"Both spirit and science have a place in the stewardship of the earth," asserts University of Hawaii in Manoa (UHM) professor Dr. James Roumasset, during the 3^rd roundtable discussion¹ on sustainability science.

The roundtable participants

Roumasset defined sustainability science as the organization of research designed to inform environmental and natural resource management through a specific policy or resource management question. From this, a management model is developed in order to generate data needed to answer the question posed.

The efforts of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Philippines in advancing the field were presented. Participants noted, however, that initiatives were highly sectoral. While integrative studies were undertaken in different levels, such as in agricultural systems, the extent of such integration is too limited. This then is the direction that the academe needs to pursue.

Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, SEARCA Director, said that this roundtable arose from the need to embrace and assert a science perspective and approach to sustainability.³ He considered the Los Baños Science Community (LBSC), Philippines as uniquely positioned to nurture, apply, and assert sustainability science as an emerging field, in collaboration with centers of excellence like UHM and some Japanese universities.

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Endnotes:

¹ In November 2006 and 2008, the 1st and 2nd roundtable discussions on sustainability science were held in Tagaytay City and Honolulu, Hawaii, respectively.

² Other roundtable participants included UPLB’s Dr. Felino Lansigan (Institute of Statistics), Dr. Nicomedes Briones (School of Environmental Science and Management), and Dr. Agnes Rola (Dean, College of Public Affairs); ICRAF Philippines Coordinator Dr. Rodel Lasco; UHM PhD candidate Ms. Majah Leah Ravago; and SEARCA representatives Dr. Arnulfo Garcia (Research and Development Manager), Dr. Maria Celeste Cadiz (Training Manager), and Ms. Carmen Nyrhia Rogel (Project Development Specialist).

³ The 3rd roundtable discussion aims to 1) identify collaborative research, capacity building, and other activities that relate to and would enrich sustainability science; 2) identify other partners for the sustainability science effort and for the specific projects; and 3) develop a workplan and strategies toward implementing the identified projects.

This news was mainly drawn from the Minutes of the 3^rd Roundtable Discussion prepared by Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz.