Dr. Richard Jonathan O. Taduran, a biological and forensic anthropologist from UP Diliman and member of the CHED Technical Pannel for Forensic Science, facilitated a two-day Forensic Anthropology Workshop at the University of the Cordilleras (UC), bringing together the top 12 participants selected for the Justice Through Science (JTS) Laboratory Skills Training Program from academia, law enforcement, and the judiciary across the Philippines.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the JTS Project was launched by the University of the Cordilleras in April 2026 in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and U.S.-Philippine International Exchange Alumni.
Beyond skeletal anatomy and forensic methods, the workshop explored the realities of forensic fieldwork, where physical endurance, emotional resilience, sound judgment, cultural sensitivity, and courage are just as essential as scientific expertise.
Through hands-on exercises and case-based investigations, participants gained a deeper understanding of how forensic anthropology demands not only technical competence but also critical thinking, ethical responsibility, and the ability to make informed decisions under pressure and uncertainty, particularly within the Philippine context.
Dr. Taduran holds two doctoral degrees: a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, specializing in Craniofacial Biology, from the University of Adelaide, and a Ph.D. in Anthropology, focusing on Psychological Anthropology, from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He also pursued postgraduate studies in forensic anthropology at the University of Central Lancashire and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at University College London.
His extensive academic and professional experience spans the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom. His research encompasses fingerprint-based sex estimation, dental anthropology, human variation, and forensic identification, including studies involving Filipino populations. As a member of the Commission on Higher Education’s Technical Panel, he also contributes to the advancement of forensic science education, curriculum standards, and policy development in the Philippines.
Dr. Taduran is also among the distinguished faculty members of UC’s pioneering Master of Science in Forensic Science program, the first of its kind in the Philippines. Through his involvement in the program, he brings his extensive international training, research experience, and professional expertise to the development of the next generation of forensic science specialists, researchers, and educators.
On June 24, 2026, Dr. Taduran also served as keynote speaker at UCโs seminar on forensic anthropology and taphonomy.
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