Nat’l scientific confab kicks off in Butuan city

By Erwin M. Mascariñas
Correspondent .

Butuan City — About 150 scientists, academe, and students from different schools all over the country have gathered here for the two-day 36th Symposium and Annual Meeting of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines (ASBP) at the Father Saturnino Urios University campus Wednesday.

“We are gathered here in Butuan at the downstream of the mighty Agusan River draining from the vast Agusan Marsh, one of the country’s largest wetlands whose rich flora and fauna are only beginning to be known and appreciated. Our various speakers will showcase the biological gems of our country, particularly Mindanao, and talk about the evolving multidisciplinary approaches defining the study of taxonomy and systematics like cultural history, chemistry, and ecology,” said Dr. Lawrence Liao, President ASBP and associate professor of the Graduate School of Biosphere Science at Hiroshima University in Japan.

Liao pointed out that getting to know the rich biodiversity of the country through the works of taxonomists and systematists is important.

Rev. Fr. Randy Jasper Odchigue, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research of FSUU stated that having the event in their school is a great privilege not only for the school but for Butuan City and the rest of Caraga Region.

“Having all these scientific experts from all over the country coming and other parts of the world and from the universities all over the country and have them gather in Butuan City is already a great honor and privilege. This activity will also help out our local scientific research, study, and efforts especially from the perspective of our academe.

This initiative is done under the administration of FSUU but especially also under the research division of the university.