Coconut shells used to purify water
By ROY C. MABASA
April 27, 2011
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — A professor from the De La Salle University (DLSU), in partnership with the Manhattan College in New York City, has helped develop a sustainable water purification system which uses indigenous biodegradable materials such as coconut shells to be introduced in Nagcarlan, Laguna in June.
DLSU Professor Susan Gallardo, together with Manhattan College Professor and Filipino-American James Patrick Abulencia, presented the water purification system at the just concluded National Sustainable Design Expo at the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets, Washington DC which was organized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its Earth Day event.
This endeavor by students from the Manhattan College, under the tutelage of Gallardo and Abulencia, was made possible by a $9,990 grant from the EPA under its P3 Program (People, Prosperity and the Planet).
Through this EPA program, college students can benefit people, promote prosperity and protect the planet by designing solutions that move people towards a sustainable future.
The EPA considers projects that address challenges from a wide range of categories: agriculture, built environment, materials and chemicals, energy, and water. These can be challenges found in the developed or developing world.
The P3 Award competition is a two-phase team contest. For the first phase, interdisciplinary student teams compete for $15,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. The final projects include a Phase I project report and a Phase II proposal.
This year's Expo showcased 55 teams of more than 400 college students from across the United States who presented their innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Gallardo teaches Chemical Engineering at the DLSU while Abulencia recently participated in the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).
Their team designed and developed a cost-effective and bio-degradable water filter using materials that are locally available and cost-effective for the local population.
The water system will be launched in June when Professor Abulencia travels back to the Philippines.
DLSU Professor Susan Gallardo, together with Manhattan College Professor and Filipino-American James Patrick Abulencia, presented the water purification system at the just concluded National Sustainable Design Expo at the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets, Washington DC which was organized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its Earth Day event.
This endeavor by students from the Manhattan College, under the tutelage of Gallardo and Abulencia, was made possible by a $9,990 grant from the EPA under its P3 Program (People, Prosperity and the Planet).
Through this EPA program, college students can benefit people, promote prosperity and protect the planet by designing solutions that move people towards a sustainable future.
The EPA considers projects that address challenges from a wide range of categories: agriculture, built environment, materials and chemicals, energy, and water. These can be challenges found in the developed or developing world.
The P3 Award competition is a two-phase team contest. For the first phase, interdisciplinary student teams compete for $15,000 grants. Recipients use the money to research and develop their design projects during the academic year. The final projects include a Phase I project report and a Phase II proposal.
This year's Expo showcased 55 teams of more than 400 college students from across the United States who presented their innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
Gallardo teaches Chemical Engineering at the DLSU while Abulencia recently participated in the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).
Their team designed and developed a cost-effective and bio-degradable water filter using materials that are locally available and cost-effective for the local population.
The water system will be launched in June when Professor Abulencia travels back to the Philippines.
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