The University of Northern Philippines (UNP), through its University Research and Development Office (URDO) led by Dr. Edelyn Cadorna, co-hosted the “CERN@70: Recent Advances in Particle Physics at CERN-ATLAS and the Philippines” online conference on November 4, 2024, with a live projection at UNP’s Tadena Hall.

This event celebrates the 70th anniversary of CERN and highlights the Philippines’ role in international scientific research. It also marked a unique opportunity for 59 UNP faculty and students to engage with global leaders in particle physics

CERN, also known as the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is home to the ATLAS experiment, one of the largest particle physics projects in the world, where scientists explore the universe’s fundamental components through high-speed proton collisions.

Presentations by renowned international scientists, including Dr. Andreas Hoecker and Dr. Henric Wilkens of CERN-ATLAS, Dr. Deepak Kar of the University of the Witwatersrand, and Dr. Flip Tanedo of the University of California, brought cutting-edge research insights to the UNP audience.

In addition to scientific discussions, graduate scholarship programs from the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) were introduced to support further studies and career opportunities in science for aspiring researchers at UNP.

Led by the National Institute of Physics (NIP) at UP Diliman, the conference was co-organized by UNP and eight other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) nationwide, including Mapúa University, University of Santo Tomas, Caraga State University, Central Visayan Institute Foundation, Silliman University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Visayas State University, and Western Mindanao State University.

UNP’s involvement in this prestigious event reflects its commitment to advancing scientific learning and fostering global research collaboration, inspiring its community to contribute to the future of particle physics.

Article by Dean Alvin Pablico, Photo by Joel Tipon.