𝗠𝗡𝗛 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
The entire management, curators and staff of the UPLB Museum of Natural History conveys its deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and loved ones of Dr. Priscilla “Ma’m Lil” C. Sanchez.
Dr. Sanchez was appointed as Head Curator of the UPLB MNH Microbial Culture Collection in 1987 until her retirement in 2000. She was first appointed during the term of Director Venus J. Calilung and succeeded Prof. William L. Fernandez, known as the Father of Philippine Microbiology, in heading the collection.
At the Museum, Ma’m Lil spearheaded a project with the Asian Network of Microbial Resources from 1997-2000 and served as correspondent to the World Federation of Culture Collections. Through her collaborative project, a new genus and species of hyperthermophilic archaeon, 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴, was discovered together with Japanese scientists in 1999. She also co-discovered in 2003, a novel thermoacidophilic crenarchaeote, 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴.
She is the author of “𝘔𝘪𝘬𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘩𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘪𝘯” published by the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino and “Philippine Fermented Foods: Principles and Technology” which was conferred the 2010 Outstanding Book Award by The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines
A recipient of prestigious awards from the university and numerous professional organizations, Dr. Sanchez will always be remembered for being a staunch supporter of the Museum even after her retirement from academic life.