Delegates of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU)’s study abroad program travelled slightly for more than an hour from Batangas port to the island of Mindoro with the staff of the Museum of Natural History last 16 June 2017 to start their second leg of observing various island ecosystems. TAMIU’s students were accompanied by professors Drs. Marcus Augustus and Ruby Ynalvez along with MNH Director Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, marine biologist Julius A. Parcon, extensionist Florante A. Cruz and two student interns.

Although it was the first-time for some students to ride a commercial passenger outrigger pump boat, the blue waters between Batangas and Puerto Galera in Mindoro island presented a very calming view that soon, everyone was enjoying the trip. Upon reaching Puerto Galera’s shores, the delegates were welcomed by White Beach’s fine sand which stretches for a few kilometers. Amongst people busy buying items, eating local food and getting hair-braids and massages, they got their fill of lunch before gearing up for the day’s activities.

With the help of the Museum of Natural History (MNH), students of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) study abroad program explored parts of UPLB’s Forestry Campus to learn about vegetational analysis and specimen preservation techniques last 13 June 2017. The two topics are part of the sets of learning activities that the Museum has prepared for the ten TAMIU students who will explore several sites in the Philippines to get acquainted with tropical biology and social issues.

The day started with the TAMIU students’ short tour of the museum followed by a welcome and orientation on the Mt. Makiling leg of the study program. During the orientation, TAMIU faculty Dr. Ruby Ynalvez said that the reason why they chose Philippines to be the location of the elective course, aside from its rich biodiversity, is the Filipino culture.

The Museum of Natural History (MNH) welcomed ten students from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) with warm smiles on 13 June 2017. officially marking the first day of TAMIU’s Study Abroad Program in the Philippines which will last until 8 July 2017.

The batch was led by two associate professors, Dr. Marcus Antonius Ynalvez and Dr. Ruby Ynalvez, who will be discussing Social Issues in the Tropics and Exploring Biology in the Tropics respectively in collaboration with the Museum. Six of the students, mostly juniors, are Biology majors participating in the study program as an advanced elective while the remaining are joining out of interest and enthusiasm.

Are you a taxonomist, systematist, geologist, curator, educator or worker in a museum taking care of precious natural history collections?

We cordially invite you to CLADES 2017, the first ever summit/conference/workshop of Philippine natural history museums and collections this 27-28 September 2017 at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, Laguna. CLADES 2017 The summit will tackle concerns on Culture, Learning, Art, Design, Environment and Science (CLADES) in relation to natural history museums and collections in the Philippines.

Institute of Biological Sciences Associate Professor and Museum of Natural History Curator for Mammals Phillip A. Alviola is set to be given the prestigious 2017 Outstanding Young Scientist Award by the National Academy of Science and Technology this coming July.

Prof. Alviola is one of three awardees from the University of the Philippines System and the lone awardee from the UP Los Banos campus. A wildlife biologist with an experience of over 20 years, Prof. Alviola has substantially contributed to the fields of mammalian ecology and taxonomy, cave biology, conservation biology, and bat virology.

MNH Director and ornithologist Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez recently was in Kuching City, Sarawak, Malaysia last 16-18 May 2017 as the only Filipino delegate presentor during the 2017 International Hornbill Conference (IHC).

Dr. Gonzalez delivered a paper on "Revisiting the Co-evolution of Hornbills and Mallophagan Lice" which he co-authored with Nathaline P. Fabrigas of Far Eastern University and Perry Archival Buenavente of the National Museum of the Philippines.