4th Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) Conference with the theme “Charting the R&D Programs of the Country” was held in the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Sofitel Manila last February 19, 2010. There were several foreign invited guests and speakers to share their knowledge in R&D, technology, engineering, energy and environment. Here is the list of speakers and their topic:

• Dr. Yozo Fujino, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan

“Research through New Global Centers of Excellence at University of Tokyo”

• Dr. Gavriel Salvendy, Professor of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, China

“Lessons Learned from Research and Practice on the Human Side of Industrial Engineering”

• Dr. Joel L. Cuello, Professor of Biosystems Engineering, University of Arizona

“Engineering Education in the 21st Century; Toward an Innovation-Driven and Sustainability-Centered Design”

• Dr. David Ian Bishop, Professor of Geomatics, University of Melbourne, Australia

“Researching GIS and Spatial Visualization within the Australian Cooperative Research Centre Program”

• Dr. Chang-Ho Park, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, South Korea

“Biotechnology for Energy and Environment: New Opportunities”

• Dr. Nina Ossanna, Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona

“Embedding Technology Development within the Research Institution”

The 4th ERDT Conference  proved to be successful again in bringing together a microcosm of scientists, engineers, technologists, academicians, researchers, and students. May all those present during the conference enriched themselves with multidisciplinary knowledge, encouraged to do excellent researches, and empowered to contribute in pushing forth higher level of science and technology as well as research and development for the Philippines.

For those who truly know and understand the goals and purpose of ERDT, this is indeed an AMBITIOUS project. Yet the impressive number of researches produced by ERDT and expected to be completed soon establishes that this project is perfectly POSSIBLE.

Sharing and stressing Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara’s statement :

“Truly, the ERDT is gaining ground. Last year, the ERDT benchmarked technology business incubators in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the US. Thus, this year’s conference theme, “Charting the R&D Roadmap of the Philippines,” is timely as the country moves toward attaining global competitiveness backed by a technology-driven economy, and a steady growing pool of researchers, scientists, and engineers (RSEs).”