energy radiation on the transport systems of biological membranes, one of the few studies then on the radiation effects in biomembranes.

Continue reading→

2013 PFCS Award for Chemistry Research

Gisela P. Concepcion, Ph.D.

As a National Science Development Board scholar from 1971-1975, Dr. Gisela P. Concepsion finished B.S.Chemistry (Cum laude) in 1975 from the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) and became a licensed chemist in 1976 (second place). She obtained her M. S. Biochemistry at the University of the Philippines –Manila in 1982 and, Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines – Diliman in 1995 receiving the Dean’s medallion as the most outstanding PhD graduate.

Continue reading→

2013 PFCS Award for Chemistry Education

Marlene B. Ferido, Ph.D.

Dr. Marlene Ferido has specialized in multiple fields of Chemistry. She finished her BS Chemistry degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman, MS Agricultural Chemistry from University of the Philippines Los Baños and a Ph.D. Science Education (with specialization in Chemistry) at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is currently the Science Education Specialist V (SG24-3) and the Chair of the Chemistry Group at National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED), University of the Philippines. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of NISMED She has spearheaded a number of research studies about the country’s current education system and has selflessly shared her knowledge with fellow teachers as resource person, reviewer, trainer and lecturer in various national and international programs such as National Training of Trainers for Grade 7 Science Teacher in preparation for the DepEd K-12 Program, Program for Scholars in Residence of the University of Education, Pakistan.

Continue reading→

2014 PFCS Award for Chemistry Education

Merle C. Tan, Ph.D.

Dr. Merle C. Tan served three terms as the Director of the University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development from 2002 to 2011. Through her leadership, UP NISMED was recognized for its consistent demonstration of quality performance that generated nationwide impact and public interest in science education. The activities undertaken by UP NISMED during her term made UP more visible across the country.

Continue reading→

2014 PFCS Award for Chemical Research

Erwin P. Enriquez, Ph.D.

Dr. Erwin P. Enriquez was a 1995 Balik-Scientist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) joining the Department of Chemistry of the Ateneo de Manila University at a time when a polymer laboratory was being set up there under the DOST-Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP). He was coming from a postdoctoral stint at the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He completed his Ph. D. in Physical, Polymer Chemistry (1993) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill working on designer surfaces using self-assembled alpha-helical polypeptides. His undergraduate degree in Chemistry (cum laude) was from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños with recognition from the KKP-LB Chapter as an outstanding chemistry graduate in 1987; in the same year, he also topped the Philippine Chemistry Licensure examinations. He has served as Chair of the Chemistry Department of the Ateneo, was a former Associate Dean for Research and Creative Work, and presently, Program Director for an interdisciplinary honors B. S. program (which he co-proposed) at the Ateneo: a five-year Materials Science and Engineering double-degree program (with B. S. Chemistry or B. S. Physics). He also served as resource for Physical Chemistry for the CHED-TC in Chemistry, and presently also serves as member of the Technical Panel for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials of the DOST, and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC). He has visited various laboratories abroad as research fellow or visiting research scholar: Sophia University (Tokyo, Japan), University of Pusan (Korea), University of California-Berkeley (USA), Heidelberg University (Germany), and University of Paris Sud 11 (France).

Continue reading→

2014 PFCS Award for Chemical Industry

Philippine Alliance of Laboratory Equipment Users (PALEU)

Users of scientific laboratory instruments/equipment share the common problem of maintaining and maximally using their units. This is because of inadequate training of both instrument users and suppliers’ service technicians/engineers, high costs of instrument repair and maintenance, as well as insufficient information to compare equipment models and service performance of suppliers/dealers.

In order to address these root causes of the problem, a group of instrument users (from chemical, biological, and medical laboratories, in the government, industry, and academia) agreed to form themselves into a SEC-registered organization.

On August 22, 1986, the Philippine Association of Laboratory Instrument Users (PALIU) was formally organized. The first set of officers included: Atty. Fidelino A. Adriano, Aida R. Aguinaldo,. Carlito R. Barril, Elinor F. Buccat, Ruby R. Castro, Myrna I. Consolacion, Dr. Augusto L. Lingao, Dr. Ernesto S. Luis, Dr. Antonio M. Ostrea, Manuel A. Yatco and Whitman L. Uy-Matiao. These founding members were inducted into office by the then Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr. Antonio V. Arizabal. In 2010, the organization was renamed the Philippine Alliance of Laboratory Equipment Users (PALEU).

Continue reading→

Call for Nomination in the ICP Board

Nominations for membership in the ICP board are now open. Three board members, one representative each from the industry, government and academe will be elected to serve a three-year term (2013-2016). Members of the board are expected to reguarly attend meetings of the ICP and actively participate in the activities geared towards achieving the objectives of the ICP as follows.

Continue reading→