Energy efficiency is one future direction researchers can pursue to address the increasingly power-hungry nature of today’s technology. This was a major point of the keynote address The Era of Beyond Moore’s Law that Sehat Sutardja, co-founder and board chair of Silicon Box and known for being co-founder of Marvell Technology Group Ltd., delivered at the second annual conference of the Center for Integrated Circuits and Devices Research (CIDR) of the UP Diliman (UPD) Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI). “If you look at the chips that we’re building in the last four to five years, it’s getting out of control. chips they used to consume like 110 watts, maybe 200 watts, now some consume kilowatts, and it’s projected to consume two or three, even 10 kilowatts of energy,” Sutardja said. Sutardja via a video call. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UP Diliman Information Office He added that companies nowadays are investing on solving the massive energy consumption brought by modern chips. “That’s a great opportunity to build a solution to provide these kilowatts of energy to big, modern chips. On one hand, it’s true, that’s an opportunity, but I would say that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You’re nibbling at the edges. There are even bigger opportunities, which is to solve the problem of this massive energy consumption that the modern chips have become. So this is what many companies are investing a lot in in the last four, five, six years,” Sutardja said. Held on Aug. 12 at the Novotel Araneta City, the CIDR conference showcased the latest updates on CIDR’s research and served as a venue to strengthen existing networks for integrated circuit (IC) design. According to EEEI Director Lew Andrew Tria, it is important to replicate and expand the network of institutions teaching IC to meet industry demand.  “Companies are really seeking talents, that’s why they are strongly supporting this kind of program,” he said. The conference brief states the CIDR is a three-year program by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) implemented by the EEEI in partnership with Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology. It aims to create an ecosystem of technology development to “produce and maintain a critical mass of graduate-level integrated circuit designers.” There are four component projects under the program: Energy-Efficient RF Device Operation. Project lectures were delivered in the afternoon of the conference as posters of some smaller projects were on display at the conference venue. Conference participants. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UP…

Two sets of ambassadors recently paid courtesy calls to UP Diliman (UPD) Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II. First to meet with Vistan was the internationally acclaimed UP Singing Ambassadors (UPSA)—one of UPD’s official choral performing groups based at the UPD College of Arts and Letters (CAL)—to personally invite him to their upcoming concert on Sept. 6. Members of UPSA shared that they will be staging a concert titled Crescendo: To a New Light, at the UPD School of Statistics Auditorium. They mentioned that they will also be holding concerts during the latter part of the year. The choral group serenaded the Chancellor as part of their courtesy visit. (From left) Bomfim, Alcantara, Laranjo, Peregrino, De Muora, Vistan, Capili, Agcaoili, and Mercado. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UP Diliman Information Office Thereafter, Gilberto Fonseca Guimarães de Muora, ambassador of Brazil to the Philippines met with Vistan at the UPD Office of the Chancellor (OC). De Muora with Juan Oliveira Bomfim, first secretary of the Embassy of Brazil in the Philippines, discussed the possible establishment of a Lectureship in Portuguese Language (LPL) at UPD. The LPL is a program of the Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They were accompanied to the OC by CAL officials and faculty members: Associate Dean for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jovy M. Peregrino, Chair Nina Rachel Agcaoili of the Department of European Languages (DEL), Racquel Joshebet Mercado, assistant professor at the DEL, and Ronel Laranjo, associate professor at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature. Vistan with UPSA and De Muora. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UP Diliman Information Office The Brazilian envoys were also serenaded by UPSA with their rendition of Michael Bolton’s Go the Distance (in Spanish) and the classic Filipino song, Dahil Sa Iyo. Also present at the courtesy call on Aug. 16 was Justin Noel R. Alcantara, international programs officer of the UPD Office of International Linkages.

The UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development (OASD) under the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor and nowheretogobutUP (NTGBUP) recently renewed their partnership with the STATS Technical Sportswear (STATS), a subsidiary of Januarius Holdings Inc. (JHI)—a long-time sponsor and supporter of the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT), through a memorandum of agreement (MOA). The MOA states, among others, that STATS will be the official outfitter of the UPMBT as well as other UP varsity teams at the Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). UP is the host university of the UAAP Season 87. The UPMBT with UP officials, NGTBUP members, and JHI Board of Directors. Photo by Jacelle Isha B. Bonus, UP Diliman Information Office STATS is a Filipino brand that manufactures high-performance technical sportswear specifically designed for tropical climate. Signing the MOA on Aug. 16 at the Executive House were OASD Director Dolreich Perasol, JHI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) JJ Atencio, NTGBUP Chair Jed M. Eva, and UPMBT Team Manager Agaton O. Uvero. Perasol said Atencio had been helping UPMBT even when he was still the team’s head coach. “This is our eighth season with Sir JJ,” said Perasol. “He has been our support during those hard times,” he added. Meanwhile, Edrin Jahdiel Panganiban, STATS CEO and head of the apparel design and development, said they developed a new fabric for their sportswear that is durable and soft. The aeroflex fabric, attached to the back of the jersey, absorbs more moisture. Panganiban designed the jersey himself. “And then there is this, our newly developed agile latch, ito iyong sa arm holes and neck holes nila. On these parts, kailangan na snug iyong fit ng jersey. Iyong sa likod at sa harap ng jersey, it floats, making them move better. I believe that when players feel good and look good, they play good, but when players feel great and look great, they play great,” Panganiban explained. Also present at the MOA signing were UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Executive Vice President Jose Fernando T. Alcantara, NTGBUP President Aruba Flores-Opida, Eva, Uvero, and other NTGBUP board members. (From left) Uvero, Atencio, Eva, and Perasol. Photo by Jacelle Isha B. Bonus, UP Diliman Information Office In a related development, the UAAP and Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation (Akari) signed a MOA to construct a state-of-the-art facility at the Bridgetown in Pasig City. The planned arena will have a 6,000-seating capacity and is targeted to be completed and operational for the UAAP Season 90. The MOA was signed by UAAP Executive Director Rene Saguisag Jr., UAAP Season 87 Chairman and UP President…