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An uptrend in sustainability-related research

June 6, 2022 | By ANGIE CHUI

An uptrend in sustainability-related research

2021 was a big year for the University’s research initiatives. There was a marked increase in the number of faculty members involved in research, and in particular, majority of the studies conducted involved sustainability.

“We can we attribute the increase in research projects focused on sustainability in the past three years to the campaign or encouragement of the University, headed by both University Research Office (URO) and the Cavite Studies Center (CSC) to Cavite Development Research Project and to the advocacies of partner-funding agencies, like the Ecowaste Coalition, Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and The Salvation Army (TSA),” URO Director Dr. Johnny Ching said in an interview.

In 2019, only 40 faculty members were involved in research. The number increased to 54 in 2020, and 55 in 2021. The trajectory is only seen to go up in the following years.

There was also an increase in the research fund allocated to sustainability research amounting to 112,853 USD which is roughly double the 62,342.70 USD amount in 2020.

Based on a study conducted by Ching, Zamora, Agustin ,and Luyon, the upward trajectory of faculty interested in sustainability research can be attributed to creative solutions introduced by the University to enable research initiatives to prosper despite the limitations of the pandemic.

“Through the collective efforts of URO under the Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, more collaborative and interdisciplinary, both internally and externally funded research projects, more of which are related to sustainability, were implemented and completed involving more than 100 researchers. These research findings, such as the baseline study and market analysis funded by The Salvation Army (TSA), will be translated into actions creating sustainable community development programs through the Lasallian Community Development Center (LCDC) of the university involving faculty members and students as interns,” the study indicated.

URO was also able to hold the 2nd International Conference on Research Inclusivity and Sustainability (INCRIS) participated in by more than 1,000 attendees from several countries in Asia and Africa online.

Dr. Ching remains hopeful that their goals for impactful research will be met in the coming years with the increased support from the University.

“The University is moving towards a better normal by creating possibilities through the empowerment and active participation of stakeholders in various research activities and by transforming research outputs into concrete actions in attaining sustainable communities,” he said.