NBERIC Straight Direct Talk Season 3 tackles nuclear energy in PH
By Ian Paul Villanueva
Nuclear energy in the Philippine setting became the focus of Season 3 of the Straight Direct Talk of the National Bioenergy Research Innovation Center (NBERIC) held on July 23 at the MMSU Center for Flexible Learning.
Titled “Nuclear Energy as a Source of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy: Status and Prospects in the Philippine Setting,” the lecture session was led by Dr. Vallerie Ann Samson, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
Addressing the audience composed of engineering students from different departments, Dr. Samson said the PNRI has been actively promoting nuclear energy to many Philippine high school and college students. “It is not us who will be working on the first nuclear power plants, but it will be your generation that will be working and benefitting from nuclear energy in our country,” she remarked.
Dr. Samson’s lecture delved into the uses of nuclear energy in the country, including its history and potential as a reliable energy source, while the country transitions gradually into more renewable energy sources.
The lecture marked the sixth session of the Straight Direct Talk, slowly becoming one of NBERIC’s flagship activities. The center’s director, Dr. James Paul Madigal, in his welcome remarks, described the lecture series as a “meaningful venue for learning, dialogue, and collaboration.”
MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., expressed his appreciation to Dr. Samson and the event organizers before encouraging the student participants to “get the most out of the lecture by listening intently” and engaging actively with the resource speaker.
Dr. Manzano also bared the university’s hopes of offering a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering program in the future, as well as incorporating nuclear energy as special topics in mechanical and chemical engineering programs and in the MMSU Graduate School’s Professional Science Masters-Renewable Energy Engineering.
Following the talk, Dr. Samson held a discussion with Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal about the possibility of establishing a basic training course in nuclear energy technology for STEM teachers and learners. They also discussed the possible creation of a PNRI satellite radiation-monitoring system and a simulation laboratory at the university, which would help raise awareness of nuclear energy.
Jul, 24, 2026 10:12:am
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