Mosquitoes became the primary focus of discussion during the UPLB Museum of Natural History’s last Biodiversity Seminar by Majhalia M. Torno, a medical entomologist from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Science and Technology. The seminar was attended by almost 30 people, including delegates from the Texas A&M International University, at the MNH Conference Room on 06 July 2016.

“I would like my talk seminar to raise awareness, so that people would know that medical practitioners are also conducting studies on mosquitoes,” said Majhalia Torno as she talked on the significance of the topic and its importance to students. “Most of these topics are no longer tackled in classes anymore as the focus of entomology has been mostly on crop protection and not on these mosquitoes and their medical implications,” Torno added.

The UPLB Museum of Natural History’s Biodiversity Seminar last 28 June 2016 at the MNH Conference Room recently featured Associate Professor of Biology at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Dr. C. Neal McReynolds who presented his research on striped bark scorpions.

More than a dozen faculty and students attended the seminar where Dr. McReynolds discussed at length the foraging behavior of striped bark scorpions (Centruroides vittatus) found in the blackbrush environs of Laredo, Texas, a result of more than a decade of research he has done with his mentor and students.

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) faculty and students, along with staff from the Museum of Natural History (MNH), recently were on field at Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro from 17-19 June 2016 to observe different island habitats.

On 17 June 2016, MNH and TAMIU delegates left the comforts of UPLB to embark on a journey to see firsthand the ecology of tropical countries such as the Philippines has in terms of marine ecosystems.

Upon arrival at Minolo from the Batangas Port, the delegates were welcomed by the fine white sands of White Beach, Puerto Galera at around lunchtime. After the students were able to check in their baggages, no time was wasted as they got on multi-cabs and rented boats en route to the famous Coral Gardens.

The Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) study abroad in the Philippines program shifted to its second day with the Museum of Natural History (MNH) as it embarked on a trek up the trails of Mt. Makiling last 15 June 2016. The Mt. Makiling trek is part of the field and ecological observations that the TAMIU delegates are conducting in various places around the Philippines.

Before the trek, the participants gathered at the Training Center for Tropical Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability (TREES) and were oriented by Forester Nicasio Balahadia, who represented the director of the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems, Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan.

History has been made once again at the UPLB Museum of Natural History as they opened their doors to international students from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). On 13 June 2016, in partnership with some faculty of TAMIU, the Museum brought in 19 international students for an educational tour of some of its natural collections.

The tour started with an orientation on the Museum of Natural History for the international students. Formally opening the program was the Museum’s Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo who delivered very entertaining welcoming remarks.

Around 100 students and faculty participants of the 5th ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey Tour facilitated by the University of the Philippines Los Banos came to the UPLB Museum of Natural History last 17 June 2016.

The delegates were personally toured and oriented on the Museum's educational exhibits and dioramas by MNH Curators Dr. Aimee Lynn B. Dupo, Dr. Leticia E. Afuang, Prof. Judeline C. Dimalibot, Prof. Annalee S. Hadsall, Prof. Ivy Amor F. Lambio and MNH Director Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez.