USM’s Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory in High Gear

The Ecology and Conservation Research Laboratory (Eco/Con Lab) was created on March 23, 2022, with the approval of the University Administrative Council and the Board of Regents. According to its manifesto, the Eco/Con Lab aims to serve as an academic think tank that implements competitive studies in the areas of ecology and conservation in Mindanao and globally. The Eco/Con Lab is a goal-oriented academic research group aiming to develop and implement innovative and advanced research in ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. The Eco/Con lab promotes and pursues USM’s strengths in ecological and environmental research and will serve as a gateway to support collaboration within the institution and across other networks locally and globally to support the institution’s R&DE agenda. Most importantly, the research laboratory is a venue to train and mentor emerging and young ecologists and conservation biologists.

Within nine months of its creation, the Eco/Con Lab has already produced 8 publications with 12 more on the way and has participated in 11 conferences and trainings. It is currently leading and mentoring 23 students and mentees through 6 key projects and studies with more than 1.2 million pesos research funding. The Eco/Con Lab has also organized three international online webinars with at least 500 participants and views through Zoom, livestreaming, and YouTube (https://bit.ly/3uLOSf0).

The Eco/Con Lab is composed of three research groups (Integrative Biodiversity Conservation Group, Ecophysiology in a Changing Environment Group, and Freshwater Ecology Group) with Dr. Krizler C. Tanalgo, Dr. Angelo R. Agduma, Prof. Renee Jane A. Ele, Dr. Sedra A. Murray, and Dr. Meriam M. Rubio, Bona Abigail Hilario-Husain, and Sheila Prince A. Balase.

You may read the Lab’s full manifesto (click here) and report (click here).

Follow the Eco/Con Lab through its Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/EcoconLab/).