University of the Philippines (UP) professor Charleston Dale Ambatali is the first Filipino recipient of a scholarship program to study space technology in leading universities in Japan.
Ambatali was chosen to join the Program on Human Resource Development (HRD) for Space Technology Utilization through the Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP), announced in a press release by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on August 18, 2021.
The young faculty of the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UPEEI) has helped develop elective courses on satellite systems and was also previously assigned to work in the Philippine microsatellite program.
“Through the scholarship, I look forward to enhancing my research capability in space development and lead projects to promote a better quality of life for many Filipinos,” Charleston Dale Ambatali said.
“Since most marginalized communities live in rough, underdeveloped terrains, I aim to design radars on unmanned aerial vehicles to survey these communities and address their problems,” Ambatali added.
Ambatali will be completing a doctorate degree in aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering in Japan.
“When I return to the Philippines, I also envision myself to be mentoring young students on satellite development, and contributing to the growth of the space program in my country,” Ambatali said.
UPEEI currently hosts the Stamina4Space Program, the successor to the Philippine microsatellite program, and which focuses on developing human resources for nanosatellite development. The program offers
nanosatellite space technology scholarships.
The KCCP course on space technology utilization is part of the JICA-JAXA Network for Utilization of Space Technology (JJ-NeST) that aims to develop core human resources in space technology as well as contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“COVID-19 has disrupted all major economies. Supporting human resource development in space technology utilization will enhance knowledge-sharing when it comes to finding answers to our common development problems,” JICA Philippines Senior Representative OHSHIMA Ayumu said in a statement.
“We’ve seen how the Philippines’ first microsatellite added value to extreme weather monitoring approaches. By sending young Filipinos to learn from Japan’s experience in space technology innovation then we can enhance disaster management, environment protection, and other development areas that matter to our countries.” Ayumu adds.
JICA, through the KCCP, has been sending young Filipinos to study in leading Japanese universities and to support human resource development in the Philippines.
The Philippines’ first microsatellites DIWATA-1 and 2 under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and University of the Philippines were launched with assistance from Japan’s Tohoku University and Hokkaido University.
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