Ecija HS students develop earthquake sensing device
CABANATUAN CITY – Laboratory high school students at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) developed a device that could monitor seismic activity and provide early warnings to help mitigate its impact on lives and infrastructure.
This was bared during a forum called “Kapehan with Media” held last Tuesday at the Wright Hall of the NEUST Mini Cconvention Center in their Sumacab Campus in this city.
The event was hosted by the NEUST headed by Dr. Rhodora R. Jugo, in collaboration with the Nueva Ecija Department of Trade and Industry under Dr. Richard V. Simangan.
Jugo said this first edition of “Kapehan with Media” aims to showcase the university as it attains global recognition in developing various engineering innovations and technological discoveries through a program called the Department of Science and Technology-NEUST Technology Business Incubator (DOST-NEUST TBI).
Dr. Kenneth L. Armas, DOST-NEUST TBI project leader, said the program serves as a major avenue for the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship for the inclusive socio-economic development in the region.
One of the innovations that was highlighted during the forum was the earthquake-sensing device made by NEUST laboratory high school students.
DOST-NEUST project development officer, engineer Emmanuel F. Borre said: “Itong box-size device na ito naka-attached siya sa mga alarm systems ng buildings, so, kapag nakaramdam siya ng seismic motion sa lupa, magtitrigger ito ng alarm ng building at magsesend siya ng SMS sa cellphone ng user through the use of automation.”
Borre, who is in charge of making the application for a patent of the said device, added the students were being mentored by their adviser, Dr. Apple Grace Marie Sebastian.
Without the needed funds, Dr. Armas said they are “open to licensing” for these prototypes to private investors and “doing technology transfers” to farmers.
He added it is not the mandate of the university to mass-produce these prototypes of technologies but to seek potential investors or private partners and institutions for them to acquire its licensing.
Other new prototypes that were developed by the DOST-NEUST TBI, in collaboration with the College of Engineering-Mechanical Engineering Department, included small-scale turbines, onion harvesters, multi-purpose dryer, and electric and solar-powered vehicles.
Also present during the event were vice president for Research, Extension, and Training Dr. Rachael R. Moralde; engineer Nathaniel S. Olivares, head of NEUST-MEIC and Dean of College of Engineering, May Nerissa S. Lopez, project leader of Food Innovation Center, Marilene C. Hipolito, director- research department, Engr. Gina A. Lorenzo, focal person for MIC-NEUST-TBI, and Honeylen Marie Fernando, of the DTI-Nueva Ecija.
