WMSU Hosts its first International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Innovations

 

Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), a joint effort with Universidad Politécnica Salesiana in Ecuador and the City Tourism Office, recently hosted its first-ever International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Innovations at the WMSU Juanito Bruno Gymnasium from April 17-19, 2024. Themed “Beyond Borders, Beyond Disciplines: Multidisciplinary Research and Innovations for the Future,” the event was committed to engendering dialogue on multifaced aspects of research and showcasing the advancements made in multidisciplinary research. Further, the conference aimed to strengthen networking and collaboration among researchers and expedite the dissemination of knowledge and best practices. The three-day event successfully gathered researchers, scholars, and professionals from various disciplines across the Philippines and internationally.

The conference's success was a testament to the collective efforts and transformative initiatives of the entire WMSU community, led by the visionary President, Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena. Under her leadership, significant individuals including Dr. Nursia M. Barjose, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Joel Fernando, Vice President for Research Extension Services and External Linkages; Dr. Reynante Autida, Director of the Research Development and Evaluation Center; Dr. Mario Obra Jr, Director of the International Relations Office; and other directors and heads of various offices in WMSU worked in unison to ensure an unparalleled and impactful event. Hence, this catapulted the conference to greater heights.

             Moreover, the host university invited a diverse lineup of renowned plenary speakers who amplified the conference by putting their expertise to the forefront. Dr. P. Juan Cárdenas Tapia, Rector of Universidad Politécnica Salesiana in Ecuador, delved into the topic of "Educational Public Policies in Latin America," while Dr. Angel Torres Toukoumidis, a Professor at the same institution, explored the engaging world of "Gamification in Education." Dr. Rene Luna-Garcia, a Physics Professor from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico, presented his research on "Machine Learning in the Detection of Heart Abnormalities and Classification Pathologies.” Dr. Mark Angelo O. Balendres, a Professor at De La Salle University, offered helpful insights on "Getting Published: Why, Where, and How?" Mr. Upali Senarath, General Manager of ROWELMARK in Sri Lanka, discussed the crucial talk on "Application of Environmental Dimensions in Foreign Investment in Sri Lanka," while Dr. Sandun Senarath, a Professor at the University of Sri Javawardenepura, Sri Lanka, shared his knowledge on "Multidisciplinary Approaches to Natural Science Research - Lessons Learnt." Finally, Dr. Lyndon D. Bastatas, a Professor at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, talked about "Clues from Atomic Force Microscopy in Cancer Diagnosis and Drug Delivery."

There were one hundred twenty-eight (128) on-site participants and one hundred eighty-one online participants across the country and globe who participated in the conference. Notably,  a large contingent of graduate students of the College of Teacher Education participated, with many joining as participants. Their active engagement became instrumental in making the academic community informed about ideas, knowledge, and advancement of research and development. By and large, as the conference featured a plethora of research topics from environmental technology and sustainable development to education and social innovation, it paved the way for future collaborations and groundbreaking discoveries between and among researchers.

The first International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Innovations ended with a strong call to action rather than a sense of completion. The conference's shared objective was not just to exchange information, but also to promote forward-thinking new cross-disciplinary discoveries. Researchers boldly diving into challenging existing conventions and embracing multidisciplinary cooperation lay the way for an ideal future in which innovation thrives on the rich ground of cross-pollination.

Author:

Mr. Keynard L. Ponce, MAEd