Academician Professor Emeritus Fortunato B. Sevilla III, PhD and Professor Christina A. Binag, PhD were elected to a three-year term (2025-2028), while Department of Chemistry Chair Alan Rodelle M. Salcedo, PhD was elected to a two-year term (2025-2027). Finally, Assoc. Prof. Felicidad Christina Peñafiel, PhD was elected to a one-year term (2025-2026).

The Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (Chemical Society of the Philippines) is an 85-year-old society of chemists. It publishes scholarly articles in Kimika and regularly hosts conferences and scientific activities.

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Salcedo’s work, based on papers co-authored with Academician Professor Emeritus Fortunato B. Sevilla III, PhD and published in Instrumentation Science and Technology and Acta Manilana, was a response to the need for ways to detect atmospheric pollutants of concern in the environment. Using digital imaging analysis, the parameters included the color values, polymer reagent binder, amount of Cul, exposure time, and Hg⁰ concentration.

With the theme “Establishment of Sustainable Technological Solution for Industry and Society”, the two-day conference gathered academics, researchers, scholars, and industry practitioners from around the world to share and discuss recent advances in sustainable science, technology, and innovation. The four Innovative Tracks of the conference – Innovative Life Science and Smart Materials (iLS), Innovative Advanced Production and Industrial Engineering (iAP), Innovative Sharing Economy and Sustainable Science (iSE), and Innovative Education Science and Quality Assurance (iES) – guided the discourse, encapsulating a wide array of topics and scopes within the realm of sustainable development.

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The workshop focused on the application of smartphones in chemical measurement.  Salcedo and Galiga demonstrated the utilization of smartphone camera to measure color changes, allowing for more accessible and cost-effective analytical measurements.

The workshop attracted the interest of a number of participants from different parts of the country. The participants were shown the potential of smartphone-based colorimetry, particularly in areas where access to traditional laboratory equipment may be limited. The workshop also underscored the importance of creativity in chemistry and the potential for technological advancements to advance the discipline.

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The team, who is part of the Sensors research interest group of the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, published the work in Acta Manilana, the official journal of the RCNAS. According to the abstract, the “glutathione-capped gold nanoparticles (GSH-AuNPs) were prepared by chemical reduction of HAuCl4 using glutathione (GSH) as the capping agent and NaBH4 as the reducing agent. GSH-AuNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pH value of the synthesized GSH-AuNPs solution was also measured to be 7.20. A colorimetric method for Cd2+ was developed based on the aggregation of GSH-AuNPs induced by its interaction with Cd2+, which is also exhibited as a red to blue color change.”

The detection method showed “good analytical performance such as low cost, sensitivity, rapidity, and visual detection.” The team concluded that “the GSH-AuNPs-based method described here demonstrates potential application for the detection of Cd2+ in actual water sample for assessment and monitoring purpose.”

The paper can be accessed here:  

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The multi-sectoral project aims to engage university students in helping uplift the country’s smallholder farmers, particularly by engaging the former in community extension work that uses Design Thinking and Social Innovation Methodologies.

The outputs for the project will be at least 30 students engaged in the initiatives; four faculty members certified as LeX facilitators; at least three innovations developed for the FEP beneficiary groups; and the implementation of a school-wide agriculture advocacy project.

As an initial step, University faculty members were trained in Singapore Polytechnic from October 1-4, 2019, on the module “Learning Express Foundation Training on Design Thinking.” Representing the University were (Assistant Manager of the TOMASInno Center and Lead Coordinator of the project) and LeX_FEP facilitators (); Asst. Prof. Nancy C. Bartolome, PhD (); (); Ms. Propa-Joy R. Santor (); and Mr. Patrick Joseph C. Amulong (Coordinator of the TOMASInno Center).

UST is joined by the University of San Carlos (Cebu) for the project. On UST’s part, the FEP partner communities and their respective commodities are: 1) Pangil, Laguna (kangkong); 2) San Antonio, Quezon (hot peppers); and Magallanes, Cavite (green bell peppers). The local implementing partners are Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. for Laguna, and the local government units of San Antonio and Magallanes.

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