A team from MMSU College of Engineering (COE) composed of researchers and students bagged the best paper and poster awards at the close of the 4th Industry and Energy Research and Development Symposium and Competition held at MMSU Teatro Ilocandia last October 24-25.

Girlie P. dela Cruz and Engr. Emie Salamangkit-Mirasol won second place in the Best Poster Award for their study on the "Preparation and Evaluation of Sodium Silicate Solution for Rice Hull Char for Ceramic Slurries Application." Also, Engr. Andrew Doño landed second place for is poster on "Solid State Synthesis of Bulk Lithium Lanthanum Titanate Lithium Ion Conducting Solid Electrolyte."

On the other hand, Mirasol and the team of Engr. Thomas D. Ubiña both landed third in the Best Paper Award (professional category). Mirasol's study is about the "Extraction and Evaluation of Sodium Silicate Solution," while that of Ubiña's group is about the "Design and Testing of a Solar Pump Controller."

Moreover, Anessa M. dela Cruz and company landed third place in the Best Paper Award (student category) for their study on "Synthesis and Characterization of Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) using Ilocos Norte Soapstone and Magnesium Carbonate."

Some 20 posters and research papers were presented by the different state universities and colleges in Region I such as MMSU, University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in La Union in Bacnotan, La Union; Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College in Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur; Pangasinan State University in Lingayen, Pangasinan; and the Urdaneta City University.

Plenary sessions through presentation of three research papers that gained recognition from national and international conferences were also highlighted during the symposium aside from te best paper and poster competitions.

The symposium was conducted by the Ilocos Consortium of Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (ICIEERD) with a theme "Advancing Industrial Development through Science and Technology and Innovation."

ICIEERD is a regional agency of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research Development, which is one of the consortia supervised by the Department of Science and Technology. Composed of 21 member-agencies, ICIEERD is tasked to ensure the development of national competence in research and development strategic areas of industry, energy and emerging technology sectors in the region.

The two-day activity also served as venue in sharing ideas and selecting possible technologies that may benefit the local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region.