The University of San Carlos, through the Department of Biology, successfully hosted the Seaweed Research Mini-Symposium and Seaweed Taxonomy Workshop—an intensive three-day scientific gathering held from June 3 to 5, 2025, at the USC Talamban Campus and the USC Marine Station in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City. 

Organized with the support of the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the Research, Development, Extension, and Publications Office (RDEPO), the event brought together international researchers, faculty, and students to promote scientific exchange and deliver hands-on training in marine macroalgal research and taxonomy.

The program officially opened on June 3 with the Seaweed Research Mini-Symposium held at the SAFAD Theater. Messages of welcome and support were delivered by Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D. (University President); Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Ph.D. (Vice President for Academic Affairs); Glenn G. Glarino, Ph.D. (Dean, SAS); and Patrick John Y. Lim, Ph.D. (Director, RDEPO).

The symposium featured five presentations from invited speakers across the globe, addressing key challenges and recent developments in the field of seaweed research, namely:

• Ligia Collado-Vides, Ph.D. (Florida International University, USA)
  Navigating the Sargassum Atlantic crisis: A problem that needs international collaboration

• Ileana Ortegon-Aznar, Ph.D. (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico)
  Morphological groups as a tool for the study of reef environments: Case study of rocky reefs in Yucatán, Mexico

• Estela Maria Plastino, Ph.D. (Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil)
  Intraspecific diversity in red algae

• Mi Yeon Yang, Ph.D. (Jeju National University, South Korea)
  Molecular assessment of rhodolith-forming algal diversity in Udo Islet, Jeju

• Min Khant Kyaw, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University, Japan)
  Mesophotic species diversity of rhodolith-forming non-geniculate coralline algae in Japan

The seaweed taxonomy workshop commenced in the afternoon at the Arnoldus Science Complex. The session was formally opened by Paul John L. Geraldino, Ph.D. Assistant Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, with welcome remarks from Mario N. Ruinata, Regional Director of BFAR VII. Lawrence M. Liao, Ph.D. (Hiroshima University) provided the workshop orientation and overview, setting the stage for a specialized lecture on Laurencia taxonomy jointly delivered by Mutue Toyota Fujii, Ph.D. (Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais, São Paulo, Brazil) and Valeria Cassano, Ph.D. (Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil).

Workshop activities resumed on June 4 with a lecture by Dr. Liao on the history of Laurencia taxonomy in the Philippines, followed by practical exercises in specimen examination and identification. On the final day, June 5, participants gathered at the USC Marine Station to conduct fieldwork, specimen collection, and laboratory processing under the guidance of Dominic Franco C. Belleza, Ph.D. and Alvin P. Monotilla, Ph.D., both faculty members of the USC Department of Biology. 

Through this initiative, USC reaffirms its commitment to fostering international scientific collaboration and strengthening local research capacity in marine science, further advancing biodiversity research and promoting sustainable coastal management in the Philippines.

by Ann Clowee J. Hurboda, School of Arts and Sciences