By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Dr. Evelyn Grace Ayson (left), CPU President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy (second from the left), Dr. Le Ngoc Long (third from the left), Dr. Huynh Van Hiep (third from the right), Engr. Mary Earl Daryl Grio (second from the right), and VPAA Dr. Irving Domingo L. Rio (right) pose for a picture in the BOT Conference Room.
Central Philippine University warmly welcomed two distinguished researchers from Tra Vinh University on September 1, 2024, marking the beginning of an international research collaboration between the two institutions.
The visiting team, Dr. Huynh Van Hiep, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, and Chemical Engineer Dr. Le Ngoc Long, were greeted by Dr. Irving Rio, CPU Vice President for Academic Affairs; Engr. Mary Earl Daryl Grio, Dean of the CPU-College of Engineering; Engr. John Lawrence Tuala, a faculty member of the Civil Engineering Department; and Prof. Lesley Joy Larroza Dignadice, the newly appointed LILAC Acting Director, upon their arrival at Iloilo Airport on the same date.
They will be spending a month at CPU, where their presence is anticipated to lead to the generation of more research proposals. Additionally, they will conduct seminars on their latest research and deliver lectures, which are expected to stimulate interest and discussion among students and the community. Currently, both institutions have 21 ongoing collaborative research projects.
Dr. Le Ngoc Long is collaborating with Dr. Shiela Pingul-Ong, a faculty member of the Department of Chemical Engineering, on their project titled “Fabrication of MoS2-based Composite Membranes for Sustainable Water Desalination: Fabrication, Performance Testing, and Environmental Impact Assessment.” Their study aims to optimize the fabrication process of MoS2 membranes for water desalination using the hydrothermal method, with the goal of achieving scalable production and enhanced performance characteristics.
On the other hand, Dr. Huynh Van Hiep is working with Engr. Mary Earl Daryl Grio, Dean of the CPU-College of Engineering, and Engr. John Lawrence Tuala, a faculty member of the Civil Engineering Department, on their study titled “Comparative Wind Tunnel Analysis of Vietnamese and Philippine Roof Designs.” Their project aims to compare the aerodynamic performance and structural resilience of Vietnamese and Philippine roof designs under various wind conditions using wind tunnel testing, to identify which design offers better resistance to strong winds and improve building safety standards in both countries.
CPU’s initiative to foster international collaborations is building bridges between cultures and establishing a global network of innovation. Both institutions eagerly anticipate the exciting possibilities and contributions that lie ahead.