Physics Dept Holds Second Leg of Applied Physics Symposium at DRANHS, DCNHS
On 4 September 2026, the Ateneo de Davao Physics Department conducted the second leg of its Symposium on Applied Physics and Emerging Technologies at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS) in the morning and Davao City National High School (DCNHS) in the afternoon.
Physics Department Chairperson Dr. Belinda F. Faustino opened both sessions with a welcome address, situating the symposium within the department’s broader goal of exposing senior high school students to the breadth of Physics and the career opportunities it offers.
Dominador F. Vaso, Jr., a PhD candidate in Physics, opened the technical discussions by describing mathematics as a tool for testing ideas about nature before applying them in the real world. Vaso walked students through fundamental concepts in Physics, illustrating how curiosity can be transformed into structured inquiry and measurable results.
Andelson L. Berondo, MSc, a Medical Physicist and Assistant Professor at Ateneo de Davao University, discussed the field of Medical Physics and its applications in healthcare. Berondo described the role of a medical physicist as a link between advanced technology and safe patient treatment, and outlined career paths in radiotherapy, diagnostic imaging, nuclear medicine, government regulation, and industry.
Jonathan N. Patricio, a PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering, discussed emerging developments in Materials Science and Nanotechnology, noting that materials have become active components of everyday technology rather than passive objects.
Dr. Jose Presiphil B. Ontolan, Jr. shared his path into the profession, recalling an early ambition to become a professional soccer player before pursuing Physics. “Everything around us involves Physics,” he told students, underscoring the discipline’s presence in daily life.
Faculty members Dr. Rachel B. Remedios hosted the event, while Engr. Dave Marvyn S. Salvador of Materials Engineering facilitated interactive icebreaker sessions with students, featuring Q&A portions covering beginning to intermediate Physics concepts.
The symposium is the second installment in a series of school visits organized by the department, following its inaugural session at the Philippine Science High School – Davao Region Campus on 7 August 2026.
