Mapúa University's fourth year Chemical Engineering students Alan Mark A. Bundoc and Mark Vincent E. Manansala emerged victorious in the Scientific Research Category of the 12th Annual Research Awards (ARAW) held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) last March 8.

Out of 122 entries from 22 universities in the Philippines, the study “Power Output Enhancement of Plant Microbial Fuel Cell through Stacking and Compartmentalization” of Bundoc and Manansala was adjudged Best Scientific Research of the Year after a series of screenings and the final presentation. The team was advised by Engr. Kristopher Ray S. Pamintuan of Mapúa’s School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences.

ARAW is an annual research competition for college students co-organized by PUP, the Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) and the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). This year’s theme is “Pagpapayabong ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan.”

In photo: The team from Mapúa University’s School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences receiving a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of P15,000.00 during the awarding ceremony of the 12th Annual Research Awards (ARAW) for winning first place in the Scientific Research Category.