Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
In its ongoing commitment to advancing the internationalization of education, Central Mindanao University, through the Office of International Relations, organized a Hydrobiology Symposium and Training-Workshop held on June 23, 2025, at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Auditorium.
The event aimed to bring together experts, educators, practitioners, students, and key stakeholders in the biological sciences to share insights, foster collaborative research, and promote best practices in hydrobiological studies across the Philippines.
In his opening remarks, the University President underscored the importance of the symposium in advancing CMU’s mission. Dr. Eballe affirmed that the Hydrobiology Symposium and Training Workshop was a significant step toward acquiring more knowledge, particularly in advancing Central Mindanao University’s mission to push the frontiers of knowledge and promote international collaboration in research and education.
The symposium also featured esteemed researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences who shared insights from their respective fields of expertise: Dr. Evgeny Gusev and Dr. Nikita Martynenko presented Aquatic Ecosystem Diversity Using e-DNA and Metabarcoding; Dr. Petr Garibian discussed the Diversity of Cladocera (Water Fleas); and Dr. Alisa Neplykhina spoke on the Diversity of Algae.
Moreover, Dr. Regie Y. Dela Cruz, Director of the Institute of Biological Sciences, expressed her gratitude to the distinguished speakers for their insightful presentations. She emphasized how these talks reminded participants of the critical role aquatic ecosystems play—not only in global biodiversity but also in climate stability, sustainable development, and food security.
“We are grateful for your generous sharing of knowledge across borders. Indeed, science knows no boundaries, and today’s seminar is proof that collaboration—even across continents—is key to addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges,” Dr. Dela Cruz added.
The event was attended by faculty, staff, and students from various colleges and units of CMU, including the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, College of Education, College of Forestry and Environmental Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, CEBREM, the University Museum, and CENRO/LGU Valencia. Participants from other institutions also joined, such as Bukidnon State University, Davao Medical School Foundation, Davao Doctors College, and the Philippine Science High School SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus.
The event was successfully organized through the joint efforts of several university units, including the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension; the Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM); the College of Arts and Sciences; the Institute of Biological Sciences; the University Museum; and the Office of Public Relations and Information. [Mary Jane D. Bravo with information from the Office of International Relations]
