Tuesday, 8 February, marks the first day of second semester, A.Y. 2021-2022 for the students at the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). To ensure a smooth start of their graduate life, new students have been invited to an online orientation program to get an overall perspective on graduate studies. The online orientation for the new graduate students was held on 28 February 2022, at the School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM).
The kick-starter orientation began with an Audio-Visual Presentation introducing SESAM and a welcome message from the Dean, Dr. Rico C. Ancog. In his welcome remarks, Dr. Ancog emphasized SESAM as a learning organization. “We learn at every step of the process”, he added.
Dr. Ancog also called upon the students to align their research to the values of SESAM towards transdisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity. He also discussed the SESAM’s strategic framework, SESAM SAILS or the Sustainability and Accelerated Innovation in Learning and Solutions. The School is very interested in championing sustainability and Dr. Ancog challenged the new students to push boundaries and translate theories and concepts into actions and concrete, tangible solutions to the environmental problems the world is facing.
As he closed, Dr. Ancog welcomed the students to SESAM and looked forward to having the orientation as an avenue to discuss and learn from each other.
He then introduced the brief history of SESAM, its faculty members, researchers, and admin staff as well as its different divisions and services. Dr. Ancog also presented the SESAM’s earlier research framework called Environmental Conservation, Protection and Restoration/Rehabilitation or Envi-CPR.
“The research problems are appreciated per the types of ecosystems where these environmental problems occur and therefore the ridge-to-reef approach is employed”, explained by Dr. Ancog
He ended his presentation with a reminder to all the students to follow the rules and policies set as these are systems that have been put in place to make sure that everything is in order, and he also encouraged the full cooperation of the students for their smooth sailing with SESAM all throughout their graduate life.
The Instructions Division, headed by Dr. Jessica D. Villanueva-Peyraube informed the students of the academic plans, processing of the academic requirements, and the rules and regulations. In her presentation, she emphasized what good research is– innovative, has specific objectives, worth studying, has logical and theoretical bases, doable, can be replicated, and leads to new questions.
SESAM Researcher and Library head, Ms. Evangeline L. Alcantara presented different services of the library, its various collections, and facilities. She also discussed the process on how to access the library collections.
The President of the UPLB Environmental Science Society, Mr. Rafael Artates, also graced the event and introduced the Society to the new students. An open forum was held towards the end of the event. In the end, Dr. Ancog encouraged the students to keep the communication line open and emphasized that SESAM is always there to reach out and help its students. This orientation was attended by 33 new and continuing students of SESAM (RLDAreglado).
