17th Annual Convention
Tapping Nature's Potential: Methods in Natural Products Research
03-04 December 2012 Planta Hotel, Bacolod City
Message of President Benigno S. Aquino
POST CONVENTION NOTE
Eighty respondents took time to fill out the Survey Sheet. Thank you. It contained open-ended questions, not just a rating scheme, because we really want to know your comments. The organizers also held an Exit Meeting right after the Convention and the survey sheets were then browsed. From the survey and the meeting, the following points came up in evaluating the event: a. The topics covered were of utmost interest to the participants. We are glad the expertise of the plenary speakers met the needs of the audience. And the speakers delivered their topics very well. Rest assured your comments will be relayed to our plenary and invited speakers. b. There were a few comments regarding the appropriateness of some studies chosen for poster presentations. This aspect was discussed during the Exit Meeting and measures to address this concern will be in place for the next convention. c. The Poster Pitching Session drew varied reactions. Some thought it effective in encouraging interaction among participants while most considered it inferior to the typical poster session when the presentor stood by the poster to entertain questions regarding the study. The organizers acknowledge the oversight committed: Poster pitching and its purpose should have been explained early on. Poster pitching is not oral presentation of the poster. It introduces the work whereby the audience is encouraged to view the poster in full. It is like a teaser or a film trailer. Hence, even a 3-min pitching would have been enough. The organizers meant pitching as a support to poster viewing, not its alternative, but this backfired during the convention. This and related concerns will be dealt with further in the next section. d. More interaction, more time for Open Forum, was suggested. Everyone agree. Strategies for better time management and improved conduct of Open Forum were considered during the Exit Meeting. As to the comment, “different dialects” discouraged interaction; oh well, we can hurdle that potential barrier and enjoy the diversity we have as long as the intent to network is there. e. The venue was judged excellent save for four who felt cold. The local organizers truly zeroed in on a good place that also offers good food. The Bolivian food in the Quiet Place was an added bonus; we thank the sponsors for that. The Board of Directors (BOD) bolstered advertising the event and we are glad the added flyers/posters/e-mails and direct invitations/website all helped to improve the number of participation. Appreciation also goes to the DOST region 6 and the CHED that endorsed the event. It is also worth noting that over a quarter of the respondents learned of the convention through a colleague. So share, be it through social networks or in person. PLANS The survey and the brainstorming during the Exit Meeting provided thoughts for consideration. We are inviting comments/suggestions on the following: Hands-on Training/Workshops are requested. NPSP organized such workshops in the past although they were far between; in Iloilo, Bukidnon, and South Cotabato. Funds were sourced both on the side of NPSP, normally to cover transport and logistics regarding workshop, and on the side of the inviting institution to cover venue and accommodation of the resource persons. Fees may also be required of the participants. We encourage you to define the specific need/topic and to serve as the local organizer for the workshop. The Seminar Workshop held on Dec 2 organized locally with the support of DOST region 6 is a very good example. It jumped start the closer networking among region 6 natural products stakeholders. This is foreseen to be a regular activity of the Society depending on the capability of the host or partner institution. Regarding the site of the next annual convention, this is not yet set. We are inviting suggestions. Preferred is an academic institution where there is a willing critical mass of natural product researchers who can act as the local organizing committee. Whenever the convention is held in Manila, Los Baños included, it is normally the BOD that fully organizes the convention. Parallel sessions during the convention had been mentioned in the survey. We had done this in 2011 with a smaller audience than this year’s. We can consider this again. For such planning, keeping the deadlines for paper submission and early registration is a necessity to gauge the size of the audience for judicious selection of the venue. A comfortable and accessible area for poster viewing will be ideal. It is also suggested that one plant (for now, this group of natural product resource) will be highlighted in the convention to cover its different aspects. This is addressing one of the needs noted during the convention: focus. Suggestions are also solicited. The BOD will review other organizational aspects. We are due to meet in January. For now, this is all. Our e-mail address holds natprodphils@yahoo.com. Let us keep our communication lines open.
Thank you. Maligayang Pasko sa ating lahat!
L.B. Cardenas