A pair of Senior High School interns from the UP Integrated School (UPIS) recently completed their internship at the Wetland and linked Aquatic-Terrestrial Ecosystems Research (WATER) Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Severino G. Salmo III.
During their two-week internship, Seanne and Luisa, conducted root biomass analysis of soil samples from different mangroves sites in the Philippines, continuing the progress of previous interns. Their internship concluded last November 24, 2025 with a presentation of the results of their analysis, where they also shared their experiences and learnings.
We thank Seanne and Luisa for their effort, diligence, and willingness to learn during their time spent working at the lab.
“Interning at the mangrove ecology lab has helped me grow, not only as a student and future researcher, but also as a person. Most of the lab work we did may have been tedious and had required a lot of patience, discipline and concentration, but contributing to the project has made me appreciate and become more inspired by the work and effort that goes into preserving mangrove ecosystems. And of course, the guidance and sense of community the researchers and lab-mates gave made every moment all the more valuable: from lab work and research presentation pointers to fun facts and tidbits that made me admire and respect forests more. I will cherish this experience and bring these lessons with me moving forward.” – Luisa Figueroa
“This internship experience at the mangrove ecology lab has been fun, immersive, and incredibly fulfilling. We didn’t even want to leave, up until the last day. Everyone was just so supportive and gave us continuous guidance. I am grateful that they gave us an opportunity to experience the lab work they do, which required great efforts, patience, dedication, and consistency. This internship has taught me to be more efficient, to find ways to finish the work quickly but not sacrificing its quality. It was fulfilling how the tedious work we did was analyzed and resulted to significant data that could help improve the quality of mangrove ecosystems and its restoration. I felt proud to have contributed to this project. Most of all, I was inspired by the passion and dedication of the researchers at the lab. They taught me the practical realities of being a researcher, to find ways in times of adversities, and to always seek improvement and overcome challenges. Even though this internship experience was only for a short amount of time, it made me gain useful experience and personal growth, I am thankful to everyone I have met and the life lessons they have given me.” – Seanne Co
Mangrove Ecology 