Barluado prevails in international research fair

by : Renan P. Limjuco

University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) faculty Prof. Mary Jane Barluado won the only Best Poster Presentation for Quantitative Research during the International Research Fair for Graduate Education organized by the University of Mindanao Professional Schools on November 3-4, 2016.

Amongst nearly 25 quantitative research presenters from different parts of the Philippines and Asia vying for the award, Barluado, who earned an Honours Degree in Biotechnology from Flinders University in Australia on a scholarship grant, aced the award criteria of research relevance and impact, technical soundness, overall poster appearance, oral presentation skills of presenter, and originality.

With co-authors Dr. Renan Limjuco and their research advisees Christine Decena, Clue Dongalo, Faten El Sharkawy, Sharon Melo, Ira Romine, Barluado’s winning study was titled Knowledge, attitude & interest on Biotechnology of high school students: Exploring the possibility of offering the degree in higher education. As agreed by one judge from Italy, Prof. Silvio Anzola, promotion of the field of Biotechnology in the country must be pushed more in one way or another.

Opportunely, the conference highlighted plenary speeches on Best Research Practices from different countries by Dr. Sanihu Munir of Institute of Health Sciences, Bengkulu, Indonesia; Dr. Saket Jeswani of Sikkim Manilapal University, Gangtok, India; and Prof. Silvio Anzola from University of Naples Federico II, Italy, who also composed the prestigious Panel of Judges for the poster presentations, together with Prof. Graham Murray from University of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The qualitative research set, also with nearly 25 contenders, was won by former UIC Planning & Development Director Dr. Ida Patron. The two winners received cash prizes and Certificates of Recognition.