PANABO CITY – The Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC) organized the first Research Conference for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) students on December 7, 2022, at the University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City.

The conference was an avenue for sharing knowledge and experiences among student researchers from the consortium’s member institutions and recognizing outstanding findings and technologies from the students’ research endeavors. The theme of the conference was, “Shaping an Equitable and Resilient Future for the Youth through AANR and R&D Initiatives”.

Mr. Anselmo Anobong Jr., an alumnus of the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology program of Davao del Norte State College, presented and won the second prize under the aquatic research category for his thesis entitled, “Recruitment of Dascyllus spp. and Associated Reef fishes in Pocillopora Coral in MRP Samal Island”.  Anobong’s thesis is a component of the DNSC-funded Research Project; Recruitment Dynamics of Marine Fish and Invertebrates in the Marine Reserve Park. He is under the advisership of Dr. Girley S. Gumanao.

Another alumnus of the DNSC-BSMB program, Mr. Severino Agliam III, also presented his undergraduate thesis. The conference was participated by other state universities and colleges in Region XI. The resource speakers during the plenary session were Dr. Glenn Gregorio, director of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture and National Academic of Science and Technology academician, as well as Engr. Ruel Carlo T. Tanquenco from the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.