UM President's Report 2018

Summary

The University of Mindanao celebrates the discovery of a new beetle species in southern Mindanao by its biodiversity researchers. Named Meta Pasillas Willie, it honors the university president's support for research. This find underscores the importance of biodiversity for air, water, and food. The university leads in academic excellence, with top rankings in licensure exams, and has expanded its international collaborations. It also excels in arts, culture, and research, earning accolades and contributing to global knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🐞 A new species of beetle, Meta Pasillas Willie, has been discovered in the forests of southern Mindanao by researchers from the University of Mindanao.
• 🏫 The University of Mindanao is recognized for its contributions to biodiversity research and is a leading research institution in the region.
• 🔍 The researchers, AnnaLynne Compras and Milton Medina, named the beetle in honor of university president Guillermo Willie Pete Torres Jr. for his support of research and education.
• 📘 The discovery will be published in the Baltic Journal of Coleopterology, a Thomson Reuters Index Journal, and included in the global biodiversity information facility.
• 🌳 Biodiversity is crucial for air, water, and food, and the Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot with many threatened species.
• 🌱 The new beetle species is potentially endangered due to mining and deforestation for agricultural lands in southern Mindanao.
• 🏛️ The University of Mindanao established the Calling of Terra Research Center, the first of its kind in the Philippines for beetle research and conservation.
• 🤝 The university has strong ties with national and international research agencies, including the European Union, the University of Latvia, California Academy of Sciences, and the National Geographic Society.
• 🏆 The University of Mindanao has a strong academic record, with top-notch students in various fields and a high success rate in licensure examinations.
• 🎨 The university also excels in arts and culture, with students winning international competitions and awards.
• 🏅 The University of Mindanao has received the Philippine Quality Award (PQA), an elite recognition for its commitment to quality management and excellence.

Q & A

What significant discovery was made in the forests of southern Mindanao?

A new species of beetle was discovered, which is the latest contribution of the University of Mindanao in the field of biodiversity.

Who are the researchers behind the new beetle species discovery?

The new beetle species was discovered by UM biodiversity researchers Hamelin, AnnaLynne Compras, and Milton Medina.

What is the name of the newly discovered beetle species and its significance?

The new beetle is named Meta Pasillas Willie, a namesake of the university president, Guillermo Willie Pete Torres Jr., in recognition of his support for new knowledge through research.

How will the new discovery be shared with the scientific community?

The new discovery will be published in the Baltic Journal of Coleopterology, which is indexed by Thomson Reuters.

What is the importance of biodiversity to the world?

Biodiversity is critical for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. A loss in biodiversity can affect these essential resources.

Why is the Philippines considered a biodiversity hotspot?

The Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot due to having at least 700 threatened species, making it one of the top conservation areas in the world.

What is the potential threat to the new beetle species, Meta Pasillas Willie?

The new beetle species potentially faces extinction due to mining and the conversion of forest habitats into agricultural lands in southern Mindanao.

What is the Call of Terra Research Center and its purpose?

The Call of Terra Research Center is the first and only research facility for beetle research and conservation in the Philippines, established in response to environmental concerns.

What are some of the international collaborations of the University of Mindanao?

The University of Mindanao has established strong ties with national and international research agencies and institutions in Europe, Asia, and the United States, such as the European Union, the University of Latvia, California Academy of Sciences, and the National Geographic Society.

How has the University of Mindanao performed in licensure examinations this year?

The University of Mindanao has maintained its lead in producing top-notch examinees, with 13 top finishers in various licensure examinations this year, including a top one finisher in the field of criminology.

What recognitions and awards has the University of Mindanao received recently?

The University of Mindanao has received the prestigious Philippine Quality Award (PQA), was hailed as the Employer of the Year in the Mindanao region by the People's Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), and its engineering programs are now Philippine Technological Council (PTC) certified.