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| (Image Source: Batangas State University, The National Engineering University) |
Researchers, government representatives, conservation practitioners, and university partners from the Philippines and abroad gathered at Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), for the International Conference on Sustainability through Research and Innovation (ICSRI) 2026, held last September 28-30, 2026 at the BatStateU The NEU Pablo Borbon Campus.
Anchored on the theme “LICAS 2026: Linking Institutions For Biodiversity Conservation Actions Towards Sustainability”, the three-day conference featured keynote presentations, plenary talks, a high-level dialogue, research presentations, and exhibits focused on aquatic ecosystems, food security, biodiversity conservation, environmental technologies, and institutional cooperation. BatStateU co-hosted the conference with Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universitas Sriwijaya, and Indian Maritime University with Conservation International Philippines as premier partner. Other partners included the Southern Tagalog Consortium for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development; the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region IV-A; Prime Energy; the Batangas Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the local government units (LGUs) of Lobo and Batangas City. BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo formally opened the conference last September 28, challenging participants to look beyond the discussions held during the three-day event, remarking, “May the next three days allow us not only to exchange what we know, but also to determine what we can do together because of what we know.” Dr. Ronquillo’s challenge set the tone for the keynote address of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Institut Marin Borneo (IMB) Associate Professor Dr. Abentin Bin Estim. In his keynote “From Research To Innovation: Advancing Water Quality, Aquatic Biodiversity And Food Security For A Sustainable Future”, Dr. Estim examined the links among water quality, aquatic ecosystems, fisheries, food security, and the technologies and governance systems needed to manage them responsibly. His message was framed around stewardship rather than extraction, emphasizing, “The future of fisheries will depend not on how much we can take from the ocean, but on how wisely we can steward what the ocean gives us.” Dr. Estim described the ocean as a natural capital whose continued productivity depends on the health of the ecosystems supporting it. “The ocean is not merely a resource to be consumed; it is natural capital entrusted to us for generations to come.” He stressed that technology alone is not the solution; it must serve sound science, effective governance, transparency, and responsible management.
Showcasing research and innovation
The keynote was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the conference exhibit at the ground floor of the Emilio Aguinaldo Building, showcasing research, innovation, and conservation initiatives from across the BatStateU system and its partner institutions. Participating exhibitors included BatStateU’s Social Innovation Research Center (SIRC), Electronics Systems Research Center (ESRC), Food Innovation Center (FIC), Geographic Information Systems Applications Development Center (GADC), Material Testing and Calibration Center (MTCC), and Verde Island Passage Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences (VIP-CORALS), alongside the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and Conservation International Philippines (CIP). Following the keynote and exhibit activities, the conference turned to the broader environmental challenge through Plenary Session 1, “Can sustainability save us from climate change?”, delivered by Dr. Marte Gutierrez, J.R. Paden Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure at Colorado School of Mines, U.S.A.
Support for conservation researchers and communities
The high-level dialogue, “Guarding The Guardians: Protecting Science, Scientists, And The Ecosystems They Defend”, examined field safety, institutional protection, community participation, and resources for conservation work. Moderated by DOST-Batangas Senior Science Research Specialist John Maico Hernandez, the dialogue brought together CDR Sean Jayner D. Cabral of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Batangas Coast Guard District, Conservation International Philippines Foundation Inc. Vice President and Country Lead Wilson John Barbon, 2026 PWMC Conference Secretary-General and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Adjunct Professor Dr. Damasa B. Magcale-Macandog, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) Chief Science Research Specialist Dr. Lynlei L. Pintor. The session drew attention to the people behind conservation science, and the conditions that shape their work. Barbon called for science-based conservation decisions, stronger use of research, community stewardship supported by livelihood opportunities, funding for conservation technologies, and data-sharing among institutions. Addressing the risks faced by researchers, Dr. Pintor highlighted hazards encountered during fieldwork and initiatives that connect environmental goals with community needs. Dr. Magcale-Macandog broadened the discussion to community participation, stressing the need to involve communities from the outset and sustain their engagement beyond external funding or the departure of research teams. She expressed support for stronger protection of environmental researchers and defenders. CDR Cabral, meanwhile, discussed the Philippine Coast Guard’s assistance to student researchers and coastal communities, including through the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. Together, the dialogue identified safer research conditions, shared information, sustained funding, and community participation as priorities for long-term conservation efforts.
