By: Mr. Piolo Miranda, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Sciences
The University of the Cordilleras (UC), through its Department of Natural Sciences under the College of Arts and Sciences, garnered national recognition after securing the 2nd Best Paper Award in the undergraduate category during the 2026 National Mushroom Forum, held from July 20–22, 2026, at Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
Representing the University was Denisse Viktoria C. Sison, who presented the undergraduate research entitled “Isolation and Screening of Lipase-Producing Fungi from Baguio Bakeries for Potential Bioremediation of Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG).” The study was supervised by Marivic B. Nakake-Panisan, MSc, and co-authored by Alathea Victoria F. Terry, Veronica Mei Ting Yoon, Esheeka C. Lopez, and Chimaobi Nkwocha.
Organized by the Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development (CLSU-CTMRD) as part of its 35th Founding Anniversary celebration, the forum carried the theme, “Honoring 35 Years of Pioneering Excellence: Cultivating Legacy, Advancing Innovations, and Sustaining Service for Generations.” The event brought together researchers, educators, students, mushroom growers, and industry stakeholders from across the country to exchange knowledge through scientific presentations, lectures, forums, and specialized workshops.
The recognition highlights UC’s growing contribution to applied biological research, particularly in developing sustainable biotechnological solutions to environmental challenges. By investigating the potential of naturally occurring lipase-producing fungi for the bioremediation of fats, oils, and grease (FOG), the study supports environmentally responsible waste management practices and demonstrates the value of undergraduate research in addressing real-world concerns.
The University’s participation aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research advances SDG 4: Quality Education by promoting undergraduate research and scientific excellence, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation through innovative approaches to reducing grease pollution, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by encouraging biotechnology-driven solutions, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through sustainable waste management practices. The conference itself also fostered SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by strengthening collaboration among higher education institutions, researchers, government agencies, and industry partners committed to advancing mushroom science and innovation in the Philippines.
Beyond the research presentations, the UC delegation participated in the Training Workshop on Nucleotide Sequence-Based Identification of Mushrooms, where participants received hands-on training in DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and introductory bioinformatics techniques for molecular mushroom identification. The workshop further strengthened participants’ competencies in molecular biology and fungal research.
The UC Biology Society extends its warmest congratulations to Denisse Viktoria C. Sison, her co-authors, and Marivic B. Nakake-Panisan, the adviser, for this outstanding achievement. Their success reflects the University’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and the development of globally competitive scientists dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for society.
