Joint AdNU - UP Manila Biodiversity Study
on Plants and
Associated Arthropods in Mt. Isarog Approved
A joint research program between the Institute for Environmental Research and Conservation (INECAR) and the College of Computer Studies (CCS) of the Ateneo de Naga on the one hand, and the University of the Philippines on the other, entitled, "Database and Systems Biology for Selected Plants and Associated Arthropods Found in the Four Subcatchments of Mt. Isarog National Park (MINP)" which was reviewed and endorsed by the Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD), has been approved by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for funding. Representing AdNU are Drs. Emelina Regis of the INECAR and Dr. Allan Sioson of the CCS; representing UP Manila is Dr.Malou G. Nicolas and Dr. Noel S. Quiming.
The news of the approval came just before Christmas. Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J., AdNU President, has expressed his heartfelt congratulations to Drs. Regis and Sioson for their role in this research program. He said that the approval was a sign of the maturing calibre of research at AdNU, and expressed hope that it would encourage other AdNU faculty in their research.
Under this program are four research projects - INECAR will handle the research project entitled "Inventory and documentation of some plants and their associated arthropods in MINP" with a project duration of 18 months, while the College of Computer Studies will handle "Database and Analysis System for Data Acquisition and Systems Biology" with a project duration of three years. The latter project will utilize two dedicated servers, one for UP Manila and the other for AdNU, to facilitate transfer of data and analysis between the two universities.
UP Manila will handle two projects dealing with the DNA, RNA and chemical analysis of plants that have observed interactions with arthropods.
The study will be a first in the Philippines. Signing of documents will take place in January or
February of 2009.
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