UPLB conducted its 83rd Seminar On Teaching on Aug. 23-26, a historic one because it was the first-ever virtual iteration of the seminar meant to orient and familiarize newly hired individuals with everything they needed to know to be a member of UPLB’s teaching staff.

Entitled “SOT:Facilitating Learning”, the seminar featured guest lectures and talks from speakers on a variety of topics such as academic and administrative policies for faculty. 

The University of the Philippines, through the Padayon Public Service Office, has made the Call for Nominations to the fourth Gawad Pangulo: Award for Excellence in Public Service. This year’s theme, “Galing UP, Lingkod Bayan: Pagtugon sa Hamon ng Pandemya,” aims to award 15 excellent and outstanding COVID-related public service initiatives facilitated and implemented by faculty and staff in all UP Constituent Universities.

As the culture of research and extension continues in the University amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tuklas UPLB segment under Radyo DZLB’s Galing UPLB! program got off the ground with informative and inspiring discussions on plant disease research and volunteerism in UPLB.

May 2021 marked the launch of Tuklas UPLB, becoming the newest addition to the Galing UPLB! program. The segment’s name “tuklas” means to discover – a Filipino term fit to use when talking about the research and extension (R&E) outputs and activities that UPLB is known for. It also showcases first-hand narratives of hardworking and outstanding UPLB REPS and faculty members.

The featured guests of Tuklas UPLB in July showed that UPLB remains true to its mission to serve the public through its research and extension activities, especially during this pandemic. They discussed the role and applications of mathematics in improving the government’s response to COVID-19, and the potential of edible landscaping technology toward food self-sufficiency of Filipinos.

The Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies (DBSES) and Department of Food Science and Technology (DFST) and the Department of Humanities (DH) of UP Mindanao in partnership with the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao put forward a public service program for Mindanao researchers and collaborators through research assistance coupled with technical support on species identification. The sets of data generated from this research may contribute to a broad range of applications from taxonomy, biodiversity conservation programs, and opportunities for bio-economy in Mindanao that can significantly help Philippine biodiversity.

Edible landscaping is gaining importance as rising food prices, food nutrition and food security remain major pressing issues today, said Fernando Sanchez Jr., professor and project leader of the UPLB-CAFS Edible Landscaping unit. Currently, approximately two out of three Filipino households experience food insecurity, he cited.

Sanchez said edible landscaping aims to achieve the four goals of aesthetics, functionality, health and wellness, and self-sufficiency. “With edible landscaping, we can establish attractive and functional spaces.”

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), University of The Philippines-Manila (UPM), and Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) seeking to develop and promote scientific and technological cooperation on translational hetapology through joint research and development, grant of scholarships and research fellowships, and exchange of scientists, experts and researchers for studies, and training.