About the Laboratory:
What if modern technology learned from the way the Earth builds and heals itself?
Geonics turns deep-time geologic wisdom into practical tools for today—so materials last longer, waste becomes resource, and industries tread lighter.
Who we are:
A young, multidisciplinary team working across geology, materials, and the environment—bringing Earth’s long view to problems that can’t wait.
What we do:
We translate the Earth’s long-term playbook into practical, low-footprint materials and tools.
That means longer-lasting products, cleaner water and soils, and smarter use of local resources—so industries can do more with less.
- Make waste useful: turn byproducts into inputs for circular processes.
- Design for durability: borrow resilience from geologic systems.
- Work with what’s local: start with Philippine earth materials and community needs.
- Keep it accessible: solutions that are scalable, affordable, and field-ready.
Laboratory Head
Chelo S. Pascua, Ph.D. - Environmental Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Clay Mineralogy, Material Science
Contact Information:
Website: Geonics Laboratory
Email: info@geonicslab.com
Location: NIGS Room 102
Research Interests:
- Geomimicry/geonics: design rules drawn from Earth’s long view.
- Natural nanomaterials from local clays and minerals.
- Gentle tuning of clays and interfaces for better, safer composites.
- Bottom-up nanostructures from natural precursors (e.g., silica-rich fluids).
- Circular mining: turning byproducts into useful inputs.
- Materials for clean water and soils.
- Durability inspired by geologic resilience.
- Field→lab tools and clear communication (remote sensing, XRD/AFM, 3D projection mapping).
Research and Extension Activities for 2024:
Local Conference Presentation (1)
- "Potential role of grasslands in carbon capture and storage: A case study for San Jose Town, Tarlac Province."; NIGSCon 2024
NIGS-Funded Project (1)
- Project: Mineralogical Characterization of Tuffaceous Soils From The Tarlac Formation, Tarlac Province
- Project Leader: Pascua, Chelo S., Ph.D.
- Period: 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024
- Funding Source: UP NIGS
- Amount: P 120,000.00
Authored Books/Chapters (1)
- For Whom the Balangiga Bells Toll” A Path Towards Antifragility
Extension Activities (1)
- Turnover of the Results of initial geological studies of the Balangiga River Watershed(BRW) to LGU Balangiga. (3D Map Model of BRW)
Laboratory Members:
Ph.D. Students
- Jayson S. Cabral
- Jhonard John L. Garcia
M.S. Students
- Alexander Keihl B. Magtoto (URA)
- Edblanch Y. Blanco
- Katherine M. Velasquez
- Mark Solomon C. Ferino
Undergraduate Students
- Domenico Rafael
- Hallizha Bagacin
