UP Cebu - Department of Biology and Environmental Science

A strong finish to Day 6 of our proposal presentations! 💥

The final session highlighted an impressive breadth of environmental and biological research, from microplastic contamination in shrimps and market vegetables, to local ecological knowledge and morphology of jellyfish in Gilutongan. Presentations also featured reef health assessments across protected and unprotected coasts, the preclinical potential of Cinnamomum cebuense bioactives for breast cancer therapy, microbial community profiling and E. coli resistance in the Mananga River, and the phenology and socio-ecological resilience of kabog millet farming in Catmon.

A diverse and impactful set of studies to close the day! Padayon! ✨

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu has unveiled its Christmas tree at the Oblation Square for its annual Christmas tree lighting — and it's both heartwarming and powerful.

UP Cebu’s Christmas tree was built using the fallen and broken branches gathered after the recent typhoons that struck Cebu, displacing families and costing lives.

“It stands as a reminder that from upheaval, communities can rebuild, rise, and create something meaningful together,” read UP Cebu’s post. “May the glow of its lights inspire the community to rise in challenging times with courage, compassion, and clarity of purpose.”

During the ceremony, each college presented a lantern. There was also a call to uphold accountability, protect academic freedom, and continue defending UP as a place for truth, critical thinking, and service to the community.

What can you say about this?

Source: University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu

Day 6 Morning Session kicked off with a strong mix of ecological, biochemical, and marine research proposals.

Topics covered the vigilance behavior of Philippine ducks in Ormoc, the biofilm-inhibiting potential of sea grape extracts, and the phytochemical and toxicity profiling of Ficus benjamina bark extract. Presenters also delve into coastal and marine dynamics through studies of fish chorusing patterns in Silot Bay and the blue carbon stock of seagrass meadows at Taloot Wharf, Argao.

Padayon! ✨

A diverse lineup of environmental and biological research proposals capped off Day 5 of our proposal presentations. The sessions featured river health assessments in Lahug and Kotkot, sea urchin ecology across protected and non-protected reefs in Ticao Island, and the bioactive potential of chayote extracts and local honey. The day concluded with an insightful study examining how physicochemical conditions influence the growth of Salmonella spp. from the Butuanon River.

Padayon! ✨

December 9, 2025

Faculty, research assistants, and graduate and undergraduate students of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science, UP Cebu joined the special visit aboard the US UNOLS R/V Thompson as it docked in Cebu. A great opportunity to explore world-class oceanographic research facilities up close! 🌊🔬

📢 Upcoming DBES Seminar – Saturday, December 13, 2025 🗓️

Join us for the final set of talks in the DBES Seminar Series, featuring insightful research presentations by our MSESc students from the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences. This session highlights the links between animal behavior, ecosystems, technology, and community-based conservation.

📘 Presentation Lineup:
1️⃣ The Ecology of Fear: How Fear Shapes Animal Behavior
Presenter: Mr. Jonathan Bagarinao

2️⃣ From Space to Shore: Remote Sensing Approaches on Philippine Mangroves
Presenter: Mr. Eisen Niño Angelia

3️⃣ Philippine Marine Protected Areas at the Intersection of Science and Community
Presenter: Ms. St**fy Angeleene Ares

📍 Venue: Room 502, COS Building, UP Cebu
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Let’s wrap up the seminar series with a meaningful exchange of ideas and research. See you there! 🌏🌱🔬

A rich lineup to conclude Day 4 of proposal presentations : avian soundscapes in Ormoc, duckweed diets for tilapia, microplastics in Bohol oysters, isotope tracers in Gafrarium, forest carbon dynamics in Busay, the ethnobotany of Lygodium, and the phenology of edible bamboos. 🦅 🐟 🦪🍃🎋

Padayon! ✨

🇸🇬 PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN SINGAPORE

Ever wondered what it’s like to do real research, live in Singapore, and explore the path to a PhD in Mechanobiology?

The NUS MBI MUST 2026 Programme is your chance to experience science on a global stage.

Why apply?
✔️ 6-week paid summer internship
✔️ Mentored research experience at the Mechanobiology Institute
✔️ Full accommodation provided for international students
✔️ Open to STEM undergraduates (2nd year onwards)

🗓 Program Dates: June 8 – July 17, 2026
⏳ DEADLINE: January 31, 2026

Take the first step into your research future. Scan the QR code or visit the link to apply! ✨

On Day 4, we went from microbes to macaques! 🔥

Morning session presenters wowed us with study proposals on antimicrobial peptides, digital phytochemistry, and microbe–fungus interactions, then brought us into the field with PAH-degrading mangrove microbes, Reticulated Python mapping in Tagbilaran, and Macaca fascicularis time budgets in Oslob. What a ride! 🐍🐒🧫🧪

Padayon! ✨

And that’s a wrap for Day 3! 🤩

From butterflies to black soldier flies, crown-of-thorns starfish to the effects of matcha, sencha, and ulasimang bato, all the way to thermophilic Bacillus strains, our session bloomed with diverse and exciting studies today! 🦋⭐️🍃

Padayon! ✨