Three students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Graduate School Master of Science in Chemical Engineering program, under the UST-Curtin University “1+1” dual Master of Science degree jointly offered by both universities, finished their one-year linkage with the Curtin University-Western Australian School of Mines (CU-WASM) with a research colloquium held on August 8, 2020.
Focusing on metallurgy, the presentations held via Zoom also served as a culmination activity and promotion of the dual Master of Science degree.
The colloquium was graced by the presence of Australian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Steven J. Robinson, AO, who delivered the congratulatory remarks for the three Thomasian graduate students, namely, Engr. Princess R. Parubrub, Engr. Julius Christian Conrad A. Puentes, and Engr. Maria Joriza C. Bondoc.
Also present were the Curtin University- Western Australian School of Mines (CU-WASM) Program Coordinator and Balik Scientist to the Philippines Dr. Richard D. Alorro; Philippine Australian Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF) Facility Director and Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines Director Ms. Milalin Javellana; Assistant Vice President and Business Procurement Group Manager of Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. and former UST Chemical Engineering Department Chair Engr. Rosalina A. Lioanag; Executive Director of San Miguel Foundation, Inc. Ms. Camille B. Buenaventura; UST Graduate School Dean Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D.; and UST GS Engineering Programs Cluster Lead Prof. Maria Natalia R. Dimaano, Ph.D.
Parubrub, Puentes, and Bondoc pursued their specialization courses and fulfilled their thesis requirements at the Curtin University-Western Australian School of Mines (CU-WASM) and first obtained their master’s degree on Engineering Science (Metallurgy) from CU-WASM.
Since the graduate students have already defended their theses at CU-WASM, they publicly presented their theses through this colloquium at the UST Graduate School in compliance with the requirement of the UST GS Office for Graduate Research. These presentations equate to the graduate students’ thesis completion, which is required to obtain their Master of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from UST.
Parubrub presented her research titled “Separation and Purification of Scandium from Oxalic Leach Solutions of Nickel Laterite Process Residue,” while Bondoc discussed the “Technospheric Mining of Cobalt from Nonferrous Slag.” Puentes delved on “Rare Earths Recovery from Monazite Ore using Oxalic Acid with Multi-stage, Rare Earths Oxalate and Hydrogen Peroxide Leaching.”
Besides special guests, around 80 guests composed of graduate students, invitees from mining companies, researchers, and faculty members attended the online colloquium.
