Several Museum curators and staff recently participated in the 11th meeting of the Philippine Red List Committee (PRLC) for Wild Fauna organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau last 1-2 February 2018 in Diliman, Quezon City.

Aside from updating the Philippine Red List of wild fauna during the 2-day workshop, museum curators and staff were able to provide their inputs and recommendations in preparing the final list of invasive alien species (IAS) of terrestrial fauna, actively discuss the list of economically important species (EIS) of fauna, and review the draft administrative orders on the three lists which will be signed by the DENR Secretary.

The UPLB Museum of Natural History again offered a free course on biological photography last 31 January to 02 February 2018 as one of its public service initiatives. It was attended by eight researchers and museum technicians from the UPLB MNH, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), Center for Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (CTTE) and the Forest Canopy (CANOPI) project.

During the 3-day course, the participants were introduced to the basic parts and operation of a DSLR camera supplemented by hands-on practicum wherein they took several photographs of biological subjects at the Makiling Botanic Gardens and nearby environs.

The UPLB administration is now looking for a new director for the UPLB Museum of Natural History. The term of the current director, Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, will end on 15 February 2018. The Search Committee, headed by Vice-Chancellor Rex B. Demafelis is now soliciting nominations from the unit's personnel, curators, stakeholders and other personnel from university units, and interested candidates.

Nominees must possess the following minimum qualifications: Commitment to academic freedom and the values and ideals of the university; Distinction or outstanding academic credentials in the nominee's chosen field of expertise which should be along the lines of the unit's disciplines or fields; a Filipino citizen; Outstanding leadership qualities, administrative of managerial capability; Must be willing to serve; and Must consider resource generation as an important function of the position.

Three new species of geometrid moths have been recently described through the collaborative work of the French taxonomist, Claude Tautel and UPLB Museum of Natural History curator, Dr. Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo.

The first species, Albinospila juancarlosi, was first collected in Banaue, Ifugao in 2012 and further collected from several localities in Luzon and Romblon islands. It has been named after the current director of the UPLB Museum of Natural History Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez. According to the authors, this species resembles the larger A. variifrons except in the color of the border of the wings. A. variifrons was previously placed under the South American genus Racheospila, and has been re-classified under the genus Albinospila.

The Museum of Natural History recently held a special training on "Identification and Preservation of Pests of Stored Products" for five researchers of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) based in Munoz, Nueva Ecija last 7-8 December 2017. The participants were from the Food Protection Division of PHilMech: Mia V. Dela Cruz, Luther A. Lacanilao, Vicky G. Mesa, Jackielyn P. Ponce, and Benny P. Roderos

Most often, stored products pests are insects which can cause contamination thereby making the goods unmarketable or lower in value. Because the economic significance of stored product pests highlights the need to collect and identify them properly, the training focused on the identification of different insects thriving in stored products and the demonstration and practice of various preservation techniques for display and voucher specimen collection.

The Museum of Natural History served as the partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) in a learning event held last 20-24 November 2017 in Alaminos City and Mabini, Pangasinan.

The partnership enabled the fruitful conduct of the Learning Event on Cave Biodiversity Assessment for 29 DENR field officers coming from various regions of Luzon. The participants were from DENR Regional Offices 1, 2, CAR, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and NCR; Palawan Council for Sustainable Development; and the BMB Central Office.