The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), through Research and Creative Work (RCW) Division Director Dr. DJ Darwin Bandoy, contributed to regional discussions on sustainable development, resilience, and futures thinking during the 7th AUN-EEC Conference on Ecological Education and Culture on August 12, 2026.
Held online via Zoom under the theme “Examining the Avenues Forward: Sustainable Futures in the ASEAN Region,” the conference brought together scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore pathways toward sustainable futures in the ASEAN region. Organized by the ASEAN University Network for Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC), housed at the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, in partnership with the Ateneo Research Institute for the Futures of Education, the conference examined how futures thinking can complement efforts toward sustainable development and resilience, with discussions spanning environmental stewardship, disaster resilience, climate action, livelihoods, governance, nature-based approaches, education, and community participation.
Dr. Bandoy served as a panelist in the session “Co-Creating Just and Resilient Futures,” alongside Muhamad Yudistira Rahayu of the Institute for Essential Services Reform, Dr. Janice Ying-En Ho of the Global Heat Health Information Network Southeast Asia Hub and the National University of Singapore, and Daniel C. Ratilla of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability. He shared a presentation on the work of UPRI-NOAH, followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session on pathways toward more sustainable and resilient futures.
UPRI’s participation reflects its continuing engagement in regional exchanges on resilience and sustainable development. By sharing Philippine experiences and science-based approaches through platforms such as the AUN-EEC Conference, UPRI continues to advance the role of science, data, and innovation in informing decision-making and supporting safer, more sustainable, and resilient communities in the Philippines and across the region.