The University of Northern Philippines (UNP), through its College of Arts and Sciences, led the Global Conversation Series on Health and Well-being, an international hybrid conference addressing the intersection of mental health, climate change, and global trends, on May 13, 2025.
The event featured two distinguished keynote speakers. Dr. John Jamir Benzon Aruta, Associate Professor at De La Salle University and one of the top two percent scientists in the world, discussed the impact of climate change on mental health, highlighting the environmental crisis’s effects on human well-being. Dr. Balan Rathakrishnan, a renowned Malaysian researcher, provided insights into global mental health trends, emphasizing emerging challenges and solutions.
The conference was made possible through partnerships with Universiti Sabah Malaysia, De La Salle University, PAP Environmental Psychology SIG, and SPPHERE Lab, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. With 294 onsite attendees at the UNP Technology Complex and 100 online participants via Zoom, the event successfully bridged geographical divides.
Led by Dr. Erwin Cadorna, UNP President, and Dr. Remedios Navarro, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the initiative reaffirmed UNP’s commitment to global academic excellence, fostering international dialogue on health and well-being.
Article by Alexandria Blake Pisalbo
