Published on the official website of the University of San Carlos, July 2025
USC Hosts International Symposium and Workshop on Seaweed Research and Taxonomy
The University of San Carlos, through the Department of Biology, successfully hosted the Seaweed Research Mini-Symposium and Seaweed Taxonomy Workshop—an intensive three-day scientific gathering held from June 3 to 5, 2025, at the USC Talamban Campus and the USC Marine Station in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.
Organized with the support of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the Research, Development, Extension, and Publications Office (RDEPO), the event brought together international researchers, faculty, and students to promote scientific exchange and deliver hands-on training in marine macroalgal research and taxonomy.
The program officially opened on June 3 with the Seaweed Research Mini-Symposium held at the SAFAD Theater. Messages of welcome and support were delivered by Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D. (University President); Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Ph.D. (Vice President for Academic Affairs); Glenn G. Glarino, Ph.D. (Dean, SAS); and Patrick John Y. Lim, Ph.D. (Director, RDEPO).
From left: Dr. Ligia Collado-Vides, Dr. Ileana Ortegon-Aznar, Dr. Estela Maria Plastino, Dr. Mi Yeon Yang, and Dr. Min Khant Kyaw. (Photo credit: Edwina Escobido)
The symposium featured five presentations from invited speakers across the globe, addressing key challenges and recent developments in the field of seaweed research, namely:
Ligia Collado-Vides, Ph.D. (Florida International University, USA)
Navigating the Sargassum Atlantic crisis: A problem that needs international collaboration
Ileana Ortegon-Aznar, Ph.D. (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico)
Morphological groups as a tool for the study of reef environments: Case study of rocky reefs in Yucatán, Mexico
Estela Maria Plastino, Ph.D. (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil)
Intraspecific diversity in red algae
Mi Yeon Yang, Ph.D. (Jeju National University, South Korea)
Molecular assessment of rhodolith-forming algal diversity in Udo Islet, Jeju
Min Khant Kyaw, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University, Japan)
Mesophotic species diversity of rhodolith-forming non-geniculate coralline algae in Japan
Dr. Lawrence Liao talks to the participants of the seaweed taxonomy workshop.
The seaweed taxonomy workshop commenced in the afternoon at the Arnoldus Science Complex. The session was formally opened by Paul John L. Geraldino, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, with welcome remarks from Mario N. Ruinata, Regional Director of BFAR VII. Lawrence M. Liao, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University) provided the workshop orientation and overview, setting the stage for a specialized lecture on Laurencia taxonomy jointly delivered by Mutue Toyota Fujii, Ph.D. (Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, São Paulo, Brazil) and Valeria Cassano, Ph.D. (Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil).
Workshop activities resumed on June 4 with a lecture by Dr. Liao on the history of Laurencia taxonomy in the Philippines, followed by practical exercises in specimen examination and identification. On the final day, June 5, participants gathered at the USC Marine Station to conduct fieldwork, specimen collection, and laboratory processing under the guidance of Dominic Franco C. Belleza, Ph.D. and Alvin P. Monotilla, Ph.D., both faculty members of the USC Department of Biology.
Fieldwork and algal specimen collection off the waters of Mactan Island.
Researchers examining and identifying algal specimens in the laboratory.
Through this initiative, USC reaffirms its commitment to fostering international scientific collaboration and strengthening local research capacity in marine science, further advancing biodiversity research and promoting sustainable coastal management in the Philippines.
Published on the official website of the University of San Carlos, March 2018
Malaysian, Dutch, UP MSI professors speak at 30th Schoenig Biosymposium
Three plenary lectures by Malaysian, Dutch, and Filipino professors highlighted the 30th Father Heinrich Schoenig Biosymposium held last March 3, 2018 at the Buttenbruch Hall in the Downtown Campus.
After a welcome address from USC President Fr. Dionisio M. Miranda, SVD, plenary talks by Dr. Nur Leena Wong Wai Sin (Universiti Putra Malaysia), B. J. A. van Bueren (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan), and Dr. Hazel O. Arceo (University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute) addressed the theme of the symposium which was “Environmental conservation and restoration for sustainable development.”
Dr. Sin spoke about “Humans and Marine Molluscs,” while Taiwanese-based van Bueren, who is Director of Dutch Design Post, shared his work on “Floating Gardens: Ideas and Experiments from a Water Architect.” In the afternoon session, Dr. Arceo talked about “Marine Biodiversity Conservation” in the Philippines.
Eight oral papers from undergraduate and graduate students were also presented along with 35 poster presentations from Senior High School, undergraduate, and graduate students from different high schools, colleges, and universities in Cebu and neighboring Bohol province.
The best oral presentation award was given to Garren Cortes, Bianca Louise Fuentes, Joseph Cabrera, and Dr. Frances Edillo (USC Department of Biology) for their paper “Effects of Temperature Regimes on Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culcidae) from Cebu Highland and Lowland Sites, Philippines: Implications to Climate Change and Public Health.” The best (undergraduate) poster was awarded to Kurt Bryant Bacharo, Nico Brian Uy, Antonio Ayop, and Dr. Filipina Sotto (USC Department of Biology) on their study “Some Commensals Found on the Branched Black Coral Antipathes spp. (Antipatharia: Antipathidae) from Two Sites along the Eastern Part of Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.” The Senior High School category best poster award, meanwhile, went to Aime Lamoste, Denver Dalman, Nikko Salomon, and Benito A. Baje (adviser, Philippine Science High School, Central Visayas Campus, Argao) for their study “Arduino-based Soil Moisture and Temperature Sensor as a Tool for Physical Soil Analysis.”
Participants of the 30th Schoenig Biosymposium.