Professors from the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University received their official appointments as Hokkaido University Ambassadors on 15 March 2017, 4:00 p.m. at the Executive House, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary and Retired UP Diliman Professor of Chemistry Amelia Peralta Guevara, DOST Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) Acting Director and UP Diliman Electrical and Electronic Engineering Professor Joel S. Marciano, Jr., and De La Salle University Professor and Vice Dean of Science Derrick Ethelbhert Yu were named Ambassadors of Hokkaido University. Meanwhile, UP Diliman Professor of Chemistry and former University Registrar Evangeline Cancio Amor was appointed Partner.
The Hokkaido University Ambassador and Partner System was established by the university in April 2016, as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen their research and international education activities with partner-institutions.
Previously, UP and Hokkaido University collaborated with DOST and Tohoku University in developing DIWATA-1, the first Philippine microsatellite, which was built to undertake scientific earth observation missions related to weather observation, environmental monitoring and disaster risk management.
DIWATA-1 was successfully released into orbit from the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the International Space Station on April 27, 2016. The project has yielded several maps, which has been vital for the greater understanding of the changing coastlines and other topographical features of the country.
Hokkaido University Vice President, Institute for International Collaboration Executive Director and Professor Ichiro Uyeda and Faculty of Science Dean Koichiro Ishimori led the delegation from Japan. Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peňa and Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara represented DOST. They were welcomed by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa and UP Diliman Science Dean Jose Maria P. Balmaceda.