The discussion, moderated by Professor Linfa Wang of Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School and Dr. Lee Fok Kay of Temasek Foundation, Singapore, delved into what it takes to be ready for the next pandemic. Bergantin and her co-panelists stressed the importance of convincing governments and leaders of the ASEAN groups that the knowledge base gained during the COVID-19 pandemic is a vital resource worth sharing to the general public. Bergantin recalled the collaboration between the government and professional associations during the pandemic. A case in point was the preparation of COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, whose inputs helped craft policies during the onslaught of the dreaded virus.

The panel included Indonesia’s Dr. Darmawali Handoko, Medical Services Deputy Director Prof. Derrick Heng, Thailand’s Mahidol University Prof. Prassert Auewarakul, and Malaysia’s Tropical Diseases Research and Education Center Executive Director Prof. Dr. Sazaly bin Abu Bakar.

Bergantin also added that a sound pandemic preparedness policy requires the participation of not just scientists and government leaders, but also economists, vulnerable groups, and community members. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Bergantin said that: “I am just thankful that aside from teaching, I have been included in various clinical practice guideline creation and health technology assessment thus I have first hand experience in policy-making (recommendation), which I have just realized when I was asked to join the panel. I may not hold a degree in public health but working for the Filipinos in my capacity from the academe, together with other specialists from UST who are regularly consulted by the government based on their expertise, the Thomasian spirit of competence, compassion and commitment truly burns bright.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bergantin joined fellow doctors and healthcare professionals in the UST Hospital to save lives amidst the strictest of mobility restrictions. Look at her COVID-19-focused interview with the Communications Bureau here: 

The congress drew over 300 onsite participants and was supported by Temasek Foundation, Singapore.

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UST tallied a 39.8-42.5 score and secured its place in the 251-300 bracket. Moreover, it scored 54.7 in input, 66.7 in process, and 29.7 in the output metrics. 

THE Interdisciplinary Science Ranking based their assessment in 11 metrics grouped under three pillars: inputs (19%), process (16%) and outputs (65%). 

Under the inputs metric, schools’ interdisciplinary science research funding (8%) and industry funding (11%) are measured. The measure of success (4%), physical facilities (4%), administrative support (4%), and promotion success (4%) make up the process criterion. 

The outputs pillar evaluated the quantity of interdisciplinary science research publications (10%), its proportion among all publications (5%), utility outside the discipline (5%), publication quality (20%), and reputation (20%).

Within the University are research centers that allow interdisciplinary collaborations across the research interest groups, especially those targeting concerns laid down in agenda such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The full results of the 2025 rankings can be viewed here:

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Pavia, the immediate past Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, has worked on non-native aquatic organisms and non-native freshwater fish species. In 2023, he published an article warning about the risk of non-native fishes invading due to climate change, with Lake Taal as the study site. Recently, he co-authored the article “Development and application of a second-generation multilingual tool for invasion risk screening of non-native terrestrial plants.”

First chartered in 1968, FIFMS now has over twenty-three members comprised of both public and private higher education institutions. The federation provides an avenue for greater collaboration among members through collaborative research undertakings and the sharing of expertise and resources.

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This conference is also the St. Thomas Aquinas Forum and the 12th Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. Lecture.

Interested presenters may send abstracts (about 300 words) focused on one of the themes set by the conference. For more details, click here.

Submissions must be sent to aquinasconferences@ust.edu.ph no later than November 30, 2024.

Accepted abstracts during the first round of review will have to be developed into a paper of about 3,000 words. This has to be submitted no later than January 15, 2025, and will serve as basis for the final inclusion in the program.

There will be a limited slot for parallel session papers. Only those submitted before the deadline will be accommodated.

The Conference will not charge any conference fees. All paper presentations will have to be done onsite.

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The open-access article, entitled “Climate justice beliefs related to climate action and policy support around the world,” focused on the value of climate justice beliefs “as a motive for climate action across diverse geographical contexts.” 

Participants acknowledged the influence of capitalism and colonialism on the climate crisis and how it adversely impacts poor people.

The survey found that participants from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions and politically salient social inequality associated climate justice beliefs with policy support and various indices of climate action.

The paper can be accessed here:  

Reyes, a renowned scholar and Psychological Association of the Philippines President from 2020-2022, also teaches at the Graduate School and is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education.

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Elected alongside Ramos is Dr. Jessamyn Marie Yazon of the Philippine Science High School – Main Campus. Both of them served as Presidents of the Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA-Phils).

