News & Updates
FEATURED | 18 December 2024
SESAM joins Calaca City Orange Summit
The youngest faculty member of the School of Environmental Science and Management-University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB), Dr. Charles John C. Gunay, Assistant Professor, represented the school at The ORANGE Summit at Calaca City Events Center, Calaca City, Batangas with the theme “Optimization of Responsible Approaches for Nature and the General Environment” held last December 13, 2024.
This first-ever Environmental Summit organized by the Calaca City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) served as venue for education, discussion, and provision of ecologic and sustainable technologies/logistics for the operation of livestock and industrial businesses. The event is participated by more than 40 business owners, pollution control officers, and barangay officials.
Dr. Gunay shared his expertise in green building design and infrastructures and urges public servants, industry leaders, business owners, and the citizens of Calaca City to practice and promote green practices such as water reuse, energy saving, and material recycling. He highlighted the roles of business owners and private industries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the climate resilience of Calaca City.
A key highlight of his lecture is his response on how to design the Calaca City Events Center as a sustainable green space. He suggested to reduce the infiltration from the doors and windows, reduce artificial cooling, add water saving outside the center, and add plants in the internal walls.
Meanwhile, other speakers delivered lectures on best practices for livestock operations and on applying for permits to comply with major environmental laws.
The City of Calaca, Batangas is also collaborating with SESAM-UPLB for the crafting its Environmental Code. At present, the draft e-code is being reviewed by the Sangguniang Panlunsod and the City government hopes to enact it into an ordinance by 2025
SESAM’s Initiative to Enhancing Environmental Data Management through ESML
The School of Environmental Science and Management – University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB-SESAM) has unveiled a major transformation of its Environmental Simulation and Modeling Laboratory (ESML), aiming to create a more robust hub to aid its students, faculty, and researchers. This initiative will enhance the processing of both quantitative and qualitative data for environmental research.
The ESML is located on the 2nd floor of the SESAM annex building, managed by SESAM Researcher Mr. Robert Patrick M. Cabangbang. Currently, the ESML has six desktop computers equipped with essential software for environmental data processing and analysis. These tools have made the lab an invaluable resource for staff and students engaged in environmental analysis.
This facility will be mainly used by SESAM students for the ENS 211, 242 and 235 classes.
While the lab has been instrumental in providing practical tools for research and education, there is a pressing need to address gaps in data management and accessibility. With plans to transform ESML into an active learning hub, SESAM started its initiative to develop a foundational data repository system designed to enhance the accessibility and management of environmental data.
By systematically organizing environmental data, SESAM seeks to bolster its role in sustainable environmental management and governance. Establishing a functional and systematic environmental data repository is expected to significantly enhance the lab’s role as a resource for environmental management and governance. It aims to foster strengthened collaboration between SESAM and various stakeholders, ultimately addressing pressing environmental challenges in the region. As environmental issues become increasingly complex, SESAM’s initiative represents a proactive step toward leveraging data for sustainable solutions.
SESAM UPLB joins 2024 SDG Impact Week in Taiwan and pioneers the Sustainability Leadership and Impact Management (SLIM) Consortium
The School of Environmental Science and Management of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (SESAM-UPLB) participated in the 2nd Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Week in Taiwan on 02 to 07 November 2024.
With the goal of having an avenue for academia, industry, and thought leaders to converge and discuss actionable strategies towards meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through impactful research, this year’s SDG Impact Week comprises 4 major events — the Taoyuan Social Business City International Forum, Sustainability Leadership and Impact Management Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ceremony, 1st Impact Measurement and Management Symposium, and Sustainability Leadership and Impact Management Workshop. This event was led by SESAM Dean, Dr. Rico C. Ancog, and participated by Ms. Jessa O. Aquino-Cando, a University Researcher. As a forefront of environmental science and management, SESAM recognizes the significance of collaboration and partnerships in resolving complex and multi-dimensional challenges, ensuring environmental conservation, nation-building, and sustainable development through education, conducting impactful research, and extension services. SESAM is one in looking for innovative and practical strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable future.
The University of the Philippines through SESAM is one of the five pioneering members who signed a MoU. Representing Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. was Dean Rico C. Ancog along with Asian Institute for Impact Measurement and Management (AIIMM), Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Business and Social Sciences, Albukhary International University, Universitas Airlangga, and Indonesia SDGs Center Network for the Sustainability Leadership and Impact Management (SLIM) Consortium which aims to establish partnerships for research, capacity building, training, and innovation towards sustainable development.
Dean Rico C. Ancog also served as a speaker during the symposium, delivering an insightful presentation titled “Integrated Impact Assessment and Economic Valuation Approaches for Enhanced Decision Making.” His talk focused on advanced methodologies for assessing environmental and economic impacts, highlighting how these approaches can inform more effective and sustainable decision-making processes in both policy and practice.
Dean Ancog served as a panelist on a webinar on Global Sustainability, titled Bridging Impact and Sustainability: Global Insights on Social Impact Management. This session, hosted by Future Earth Taipei, brought together thought leaders from around the world to discuss innovative strategies and best practices for integrating sustainability and social impact in various sectors. Dean Ancog’s contributions underscored SESAM’s commitment to pioneering sustainable practices and to fostering international collaboration in environmental science and management.
This week-long event emphasizes the advancing sustainability and impact management to explore innovative and practical approaches to achieving the SDGs. Participating also in this event are academic leaders and industry professionals from Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, and Türkiye. SDG Impact Week is a testament of collective commitment to sustainability of multidisciplinary groups across different countries (JOAquino-Cando).
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