Lecture-Forum on Climate Change

Last Tuesday, August 24, 2010, the Physics department organized a lecture-forum on climate change, held at the multimedia center of Silliman University. The main lecture was led by Dr. Clare Cabahug Maxino, Ph.D. in Physical Geography at Macquarie University, New South Wales, Australia. Her lecture was entitled:

"An Introduction to Climate Change and Climate Modelling"

Discussions on Risk Management involved with climate change was done after by Dr. Gerardo C. Maxino, Ph.D.

The lecture was attended by students from Maxino college, faculty and students of the SU physics department, and students from the chemistry department.

Dr. Clare discussed important details on climate change, as well as clarify terms that are usually misused by climate change skeptics. The students were given a brief overview on climate studies and basic climate models.

During the open-forum, different questions were raised by the students and faculty members, both physics and non-physics. One of Dr. Clare's closing remarks during the open forum stressed the importance of facts and data, "You have all the science, but it all boils down to how you use the science."

SU Physics is visited by GF Micro Optics

By Algrace Bellingan

"Last July 29, 2010, GF Micro Optics Philippines Incorporated came to visit, for the very first time, Silliman University's Physics Department. The company, who was represented by Mr. Rodolfo Aguilar (Section Head, Human Resources Management and General Affairs), and Mr. Errol Stanley Bitera (General Manager for Operations), gave a short presentation of their company and the purpose of their visit. The representatives were accompanied by SUFA president Dr. Evangeline Aguilan (Career and Placement Office).

Mr. Rodolfo Aguilar spoke first; briefly introducing their company. The company dates back in 1998 as NSG Philippines Incorporated, where it had the Glass Disk Division and the Micro Optics Division. In 2003, the company became NSG Micro Optics Philippines. And just last year, the company became GF (GoFoton) Micro Optics Philippines Inc. Presently, the company said to be the only ISO 9001:2000 Certified manufacturer of materials, components and devices for fiber optics telecommunications in the Philippines. It has around 577 employees and is still continuously increasing since it is hiring more and more operators and engineers for the company's expansion.

Mr. Errol Stanley Bitera, who is also surprisingly an alumnus of Silliman University, discussed the purpose of their visit. He presented the problems which their company is currently facing, along with the counter measures they have done and their proposed solutions as well. Among the company's objective was to develop a good relationship and possible partnership with the Academe through the top schools of the country. They tapped with top institutions since they wanted to hire competitive engineers in the future which could be great assets for the company's success. Also, they visited top institutions to introduce their company and make people aware of the existence of a fiber optic company in the country. Moreover, they would like more people to appreciate the fiber optic technology used for telecommunications.

The presentation took approximately 45 minutes, yet it was filled with important facts which the company ought to hand the students and faculty. Their visit was welcomed by the Dr. Hope Bandal, the faculty and students of the physics department."