The Lady in the Lab

The diversity of species both flora or fauna have very important roles in the survival of mankind. Biodiversity is a crucial natural resource for humans. Many species that are threatened could potentially provide economic values for human use [1]. Levels of Biodiversity[1] 1. Genetic diversity Genetic diversity comprises not only the individual genetic variation within a population, but also the genetic variation between populations that is often associated with adaptations to local conditions. If one population becomes extinct, then a species may have lost some of the genetic diversity which in turn reduces the adaptive potential of the species [1]. A good example of the importance of genetic diversity is production of rice. Having more varieties of rice contribute to its gene pool. This is very useful in improving the crop quality. One variety of rice may have genes for virus resistance, another with genes resistant to insects. These qualities can be combined t...

The word Ecology comes from the Greek words  oikos    meaning home, and logos    meaning study. It is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. There are different levels of ecological studies according to the scope. Figure 1 shows the hierarchy of ecological research. Hierarchy of Ecological Research 1.) Organismal ecology - studies how the environment affects individual organism's structure, physiology, and behavior[1]. Research in organismal ecology mainly focuses on the adaptations that allows an individual to survive in a specific habitat [8]. Basically, an individuals reaction to the environment is being studied. Changes in the environment affects each individual species. They may adapt to the such changes, move to a different environment, or worse such individuals will die. 2.)   Population ecology -  studies the changes in population size as affected by environmental fa...

I had the opportunity to travel to Europe to perform academic research. This was made possible through a collaboration between two universities and a government scholarship.      For most people (especially frequent travelers), applying for a visa may be easy and straightforward. I am no frequent traveler. In fact, this is my first travel outside of my country. This was my first time to apply for Schengen visa, and I am happy to say I was granted visa with no problems. Preparation and planning ensured my successful visa application. Making sure that I have submitted complete and correct documents is one factor that made the process faster. There is a set of documents required to apply for Schengen visa depending on the purpose of your travel. As for me, I was travelling for scientific research funded by a government agency. In this case,  other than the basic requirements, I presented additional documents. Below is the list of required documents and t...