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The Socio-Economic Analytics in Mining (SEAM), one of the four divisions of Caraga State University’s Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center (MinRes), hosted the second installment of the MinRes Webinar Series for this year’s virtual Science and Technology for Development 2020 Forum or SciTech4Dev2020 Forum with the theme: ‘Navigating the New Normal.’
Dr. Anthony Halog, head of research group for industrial ecology and circular economy in the University of Queensland, Australia, delivered the webinar via Zoom on Circular Economy in Mining in the New Normal with the specific topic: ‘Resetting our Priorities: Developing a Circular Economy (CE) Action Plan in Mining Industry in Post COVID-19 Era’ on October 13, 2020 at 2:00PM (Philippine Time).
Livestreamed via CSU MinRes Facebook Page, the said webinar was participated by 348 participants, coming from the different parts of the world, who successfully confirmed their interest and attendance to the webinar upon registration. As to places of origin, 95% of the participants comes from the Philippines, while the other 5% comes from Algeria, Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and Sri Lanka.
Distributed by region and province of origin, 69% of Filipino participants comes from Caraga Region, the region where the host university is located. As to number, other Filipino participants come from Davao Region, Misamis Oriental, Central and Northern Luzon, National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol, Zamboanga Region, Lanao del Norte, Laguna, Mindoro, Palawan, Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN.
Delivering his opening message to all the webinar’s participants, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, the University President, recognized the critical role of science, technology and innovation to the achievement of sustainable development goals and to addressing the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. The university president went on saying that the forum was an avenue to bring together key stakeholders from the government and industry, researchers, extension workers and students to foster dialogue on relevant research development and innovation issues and prospects. ‘Caraga State University needs to reposition itself in order to respond to the challenges brought about by this unprecedented human crisis. The university has to explore new ways of doing things in delivering quality education and to pursue research and innovation responsive to the needs of the changing times characterized by so much volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity,’ Dr. Penaso added.
Prompted by the question emphasizing the role of the academe in promoting circular economy, Dr. Anthony Halog stressed on the role of the academe to educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and economists for them to be aware of the notion and principles of circular economy. This can be done, as the resource speaker mentioned, by including the principles of circular economy in developing modules or curricula, particularly in mining or metallurgical engineering programs. ‘Caraga State University or any other universities in the world should incorporate this notion and principle of circular economy because, in the next five to ten years, there would be a surge in demand for graduates who have this perspective, not only in circular economy but also in systems and life cycle thinking perspectives,’ Dr. Halog added.
Responding to the question as to the Philippines’ readiness to adapt strategies inherent to circular economy, Dr. Halog said that it would be a challenge considering the extent of Filipinos’ environmental awareness. ‘This requires changing the consumers’ behaviors,’ stressed by the resource speaker. ‘I think we could start by observing how the Filipinos are dealing with their ways at the household level and that we could gradually develop a policy within the community and then within the region and then finally at the national level,’ Dr. Halog added on the need for ‘from the ground up’ approach of doing things.
After the open forum, Caraga State University and the host MinRes SEAM, awarded the e-certificate of appreciation to the resource speaker for sharing his valuable knowledge and expertise on the topic, signed by the host university’s President, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso; Vice President for Research Development, Innovation, and Extension, Dr. Rowena P. Varela; and the MinRes Director, Dr. Rey Y. Capangpangan.
All participants were likewise given an e-certificate of participation after completing the webinar’s evaluation form via Google Form’s link. Online photo session followed, as prompted by the webinar’s host, Ms. Aquessa R. Piamonte.
Wrapping up the webinar, Dr. Rowena P. Varela, Vice President for Research Development, Innovation, and Extension, delivered her closing message resonating the need to sustain our efforts in promoting science and technology to support economic recovery and restoration amidst this COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Varela emphasized the higher probability of economic recovery in the mining sector, as informed by the increasing demand for more metals and other products derived from mining due to the Build, Build, Build Program of the Philippine government. ‘This, therefore, requires more research and innovations,’ the VPRIE emphasized. ‘For these developments to be sustainable, we should always keep in mind the triple bottom line of sustainable development: People, Planet, and Profit,’ Dr. Varela concluded.
The said webinar was made possible in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Caraga State University, Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center (MinRes), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS), Mines and Geosciences Bureau - Caraga, Chamber of Mines, Inc. – Caraga, and all other participating mining companies and individuals.
Alongside MinRes SEAM as host headed by the Division Head, Lilibeth L. Manigo, RGC, the second installment of MinRes Webinar Series for SciTech4Dev2020 Forum was co-organized by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences led by the CHaSS Dean, Ruth E. Sanchez, MA. #CHaSSPIWO
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