“May this inaugural volume inspire our entire community to embrace a more compassionate, interconnected way of Being as we continue to innovate for the common good and the protection of our common home.” — Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD
On 26 January 2026, the Diego Silang Lobby at the Saint Louis University (SLU) Main Campus was filled with celebration as the New Louisian Philosophical Society formally launched the inaugural volume of Project Innovation. This initiative was established to produce a series of books authored by students, transforming the theories they have learned within the classroom into meaningful applications that extend to the broader realities of life. Undertaken in collaboration with the University’s Research, Innovation, and Sustainable Extension (RISE) Center, the project was spearheaded by Mr. Andrew G. Ducas and Mr. Nikky Garo, Adviser of NEOLOUPHIS.
The first volume focuses on Val Plumwood’s eco-feminist theory, emphasizing her call for genuine ecological sensitivity and a decisive break from the hegemonic rationality that continues to shape modern humanity. The book was crafted by Philosophy and Communication majors from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), signifying a collaborative effort between two of STELA’s co-curricular organizations: the Communication Society and the New Louisian Philosophical Society.
The unveiling ceremony was graced by distinguished university leaders, who witnessed and supported this milestone event. Mary Pauline Namoca, PhD, Dean of STELA, delivered the opening remarks, followed by the opening prayer led by Richel Lamadrid, PhD, Director of the RISE Center. Joselito Gutierrez, PhD, Executive Assistant to the President, then shared the University President’s message, acknowledging the collective effort behind the volume’s completion. Felina P. Espique, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided the closing remarks.
They were joined by Jeramie Molino, PhD, Sustainable Research Extension Officer; Ms. Mary Catherine Quintos, Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS) Director; and Tess Dinoc, PhD, Associate Dean of STELA.
This inaugural volume serves as a reminder of humanity’s severed connection with nature, which has too often been relegated to the background of human activity. As Val Plumwood poignantly observed: “The natural world and the biosphere have been treated as a dump… they are merely the setting or stage on which what is really important, the drama of human life and culture, is played out.” (Feminism and the Mastery of Nature, 1993). For Plumwood, nature must be recognized not as an inanimate backdrop or ornamental display, but as a living presence deserving of respect, sensitivity, and care.
This inaugural volume directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by embedding philosophical reflection into practical, community-oriented initiatives:
🌱 SDG 4: Quality Education – Empowering students to transform classroom theories into applied, publishable works.
🌍 SDG 13: Climate Action – Advancing ecological sensitivity through Plumwood’s eco-feminist call to reimagine humanity’s relationship with nature.
🤝 SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Showcasing collaboration between academic units, co-curricular organizations, and the RISE Center.
⚖️ SDG 5: Gender Equality – Highlighting eco-feminism’s critique of patriarchal rationality and its vision for inclusive, sustainable futures.
(Article by Lawrence Anton O. Ponce | Photos by Manny Boy Jandoc)
