Faculty members from the UP Diliman National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP NIGS), Dr. Betchaida D. Payot, Dr. Gabriel Theophilus V. Valera, and Dr. Jillian Aira S. Gabo-Ratio, contributed to the Integrated Geology Learning Series (IGLS) held at the Physical Sciences Department, College of Science, Partido State University (ParSU), in collaboration with the Geological Organization of Partido State University (GO-ParSU), from September 9 to 12, 2026. The four-day event brought together students and alumni for a range of activities designed to deepen their understanding of geology, including lectures, field-based learning activities, undergraduate thesis consultations, and board examination review sessions.
The learning series opened with a scientific forum themed “Unveiling Earth Processes: Current Research Trends in Petrology & Economic Geology”. NIGS faculty members shared their expertise through presentations highlighting recent research and emerging perspectives in the geosciences. Dr. Payot presented the talk on “Dig Deep: Ophiolites, Xenoliths, and the Stories Beneath our Feet”, while Dr. Valera presented “Younger than you think: New Insights on the Age and Nature of Metamorphic Rocks in Western Philippines”, and Dr. Gabo-Ratio discussed the “Critical by Nature: Mineralogical and Geochemical Perspective on the REE mineralization potential of Philippine weathering deposits”.
The NIGS faculty members also conducted undergraduate thesis consultations in their respective fields of expertise. Dr. Payot provided guidance in Igneous Petrology and Geochemistry, Dr. Gabo-Ratio in Economic Geology, and Dr. Valera in Metamorphic Geology and Geochemistry. The consultations provided students with an opportunity to present their undergraduate studies, receive feedback from NIGS faculty, and further improve their research.
The NIGS faculty members also supported ParSU graduates preparing for the Geologist Licensure Examination through focused review sessions, sharing their expertise and providing additional guidance. Through initiatives such as the IGLS, UP NIGS continues to support academic collaboration and contribute to the development of geosciences by sharing their expertise beyond the Institute.