SU co-organizes marine genetics and genomics workshop in Cebu
Silliman University (SU) joined forces with leading international institutions for the Albatross Recollection Project’s landmark “Workshop on Marine Genetics & Genomics in the Philippines” and accompanying “Training on Demographic Inference from Genetic Data, held on July 8-9, 2025at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu.
Organized and sponsored by the Albatross Recollection Project, a collaborative project of SU, University of California – Santa Cruz, Old Dominion University and Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, and supported by the University of the Philippines – Cebu and the Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS), the two-day program brought together 42 participants representing 14 institutions, including 10 Philippine universities and four foreign academic bodies.
Asst. Prof. Persie Q. Sienes presents the genetic research conducted at Silliman University.
Dr. Nadia P. Abesamis of Silliman’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Biology Department officially welcomed attendees, highlighting the importance of marine genomics for conservation efforts in the country.
Asst. Prof. Persie Q. Sienes, also of SU’s CAS Biology Department, showcased the university’s ongoing genetic research on marine species, demonstrating how these studies inform management strategies.
The workshop’s objectives were fourfold: convene scientists and practitioners working in marine genetics or genomics; share recent Philippine-focused findings; pinpoint research priorities and collaborative opportunities for marine conservation and governance; and equip participants with analytical skills for demographic inference using genetic data.
Participants of the workshop and training from various local and foreign academic institutions pose at the event.
Senior scientists presented their latest research during plenary sessions, after which breakout groups were tasked with identifying research gaps, priority areas, potential funding avenues, and strategic initiatives to bolster marine genomic research nationwide. Following the workshop, participants engaged in hands‑on training, learning to apply demographic inference software such as NeEstimator, momi2, and GONE to real genetic datasets.
Dr. Brandon Reid and Dr. Marianne Dehasque of the University of California Santa Cruz lead the hands-on training on demographic inference techniques.
