SCITECH RECENTLY: CoS Bio Department holds Two-day Workshop for Undergraduate Thesis Fieldwork
By: Xyl Matthea Martin, Rinzen Gonzales, and Marielle Pesa
Fieldwork is a staple in the life of fourth-year students working on their theses from the UST College of Science’s (CoS) Department of Biological Sciences (DBS). To prepare them as early as possible, the department organized a two-day seminar-workshop called “Fieldwork 101: Back to the Basics”, where the first day was held on July 31 at the Blas Hall of UST’s Main Building.
Necessary preparations for fieldwork such as mountaineering and first aid were discussed during the first day of the event. A more in-depth discourse regarding specific trainings on the students’ theses would be tackled the next day.
The first talk of the event was conducted by Sarah Grace S. Zamudio, MSc, who taught the basics of hiking to the students in a Basic Mountaineering Course. She emphasized the importance of preventive measures and ensuring the safety of the students conducting their fieldwork. Zamudio discussed everything that needs to be prepared before fieldwork, from trail classes and detailed itineraries to materials field researchers must bring during a hike. She also enumerated the dangers students should be prepared for and highlighted the importance of planning ahead and preparing for everything that may come their way.
Following Zamudio’s talk on fieldwork, Nino Andree Louis E. Caguimbal, MSc shared in the second part of the BMC talk the importance of knowing the study’s main objective. Their theses’ main goal would serve as the foundation of decisions researchers will have to make when mountaineering in the dense environment of the Philippine countryside. It will determine sampling techniques that researchers would employ as well as specimens collected during the hike.
Even amidst intense planning, he said to expect the unexpected and be resourceful with the available materials. Moreover, he highlighted the importance of teamwork and getting along with other researchers. “They are learning from us and we are learning from them,” he said.
The last presentation for the day entailed a demonstration of Basic First Aid by Assistant Professor Shea Kathleen Guinto, PhD. As with the prior presentations, she aimed to ensure the safety of the students and their companions by teaching them immediate lifesaving care and how to prevent injuries from getting worse. A skills demonstration joined by an enthusiastic crowd followed the discussion, and finally concluded with an open forum.
Arranged by the DBS Faculty, the series of talks aimed to share the intricacies of fieldwork preparation as well as actual field experiences to avoid repeating past mistakes and problems encountered by fellow undergraduates and faculty. By taking these valuable lessons to heart, CoS students can conduct their fieldwork with greater confidence and capability.
