𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐒𝐔 𝐂𝐎𝐒, 𝐔𝐒𝐓, 𝐀𝐒𝐌 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡

April 22, 2025

The Partido State University's (ParSU) College of Science (COS), in collaboration with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), successfully conducted FUN-GuYS Ver. 2.0 lecture-workshop titled "Fungal Research for the Next Generation of Filipino Young Scientists and Educators" yesterday, April 22, 2025, at the CED Review Center. 

The event began with opening remarks from ParSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael A. Clores, who emphasized the vital role of microbiology and fungal research in addressing current and future scientific challenges. 

The workshop featured expert-led lectures, including Fungi in Health and Drug Discovery by UST Asst. Prof. Melfei E. Bungihan, Ph.D., Fungi in Agriculture and the Food Industry by Ms. Jeane A. Dela Cruz, MSc, Fungi and Biotechnology by UST Asst. Prof. Jaycee Augusto G. Paguingan, Ph.D., and two sessions by Dr. Thomas Edison E. Dela Cruz, ASM Country Ambassador – Philippines, on ASM Membership and Educational Resources and Designing Research in Microbiology. 

In the afternoon, participants engaged in parallel hands-on workshops, namely Lichen and Fungi Identification: Morphology-Based Methods and Lichen and Fungi Identification: Molecular-Based Methods, providing them valuable experience and fostering engaging discussions among researchers with varying methodological preferences.

Participated by faculty and students from different academic institutions such as Catanduanes State University, Sorsogon State University, Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, ParSU COS, and Bonifacio D. Borebor Sr. High School, among others, this initiative underscores ParSU's mandates of advancing science, research, and innovation among new generations of Filipino scientists and educators to promote more sustainable and resilient communities.