An allergology expert, Ramos is a decorated researcher who has received various national and international accolades. As a leader, he served as the immediate past Dean of the College of Science and under his term, the College secured international accreditation from the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance for its BS Biology program. Ramos also teaches at the Graduate School.

AABE gathers educators from across Asia and Australia and holds a biennial conference, which this year was held from October 12-14, 2024 in Ehime University, Japan. The association likewise publishes the Asian Journal of Biology Education to provide a venue for latest research from the field. The association also capacitates teachers through professional development interventions.

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With the award, Bernardo is slated to deliver a research-based lecture in February 2025. A scholar on World Englishes, particularly Philippine English and its pedagogy, Bernardo will discourse about: “Teaching, Teaching about, and Teaching in World Englishes: Twenty-First Century Perspectives for Diversity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability.”

Among Bernardo’s recent works are entitled “Teaching Philippine English through schoolscapes” (2024), “Philippine English and Global Englishes-inspired grammar teaching” (2024), and “Knowledge construction in World Englishes” (2021, with Ruanni Tupas).

Bernardo earned his doctoral degree in English Language Studies from the UST Graduate School, where he later served as Faculty Secretary. He is an academic researcher of the Research Center for Social Sciences and Education. Bernardo also served as Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Established in 1996, the Distinguished Professorial Chair honors former Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (now the Department of Education) Secretary and former De La Salle University President Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC. According to the Linguistic Society of the Philippines, the honor is meant to remember Br. Gonzalez as “an intellectual giant, a distinguished linguist, teacher, scholar, humanist, writer, administrator, a builder of persons and institutions, a man of vision and mission, a doer, a Christian brother, and a Filipino patriot.”

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The 2025 rankings, which look into international outlook, teaching, research environment, research quality, and industry, saw UST maintain its #3 position among Philippine universities, landing in the 1501+ bracket along with three other universities.

UST was also third in the country for research quality, measured through citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence. According to THE, the data from Elsevier from 2019 to 2024 help show “how much each university is contributing to the sum of human knowledge…to expand the boundaries of our understanding, irrespective of discipline.”

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The paper focuses on AI’s potential to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency but emphasizes the challenges related to disparities in AI healthcare access. The authors propose that AI-driven healthcare solutions risk exacerbating existing inequalities, benefiting primarily those in urban and high-income areas while leaving marginalized communities behind. Their research suggests an equitable AI implementation framework, drawing from key principles of CST such as human dignity, the common good, and preferential options for the poor. These teachings, rooted in justice, align closely with the ethical concerns surrounding AI and healthcare.

Using the Church’s commitment to social justice as a guide, Gozum and Flake argue for systemic changes to ensure that AI healthcare technology benefits all communities, particularly the underserved. Their proposal is timely as AI revolutionizes medical fields, from early diagnosis to treatment customization. The authors emphasize that AI must complement healthcare professionals rather than replace them, and call for inclusive healthcare systems that prioritize equitable distribution of AI resources. They also draw attention to the ethical implications of AI algorithm biases, which could disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

This study represents a novel intersection of religion, ethics, and technology, urging both policymakers and healthcare professionals to consider the social impacts of AI and its role in global health equity.

For further details, readers can access the full paper via this link:

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A team of aquatic biologists and microbiologists led by Asst. Prof. Reuel Bennett, Dr.rer.nat., Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, and Inst. Elfritzson Peralta, M.Sc., together with DBS academic staff Inst. Allan Gilles, M.Sc. and Inst. Eunice Aaron, M.Sc. (Marine Biology team), Inst. Justine De Leon, M.Sc. and Inst. Kenneth Xavier Sanchez, M.Sc. (Freshwater Biology team) conducted the study from August 11 to 14, 2024. The team covered 26 study sites in the watershed area, including mangrove forests, coastal areas, estuaries, streams, rivers, and a freshwater lake – Lake Danao. 

On September 17, 2024, Peralta, Assoc. Prof. Richard Thomas B. Pavia Jr., PhD, and Inst. Allan Gilles Jr., MSc presented the project’s initial results to Mayor Torres-Gomez. Also present were City Councilors Peter Rodriguez, Caren Torres Rama, Edmund Kierulf, and Bert Pades, together with officials from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Agricultural Office, and representatives from the Protected Areas Management Board.

This initiative, which underscores the strong partnership between UST scientists and their government counterparts, is a testament to their shared commitment to bring science to the community.

Academic and research staff of the UST Department of Biological Sciences conducting the water quality monitoring, biological sampling and microbiological analysis of aquatic ecosystems in Ormoc Bay and its tributaries.

The UST Team, Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, and the City of Ormoc officials after the presentation of the team’s initial findings.

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