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Miss Philippines Earth at DOST

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Published: 19 May 2009

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Miss Philippines Earth beauties at Department of Science and Technology. DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro (third from left) welcomes Miss Earth beauties in their first ever public appearance at the DOST complex in Bicutan, Taguig City. Miss Philippines-Earth Sandra Seifert (4th from left) and Miss Philippines-Fire and Miss Science and Technology Patricia Marie Tumulak (5th from left) graced the flag raising at DOST  May 18. Others in photo are (L-R) Philippine Textile Research Institute Director Carlos Tomboc, National Research Council of the Philippines Executive Director Napoleon Hernandez, Industrial Technology Development Institute Director Nuna Almanzor, Miss Earth Foundation Executive Director Cathy Untalan, Science and Technology Information Institute Officer-In-Charge and Press Asst. Secretary Ma. Isabel Dario, Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development Officer-In-Charge Raul Sabularse, and DZMM station manager and Philippine Science Journalists Association, Inc President Angelo Palmones. [Photo by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service]

UPLB professor wins 2009 Greenwood environmental award

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Published: 15 May 2009

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Felino F. Lansigan, professor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños Institute of Statistics won this year’s Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Award given by the Department of Science and Technology’s National Academy of Science and Technology.  Lansigan was cited for his contribution to the knowledge on statistical hydrology and water resources, and his work related accomplishments at the Bangkok-based International Water Management Greenwood Institute - Southeast Asia Regional Office.

UPLB Prof. Felino Lansigan, 2009 NAST-Hugh Greenwood awardee (inset), receives $1,000 and a plaque from National Academy of Science and Technology President Emil Q. Javier. Others in photo are (from left) NAST Academician Angel Alcala (chair, Board of Judges),   Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Teresita Castillo, and Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary for S&T Services Fortunato T. dela Peña [Photos by Gerry Palad, S&T Media Service]
 

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The dance of sea cucumbers

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Published: 15 May 2009

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This special dance happens only on a night when the setting is conducive.  Like a waiting princess, she stands with head held high, her front end raised from the bottom. Meanwhile, he watches her at a distance, shaking and tossing restlessly á la lambada. A few hours later, he releases a hazy fluid that covers them both. She follows after some minutes, releasing thousands of eggs.
      The sea cucumbers have spawned. The dance was successful. In 70 days, about a thousand infant sea cucumbers, all creation of the peculiar dance, will be pitching themselves on the sea floor, waiting to start another generation or to serve as haute cuisine to predators, whichever comes first.
      But for Dr. Ruth Gamboa, a marine biologist from the University of the Philippines-Mindanao, understanding the dance of the sea cucumbers is very important. Dr. Gamboa leads a three-year resource management and culture program on Holothuria scabra Jaeger, or sea cucumbers, which aims to help out a bit in producing sea cucumber babies for their research.
      “We mix the sperm and the egg to come up with a new generation of sea cucumbers,” she says. Experiments so far showed that H. scabara spawns three nights after the first quarter, while another variety called Bohaschia simillis spawns three nights after the full moon. “Timing is very important,” she points out.

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