To provide an avenue for faculty and staff to engage in competitive research paper presentations, MPSPC faculty members and students participated in the 9th Cordillera Consortium for Agriculture and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (CorCAARRD) – CIERDEC and 3rd Regional Student Research Congress held on October 3 at the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST), Lagangilang Campus, Lagangilang, Abra.
Ms. Julie P. Garsi presented her research study titled “Ethnobotany of Wild Edible Plants of Mountain Province, CAR” in the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (AANR) category. Mr. Jobel B. Gumabay and Mr. Rico C. Changitan, BS Education students of the Bontoc campus presented their research study titled “The Name of the Name: Onomastic Study of Bagnen’s Indigenous Names” in the Social or Education category for student congress. These students were accompanied by their adviser Dr. Willow F. Pangket.
This year, a total of 23 researchers presented under the oral category, while 20 posters were evaluated. Meanwhile, for the student category, seven studies were presented under the technical category while 11 studies were presented under the social category.
ASIST expressed that it was their first time to host a regional event, which according to them was a momentous experience. During the closing program, the participants expressed their impressions about the activity. In a general sense, the participants’ words demonstrated how the consortium fostered camaraderie among the participants from the various state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region and among faculty members and students. The activity was also instrumental in nurturing sense of oneness among Cordillerans who were there for a common cause.
“The conduct of the Regional Symposium had us the chance to gain invaluable experience and knowledge on different technologies presented by various agencies or institutions,” Mr. Gumabay said in an interview.
Although there was a noticeable increase in student researchers who signified their interest to conduct research studies and disseminate the results of these studies’ through various fora and presentations, it is undeniable that the number of faculty or staff who conduct research are declining. Cognizant of this reality, the R&D Unit under the VPRDE will continue to support the research undertakings of faculty, staff and students so that the bulk of quality research studies will also increase. The research management of the College also untiringly encourages students to engage in research and in student research fora in the local, national and international level which are actually provided in the research manual. These endeavours help promote a healthy research involvement among students to foster a research culture among students, which in turn could help advance their holistic development as students and graduates.
