SCIENCE Dean Rey Donne Papa was appointed national representative to the International Society of Limnology (SIL) last July 17.
The appointment came after the Philippines met the minimum number of regular SIL members, Papa told the Varsitarian in an online interview.
As national representative, Papa is tasked to promote the study of limnology in the country, and encourage aspiring scientists to consider specializing in that field and be SIL members.
Limnology is the scientific study of freshwater bodies as ecosystems, which is Papa’s field of expertise.
“I was chosen by the SIL board probably since I am the most ‘senior’ active member of the organization from the Philippines,” he said.
Papa is one of the founding members of the Philippine Society for Freshwater Science.
Many of the active SIL members are also Thomasians, and have worked with Papa in freshwater ecosystem research.
UST has a Zooplankton Reference Collection, which is the first and so far, only organized repository of zooplankton in the country.
“I also intend to make sure that limnologists take an active role in research, conservation and management initiatives for freshwater ecosystems in the country,” Papa said.
Founded in 1922, the SIL is the oldest and only international society devoted to inland waters.
