On February 1, the UP GeoSoc officially concluded its 24A application process, themed “Divergent!”, with a culminating event held at D’Souza Resort and Events Venue in Marikina City. This event marked a significant milestone for the organization as it welcomed a new batch of members. Designed both as a challenge and a celebration, the activity provided the applicants an avenue to assess their progress while making new memories and bonding with current members. By the end of the program, 11 successful applicants were introduced as the newest members to the ever-growing family of the organization.
In addition to the application process, UP GeoSoc recently hosted the 2025 National Geology Congress on March 7 and 8. Now in its 12th year, NGC remains the organization’s flagship event, dedicated to bridging the gap between the community and the geosciences. This year’s event featured: the Earth Science Teachers’ Seminar, the High School Students’ Workshop, and the GeoQuiz: An Earth Science Competition. More than 200 high school teachers and students from across the country participated in the event.
TAHAK: Earth Science Teachers’ Seminar (March 7)
The Earth Science Teachers’ Seminar aims to equip participating educators with comprehensive knowledge of Earth Sciences, enabling them to foster more effective and practical classroom discussions. ESTS was held at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) Auditorium, featuring four distinguished lectures from esteemed speakers:
- Fossils of the Philippines: Meyrick U. Tablizo, Instructor, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
- Origin of Earthquakes in the Tectonics of the Philippines: John Dale B. Dianala, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
- Understanding Volcanic Phenomena in the Philippines Through the Years: Sandra G. Catane, Ph.D., Professor, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
- Enhancing Geohazard Literacy through Technological Advancement: Likha G. Minimo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UP CS Science and Society Program
TUKLAS: High School Students’ Workshop (March 7)
The High School Students’ Workshop aims to teach basic concepts of geology and their applications in everyday life through lectures and hands-on activities. The morning session, which included lectures from the speakers, was held at the Institute of Biology (IB) Auditorium. In the afternoon, the participants moved to the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), where the workshop proper was conducted.
- BS Geology: Got to Rock your World!: Micko Chad Lee Palma, Research Assistant, UP NIGS Structural Geology and Tectonics Laboratory
- Basic Mineral and Rock Identification Crash Course: Jose Rainier Trinidad, Teaching Associate, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
- Basic Field Techniques Crash Course: Instructor, UP National Institute of Geological Sciences
Museum Tour (March 7)
Part of the ESTS and HSW program is a tour of the National Institute of Geological Sciences’ in-house museum. Through this tour, the participants had the opportunity to explore and examine a diverse collection of rock, mineral, and fossil samples.
GeoQuiz: An Earth Science Competition (March 8)
GeoQuiz is the highlight and main event of the NGC. It is an earth science competition open to high school students from public, private, and science high schools. The competition aims to test students’ knowledge of earth sciences and their ability to think analytically under time pressure. Thirty teams across the nation have participated and competed. The elimination round, consisting of both written and move-type questions, took place in the morning at the National Institute of Geological Sciences. In the afternoon, the quizbee proper for the 11 qualifying teams was conducted at the Institute of Biology (IB) Auditorium.
After finishing as second-runner up in the previous installment, Parañaque Science High School made a remarkable comeback, dominating this year’s competition by securing both the Championship and First-Runner Up. A sudden death clincher round determined the final rankings between the two teams, with Team B emerging victorious and claiming a Php 20, 000 prize, while Team A secured Php 15, 000. Meanwhile Philippine Science High School CALABARZON Region Campus Team A earned the Second-Runner Up spot, taking home Php 10,000. All winners received plaques and medals, while participating teams were awarded certificates and giveaways from sponsors.
UP GeoSoc expresses its sincere appreciation to the event sponsors and partners, along with the officials and staff from UP NIGS, IESM, and IB for their significant contributions in bringing success to the event. The organization looks forward to the continued support in future National Geology Congress installments to keep fostering a stronger connection between the field of geology and the community.