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:

The post UST is top PH school in inaugural Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

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.

The post Pavia of BioSci, RCNAS elected President of marine, freshwater sciences federation appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

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.

The post Ramos of BioSci, RCNAS elected auditor of Asian group of biology educators appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

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.

The post Ormoc Bay’s water quality assessed by Thomasian biologists for pollution, anthropogenic stressors appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Bennett delivered a lecture entitled “Oomycetes in Philippine freshwater ecosystems”, highlighting current research developments in taxonomy and potential utilization of oomycetes (aquatic fungi) for aquaculture as natural food source due to its potential for mass propagation and fatty acid content. Meanwhile, Papa updated the audience on “Methane Dynamics and Limnological Monitoring in Tropical East Asia: The Case of Lake Yambo”, which emphasized on the importance of routine limnological monitoring for water quality and methane concentrations in tropical lakes such as Lake Yambo as these are closely linked to eutrophication, especially in tropical lake ecosystems, especially those heavily utilized for aquaculture.

Papa and Bennett joined speakers from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Turkiye, and Vietnam in giving lectures on the ecology and life history of economically important aquatic organisms, aquaculture, and fisheries, including topics on conservation, management, climate change adaptation and sustainability.

Chonnam National University holds the distinction of having the first and oldest fisheries and marine educational institution in South Korea and is known for receiving the most research funding among Korean universities.

Its College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences maintains two research vessels, including the 96.45m ship Sae Dong Baek which was launched in 2019. Symposium speakers were given the opportunity to visit and inspect the research facilities of their two research vessels, which routinely conducts research cruises around the Korean peninsula.  A best research poster competition was also held during the symposium where graduate students and researchers of Chonnam National University showcased their latest research findings.

The event was organized by the CNU College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences in cooperation with the Korea Fishery Resource Management Research Institute and the Institute of Fishing Village and Aquaculture.

The post Fisheries resources studies by Thomasians spotlighted in Chonnam National University, Korea appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

The AGROTIS Navigation System, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), can operate autonomously through GPS-guided navigation or be manually controlled via radio frequency. Developed in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute and the International Rice Research Institute, it is equipped with a robust safety system and offers versatile solutions for various tractor types. The technology is incubated at the UST TOMASInno Center, the University’s Technology-based Business Incubator (TBI) and aims to directly benefit local farmers by enhancing rice field land preparation.

During an interview held at the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center in UST’s research complex in Santa Rosa City, Bautista discussed the inspiration behind AGROTIS and its positive impact on farming operations. The Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) tested the system, which demonstrated significant improvements, reducing the field capacity of hand tractors from 31.25 hours per hectare to 20 hours per hectare, and increasing field efficiency from 60% to 80%. Additionally, a customer validation survey showed a 90% acceptability rate among local farmers.

Game-changing innovations like the AGROTIS Navigation System are among the thrusts of the recently opened UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center— to develop technologies that address local challenges and enhance the nation’s technological landscape, ultimately bringing significant benefits to the Filipino people.

The post Agricultural tractor automation through GPS developed by Engineering researchers, alumni appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Academician Professor Emeritus Fortunato B. Sevilla III, PhD and Professor Christina A. Binag, PhD were elected to a three-year term (2025-2028), while Department of Chemistry Chair Alan Rodelle M. Salcedo, PhD was elected to a two-year term (2025-2027). Finally, Assoc. Prof. Felicidad Christina Peñafiel, PhD was elected to a one-year term (2025-2026).

The Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (Chemical Society of the Philippines) is an 85-year-old society of chemists. It publishes scholarly articles in Kimika and regularly hosts conferences and scientific activities.

The post Four Chemistry researchers join nat’l chemistry association board appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Three Thomasian scientists joined foreign researchers in sounding the alarm on potential invasive species that can threaten worldwide biodiversity, a new article published in Global Change Biology revealed.

