VSU Department of Physics

Special Talk on “Optical Sensing Techniques for Health, Environment, and Agricultural Applications”

The VSU Department of Physics headed by Assoc. Prof. Marlon F. Sacedon, organized a special talk featuring Full Professor Maria Cecilia D. Galvez, Ph.D. from De La Salle University on December 02, 2025, offering students and faculty an insightful session on the latest innovations in optical sensing and its applications in health diagnostics, environment and agricultural monitoring.

The talk discussed various optical sensing techniques, including spectroscopic methods, fluorescence-based detection, OCT, sensors, and emerging LIDAR applications. Participants learned how these tools are used to assess environmental conditions, detect pollutants, analyze biological samples, and support interdisciplinary research across physics, engineering, and life sciences.

The event, held at the IEO Smart Classroom, saw enthusiastic participation from VSU Applied Physics Society, making it a meaningful and engaging knowledge-sharing experience.

Special thanks to Dr. Galvez for sharing her expertise, and to everyone who joined us for this successful event!

Join Us for a special talk about:

"Optical Sensing Techniques for Health and Environmental Applications”
🗓 December 2, 2025
⏰ 9:00–11:00 AM
📍 IEO Smart Classroom

We are honored to welcome our resource speaker: Dr. Maria Cecilia Galvez, a Full Professor from the Department of Physics, De La Salle University, Manila, as we learn how optical sensing technologies are used in real-world health and environmental monitoring.

Open to all students and faculty!

See you there!

🔵 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 🔵

The Department of Physics is now accepting applications for the Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics (BSAP) Scholarship under the VSU Financial Assistance Scholarship Program!

🌟 15 slots are available per year level.
📑 For complete details, kindly check the attached file.

Don’t miss this opportunity—APPLY NOW!

Congratulations, Sir SACE!

We proudly celebrate the appointment of 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗡 𝗙. 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗗𝗢𝗡 as the new Department Head of the Department of Physics under the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.

His dedication to academic excellence, leadership in research, and commitment to student development make him an inspiring choice to lead the department into its next chapter. We look forward to the continued growth and innovation that his stewardship will bring to the physics community.

Let us all extend our warmest congratulations and support as he takes on this new role!

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻!
Be part of the 3rd USC-VSU Biophysics Symposium happening on July 25, 2025 (8 AM to 5 PM), at VSU-Main Campus with a theme “Frontiers in Biophysics: Exploring Soft Matter and Complex Systems.
Are you a Senior High School or Undergraduate student passionate about science and innovation? Join now and submit your poster abstracts across a range of topics in biophysics.
𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 (𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼):
• Biopolymers and Sustainable Materials
• Drug Delivery and Biomaterials
• Marine Biophysics and Biodiversity
• Medical Imaging and Diagnostics
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀:
• Abstract Deadline: July 14, 2025
• Notice of Acceptance: July 18, 2025
𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀:
1st Prize – PHP 5,000
2nd Prize – PHP 2,000
3rd Prize – PHP 1,000
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://bit.ly/3rdUSCVSUBiosymposium
𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁: https://bit.ly/USCVSUBiosymposiumAbstractSubmission
Supported by: ZEISS, MEDTEST, VIOLABS, and ALVTechnologies Philippines Inc.

Join now and submit your poster abstracts across a range of topics in biophysics!

𝓓𝓮𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓟𝓱𝔂𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓥𝓢𝓤 𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓟𝓱𝔂𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓼 𝓢𝓸𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓽𝔂 𝓗𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓼 2𝓷𝓭 𝓤𝓢𝓒–𝓥𝓢𝓤 𝓐𝓢𝓣𝓡𝓞𝓒𝓐𝓜𝓟 2025

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖣𝖾𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖯𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖵𝖲𝖴 𝖠𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖽 𝖯𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌 𝖲𝗈𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗍𝗒 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 2𝗇𝖽 𝖴𝖲𝖢–𝖵𝖲𝖴 𝖠𝖲𝖳𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖠𝖬𝖯 2025 𝗈𝗇 𝖠𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗅 10–11 𝖺𝗍 𝖵𝗂𝗌𝖺𝗒𝖺𝗌 𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖴𝗇𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗒. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗐𝗈-𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿𝖿𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗊𝗎𝖾 𝗈𝗉𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗇𝗀𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌-𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝗇 𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗆𝗒, 𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗆 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗉𝗌, 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗀𝖺𝗓𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗍-𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗂𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗉𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖾𝖾𝗉𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝖼𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗂𝖼 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀.

𝖮𝗇 𝖠𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗅 10, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗄𝗂𝖼𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝗇 "𝖨𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗈𝖽𝗎𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖯𝗋𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗂𝗉𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖠𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗈𝗆𝗒" 𝖻𝗒 𝖣𝗋. 𝖱𝖾𝗇𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾 𝖱. 𝖵𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖺, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 "𝖳𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗄𝗒 𝖮𝖻𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖶𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗉" 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗎𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝖯. 𝖡𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗇. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌, 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 2:30 𝖯𝖬 𝗍𝗈 5:00 𝖯𝖬 𝖺𝗍 𝖣𝖬𝖺𝗍𝗁 𝖱𝗈𝗈𝗆 1, 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 80 𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗁𝗎𝗌𝗂𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗌. 𝖫𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖺 𝖳𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝖵𝗂𝖾𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗀𝖺𝗓𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖲𝖾𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖽𝗋𝖾𝗐 𝖺 𝖼𝗋𝗈𝗐𝖽 𝗈𝖿 100 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖵𝖲𝖴 𝖡𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 7:00 𝖯𝖬 𝗍𝗈 10:00 𝖯𝖬.

