Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Central Mindanao University (CMU) and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) continue to strengthen their partnership in biodiversity conservation and research collaboration through the Joint Research Agreement signed in July 2022, set to run until 2026.
Now in its third year, the collaboration has enabled faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, and international symposia, all aimed at advancing biodiversity conservation efforts.
As part of the faculty mobilization program, Dr. Alma B. Mohagan visited OIST to deliver a lecture on the biodiversity conservation of Mindanao from January 20-26, 2025. Alongside this visit, Ms. Kyla Rose S. Gumapac, an MS Biology student at CMU, began her internship at OIST from January 22 to March 21, 2025. Under the mentorship of Dr. Tom Bourguignon, an expert in insect biodiversity and evolution, Ms. Gumapac is conducting her Master’s Thesis, gaining hands-on experience in advanced biodiversity research methodologies.
According to Dr. Mohagan, this collaboration with OIST has been instrumental in advancing biodiversity conservation through several key initiatives, including speakership sessions on biodiversity conservation, roundtable discussions, and joint fieldwork activities.
The collaboration also included specialized laboratory training sessions that focused on insect preservation techniques, endosymbiont research exploring microbial interactions in insect hosts, and DNA barcoding for species identification and evolutionary studies. These workshops provided participants with valuable skills in biodiversity research.
The visit to OIST marked a crucial step in the ongoing implementation of the bilateral project agreement. This initiative focuses on faculty and student mobilization, academic exchanges, and collaborative research aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation.
As part of the continued cooperation, the OIST delegation is scheduled to visit CMU again in October 2025, continuing the long-term academic and research partnership between the two institutions. [Iyren Dalipe Neri with information from Dr. Alma Mohagan, Professor, Institute of Biological Sciences]
