By Prince Nismal

Dr. Philip Padilla, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of UP Visayas, was one of the speakers at the 22nd BIOTA WV gathering.

The CPU Life Sciences Department hosted the 22nd BIOTA WV Virtual Annual Meeting and Regional Convention on November 16-17, 2021 with its theme “Internationalization of Biology Education: Challenges and Opportunities.” The outgoing President of BIOTA-Western Visayas is Dr. Stella G. Fernandez, Dean of the College Arts and Sciences. She has served for two terms from 2017 to 2021 together with CPU faculty member, Dr. Nicolas G. Guanzon, Jr. as Board of Director for the tertiary level.

Dr. Marie Christine Obusan, the National BIOTA President, was the keynote speaker. The first day speaker, Philip Ian P. Padilla of UP Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo, presented a lecture on how to shatter the myth and fallacies of COVID. The other speakers, Dr. Maricar W. Ching of Centro Escolar University spoke about Home-based Microbiology, and Dr. Mary Cherry Lynn M. Dalipe of Education Program Supervisor of Division of Aklan gave updates in DepEd Science Curriculum in the New Normal.

The second day started with a lecture by Marvin Cadornigara of Bronx International School who shared the Digitalization of Biology Education in the Global 21st Century. Another speaker, Paulo C. Cabanero, MSc, CHED Supervisor Region VI, shared some updates about the CHED Internationalization Program. Dr. Harold Buenvenida of Capiz State University talked about “A whole new world: Re-imagining Biology perspectives and Science learning from local to Global.”

Another topic that was discussed was “The Adaptive, Innovative, and Effective Pedagogies in Online Distance in Biology Learning.” It was presented by Dr. Maricar Prudante of DLSU Manila, and a National BIOTA Officer. Meanwhile, Dr. Resurreccion B. Sadaba from UP Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo shared the “Best Practices in Research.” The last event was a workshop on Microbiology facilitated by Dr. Delsa Gange from the University of San Agustin, Iloilo.

The virtual event was participated by 146 Biology enthusiasts, 50 regular members and 28 associates representing different schools, colleges and universities from Region 6.