Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
To provide student-researchers a venue to disseminate their research findings and recommendations and to choose the best paper, the College of Arts and Sciences held its third annual student research congress on March 29, 2016 at the CAS AV Hall, Central Mindanao University.
Contenders were from the eight academic programs, whose entries were classified into two categories: Natural Sciences and Arts and Social Sciences. The Panel of Judges came from CAS, with one judge representing each degree program. To ensure fairness, a judge would inhibit from judging if the thesis presentation would come from his/her discipline or department.
Evaluators from the Natural Sciences were Dr. Lordino G. Cabigon (Chemistry), Mr. Conrado A. Duque, Jr. (Mathematics)., Dr. Merced M. Gutierrez (Biology), and Dr. Teresita D. Taganahan (Physics). The judges for the Arts and Social Sciences were Dr. Agapito M. Bayron, Jr. (English Language and Literature), Prof. Alisa M. Cabacungan (Psychology), Dr. Raquelyn J. Dadang (Sociology), Ms. Sittie Juhanna M. Pandapatan (History) and Ms. Joy Melyn J. Porquis (Political Science). The criteria for judging both the manuscript and the presentation include the scientific merit (30%), technical quality (25%), knowledge or mastery of the thesis (25%), visual aid (10%), and personal appearance (10%).
Miss Lyka A. Veloso (BS Biology) bagged the best thesis award for the Natural Sciences Category with her thesis entitled “PCR-Based Cloning of Receptor-like Serine/Threonine Protein Kinase Gene in Normal and Mutant ’Makapuno‘ Endosperms of Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.).” Her thesis adviser was Dr. Reggie Y. Dela Cruz. Likewise, Miss Rael Kishel Jane V. Ramirez (AB English) won the same award for the Arts and Social Sciences Category with her paper entitled “Reading Level of Pupils in Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) and Non-MTB-MLE Classroom Settings.” Her thesis adviser was Prof. Mayflor P. Arambala. Each winner received a cash award of P2,000.00 and a certificate of recognition.
Next year, graduate students will be allowed to compete among themselves under the Graduate Thesis Category. Dr. Rolito G. Eballe, the CAS Dean, hoped that the Annual Student Congress would inspire thesis writers to do their best so they could be chosen by their department to participate in the competition. He also hoped that some institutions or alumni of this university would sponsor some cash incentives to students who have best papers.
By: Vellorimo J. Suminguit, PhD
Edited by: Renalyn G. Padoginog
