A FACULTY member from Visayas State University won the best paper award at the 56th Federation of Institutions of Marine and Freshwater Sciences Annual Convention and the 3rd International Biodiversity Conference.

Rafael Junnar Dumalan of the Department of Biological Sciences was recognized for his paper titled “Combined Effects of Temperature and Food Quality on the Growth and Development Rate of Acartia tonsa.”

The paper examines the thermal tolerance and nutritional requirements of copepods, crucial for understanding their role in marine ecosystems and their response to ocean warming and eutrophication.

Dumalan was part of a 16-member team led by DBS Head Dr. Cheryl C. Batistel, which also presented their recent research at the annual conference held in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

The team’s contributions at the two international conferences included 11 oral and 7 poster presentations on a wide range of topics, such as water quality indicators, biodiversity studies, and the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems.

Hosted by Davao Oriental State University, the conferences brought together scientists, researchers, and policymakers to tackle issues related to ecosystem damage, water pollution, and global warming.

The FIMFS Convention, with the theme “BLUE HARMONY: Regenerating Our Aquatic Worlds,” focused on regenerating aquatic ecosystems, while the 3rd IBC addressed sustainable practices in agriculture and ecosystem restoration under the theme “Sustainable Management in Agriculture, Regenerative Technology, and Ecosystem Restoration.”

The event provided a platform for discussing urgent global issues and highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to address biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Participants aimed to develop science-based solutions and policies to ensure the protection and sustainable management of ecosystems worldwide.

The conferences also emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the environmental challenges facing the planet and fostering solutions that align human activities with the natural environment.