By Asst. Prof. Dee Balestramon Lucena
The ĴýSOIL: Strong Foundations, Smarter InfrastructureĴý workshop, conducted by the University of the Philippines VisayasĴýRegional Research Center (UPV-RRC) in collaboration with Ĵý (CPU), was held on May 14, 2026, as part of the ongoing engagements under the DOSTĴýGIA-funded Project GEO-DYNAMIX.
The University of the Philippines Visayas Ĵý Regional Research Center (UPV-RRC), in collaboration with Ĵý (CPU), conducted the workshop titled ĴýSOIL: Strong Foundations, Smarter InfrastructureĴý on May 14, 2026. The workshop formed part of the ongoing engagements under Project GEO-DYNAMIX, a DOSTĴýGIA funded project implemented by CPU.
The workshop featured Engr. Jebie A. Balagosa, PhD, DOSTĴýPCIEERD Balik Scientist Awardee, Professor at CPU, and Project Leader of Project GEO-DYNAMIX, as resource speaker. His session highlighted fundamental concepts in soil as an engineering material, including soil strength, compaction and density, geotechnical challenges in the Philippines, and sustainable approaches in infrastructure design.
The event fostered collaborative learning among students, faculty members, researchers, and partner institutions through discussions on sustainable and resilient infrastructure practices.
Participants included students from CPUĴýs Civil Engineering and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering programs, GEO-DYNAMIX project team members, and faculty and students from various institutions including UPV, West Visayas State University (WVSU), and Western Institute of Technology (WIT), promoting interdisciplinary learning and academic exchange.
The afternoon session featured laboratory and facility visits to the Materials Science and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MSNL), the Multi-species Hatchery Complex, and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPV-NIMBB), providing participants with exposure to research facilities and scientific initiatives supporting regional innovation and development.
The workshop reflects the continuing collaboration between CPU and UPV in advancing research capacity building, knowledge exchange, and innovation-driven education through initiatives under Project GEO-DYNAMIX.