A new thesis grant program for junior and senior undergraduate students from all colleges at UPLB is now open to applicants starting 2nd Sem AY 2020-2021. It will support BS students who will pursue basic, applied, or interdisciplinary research on the socio-cultural, technological, economic, environmental, and policy-institutional aspects of organic agriculture. Two types of research may be undertaken: (1) survey, policy study, documentation, assessment, and the like; and (2) in-campus, or on-farm field or laboratory research.

The program aims to engage students in applying science concepts and principles to improve the practice of organic agriculture. It also aims to encourage them to build their scientific research skills with the support of their thesis advisers.

The thesis grant is funded by the LifeBank Microfinance Foundation, Inc., a non-stock and non-profit organization engaged in micro-financing initiatives that advance comprehensive and sustainable development in rural and urban areas through integrated social services. The program is implemented by the Agricultural Systems Institute (ASI) in coordination with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs – Office of Scholarships and Grants (OVCSA-OSG) and the UPLB Foundation, Inc.

Funds for this thesis grant program were facilitated by Dr. Blesilda M. Calub, under the project “Support for BS Student Thesis on Organic Agriculture at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.” Dr. Calub is a university researcher, affiliate associate faculty, and the Organic Agriculture Program coordinator of the ASI-CAFS and also serves as Chair of the Inter-disciplinary Studies Center on Organic Agriculture (IDSC-OA) under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), UPLB.

At least 40 undergraduate students stand to benefit from the thesis grant in the next two years starting this 2nd Sem AY 2020-2021. Application details are posted on the Facebook page of the ASI:  https://www.facebook.com/agrisytems and the UPLB OVCSA-OSG:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=131732378819982&id=106690101324210

(NACoronado and MCDCaceres)