Australian National University discusses possible collaboration with SEARCA on food security and resilience of social ecological systems

  • 17 December 2014

 SEARCA Officials and ANU representatives together with CHE-UPLB.

A group from the Fenner School of Environment and Society of the College of Medicine, Biology and Environment of the Australian National University (ANU) visited SEARCA on 2 December 2014. Led by Dr. Robert Dyball, Lecturer at the Human Ecology Program and President of the Society for Human Ecology, the group included PhD Candidates Mr. Federico Davila, Ms. Jennifer Marie Sunga-Amparo, and Ms. Deborah Cleland. They were accompanied by representatives of the College of Human Ecology of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CHE-UPLB), the local host of the group.

SEARCA Officials led by Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr., the Center’s Director, warmly welcomed the ANU and CHE-UPLB guests. The respective organizations and program areas for possible collaboration were introduced. Dr. Bessie M. Burgos, Acting Program Head for Research and Development, presented the Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia (Umbrella Program on FNS), developed by SEARCA in collaboration with the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, or the University Consortium.

The Umbrella Program on FNS aims to serve as platform for collaborative research, capacity building, and knowledge management on food security from University Consortium members and partner universities/institutions from other Southeast Asian (SEA) countries. Discussions ensued on possible collaborative projects based on the Umbrella Program as well as avenues and modalities through which the PhD Candidates can conduct their research studies in the Philippines or elsewhere in SEA with SEARCA as their base of operations and as gateway to other SEA institutions.

Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. as he briefed the guests about SEARCA. Dr. Bessie M. Burgos, Dr. Virginia R. Cardenas, Dr. Gil C. Saguitguit, Dr. Robert Dyball and Ms. Jennifer Marie Sunga-Amparo (clockwise).
Dr. Dyball as he hands the book, [i]Understanding Human Ecology[/i], to Dr. Saguiguit. Ms. Jennifer Marie Sunga-Amparo, Ms. Deborah Cleland, Mr. Federico Davila and Dr. Robert Dyball (left to right).