Workshop Facilitators

Felicidad Christina R. Peñafiel, PhD

Department of Chemistry, University of Santo Tomas

Green Chemistry Sparks: Engaging Students with Microscale Electrochemistry Experiments

This workshop will focus on introductory electrochemistry experiments using simple equipment and chemicals that participants can easily replicate in their own classrooms or school laboratories.  The hands-on experiments cover topics such as electrochemical cells and battery formation, electrocoagulation, fractal formation, and electrochemical writing, all aimed to pique students’ interest.  This workshop is based on the CHED-KKP Workshop: Electrochemistry experimentation at the microscale level by Professor Emeritus Jorge Ibañez of Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico, during the 38^th Philippine Chemistry Congress in 2024. 

Alan Rodelle M. Salcedo, PhD

Department of Chemistry, University of Santo Tomas

Sustainable Chemical Measurements and Green Chemistry Education Through Smartphone-Based Colorimetry

This workshop presents smartphone-based colorimetry as a sustainable, accessible, and innovative approach to chemical measurements and green chemistry education. Participants will explore how smartphone cameras, coupled with digital image analysis, can be used to monitor colorimetric reactions and quantitatively determine analyte concentrations in various samples. The session emphasizes green chemistry principles by minimizing chemical consumption, reducing reliance on energy-intensive instrumentation, and utilizing readily available technology.

Through guided demonstrations and practical examples, the workshop will discuss key concepts such as color models, calibration strategies, data processing, and sources of analytical error. Applications in chemical education, environmental analysis, and community-based monitoring will be highlighted, illustrating how smartphone colorimetry can enhance student engagement, promote inquiry-based learning, and empower sustainable communities. This workshop provides participants with practical knowledge and adaptable strategies for integrating smartphone-based analytical techniques into teaching, research, and outreach initiatives aligned with green chemistry goals.

Rationale and Background

Conventional analytical measurements often rely on expensive, energy-intensive instruments that may not be readily available in many educational institutions and community laboratories. Smartphone-based colorimetry offers a sustainable alternative by utilizing widely available mobile devices as analytical detectors for colorimetric reactions. This approach aligns strongly with green chemistry principles, particularly in minimizing resource use, reducing waste, and promoting accessibility. In chemical education, smartphone colorimetry serves as an effective tool for enhancing student engagement and supporting inquiry-based and outcomes-based learning. Beyond the classroom, it enables community-based and environmental monitoring applications that empower local stakeholders through accessible analytical capabilities.

This workshop builds on the proponents’ previous experience in conducting hands-on training on smartphone-based colorimetric analysis and aims to further integrate sustainability, education, and analytical rigor in a single, cohesive learning experience.

Workshop Objectives The workshop aims to: (1) Introduce the principles of smartphone-based colorimetry as a sustainable analytical technique; (2) Demonstrate the use of smartphone cameras and digital image analysis for quantitative chemical measurements; (3) Equip participants with practical strategies for implementing smartphone colorimetry in teaching, research, and community-based applications.

Emmanuel V. Garcia, PhD

Department of Chemistry, De La Salle University

Coffee Chemistry and the Concept of Sustainability

Coffee has been experiencing a renaissance in recent years, particularly among young adults. Along with the rise in popularity of “specialty coffee”, events, methods, techniques, and technology abound, fueled by the demand from curious coffee aficionados and professionals alike. This curiosity emerged as motivation for the establishment of contextualized learning in academic institutions, aiming to use coffee as a tool for science literacy, critical thinking, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Not surprisingly, such programs grew in popularity as well. However, the main proponents of some of these programs feel that students who complete the programs, whilst learning scientific concepts in a fun and engaging manner, still miss realizing the more profound concepts under the UN SDGs. In this workshop, participants will undergo snippets of these programs to help in the determination and/or identification of the possible causes of such gaps.

Engineer Marlon Llana, MSc

Technical and Operations Director
Nanotech Analytical Services and Training Corporation (NASAT)
SIGMATECH Incorporated

Experience the Hitachi Tabletop SEM

This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to the Hitachi TM4000 Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and its applications in research and teaching across various disciplines. The session will cover the fundamental principles of SEM, key instrument components, and practical operation of the TM4000, demonstrating its ability to produce high-resolution images with minimal sample preparation. Participants will gain firsthand experience in sample mounting, imaging, and basic analysis workflows, exploring diverse applications such as material characterization, biological sample imaging, and surface morphology studies. The workshop highlights how tabletop SEM technology enables accessible, efficient, and versatile microscopy for both students and researchers.”