Writer and Photo: Ranty M. Pao-eng, RCrim
The University of the Cordilleras with it’s “Balik Scientist Program” conducted the seminar on July 24, 2026 wherein various institutions and local government organizations were invited. The Baguio Central University – College of Criminal Justice Education was also invited as participant. It was attended by CCJE Intern Coordinator Mr. Ranty M. Pao-eng.
Dr. Elmer-Rico E. Mojica, Associate Directory for Forensic Science of Pace University serves as the lecturer in “AI-Assisted Chemometrics and Advanced Data Analytics in Forensic Science”. The seminar gives emphasis on the use of Artificial Intelligence nowadays, the chemometrics, and the transformation of Crime Laboratory Science. The seminar discusses the following: explosion of analytical data from modern instruments wherein AI really aids in speedy collection of necessary information; with the effect of continuous modernization there are new psychoactive substances emerging rapidly; as to the nature of crimes that are transpiring even the modes of investigation, and evidence collection there are massive digital evidence from cyber and mobile devices that could be carried out in upholding justice; there are complex datasets across chemistry, biology, and imaging wherein in-depth interpretation and analyzation is essential to establish facts based on science; lastly, with the use of AI, considering the number of cases and more data generated, there’s higher expectations that insights, patterns and evidence would be highly evaluated though use of different AIninstruments and apparatus such as GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, and Raman for the consolidation, interpretation, and evaluation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Elmer-Rico E. Mojica, Associate Directory for Forensic Science of Pace University, together with Ms. Hazel Joyce M. Ramirez, Assistant Professor of the College of Education of the University of the Philippines Diliman and Mr. Ralph Lauren Alomia, Associate Professor of the Institute of Chemistry of the University of the Philippines Los Banos serves as lecturers in “Sustainability, Water Quality, and Citizen Science: Empowering the Community Through Hands-on Environmental Monitoring”. The seminar covers the water security, water quality, water monitoring, and water sustainability. It emphasize the importance of maintaining the clean water in relation to sustainability to address the growing population, climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and inequality. As part of the seminar, the participants were actually called for a workshop to test the water samples they brought from different sources, mostly there own water sources. The workshop aims to see how safe the waters are for human consumption.
SDG No. The seminar workshop aligns with the following SDGs 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17