Palawan State University (PalawanSU) officially signed a landmark Collaborative Research Agreement with US Ivy League institution Cornell University in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The partnership aims to address critical marine environmental challenges by focusing on seaweed diseases, advancing sustainable aquaculture practices, and evaluating the role of seaweed in climate change mitigation.

By meeting Cornell University’s rigorous selection standards, PalawanSU secured this Memorandum of Agreement, marking an institutional milestone that places the university alongside an elite group of Philippine institutions collaborating with Cornell, including Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and the University of the Philippines Diliman.

During the signing ceremony, PalawanSU President Dr. Venzon L. Limpiada formally welcomed the delegation from Cornell University, which included Dr. Ian Hewson, Dr. Jenny Goldstein, Dr. Eric Tagliacozzo, and Associate Director Vernie Thalheimer. In his message, President Limpiada expressed appreciation to Cornell University for establishing this academic and scientific cooperation with PalawanSU. He was joined during the ceremony by Vice President for Academic Affairs Prof. Marissa S. Pontillas and Transnational Education and Internationalization Affairs Office (TNEALO) Director Dr. Lhynette Zambales.

A key driver behind this international initiative is the PalawanSU Marine Science Research Center (MSRC). Established in 2012 through the leadership of its former Director and current Dean of the College of Sciences, Dr. Floredel Dangan-Galon, the MSRC serves as a hub for marine scientific research. The center regularly hosts international researchers and visiting scholars, including current US Fulbright Scholar Ms. Eva Coleman.

President Limpiada commended Dr. Dangan-Galon and the MSRC team for building the university’s research capabilities and global reputation, which laid the groundwork for this international collaboration.

This research partnership reinforces PalawanSU’s commitment to advancing local scientific capabilities to address environmental challenges of regional and global significance, while expanding opportunities for international academic collaboration.