PROJECT CHEMUNITYProject CHEMUNITY (Chemistry in the Community) is a pet project conceived by Elmer-Rico E. Mojica when he was a faculty at the Institute of Chemistry (IC), University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). Although it was partially started in 2000, the project was officially launched in 2003 when he was the Extension Coordinator of IC. As an Assistant Professor in UPLB, he saw a need of a concrete program to extend help to other institutions. He wanted to have a program wherein faculty and staff of IC, UPLB shifted their efforts away from their "ivory tower" and bring them to grassroots, particularly in assisting citizens to develop communities that are conscious of science particularly chemistry.
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WhAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT? |
This project involves providing assistance in various forms, including conducting tutorials for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), offering technical knowledge and expertise to students engaged in investigatory science research and thesis work, and aiding teachers in upgrading their knowledge through seminars and workshops. Since its inception, the program has already served several schools in Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, and Zamboanga City. The overarching goal of the project is to expand its reach and potentially transform it into a nationwide program, benefiting even more students and educators across the country.
Under the guidance of Dr. Mojica, now a Full Professor at Pace University in New York City, the project has effectively adapted to current circumstances by transitioning most of its activities to online platforms, particularly webinars. This shift to virtual learning has enabled broader participation, extending the program's influence beyond geographical boundaries to include audiences not only within the Philippines but also from around the world. During the summer of 2018, Dr. Mojica's contributions were further enriched as he assumed the role of Visiting Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). During this period, he conducted seminar workshops at various institutions, sharing valuable insights and expertise with both students and faculty members. Currently, Dr. Mojica remains committed to knowledge dissemination and empowerment, willingly offering webinars to audiences not only in the Philippines but worldwide. |
Present ACTIVITIES |
Since the onset of the pandemic and the widespread adoption of online teaching, Dr. Mojica has been actively conducting webinars for various schools and professional organizations. Starting from 2021, he also took on the role of Professorial Lecturer at UPLB, where he teaches initially both undergraduate and graduate courses (only graduate courses at this time). If your school or organization requires a resource speaker for a webinar or talk, feel free to reach out via email at [email protected]. Dr. Mojica is more than willing to discuss the possibility of delivering a talk on a topic of interest to your audience.
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