Ceejay Faala, a junior secondary education student majoring in science in Negros Occidental, has gained notoriety throughout the world for creating the pen-sized digital "pencroscope."
Studying at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) Binalbagan Campus in Negros Occidental, Faala's study entitled, "Learning with Innovated Microscope: Addressing Instrument Gap in Biology Class," has been selected for the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Research Project of the Year shortlist in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2025.
Faala created the “pencroscope” through recycled materials to solve the shortage of inexpensive tools in biology classrooms.
Negros pride
Along with eight other institutions from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey, CHMSU is the only institution in the nation to make the shortlist for the Research Project of the Year: STEM category.
“To see our efforts acknowledged on such a prestigious international platform is both humbling and motivating. I am deeply grateful to my mentors, research collaborators and everyone who believed in the vision of the pencroscope,” Faala said in a Facebook post.
Alberto De la Cruz, Faala's research adviser, helped the student create the "pencroscope" out of discarded electrical equipment and other items.
Prestigious contest
On April 22, a ceremony will be held in Macau to announce the winners.
The Times Higher Education is a multinational organization best known for its "World University Rankings," which offer data and statistics about institutions around the world.
It is regarded as one of the most reliable sources for assessing universities worldwide and evaluates them according to their performance in teaching, research, international view, and knowledge transfer.
