The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) is fortunate to welcome a “Balik Scientist” in the person of Dr. Laurence L. Delina, the leading expert on sociotechnical aspects of sustainable energy transition and climate mitigation in developing countries.
USTP, a state university, has been established on August 16, 2016 by virtue of Republic Act 10919 through the amalgamation of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental and the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) in Claveria, Misamis Oriental. Both campuses are located in Northern Mindanao, the Gateway to Mindanao, which offers a strategic locational advantage for the institution to train and develop students from all the other regions of Mindanao.
Dr. Laurence L. Delina, assistant professor at the Division of Environment and Sustainability at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), is visiting USTP as a Balik Scientist from November 2020 to January 2021. He is the latest science and technology expert hosted by the University through the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The Balik Scientist Program (BSP) is open to scientist of Filipino or of Filipino descent, who are internationally recognized in the priority sectors of DOST and are willing to come back and serve either short term or long term. The goal is for them to share their expertise in the academe, public or government agencies and the industry specifically on agro-industrial, economic development, technology and innovation.
Dr. Laurence L. Delina (image from original USTP article)
Educational qualification and work experience
Dr. Delina is an expert on energy sociotechnical systems and has been working on sustainable energy transitions in the context of energy security and climate action. A Mindanawon from South Cotabato, he is also author of four books on energy transition, rapid climate mitigation, and climate mobilization. Prior to joining the faculty at HKUST, he was a postdoctoral associate at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future at Boston University where he led a project on energy and the future in developing countries. He served as a consultant for Oxfam, The Commonwealth Secretariat, and the United Nations. He was a Rachel Carson Fellow and a visiting fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.
Dr. Delina received his doctorate degree from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia; Master of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering from Mindanao State University in General Santos City. You may check Dr. Delina’s personal website at https://laurencedelina.wordpress.com/.
Virtual courtesy call of Dr. Delina to USTP System President Dr. Ambrosio B. Cultura II with Dr. Ma. Noelyn Dano (image from original USTP article)
USTP Engagement
USTP engages Dr. Delina in the development of a proposed community energy demonstration facility at the University’s Science and Technology Park at the Alubijid/AGILA campus, and to provide support in developing a new PhD program on energy engineering. Dr. Ma. Noelyn Dano hosts his visit while he works with USTP’s energy experts and other associated researchers from the College of Engineering and Architecture, the Power Institute, the Center for Biomass Energy, and the Institute of Governance, Innovations and Sustainability.
This article was re-published with permission from USTP Strategic Communication Office. Original article is courtesy of PJ V. dela Peña, USTP Strategic Communication Office and is published here.
