Davao del Sur State College hosted Dr. Marie-Anne Félix on August 7, 2026, at the DSSC Mini Theater for a full-day seminar on nematode biology. Dr. Félix serves as Research Director at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Principal Investigator at the Institute of Biology of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris.
The visit is part of an ongoing research collaboration among CNRS, DSSC, and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. Dr. Félix brought her work on Caenorhabditis nematodes to the room, covering their value as a model organism in evolutionary biology and the broader role soil-dwelling organisms play in understanding plant-soil ecosystems. Faculty, researchers, and students sat through the morning lecture and open forum, then moved into a hands-on workshop in the afternoon.
A Memorandum of Agreement signing also took place during the program, adding a formal layer to what is already a working relationship between the institutions.
College President Dr. Augie E. Fuentes delivered a message that framed the day plainly. “Having a researcher of Dr. Félix’s caliber in this room tells our students and faculty that world-class science is not out of reach. It starts with conversations like this one.”
Closing remarks were delivered by ORDI Director Dr. Cherry Ann P. Roxas, DBA.
The seminar supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) through exposure to international scientific knowledge and methodology, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through engagement with advanced biological research, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the active collaboration among DSSC, CNRS, and MSU-IIT.
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