Over 130 ongoing and/or completed research from all seven UP Diliman (UPD) College of Engineering (COE) departments were presented to the public and stakeholders at the 2023 COE Professorial Chair Colloquium with the theme, Engineering Research and Development Towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Professorial chairs are grants awarded to faculty members by individuals or organizations and serve as incentives for the recipients to further excel in teaching and research.

According to the organizers, the colloquium aims to “disseminate research outputs of our faculty to a wider audience, solicit inputs and feedback from the industry, government agencies, and policymakers, and provide a venue to discuss related research from the different units of the college/university and to explore future interdisciplinary applications or policy implications.”

The research were grouped into eight categories: computers and information and communications technology; disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation; energy and power; environmental protection and preservation; health and well-being; sustainable (smart) cities and communities; waste and water; and responsible consumption and production.

Each category answers at least one of the 17 sustainable development goals set by the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that “provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and planet, now and in the future.”

Two of the research presented were by UPD officials.

Solid Waste Management Recommendations of Tourism Areas in the Islands of Batanes is a research by Augustus Resurreccion, PhD, the current director of the UPD Human Resources Development Office. He is a full professor of civil engineering at the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE).

Meanwhile, Plastic Waster Management in the Philippines: Situation and Recommendations is by COE Dean Maria Antonia Tanchuling.

UPD Chancellor Fidel R. Nemenzo was present at the colloquium to deliver his message in support of the colloquium participants.

The colloquium was co-presented by the UPD National Engineering Center (NEC) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. and was held from January 25 to 27 at the NEC.