From March 3 to March 14, 2025, faculty members from the School of Marine and Fisheries Technology (SMFT), Assoc. Prof. Kaent Immanuel N. Uba and Mr. Jomar F. Besoña, took a significant step toward advancing environmental citizen science by participating in the VLIR-UOS International Training Program (ITP) Workshop 4: "Citizen Science Analysis at the Final Stage." Held in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, this dynamic workshop brought together experts, scholars, and professionals committed to harnessing citizen science for sustainable development.

The event was made possible through a collaborative effort between Universiteit Hasselt (UHasselt), MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and Visayas State University (VSU) under the Co-CiPhil Project: Co-creating Environmental Citizen Science Capacity in the Philippines. This initiative aims to empower professionals with cutting-edge knowledge, transversal skills, and a global perspective, shaping them into agents of change for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The first week of the workshop focused on Data Equity and Sustainable Citizen Science in Policy and Society, led by Dr. Maristela Do Nascimento Rocha. The second week explored Spatio-Temporal Statistics for Environmental Monitoring, facilitated by Prof. Dr. Thomas Neyens, with support from Mr. Alejandro Rozo Posada—all esteemed experts from Universiteit Hasselt and KU Leuven, Belgium.

This experience reinforced the crucial role of citizen science in shaping policies, fostering community engagement, and driving meaningful change. With a wealth of insights gained, our SMFT faculty members are poised to contribute further to the advancement of marine and fisheries research, ensuring a sustainable and thriving future for our waters and communities.