Thomasian biologists, faculty bag awards at 57th BIOTA
Words by: Steffi Abigail Lee
Fourth-year Medical Biology and Microbiology students and faculty bagged awards in the 57th Biology Teachers Association of the Philippines (BIOTA) National Convention and Scientific Session held in the De La Salle Santiago Zobel Vermosa Campus with the theme “Working with the Human Mind: The Neurobiology of Teaching and Learning” last April 27–29, 2023.
BIOTA is a non-stock, nonprofit organization aiming to advance biological research and education through forums, instructional materials, linkages with agencies, and co-curricular activities for students. This year’s BIOTA National Convention and Scientific Session had several events, namely, the Seminar Lecture, Young Biologists Forum, Poster Exhibit, Biotaktik, Biotalks, and BIOTA ADVENtours workshops.
The research entitled “Embryotoxicity and Upregulation of CYP1A Gene Expression in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) e-Cigarette Aerosol Exposure” of 4MBIO5 students Katrina Mae H. Esposo, Mikaela Rosette S. Castro, Sheindel Claire C. Co, Tyron Chester P. Dela Cruz, and Sophia Gabrielle Y. Ty with their adviser Assoc. Prof. Marilyn G. Rimando, Ph.D., won champion in the Young Biologists Forum.
Also from 4MBIO5, Chanie Y. Patanindagat, Ryla Jasmine T. Pajaro, Jhon Jerald D. Pintucan, Patricia Nichole M. Quilang, and Jamie Ezra B. Tarun with their advisers Assoc. Prof. Maureen B. Sabit, Ph.D., and Prof. John Donnie A. Ramos, Ph.D. bagged 2nd runner-up in the Young Biologists Forum on “Immunoglobulin Epsilon-Binding Reactivity of Blomia tropicalis Allergens Among Selected Allergic Filipinos from Ilocos Norte.”
In the Poster Exhibit with the category on Biodiversity and Conservation, 4MBIO6 students Kathleen Joyce M. Landicho, Danielle Louise M. Bugayong, Matthew V. Coo, Princess Christine A. Luyong, and Julia Tiffany T. Santos with Ms. Propa Joy S. Venturina, MS, Assoc. Prof. Maureen B. Sabit, Ph.D., and Michael A. Calaramo, MS (Northwestern University) secured the Best Poster award for “A Checklist and Conservation Status of Common Flora Found in Semi-Urban Ilocos Norte.”
Faith Gianne G. Evangelista, Qlarice Kyla I. Ricaforte, and Jaem Therese E. Rodriguez from 4MICRO with their advisers, Asst. Prof. Aimee Caye G. Chang, Ph.D., and Asst. Prof. Ma. Sheila M. de Jesus, RMT, MSc, M(ASCP), Ph.D. won Best Poster award in the Poster Exhibit on Health and Wellness for their research on the “Assessment of the Antibiofilm and Antimicrobial Activities of Anabaena sp. Crude Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Against Selected Cauti-Associated Microorganisms.”
The BIOTA Young Biologist Forum requires undergraduate researchers to present their research in eight minutes with a five-minute question and answer portion. In the Poster Exhibit event, a panel of experts critiques the abstracts and posters of undergraduate, graduate, and professional researchers in Biology.