Master of Science in Biology alumnus Arman N. Pili (now a research affiliate at Monash University), Department of Biological Sciences academic researcher Mae Lowe Diesmos, MSc, and Graduate School academic staff Arvin Diesmos, PhD joined eleven (11) scholars from different parts of the world in the study “Forecasting potential invaders to prevent future biological invasions worldwide.” Biological invasions, include the introduction of foreign, i.e., alien species, into a given area, have been brought about by the “ever-increasing and expanding globalization of trade and transport.”

The study provided a quantitative invasion risk assessment tool based on invasion syndromes (i.e., generalizing typical attributes of invasive alien species). The researchers based on their work on the modelling of invasion syndromes of 466 amphibians and reptile species with invasion history, then used the data to forecast possible invasion for the rest of the 16,236 species worldwide.

Based on their findings, “160 amphibians and reptiles without known invasion history could be unintentionally transported and introduced in the future,” with 57 posing a “high risk of establishing alien populations.” Such introduction may happen through the accidental transport of fresh produce to a territory by travelers.

In a spinoff article published in The Conversation, Pili and co-researcher David Chapple warned that among the species that can invade Australian biodiversity are the Graceful Chameleon, Common European Viper, and American toad.

The new tool lends itself to “developing a future-proof preventative biosecurity” system globally.

Both Dr. Arvin and Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe Diesmos are scholars on the systematics, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Sources:

Research Article:  

Feature Article:  

The post Thomasian scientists help sound alarm on next invasive species threatening global biodiversity appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

Bennett was recognized for research efforts as young researcher at the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences and for his work while a graduate student. Specifically, Bennett’s work on the taxonomy and evolution of oomycetes was recognized. Building on the comprehensive study by Dogma, Bennett’s contributions helped “fill in the missing literature and knowledge gap in Philippine Oomycetes.” His studies focus on oomycete taxonomy, ecology, and evolution. Recently, he has engaged with fellow Thomasian researchers on the applied aspects of oomycetes such as fatty acids and secondary metabolites. Among his collaborators, are Prof. Dr. Gina Dedeles, Inst. Mark Devanadera, Prof. Dr. Mafel Ysrael, Inst. Nono Caguimbal, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Kim Arafiles.

His current focus is researching with and training students “who are very willing to learn about these organisms,” which he counts as a rarity as the work involves long hours of observations using a microscope to try and decode the oomycetes life cycle and development.

In his interview with the Communications Bureau, Bennett acknowledged College of Science Dean Rey Donne S. Papa, PhD for the nomination and his plant pathology and mycology professor at the UST Graduate School, Prof. Irineo J. Dogma, Jr., PhD, whom he hailed as the “authority on zoosporic fungi.” He also thanked graduate research advisers Prof. Dedeles and Prof. Dr. Marco Thines. The Chair also thanked his colleagues and teachers in the department, namely Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe Diesmos, Prof. Dr. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz, Prof. Dr. Pia Marie S.P. Albano, and Prof. Dr. Maureen Sabit.

The post Bennett of BioSci, RCNAS is 2024 Outstanding Young Scientist appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.

In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Papa said the awards came as a surprise, as she was “never informed of the nominations.” Instead, the selection by RFS was done among female scientists worldwide.

Papa, a Microbiology professor at the College of Science and the Graduate School, specializes in bacterial viruses or bacteriophages. In the professional circles, she was the former President of the Philippine Society of Microbiology. She has also won awards, such as the National Academy of Science and Technology Outstanding Scientific Paper for her work on Salmonella treatment. In 2023, she joined international experts for the very first hands-on Bacteriophage Workshop in Southeast Asia. At the moment, she is working on phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics given the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Papa acknowledged the support of her family, her mentors Prof. Irineo J. Dogma, Jr., Dr. Hans Ackermann, and her students.

The post Papa of Microbio named 2023 Rosalind Franklin Society Special Awardee for advancing scientific knowledge appeared first on University of Santo Tomas.