MMSU studes pitch sustainable project innovations

Students from various laboratories and colleges of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) presented a project during the pitching competition in line with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), at the Teatro Ilocandia on January 30.

The event was organized to promote a culture of entrepreneurship, creativity, and sustainability among the student body and was participated by seven teams, consisting of six (6) members with each one for the team leader, four members, one technical assistant, and one official coach.

The competition featured a diverse range of projects that focused on four essential components: empathise, define, ideate, and prototype.

Some of the projects that were presented were a mobile app for managing agricultural resources sustainably, a sustainable housing design, a device for monitoring water quality and preserving it, I Seek Mobile, Green Minded Garbage Bin (G.M.G.B). Stallions Store, etc.

The panel, composed of industry experts, faculty members, and sustainability experts, evaluated the presentations based on project feasibility, originality, impact, and sustainability.

The said competition consists of four rounds and each team will present one project per level: The elimination round will focus on the impact ranking; Quarter Finals focusing UI Green Metrics World University Ranking Projects; Semi-finals focus on the World University with Real Impact; while the focus on the finals was QS Stars Ranking System - Advanced Criteria.

Indigenous Food

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The launch of the Consortium was marked by a ceremonial signing ceremony wherein a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the project entitled Advancing Ilocos Indigenous Food Product, Food Systems through Academic-Industry Collaborative Research Innovation Toward Nutrition and Food Securities under the Leading the Advancement of Knowledge in Agriculture and Sciences (LAKAS) program was signed by the representatives of partner industries, universities and organizations.

Among the signees in the said MOA were the following, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

Chairperson Hon. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, MMSU President, Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis,

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)

President Dr. Jaime I. Manuel Jr., Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC) President Dr. GIlbert R. Arce, the Founder of the BAURTEK Corporation Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez and the Professor for Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology in Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand Dr. Anil K. Anal with the presence of the Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

She also highlighted in her speech that the goal of the program is to contribute in the reduction of malnutrition rate, help promote food security by harnessing the full potential of probiotics from the rich indigenous food products unique in the Ilocos Region through Academia-Industry collaboration and modernized degree programs in the field of Food Science, Pharmacy, and Food Technology.

The launch of the consortium is a part of MMSU’s commitment to support the local communities and to promote the sustainable development of the region. The university plans to continue working with its partners to promote the traditional indigenous foods of the Ilocos region and to improve livelihoods of local communities.

MMSU’s launching of the IFRC and signing the MOA agreement is a step in the right direction towards preserving food heritage and supporting sustainable development in the region.

MMSU studes clash in olympicstyle fishing competition

by Ivy Guanzon

Equipped with their proficient fishing strategies, students from across colleges in Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) competed to win in the olympic-style fishing competition dubbed as the Olymfish held at the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT), January 20.

Participating colleges consisted of three participants and they were provided with the materials they needed in the activity by the organizers. The duration of the competition was one hour and 30 minutes and was divided into three rounds.

Each member of the group was given 30 minutes to show their fishing prowess and each round was conducted in different ponds. The scoring system was based on the number of fish caught regardless of the size and the winning team shall be determined by the total number of fish caught.

Two individual special awards will also be given to participants who caught the biggest fish and the fastest catcher among the participants.

The fishes caught by the participants were taken for free as a token for them for bravely competing in the activity.

The MMSU Olymfish competition was among the many activities of the University’s celebration of its 45th Foundation Anniversary. Results of the competition will be announced on January 30.