May 26, 2025
Consistent with its mission of promoting biodiversity science and conservation, Partido State University, through the College of Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems โ Department of Conservation Biology, has embarked on a new academic program that it has dubbed "Exploring Biodiversity Frontiers: A Lecture Series on Systematics, Herpetology, and Biogeography."
The lecture series commenced on May 26, 2025, via Zoom, when Dr. Rafe M. Brown, ย a Fulbright Visiting Professor and renowned Southeast Asian herpetofauna expert in the international scene, gave a lecture. Dr. Brown is Curator-in-Charge, Herpetology Division of the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas, USA.
Dr. Brown, with this lecture titled โResearch Biocollections Ensure Professionalism, Transparency, Reproducibility, and Rigorous Scientific Integrity in Caramoan Biodiversity Conservation Science,โ highlighted the vital role of biocollections and specimen-based research in biodiversity conservation. In his lecture, he emphasized how these resources ensure credible, reproducible scientific work and are the cornerstone of successful conservation planning in areas such as Caramoan, a biologically diverse region in the Philippine biodiversity hotspot.
The Philippines is among the world's 17 megadiverse nations and a declared global biodiversity hotspot. With its distinctive ecosystems and strong endemism, there is a strong need to advance local competence in Systematics, Herpetology, and Biogeographyโdisciplines which enable scientists to categorize species, comprehend their evolutionary backgrounds, and plot their ecological distributions.
This lecture series addresses that need by combining academic instruction, advanced research, and public engagement. It is intended to support ongoing faculty and student research in biodiversity documentation, conservation of endemic species, and science-based policy development for sustainable environmental management.
The activity brought together 50 participants from different academic institutions and government agencies across the Philippines, including participants from Partido State University, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Cebu Technological University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sultan Kudarat State University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture โ Pasacao, National Museum of the Philippines, University of Eastern Philippines, and other organizations.
โExploring Biodiversity Frontiersโ is part of an extended research-cum-extension lecture series that seeks to bridge scholarly research and community engagement. It embodies ParSUโs dedication to producing research-informed graduates, fostering scientific dialogue, and building partnerships that support biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
The next lectures in the series will continue to feature relevant and timely topics aligned with the universityโs research thrusts and conservation goals.
