The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) participated in the 2024 Global Reach symposium held from August 7-8, 2024.
UPV was one of the partner universities of the annual graduate student virtual symposium, hosted by Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture in Canada.
Themed “Solving agriculture problem through research and innovation,” the international scientific conference provided graduate students from partner institutions the opportunity to present their research findings and collaborate with an international audience.
Two MS students from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, UPV, namely Whelver Surnido and Jhoanna Faye Jacinto, presented their studies online via Zoom, focused on the themes of “Food Systems and Community Agriculture” and “Climate Smart Agriculture”.
Surnido discussed his study on “Ice-ice Maybes: Microbiome Collaborates with and Listens to Temperature in the Development of a Disease in the Carrageenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii.” The research work looked into the effect of temperature on the microbiome of K. alvarezii, in light of the development of ice-ice disease, which continues to suffer large economic losses in the cultivation of the carrageenophyte, Kappaphycus alvarezii. Surnido presented that ”elucidating the processes regulating the microbiome dynamics and their interactions with the seaweed host and the environment clarifies the maybes of ice-ice disease, providing insights into microbiome manipulation to mitigate bacterial dysbiosis and consequently disease.”
Jacinto, on the other hand, presented the results of her study titled “Optimization of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Seaweed-Based Bioplastic using Response Surface Methodology." The paper focuses on developing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics by using seaweed polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, and carrageenan. Through a Central Composite Design of Response Surface Methodology (CCD-RSM), the research optimizes these components, alongside glycerol as a plasticizer, to enhance the bioplastic's physical and mechanical properties, including water vapor permeability, tensile strength, and elongation at break. The resulting bioplastic demonstrates promising potential for eco-friendly food packaging with excellent biodegradability and performance characteristics.
Surnido and Jacinto are mentored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel N. Ferriols and Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap, respectively.
The symposium was also participated by graduate students from seven other partner universities from Canada, China, India, Kenya, and the Philippines, namely Dalhousie University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), West Visayas State University (WVSU), and UP Los Baños (UPLB).
Moreover, Chancellor Clement C. Camposano delivered a message on behalf of UPV along with the vice president of Dalhousie University, and vice chancellors from TNAU, FAFU, and MUST.
The Chancellor highlighted UPV’s global engagement strategy as well as the crucial role of internationalization engagements in the growth and development of higher educational institutions. (With sources from Whelver Surnido, Jhoana Faye Jacinto, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Mary Grace Sedanza)
