About
We introduce our peer-reviewed scientific journal under a new name: Laksambuhay, The UPLB Journal of Natural History, with the official short name (instead of an abbreviation) Laksambuhay.
It continues from the UPLB Museum Publications in Natural History, which the UPLB Museum of Natural History has been publishing occasionally since 1998. It maintains the special focus on systematics/ taxonomy, ecology, evolution and biogeography as well as the purpose, which are to promote the mission and vision of the UPLB Museum of Natural History and to foster understanding, discussion and appreciation among scientists, researchers, students, conservationists and other members of the academe on the abovementioned fields and other related research interests.
The adoption of the new name, however, highlights our heightened desire to become more visible to the increasing number of followers and comrades in the biodiversity sciences and the basic integrative biological disciplines, as well as to be more relevant and responsive to the changing times and social and natural environments.
Thus, the name “laksambuhay” coined from the Tagalog words laksa meaning abundant, numerous or multitude (although originally literally referring to ten thousand) and buhay meaning life, refers to the megadiverse nature of our country, the Philippines, which is home to a huge number of plant, animal and microbial species known nowhere else but in this part of the world.
On a more regular basis, the journal will publish scientific papers that provide perspectives on natural history and tropical biodiversity as well as information and research outputs that will aid researchers on better taxonomic identification and systematics.
Laksambuhay, is believed to have been coined by environmental advocates in the 90s and at least to our knowledge, one of our former colleagues, Mr. Danilo S. Balete. Through this, we also pay homage to them and to UPLB’s heroes of biodiversity, and pledge that we will keep the torch of the science of systematics burning.
International Board of Advisors
Accepted appointment for 2019-2021
Dr. George Argent, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, United Kingdom (g.argent@rbge.org.uk)
Dr. Thierry Bourgoin, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, France (bourgoin@mnhn.fr)
Dr. Rafe Brown, Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, United States (rafe@ku.edu)
Dr. Lawrence Heaney, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, United States (lheaney@fieldmuseum.org)
Dr. Hans Klompen, Museum of Biological Diversity, The Ohio State University, USA (klompen.1@osu.edu)
Dr. Lawrence M. Liao, Hiroshima University, Japan (lliao@hiroshima-u.ac.jp)
Editorial Board
Accepted appointment for 2019-2021
Dr. Ireneo L. Lit, Jr., Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños (illit@up.edu.ph)
Prof. Phillip A. Alviola, Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños (paalviola@up.edu.ph)
Dr. Leonila A. Corpuz-Raros, Professor Emeritus, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños (lacraros@gmail.com)
Dr. Arvin C. Diesmos, Herpetology Section, Zoology Division, National Museum of the Philippines, Philippines (arvin.diesmos@gmail.com)
Dr. Edwino S. Fernando, Professor Emeritus, Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños (esfernando@up.edu.ph)
Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines Los Baños (jtgonzalez@up.edu.ph)
Managing Team
Dr. Ireneo L. Lit, Jr., Editorin-Chief
Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, Associate Editor
Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos
Mr. Florante A. Cruz, Managing Editor
Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Mr. Alvin N. Fajardo, Editorial Assistant
Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines Los Baños