UPLB, PRMSU enlighten Zambales studes’ awareness in biotech
By Aries Jade Refugio
PRMSU-Iba—The University of Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) biotechnology team
visited President Ramon Magsaysay State University-Iba main campus (PRMSU-Iba)
to conduct a seminar-workshop regarding the applications of microbial
biotechnology in environmental and industrial settings at PRMSU Gymnasium on
Oct. 17.
The event was initiated by Dr. Rowena R. Sazon, Director of the Center for
Environment and Climate Change (CECC) and Program Chair of BS Enviromental
Science, who was also the project leader of the Greening Out Mined-Out Areas in the
Philippines (GMAP) program—the first collaboration of PRMSU and UPLB.
Irene G. Pajares of the UPLB Biotechnology for Industry, Environment, and Energy
Program (BIEEP) delivered her opening remarks by tackling their research initiatives
on enhancing the environmental and industrial implementation of biotechnology.
The biotech team of UPLB prepared topics in the lecture part of the program, such as
microbiological degradation of plastics, industrial biotechnology for biomass
valorization, environmental applications of yeast-derived biosurfactant, water
treatment of membrane technology, and nanobiosensors for detection of
contaminants.
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent of Zambales, Ilynne S. Samonte, instructed
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students of the province
to participate in the said program.
“Very overwhelmed kami kasi parang isa ito sa mga largest turnout ng mga napa-
training namin sa SUCs. And syempre happy kami na very receptive sila and
interested sila sa kung ano man ginagawa namin,” Pajares of UPLB-Biotech said in an
interview.
In the main highlight of the program, the UPLB-Biotech team enabled participants to
test their equipment in the hands-on workshop of isolating deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) in a bacteria, creating pure DNA.
To end the workshop, trainers of UPLB demonstrated to the participants the
visualization of their created pure DNA through ultraviolet (UV) light.
The event was also a partnership between the CECC, College of Agriculture and
Forestry (CAF), and Gender and Development (GAD) under the program ‘Engaging
Women in STEM Research.’
Meanwhile, GAD Director Dr. Arra Q. Abaniel shared in her closing remarks the
reluctance of women nowadays in acquiring science and technology-related courses,
yet she was glad to see the majority participation of women in the workshop.