The 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝖠𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗅 11, 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗄𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗉 𝗈𝗇 "𝖬𝗈𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗎𝗅𝖾 𝖧𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝖲𝗉𝖺𝖼𝖾" 𝖻𝗒 𝖣𝗋. 𝖷𝖺𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝖫. 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖺, 𝗁𝖾𝗅𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 8:00 𝖠𝖬 𝗍𝗈 12:00 𝖭𝖭 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖵𝖲𝖴 𝖲𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝖢𝗅𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆. 𝖯𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗉𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗈𝗉𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗎𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗒 𝗍𝗈 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝗅𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅-𝗐𝗈𝗋𝗅𝖽 𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗋𝗈𝗉𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖯𝗒𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗇 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗆𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖿𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗇𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾.

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖣𝖾𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖯𝗁𝗒𝗌𝗂𝖼𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝖿𝖾𝗅𝗍 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖴𝖲𝖢 𝖽𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗀𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗂𝗇𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗋𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗌𝗉𝖾𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝖯. 𝖡𝗎𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗇, 𝖣𝗋. 𝖱𝖾𝗇𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖾 𝖱. 𝖵𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽𝖺, 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖣𝗋. 𝖷𝖺𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗋 𝖫. 𝖡𝖺𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖺 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗌𝖾. 𝖲𝗉𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝗀𝗈 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖴𝖲𝖢 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗂𝗅𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗌: 𝖵𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖿 𝖠𝗇𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗇𝗒 𝖹𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺 𝖠. 𝖦𝖺𝗅𝖺𝗇𝗂𝖽𝖺, 𝖸𝗌𝗈𝖻𝖾𝗅 𝖲𝖾𝖻𝖺𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗇𝗇𝖾 𝖠. 𝖩𝖺𝗀𝗈𝗇𝗂𝗈, 𝖠𝗆𝗂𝖾𝗅 𝖩𝖺𝖼𝗈𝖻 𝖯. 𝖠𝗇𝗍𝗈𝗇𝗂𝗈, 𝖵𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖩𝗎𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗇 𝖢. 𝖢𝖺𝗌𝖺𝗌. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗋𝗂𝖻𝗎𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗒𝖾𝖽 𝖺 𝗏𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗅 𝗋𝗈𝗅𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝖠𝖲𝖳𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖠𝖬𝖯 2025.

Houston, we have a problem.

We've got an entire universe to explore, and we need YOU to help us solve the mysteries of the cosmos! Get ready for two exciting days of cosmic exploration, learning, and hands-on experience. Whether you're an aspiring astronaut or just curious about the stars, AstroCamp 2025 is your mission to discover the wonders of the universe. Open to junior high, senior high, and college students!

Proudly organized by the VSU Department of Physics, USC Department of Physics, the VSU Applied Physics Society, and the USC Physics and Astronomy Society.

Schedule:

April 10 - 1:00–11:30 PM (Thursday, DMath Lecture Room 1):
- Principles of Astronomy with Dr. Violanda
- Telescope & Sky Observation Workshop with Prof. Bulanon
- Free Night Sky Viewing (starts at 7PM - open to all!)

April 11 - 8:00AM–11:30 AM (Friday, VSU Smart Classroom):
- Computational Astrophysics Workshop with Dr. Bacalla (Limited slots available — participants must have basic Python knowledge and bring their own laptop)

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𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 (𝗣𝗣𝗦) 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Fifteen papers from the Department of Physics, contributed by both students and faculty, were accepted for oral presentation at the 47th Philippine Physics Society (PPS) Annual National Physics Seminar-Workshop/Convention. The event was held at Foundation University in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, from March 25–28, 2025. This year’s seminar, themed “Physics for Advancing Eco-Friendly Innovation,” brought together experts and enthusiasts to explore cutting-edge research in physics.

A total of 11 students and 2 faculty members presented their papers, showcasing the department's commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. The convention also featured the 38th National Physics Olympics and the 33rd National Physics Fair, highlighting the vibrant and dynamic nature of the physics community in the Philippines.

This event serves as a testament to the department’s ongoing efforts to foster academic excellence and promote collaboration within the scientific community.

𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Physics teachers are not just experts in the laws of motion, energy, and forces—they also embody these principles in real life. Proving that they can apply physics beyond the classroom, three dedicated educators recently took on the challenge of endurance sports, participating in triathlon and run events to test their physical limits.

On March 1, 2025, Mary Angelica Villocino and Oliver Semblante showcased their athletic prowess by joining the TWM 32.0 event in Poro, Camotes. The grueling race pushed them to demonstrate resilience, endurance, and discipline, qualities they also impart to their students. Their participation not only highlighted their passion for sports but also served as an inspiration to those around them, proving that teachers can balance academics and fitness.

Meanwhile, on February 23, 2025, Jeffrey Lloyd Cagande competed in Leg 1 of the prestigious APEC Trifecta Event held in Ormoc City. A test of both physical and mental stamina, the event brought together athletes from various backgrounds. Cagande’s involvement in such a competitive race exemplifies his dedication to maintaining an active lifestyle while being an educator.

The participation of these physics teachers in endurance races sends a powerful message to students and colleagues alike: learning and personal growth extend beyond the four walls of the classroom. Their commitment to fitness and well-being reflects the very principles of physics—motion, energy, and perseverance. More than just academic mentors, they are living proof that the pursuit of excellence applies to all aspects of life.

As they continue to take on new challenges, these teachers demonstrate that education is not only about imparting knowledge but also about leading by example. Whether in the classroom or on the race track, they embody the spirit of determination, inspiring others to push their own limits and embrace a dynamic, active lifestyle.