DR. VIRGILIO Julius P. Manzano Jr., assistant professor of agricultural engineering, was named director of the Ilocos Norte Science Community (INSC) in a memorandum issued recently by Dr. Miriam E. Pascua, MMSU president and INSC Governing Board chair.

Manzano is a 1994 magna cum laude graduate of the university who landed top eight in the Licensure Examination for Agricultural Engineers given in September 1994.

He went to Pampanga Agricultural College in Magalang, Pampanga in June 1995 to serve as instructor.  While there, he was sent to the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation for his master’s in agricultural engineering which he finished in 1998. 

After two years, he went to UPLB to pursue a doctor’s degree in the same field where he majored in land and water resources and minored in agrometeorology and farm machinery.  He was on a SEAMEO-SEARCA scholarship, an international competitive scholarship.

He came to serve his alma mater in June 2005 and became chairman of the department of agricultural engineering at the same time in-charge of the Integrated Experiment Station for DA agencies at MMSU.  He is also leader of three studies on resource assessment in optimizing rice-based production in intensive and diversified rainfed lowlands in Ilocos Norte.

At present, he is national president of the Philippine Society for the Study of Nature, executive director of the SEARCA Fellows Association of the Philippines, and member of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society for Agriculture and the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers. He was one time vice president for Luzon of the Association of Agricultural Engineering Department Chairmen in the Philippines.

Manzano has attended a number of national and international trainings, conferences, and symposia mostly related to his field of specialization.

With his new post, he leads coordinators of 15 academic, S&T, local government, health, training, and research agencies aimed at accelerating economic development through an intensive advocacy of S&T in the province.

Meanwhile, INSC will be celebrating its 11th anniversary on July 30-Aug. 1. Running with the theme, “Science, Technology, and Innovation for Progress”, the celebration will be graced by Dr. Graciano P. Yumul Jr., DOST undersecretary, who will serve as guest of honor and speaker.

The anniversary celebration will be highlighted by plenary sessions in science, technology, and innovations in information technology, engineering, medical sciences, academia-industry partnership; e-learning; and harnessing the power of e-science.  There will also be workshops on computer use and internet navigation.