025: [Evolutionary Biology] Paano Ba Maging Isang National Geographic Explorer? (with Dr. Lillian Rodriguez)

This episode features Dr. Lillian Rodriguez, an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Biology in the College of Science. In 2016, she became a National Geographic Explorer, and was given a grant to study the biogeography and evolution of pollinator fig wasps associated with sycomorus figs in the Philippines. We talked about why fig (balete) trees and fig wasps are important in Philippine ecosystems, some unexpected things we can learn from studying plant-insect interactions, her experience as a National Geographic Explorer, how we can do better at conserving our local biodiversity, why evolution doesn’t really work the way many of us imagine it, and more.

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