On March 28, 2025, a back-to-back book launch and NIGS lecture series were held at the NIGS Audio-Visual Room. Around 50 participants, comprising mostly of students, attended the event. The event began with the brief but sentimental launching of the book “Atlas of Coccolithophores in Philippine Marginal Seas” by Dr. Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay, Dr. Allan Gil S. Fernando, Jaan Ruy Conrad P. Nogot, John Warner M. Carag, and Dorothy Joyce D. Marquez. Dr. Peleo-Alampay gave a heartfelt introduction, sharing insights into the team’s journey, from collecting water samples to observing these intricate microorganisms under the microscope. The launch was also a moment of remembrance, as colleagues and friends paid tribute to co-author John Warner M. Carag (fondly known as Kuya Warner), who passed away during the project.
Afterwards, the talk entitled “Unearthing knowledge: The National Museum of the Philippines as a Catalyst for Geoscience Education and Engagement” was given by Ms. Maileen P. Rondal, a Museum Curator II at the Geology and Paleontology Division, National Museum of the Philippines. Ms. Maileen discussed recent initiatives and updates on the ongoing efforts of their department and the museum in disseminating geoscience awareness such as geology-related social media posts and infographics, the travelling exhibition project, new exhibits, undergraduate internship opportunities and more.
The talk culminated with a GeoGuessr game where the participants guessed the locations of different museums established by the NMP. Ultimately, they gave copies of their recently published books such as “Portraits of the Crust: Minerals and Rocks of the Philippines” and “Fossils, Records of Prehistoric Life in the Philippines” to the winners. They also donated several copies to the institute and the NIGS-UPGAA Geology Museum.
This event was organized by the Nannoworks Laboratory, Iuvenis Orbis Geological Fraternity, the Paleontological Society of the Philippines, and the National Institute of Geological Sciences.
NIGS personnel, authors, and family and friends of the authors. Starting from left - Dr. Sandra Catane, Jaan Nogot, Dr. Allan Fernando, Dr. Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, Gemma Carag, Jaan Nogot, Arcy Carag.
Members of the institute receiving the books donated by the NMP and Ms. Maileen Rondal (middle left).
Students and winners of the GeoGuessr game with their books as prizes.