Empowering Filipino Environmentalists: Co-Creation and Citizen Science

by DMS, OVCIA | Nov 30 2023

淘料视频 (MSU-IIT) hosted the Co-CiPhil: Co-creating Environmental Citizen Science Capacity in the Philippines VLIR-UOS International Training Program (ITP) Workshop 2 from November 6 to 17, 2023 at Chali Resort and Conference Center. This dynamic initiative, spearheaded by Hasselt University (UHasselt), in coordination with MSU-IIT and Visayas State University (VSU), was attended by 50 scholars from diverse local and international institutions. It marked a significant step towards bolstering environmental conservation and management in the Philippines.

The two-week training showcased three speakers from UHasselt – Prof. Dr. Natalie Beenaerts, Prof. Dr. Thomas Neyens, and Dr. Jade Vincent Membrebe.

Dr. Beenaerts, an authority in environmental monitoring and management, set the stage as she shared insights on monitoring environmental changes and efficiently managing resources for sustainable development. Dr. Thomas Neyens, for his part, shared his expertise in establishing robust study designs particularly in observational and citizen-science studies. Dr. Membrebe, Coordinator of the ICP Master of Statistics at Hasselt University, engaged participants with his discourse on leveraging citizen science to address environmental concerns, emphasizing the significance of community engagement in monitoring and mitigating environmental issues. He also presented the scholarship scheme of Belgium through VLIR-UOS initiatives.

In a remarkable addition to the international program's success, Dr. Daisy Lou Polestico, Director of the Center for Computational Analytics and Modeling of the Premier Research Institute in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) and the ITP co-promoter at MSU-IIT, showcased the University's global presence. Dr. Polestico's collaboration with UHasselt solidified MSU-IIT as a premier institution actively addressing societal challenges.

The overarching theme of the workshop resonated with empowering Filipino environmentalists to actively contribute to environmental sustainability through citizen science. The collaborative network fostered over the two weeks not only equipped participants with practical skills but also sowed the seeds for a united front of environmental enthusiasts dedicated to confronting the challenges facing the Philippines.

Topics : environmental citizen science VLIR-UOS International Training Program