On 18 April 2024, Saint Louis University (SLU) held the opening ceremony of the two-day annual Innovation in Creative, Research, Extensions, and Technology (iCREaTe) through its University Research Innovation Center (UnRIC). Themed “Seeds of Sustainability: Cultivating Young Minds for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact: the event gathered the Lousian community to showcase their creative and innovative research outputs, fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute to global sustainability.
The opening ceremony of iCREaTe 2024 began at the Diego Silang Lobby, SLU Main Campus with a performance by the SLU Glee Club, followed by a warm welcome by Vice President of Academic Affairs, Felina Espique, PhD. In her speech, she outlined the day’s activities and emphasized the event’s significance. “This celebration promises to be nothing short of extraordinary, as we gather together to celebrate the boundless ingenuity and creativity that define our Louisian community. From the runs of arts and design to the different tiers of scientific research and technological advancement, we are here to showcase and celebrate the incredible achievements and groundbreaking developments that pushed the boundaries of what is possible,” VP Espique noted.
Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, University President, in his remarks, invited the Louisian community to embark on the journey of exploration and creativity. “But research alone is not enough. Innovation shall accompany it so that conceptualization translates into implementation. Together, research and innovation have the power to revolutionize industries, transform societies, and enrich lives in ways we never thought possible. They hold the key to addressing the most pressing issues of our time – from climate change and healthcare disparities to technological advancements and social justice,” Fr. Sales said.
The Research and Innovation Exhibit was officially opened with the ribbon cutting led by Fr. Sales; VP Espique; UNRIC Director, Richel L. Lamadrid, PhD; Vice President for Finance Robert M. Arguelles, PhD; and Atty. Shellah Yzanne P. Merced Vice President for Administration.
The exhibit showcased booths featuring research from the SLU students and faculty of the School Year 2023-2024 from the School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS), School of Medicine (SOM), School of Advanced Studies (SAS), School of Accounting, Management and Computing Sciences (SAMCIS), School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), and SLU Community Extension & Outreach Program Office (CEOPO). Attendees had the opportunity to explore the exhibits and learn from the researches that were presented.
iCREaTe Research Conference
Following the opening ceremony, the iCREaTe Research Conference was held at the SLU Incubator for Research, Innovation, and Business (SIRIB) Center H-505 at the Otto Hahn Building, SLU Main Campus. Welcoming the audience to the conference, Dr. Faridah Kristi C. Wetherick, SAS Dean, encouraged everyone to make use of the conference to bring about change with the use of their research.
Dean Wetherick said that when faculty or staff advance disciplines, infuse findings into the teaching methods to enrich the students’ experience, and most importantly, make research outputs relevant beyond the four walls of the university, the lives and livelihoods of communities will be improved through ideas from impactful research findings. “This is what research is all about, research in action…I hope that today’s conference will empower us to engage in research that makes a difference in our society or one that will foster organizational or social reform,” she stated.
The conference talk titled “Using Participatory Action Research as a Qualitative Research Methodology in Creating Socially Just Environments” was then tackled by Fulbright U.S. Scholar Dr. Teresa Tuason, Director of the Clinical Mental Health Program, Professor at the University of North Florida, United States of America. Participatory Action Research is an approach that addresses societal problems by enabling researchers to implement alternative actions that enhance the development efficiency of the respondents. The talk underscored the importance of making use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) to bring about change and to help SLU students and staff researchers in refining their research.
The conference ended with the presentation of a certificate of recognition by Dr. Lamadrid and Dr. Laarni B. Natividad, UnRIC Research Services Officer.
In line with SLU’s commitment to the United Nations SDG 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals), the iCREaTe exhibits and research conference have assisted SLU researchers to broaden their perspective on the importance of research and inspire them to be forerunners of change.
The event is also aligned with the celebration of National Innovation Day on 21 April 2024 with the theme “Unboxing the Filipinovation Mindset” and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Innovation Day themed “Showcasing CordiNNOVATIONS toward inclusive and sustainable communities”.
On the second day of iCREaTe,19 April 2024, the activities scheduled include the Research and Innovation Exhibit and the Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) at the Rev. Fr. Paul Van Parijs, CICM Event Center. (Article by Sarah Navalta, UIO Intern | Photos by Keen Oviedo and Khryss Arellano, UIO Interns)
