Dr. Sajise, who is a former dean of three colleges of UPLB, namely SESAM, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and College of Human Ecology (CHE), is currently an Honorary Research Fellow, Biodiversity International and a Senior Fellow of the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). Dr. Sajise is also a member of the editorial of board of the Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM).

On his lecture, he discussed the brief description of the key phases of the journey of environmental science, from its starting point in ecology up to related sciences. He also enumerated environmental problems and how it is interrelated with sustainable development goals. He also stressed the implications to the practice of environmental science(s) and the challenges for environmental institutions and networks.

Dr. Sajise defined environmental science as a “multidisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences to the study of the environment and the solution of environmental problems.” He added that the importance for sustainable development arose from the concern for the environment, due to the problems affecting human society.

He said in the Philippines, the starting point was in the 1970s, when courses or modules in ecology and environmental concerns were offered. Then in the 1970s and 1980s, the growing interest in ecology opened up the window of understanding on ecosystems and the influence of human activities. At present, interdisciplinary research program and institutionalization of graduate programs are being implemented in academic institutions. Currently, in the Philippines, there are more than 50 institutions offering bachelor of Science, 31 offering master of science, and seven offering Doctor of Philosophy in environmental science. Further, he said the formation of more environmental science networks strengthened the practice.

In the historical pattern of environmental problems in the country, Dr. Sajise said it has have been associated with some dominant human activities dealing with exploitation of ecosystems serving as the resource base; add to that the deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, mining and overexploitation of the aquatic ecosystems. It has been exacerbated by growing population, rapid urbanization and just recently in the past decades, climate change.

“In the 60s and 70s, the idea of climate change did not exist, nobody is talking about it”, Dr. Sajise recounted. He added “there is a need to super impose climate change in all types of environmental concerns, so please bring in climate change in your interests to make environmental science complete.” 

In the end of his presentation, he challenged the audience and said “We all have the responsibility to ensure a livable future for the coming generations… therefore, we need to coordinate, collaborate and consolidate our efforts and capacity to solve the environmental problems in our country”.