THE UST Microbiology Society (MicroSoc) has been honored with the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) 2025 Student Chapter Excellence Award, becoming the first non-US organization to receive the recognition.
The award, given annually by ASM’s International Office, recognizes student chapters that advance scientific education, community outreach, and science communication.
“It honors and recognizes student chapters around the globe that have demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact in advancing the professional growth of early career scientists,” MicroSoc president Mark Jabez Dimatulac said.
Formally recognized as an ASM student chapter in 2017 through the ASM Ambassadors Program, MicroSoc submits annual reports detailing its projects.
Flagship initiatives include antimicrobial resistance (AMR) awareness campaigns, community science education, and laboratory-to-community outreach.
Outgoing president Ramon Ellis Francisco said the recognition reflects the society’s effort to bridge science and service.
“We learn as our professors teach us; what we do inside the lab can shape the lives of the many people outside,” he told the Varsitarian.
Among its longstanding programs is the “Make-roscope Project,” which distributes pocket-sized microscopes to public schools with limited access to scientific equipment. The innovation, created by Filipino inventor Jeremy de Leon, transforms smartphone cameras into microscopes.
“[The Make-roscope] will stay because this one is very useful, madami nakapag-appreciate, at talagang anlaki ng impact nito, especially during the pandemic,” Asst. Prof. Reuel Bennett, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, said.
Other key projects include the annual AMR Awareness Week, Agar Art, and “Mikhaynihan,” which promote science literacy and accessible education through creative and community-based initiatives.
In 2024, the society launched “Microves: Exploring the Mangrove Ecosystem,” a field program in Batangas linking microbiology with environmental conservation through lectures, field visits and community dialogues.
The recognition comes as the College of Science approaches its centennial year in 2026. Dimatulac said the society plans to sustain its momentum by expanding outreach and creating more opportunities for students to experience microbiology beyond the laboratory.
“In the long term, our goal is to inspire and equip the next generation of microbiologists and scientists by giving them opportunities to experience the wonders of microbiology hands-on and even at an early stage,” Dimatulac said.
Founded in 1899, ASM is the world’s largest professional society for microbiologists, with more than 37,000 members worldwide. Mary Dawn S. Santos
