The Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRD) conducted a mentoring activity for social researches at the Everlasting Hall, Research and Extension Building on June 17, 2025. This was in preparation for the upcoming Agency In-House Review.

In her opening remarks, ISRD Director Anne Heather B. Kiwang thanked the participants for attending the event and oriented them about the two parts of the activity.

Kiwang explained that the brown bag session is another term for workshop. She added that the term “brown bag session” is used because they want the activity to be relaxed and informal.

Additionally, she emphasized that the main purpose of the event is to improve the researchers’ manuscripts so that they are credible enough for the Agency In-House Review. She also highlighted the criteria applied in the Agency In-House Review as well as the common questions and comments that panelists usually ask.

VP for Research and Extension Roscinto Ian C. Lumbres commended the ISRD for organizing the activity and urged the institute to continue working in order to create a nurturing environment for research.

The brown bag session followed where authors discussed their work with each other. The Lead Evaluators who facilitated the brown bag session were Beverly C. Sa-ao for Economics, Policy, and Advocacy; Maureen E. Gay-as for Food, Health, and Nutrition; Matyline C. Talastas for Indigenous Studies; and Marilyn W. Macwes for Language, Literature, Arts, and Communication.

After the brown bag session, the researchers presented their work while the evaluators and co-researchers shared their insights, comments, and suggestions for improvement.

In her closing remarks, Sa-ao thanked the researchers for participating in the brown bag session. She hoped that more researchers would join in the next activity and urged everyone to expedite their research preparations for the upcoming Agency In-House Review.//BTayaban