HS STUDENTS IN NUEVA ECIJA DEVELOP EARTHQUAKE SENSING DEVICE

LABORATORY high school students at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) developed a device that could monitor seismic activity and provide early warnings to help mitigate its impact on lives and infrastructure.

Dr. Kenneth L. Armas, Department of Science and Technology-NEUST Technology Business Incubator (DOST-NEUST TBI) project leader, made the announcement in a forum last Tuesday.

 “Itong box-size device na ito naka-attached siya sa mga alarm system ng buildings, so, kapag nakaramdam siya ng seismic motion sa lupa, magti-trigger ito ng alarm ng building at magse-send siya ng SMS sa cellphone ng user through the use of automation,” DOST-NEUST project development officer, engineer  Emmanuel F. Borre explained.

Borre, who is in charge of making the application for a patent of the said device, added the students were being mentored by their adviser, Dr. Apple Grace Marie Sebastian.

Without the needed funds, Dr. Armas said they are “open to licensing” for these prototypes to private investors.

He added it is not the mandate of the university to mass-produce these prototypes of technologies but to seek potential investors or private partners and institutions for them to acquire its licensing.

Other new prototypes that were developed by the DOST-NEUST TBI, in collaboration with the College of Engineering-Mechanical Engineering Department, included small-scale turbines, onion harvesters, multi-purpose dryer,  and electric and solar-powered vehicles.