Thirty-five college students from Adamson University, Divine Word College- Legazpi and Southern Luzon State University joined and completed this year’s edition of the “Summer Short Course on Biodiversity for Beginners: Methods and Analysis for Biodiversity Field Surveys” held 16-22 May 2015 at the UPLB Museum of Natural History.

According to James DV. Alvarez, one of the course coordinators, the participants were trained to understand, through lectures and fieldworks, the concepts and principles underlying and related to biological diversity.

“The fieldwork was most essential, as it familiarized them with the standard survey techniques for field studies,” he added.

The techniques practiced in the field were on the proper collection, processing and identification of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, plants and microorganisms.

At the end of the course, the students were able to produce and present a report on the species of various taxa within the vicinity of the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve including an analysis of diversity.

The completion program for the short course was made even more special because May 22, the last day of the course, coincided with the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity. Participants were treated to group dynamics and the awarding the #Biodiversity&Me selfie contest.

“This year’s short course was a success owing to the great interest and participation of all the students in all of the activities,” Alvarez reported.