BPI, DOST Award Young Scientists with Grants, Scholarships

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presented the Best Project of the Year Award to Christian John S. Capirig of Ateneo de Davao at the 2015 BPI-DOST Science Awards, held at The Mind Museum, Taguig last March 12, 2015.

His project entitled: In Vitro Evaluation of Selected Bacteria Against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4, was chosen unanimously as the winner for its potential to protect our vital banana industry from getting wiped out by this fungal disease.

Coming in second was Raiza Elmira S. Imperial of U.P. Dilliman for her project: One-Step Fabrication of Superhydrophobic/ Superole0philic Electrodeposited Polythiophene for Oil and Water Separation, for its possible use in mitigating the effects of oil spills on the marine environment.

Alron Jan F. Lam of Del La Salle University placed third for his project: Breadcrumb: An Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Mobile Devices, which could enable users to have access to indoor positioning systems, much like the GPS yet for commercial spaces.

The BPI-DOST Science Awards encourages promising young students to reach higher levels of excellence in these specialized fields: mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering, computer science and biology.

The science competition enables a new generation of leaders and innovators to address competitive issues in science, research and technology development and challenges them to create lasting impacts in society.

Now on its 26th year, the BPI-DOST Science Awards has recognized over 700 outstanding science awardees from its partner universities nation-wide: Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Davao University, De La Salle University, Saint Louis University, Silliman University, University of the Philippines Diliman, University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas and Xavier University.
“BPI Foundation supports this program to encourage and recognize promising university students on the pursuit of their scientific research.

BPI-DOST Science Awards Finalists (L-R) are 2nd placer Raiza Elmira S. Imperial of U.P. Diliman, Best Project of the Year Awardee Christian John S. Capirig of Ateneo de Davao,
and 3rd placer Alron Jan F. Lam of De La Salle University.

Throughout its history of 164 years, BPI sees its role in the economic development of our nation. Through advocacies and programs like the BPI-DOST Science Awards, we commit to the development of scientific research as a means to forward economic development for a better and more prosperous Philippines,” BPI Foundation Executive Director Fidelina A. Corcuera expressed at the Panel Presentation of the finalists last March 11, 2015.

The Best Project of the Year grand winner, Christian John S. Capirig, received PhP50,000 and a scholarship grant from DOST, the first runner up, Raiza Elmira S. Imperial received PhP30,000, and the second runner-up, Alron Jan F. Lam got PhP10,000. In addition, all of the 29 science awardees, including the Best Project of the Year winners, will receive PhP25,000 and a plaque of recognition.

Three exceptional students are selected per partner institution every year. An awardee is selected on the basis of his academic performance and must be nominated by the school.

BPI Foundation will be holding awarding ceremonies at the campuses of its partner universities in the months of March and April 2015 for the awardees to be locally recognized for their achievements and contributions to nation-building.

Presentation of the Top 8 Finalists
March 11, 2015
1851 Club, BPI Head Office, Makati

Best Project of the Year Awarding Ceremony
March 12, 2015
Special Exhibition Hall, Mind Museum, Taguig

List of Participants:

Project Title: Breadcrumb: An Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Mobile Devices
Name: Alron Jan F. Lam
School: De La Salle University
Course: BS Computer Science with Specialization in Software Technology

Project Title: In Vitro Evaluation of Selected Bacteria Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4
Name: Christian John S. Capirig
School: Ateneo de Davao University
Course: Bachelor of Science in Biology

Project Title: GLYCEROL-MODIFIED POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE): AN APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE HYDROPHILICITY OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE)
Name: James Nicolas M. Pagaduan
School: Ateneo de Manila University
Course: BS Chemistry / BS Materials Science and Engineering

Project Title: MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF A MAGNETOTACTIC BACTERIAL ISOLATE
Name: Ma. Celina L. Guillermo
School: Ateneo de Manila University
Course: BS Life Sciences

Project Title: QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT IN A LOW-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING STATE
Name: Xavier M. Puspus
School: National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman
Course: Bachelor in Science in Applied Physics

Project Title: ONE-STEP FABRICATION OF SUPERHYDROPHOBIC/ SUPEROLEPHILIC ELECTRODEPOSITED POLYTHIOPHENE FOR OIL AND WATER SEPARATION
Name: Raiza Elmira S. Imperial
School: University of the Philippines – Diliman
Course: BS Chemistry

Project Title: Design and Implementation of UHF Bi-Directional Amplifier for WiFi Over TV White Space
Name: Steven Matthew C. Cheng
School: University of the Philippines, Diliman
Course: B.S. Electronics and Communications Engineering

Project Title: FUNCTIONALIZATION OF RAFFIA WITH CARBON BLACK AND SELF DISPERSIBLE CARBON BLACK FOR SUPERCAPACITOR ELECTRODE MATERIAL: FLEXIBLE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE
Name: Ina Andreia O. Mauleon
School: University of Santo Tomas
Course: BS Chemistry

Panel of Judges:

1. Dr. Julius Basilla, Department of Mathematics, University of the Philippines
2. Dr. Eric B. Punzalan, Chemistry Department, De La Salle University
3. Mr. Martin Gomez, Worldwide Communications Leader, IBM
4. Dr. Mark Pierre Dimamay, Co-Director for Basic Science Research, Research and Biotechnology Division of St. Luke’s Medical Center
5. Mr. Tomas S. Chuidian, Head of BPI Private Banking
6. Mr. Reginaldo Anthony B. Cariaso, Head of BPI Corporate Finance and Equity Capital Markets