UM RPC's foreign fellows in Entomology hold public lecture
Students with an interest in studying biodiversity and insects were in for a treat as renowned experts in entomology Dr. Alexander Anischenko from Daugavpils University and Dr. Kirill Kolenischenko from Moscow State University held a free lecture and introductory training last Oct. 23 at the UM Matina AVR and Research Hangar.
Dr. Anischenko and Dr. Kolenischenko's field of expertise are beetles and butterflies, respectively; of which the Philippines has an abundant yet threatened number of species. These small creatures are important indicators of an ecosystem's overall health; as their absence in an area where they are supposed to be, and their presence where they should not, can tell conservationists about the state of the environment.
The two work with UM’s Coleoptera Research Center under the UM Research and Publication Center to document and catalogue the various beetle species of the country; underscoring the importance of each specie in playing a part in the health of the ecosystems where they are found.
Students from the College of Teacher Education were also treated to a live demonstration and training by the visiting scientists on the professional manner of handling insect specimens at the Coleoptera Research Center.
