DOrSU’s TROGENIR Researchers Champion Biodiversity Futures, Win Best Paper Award at DSFC 2025
Researchers from the Tropical Genomics and Invertebrate Research (TROGENIR) Laboratory of Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) brought pride to the University after winning the Best Paper Award under the thematic cluster “Futures of Nature and Environment” during the Davao Sustainable Futures Conference (DSFC) 2025 held on October 29–30, 2025, at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.
The winning paper, authored by Ms. Stephanie Cadayona and Dr. Milton Norman D. Medina, is titled “Description of a New Species of Amphisternus Germar, 1843 (Coleoptera: Endomychidae: Lycoperdininae) from Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor.” The study documents the discovery of a new beetle species endemic to Eastern Mindanao, underscoring the importance of taxonomy in biodiversity conservation and the critical role of research in sustaining the region’s unique ecosystems.
Also representing the TROGENIR Laboratory were Daven Jayson D. Agbas, Graden G. Obrial, and Jennylyn Japitan, who presented their respective research works under the mentorship of Dr. Medina, TROGENIR Supervisor and one of DOrSU’s leading biodiversity scientists.
During the open forum, Dr. Medina highlighted the urgency of conducting biodiversity studies on understudied and endemic species, which are essential for long-term ecosystem management and conservation planning. He also encouraged collaboration among academics and emphasized the value of mentoring emerging researchers to ensure the continuity of biodiversity research in the Philippines.
The Center for Futures Thinking and Regenerative Development (CFTRD), one of TROGENIR’s partner research centers, lauded the team’s achievement and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting coleopterological research and biodiversity conservation initiatives. In a social media post, CFTRD emphasized that this milestone reflects DOrSU’s regenerative futures vision, which seeks to advance research that regenerates both nature and community well-being.
This recognition also reinforces DOrSU’s commitment to its GROWTH 2029 Agenda, particularly its pillars on Research Excellence and Innovation. Through the work of the TROGENIR Laboratory, DOrSU continues to advance scientific discovery that supports regenerative development, environmental stewardship, and community transformation, embodying its mission to nurture regenerative futures in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