Research and technology for biodiversity protection
The conference’s research presentations and second-day sessions brought the discussion into environmental monitoring, biodiversity assessment, emerging contaminants, and applications of technology in conservation. Parallel sessions were organized around biodiversity science and ecosystem protection; research, innovation and smart technologies; communities, knowledge and inclusion; and sustainability, financing, and impact. The second day opened with a keynote by Dr. Ruki Harwahyu, S.T., M.T., M.Sc., Manager of Operations, Data, and Service Development of UI GreenMetric, who discussed how higher education institutions can measure the relevance and impact of sustainability. His presentation highlighted the use of Earth observation, remote sensing, and environmental data to better understand changes in ecosystems and support evidence-based decision-making. The plenary sessions that followed examined different environmental concerns and research approaches. Dr. Dave Arthur Robledo, Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Research Fellow of Ehime University in Japan, discussed emerging contaminants such as microplastics, PFAS, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, highlighting the use of wildlife as environmental sentinels. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Indra Yustian, M.Si., Head of the Biology Master’s Program in Conservation Biology at Universitas Sriwijaya in Indonesia, presented the Integrated Tropical Wetland Living Laboratory as a framework for adaptive learning that connects ecological evidence with institutional decision-making and continuous evaluation. Meanwhile, Dr. Stanley Anak Suab, Senior Lecturer of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, discussed the use of remote sensing, GIS, drones, LiDAR, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence in biodiversity assessment and restoration. His presentation stressed the need for field validation, scientific baselines, uncertainty assessment, and community context in applying these technologies.
Connecting climate, biodiversity, and the ocean
The day’s remaining plenary sessions widened the lens once more. Dr. N. Bhanu Prakash, Associate Professor and Head In-Charge of the Indian Maritime University's School of Maritime Management, addressed the climate-biodiversity-ocean nexus and the protection of port and marine life, linking the health of marine ecosystems with the broader systems in which coastal development and maritime activity operate. The conversation then returned to BatStateU through Dr. Jayvee Saco, Research Center Head of the Verde Island Passage–Center for Oceanographic Research and Aquatic Life Sciences (VIP-CORALS), who presented the University’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. Across the keynote addresses, plenary sessions, dialogue, and research presentations, one question continued to surface: How can scientific knowledge, data, and new technologies be translated into decisions and conservation actions that institutions and communities can sustain?
BatStateU and the work beyond the conference
For BatStateU, hosting ICSRI 2026 provided a platform where institutions and disciplines could work around a shared concern. As The National Engineering University, BatStateU’s role in the conference connected research, technology, environmental responsibility, and community needs. The conference brought together partners from research, government, conservation, industry, and local communities. But the measure of such a gathering cannot end with the number of sessions conducted or presentations delivered. It lies in what follows: partnerships that continue, research that informs decisions, technologies that reach communities, policies grounded in evidence, and conservation efforts that remain in place after individual projects or researchers move on. That is why the President’s challenge remains relevant beyond the three-day conference. As Dr. Ronquillo said, “The real question is not simply what we know or what we should do. The real question is: What are we going to do after this conference?”
From discussion to immersion
On the final day, ICSRI 2026 moved beyond the conference sessions through the Immersive and Community Tour including the Lobo–Calumpang River Tour. The activity gave participants a closer look at the landscapes and communities tied to biodiversity conservation, connecting three days of discussions on biodiversity, research, innovation, and sustainability, with places where environmental action takes shape. The tour reinforced the shared responsibility of universities, government, industry, communities, researchers, and environmental workers in turning knowledge into action. As Dr. Ronquillo said, “We are breathing the same air. We are sharing the same waters. We are part of the same planet.” For BatStateU, that shared responsibility brings research and innovation closer to action for ecosystems, communities, and future generations.
