Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

24 Nov 2025

The sedimentary rocks in the Central Cordillera, formed about 33–17 million years ago, came from volcanic rocks produced by an underwater volcanic region

Approximately 90% sedimentary rocks cover the Earth’s surface. These rocks are formed from the erosion and weathering of pre-existing rocks....

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21 Nov 2025

A guitar-based program resulted in improvements in hand function among stroke patients comparable to those from conventional therapy

This study aims to determine the effects of guitar lessons (intervention group) in comparison to conventional occupational therapy sessions (control...

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20 Nov 2025

The commemoration of Juan Luna as a nationalist illustrates the dynamic and selective nature of public memory

This paper examines the creation and configuration of public memory in the Philippines by studying the case of Juan Luna....

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19 Nov 2025

Except for changes in the settings featuring women and men, gender portrayals in TV ads in 2010 and 2020 remained largely stereotypical

This study compares Philippine television advertisements in 2010 and 2020 to examine possible differences in gender representation. We conducted a...

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17 Nov 2025

Young adults face many personal conflicts rooted in the belief that personal gain at others’ expense is morally wrong

This study examined how Filipinos in their 20s use different moral discourses to negotiate their personal conflicts. Many conflicts centered...

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14 Nov 2025

Two in five individuals do not want to live in socialized housing, saying the units are too small, poor in quality, and still unaffordable

The most common housing concerns in the Philippines are affordability and supply. In response, the government divided the housing market...

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13 Nov 2025

Evidence shows that during the Pleistocene, Luzon—long thought to lack native large mammalian carnivores—was home to a sizeable predator

Fossils are preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, often turned to rock. Body fossils include parts like shells, teeth,...

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12 Nov 2025

Some communities in Los Baños, Laguna still face challenges in accessing safe and clean drinking water

Due to rising costs or the inaccessibility of commercial water, many rural communities rely on artesian well (“poso”) water as...

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11 Nov 2025

Walkability in urban cities should also consider the varying accessibility needs of people of all ages

Cities are meant to be places where people can easily access everything they need within a short walk or bike...

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24 Oct 2025

A new approach to volunteerism encourages schools to treat volunteer activities as long-term commitments

This research explored the motivations of students as a basis for deeper and more meaningful engagement among educational institutions in...

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23 Oct 2025

Gay and bisexual teachers in rural schools need clear policies that protect LGBT educators

This research explored the experiences of gay and bisexual teachers working in rural schools in the Philippines. It involved interviews...

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22 Oct 2025

Fishing communities in Taliptip, Bulakan face risks from natural hazards and the New Manila International Airport project

The New Manila International Airport (NMIA), currently under construction in Taliptip, Bulakan along the shores of Manila Bay, is intended...

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Research

The Philippines, like other countries, is facing environmental challenges. One perpetuating problem is deforestation, which has a severe impact on the aquatic environment. Deforestation causes massive losses of biological diversity and serious consequences for human health, including outbreaks of new diseases. Nutrient cycling is severely impaired by deforestation and can result in serious harm, from farm productivity to water pollution problems. A practical example is the overloading of nutrients in water systems, which can trigger eutrophication, leading to fish kill, and the proliferation of harmful red tide organisms, which can cause human poisoning.

The nutrient cycle, a concept that highlights the path nutrients follow as they travel from the soil to plants and other organisms, is an important concept for students to understand, as it connects human actions to their effects on the environment. Understanding how the nutrient cycle works, especially in the context of lake water, is crucial for managing ecosystems effectively and mitigating the impacts of pollution, particularly when caused by anthropogenic factors. Therefore, there is a need to integrate environmental education into class lessons so that individuals can fully grasp the relationship between science and society.

This study randomly selected senior high schools located near Laguna Lake in Los Baños, Laguna. Schools near the lake were targeted because they were relatively familiar with the topic. This study surveyed a total of 110 students from three different schools using simple random sampling. The survey assessed environmental awareness in three categories: knowledge, attitude, and practice, validated through Cronbach’s Alpha test. From the data collected, the respondents were found to have low awareness in terms of knowledge (44.6%), high awareness in terms of attitude (83.6%), and moderately low awareness in terms of practice (67.6%). The results suggest a need to enhance student understanding of environmental concepts and issues to improve their practices, motivating them to adopt sustainable practices. Overall, the results of this study support the premise that there is a need to create teaching materials and activities to improve the practices among students.

Authors: Mayumi Kara M. Buot (Basic education, TRACE College | University of the Philippines Los Baños) and Cervinia V. Manalo (University of the Philippines Los Baños | Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Read the full paper: https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2024/20/bioconf_icolib2023_01007.pdf

Image by DaveMeier from Pixabay