National Scientist Dr. Gavino Trono will be honored during the 9th National Symposium and Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Phycological Society, Inc. (PPSI) on Nov. 12 to 13.
The virtual symposium is jointly organized by the Batangas State University (BatStateU) through the Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences (VIP CORALS), and the PPSI.
In a statement provided by the DOST-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), the BatStateU announced on Monday, Nov. 8, that they will pay homage to the 90th birthday of Dr. Gavino Trono Jr., a Filipino marine biologist dubbed as the “Father of Kappaphycus farming."
"Dr. Trono was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines for contributions to the study of tropical marine phycology, focusing on seaweed biodiversity,” it said in a statement.
Trono currently serves as a technical consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Aquaculture Seaweed Research and Development. He is a professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI).
Anchored on a theme “Phycology Under New Normal and Beyond”, the symposium has four international scientists as plenary speakers.
They are Dr. Victoria Chraibi, assistant professor of Biological Science, Tarleton State University, United States; Dr. Roberta D’Archino, marine biologist- Coast and Oceans, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA); Dr. Suzanne McGowan, professor of Freshwater Science, Netherlands Institute of Ecology; and Dr. Joel Cuello, professor of Biosystems Engineering, University of Arizona.
Also featured in this year’s scientific program are oral and poster sessions from professionals and students presenting a broad range of research findings related to phycology, PPSI President Dr. Wilberto D. Monotilla said.
“The symposium will provide the ideal forum to stimulate ideas and establish collaborations as well as encourage and initiate discussions. As we journey towards our third decade in providing professional and scientific education, we aim to create a new engaging online experience with aspiring professionals by providing innovative insights and invaluable guidance and assistance from experts in the field of Phycology,” he said.
This will be the first time that the symposium will be held virtually, the BatStateU noted.
It said PPSI conducts its symposium biennially with partner organizations and universities in some localities. Included in the list of its partners were UP MSI (2007 and 2011), UP Los Baños (2009), Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) (2013), Mariano Marcos State University (2015), Mindanao State University (2017), and De La Salle University (2019), and Batangas State University (2021).
Founded in 2007, the PPSI is the country’s primary and foremost phycological society in education, research, and industry that has been promoting the science of phycology (study of algae) in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, BatStateU, a Level IV state university in the Calabarzon is the the only SUC in the country accredited by the US Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for its Engineering and Information Technology programs.
The state university is rated 3 stars in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) list of top universities and has the highest number of ASEAN Engineers faculty among Philippine higher education institutions.