The University of Guam continues its tradition of sending a record number of delegates representing the island’s diverse communities to the 2024 Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference.

Guam’s 2024 SACNAS NDiSTEM delegation has 48 attendees, including 34 students. The largest multidisciplinary and multicultural Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) event will take place from October 31 to November 2 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The University of Guam is proud to be represented at the SACNAS NDiSTEM conference, where our students’ research poster presentations will be featured,” said UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez, DBA.  “SACNAS offers an ideal platform for UOG to showcase the unique perspectives and research contributions from our island home, while also supporting the growth of future STEM leaders in our region.”

SACNAS participants are supported by various grants and scholarships from the Guam NSF EPSCoR, NSF INCLUDES SEAS, Navigating Home, SLOAN, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), as well as travel scholarships from SACNAS, Chapter Officer Leadership October Retreat (COLOR), and the Research Corporation of the University of Guam (RCUOG).

Eighteen members of the student delegation will present their research posters at the conference.

One of them is Nadley Yow, a biology major on the pre-med track supported by the NSF INCLUDES program. She is presenting her research on the Hibiscus tiliaceus on the island of Yap at the conference. As a Yapese native, Nadley was excited to combine her cultural knowledge with scientific research.

“Being able to present my project on the island of Yap to thousands of people is not something that I have ever thought of as a young girl… So, joining this program and being provided that opportunity, I am thankful, and I hope I get to continue to do these things in the future,” Yow said.

Yoonji Seo, a UOG accounting major with a minor in Mathematics, is excited to present her research poster on the interaction between the microbiome in specific coral species on Guam. The research was conducted during her Summer Math Research Experience (SMRE) with the Guam NSF EPSCoR-GECCO program.

“I know that a lot of our peers in SACNAS are coming from other states, so I am so excited to explore other cultures, engage in communication, and share our thoughts in the STEM fields,” Seo said.

“As active SACNAS members and a past Chapter of the Year winner, UOG highlights scientific voices from Guam and the rest of Micronesia,” said Austin Shelton, PhD, director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. “Through our participation in the annual SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference, our UOG students share their island-focused research on terrestrial and marine conservation and sustainability. This research contributes to solutions for pressing climate and biodiversity challenges in the national STEM enterprise.”

Shelton is also the Treasurer of the SACNAS National Board of Directors. He serves as a faculty co-advisor, alongside UOG Associate Professor Cheryl Sangueza, PhD, for the UOG SACNAS Student Chapter.

“Participating in this national conference, our students will access the hundreds of potential partners in their educational growth.  The top graduate schools, scholarship organizations, and industry employers will be on hand to assist our students with planning their next step,” added Shelton.

For 51 years, SACNAS has implemented a program aimed at broad representation in STEM, supporting college students and professionals in attaining advanced degrees, advancing their careers, and achieving leadership positions. Currently, SACNAS has 142 student and 8 professional chapters.

The University of Guam is now accepting applications for the National Science Foundation (NSF) SEAS Islands Alliance Undergraduate Fellowship program.

This program provides undergraduate students with a chance to conduct cutting-edge research, gain valuable research experience, and contribute to the sustainable development of Micronesia.

The SEAS Islands Alliance Undergraduate Fellowship program offers a comprehensive experience that includes:

• Mentorship: Students will be paired with experienced faculty mentors who will guide them through their research projects.
• Research Opportunities: Fellows will have the opportunity to work on a variety of research projects related to environmental, social and marine sciences.
• Monthly Stipend: Fellows will receive $500 a month as a stipend during their term.
• Professional Development: Fellows will receive training in professional skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership, and may have travel opportunities.

“We are looking forward to a great program year with our faculty mentors,” explained co-principal investigator of the program Cheryl Sangueza Ph.D. “The research themes this year include environmental science, marine biology, engineering, botany, ecology, social science, and sustainability.” 

All undergraduate students from the University of Guam or Guam Community College are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. 

“We welcome all students pursuing their undergraduate degrees to join us for this great experience,” said SEAS Islands Alliance Guam Program Associate Marie Librando. “We have had a great history of students who participate in our program going on to great things and we cannot wait to welcome our next cohort.”  

Applications are being accepted until midnight on October 31, 2024, with notification of selection to be delivered in November.  The year-long fellowship will occur from January to December 2025.  

For more information and to apply for the fellowship students can visit seagrant.uog.edu/seas or follow @SeasAllianceGuam on Instagram and Facebook.   They can also contact NSFINCLUDES@triton.uog.edu via email. 

Students got a chance to see the view from under the sea as the University of Guam’s Guam Green Growth Initiative unveiled the cover of the latest issue of CHalan Deskubre, a place-based science magazine for children. 

The unveiling happened as over 100 students, including members of the Guam WAVE Club, received the first copies of the issue at a special event held at the Aquarium of Guam.

The theme of this issue is Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water.

Topics covered in the issue include crabs, parrotfish, sea turtles, diatoms and more and was supported by the research teams of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & SG) and NSF Guam Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). 

Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio was on hand to celebrate the launch as the Office of the Governor’s Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant Program was the main supporter of the magazine. 

“This magazine that we have funded with the University of Guam is meant to give you, your  teachers and your parents so many ideas to discover our island and we hope that you see this magazine and take some time to look at it, do the activities, and I hope you have some fun and excitement,” Tenorio told the students in the crowd.

According to UOG CIS and SG Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., the issue is a great way for students to get familiar with the ocean around Guam and all the life that exists in it.  Making it a great tool for conservation and education.  He led the students through a quick lesson highlighting the diversity of our ocean ecosystem.

“Guam has over 1000 species of reef fish, and 375 species of coral, that’s more than Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,” said Shelton. “We have so much on our island to be proud of, and you have so much to discover.”

Shelton also encouraged the students to pursue their educational dreams in the marine sciences, adding, “I want you to explore and when you fall in love with the ocean, I want you to become marine biologists too, so you can take care of our very special environment and make a difference on our island.”

UOG Interim Vice-Provost for Research and Sponsored Programs Pamela Peralta, Ed.D., highlighted the university’s dedication to outreach and extension and encouraged parents to continue to help grow their children’s curiosity about the sciences.

“Curiosity lends to discovery.  There is much to learn not only in the skies and on land but also below water.  We hope today marks further exploration of the myriad of species yet to be discovered and preserved,” said Peralta. “We hope you enjoy exploring the offerings curated for you here and let us do our part to empower our children and inspire them to ask questions and be involved.”

Free copies of CHalan Deskubre are now available at the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Communications Office, House 21 Dean Circle.  To make arrangements for pickup, please email Jeremie Charfauros at charfaurosj3148@triton.uog.edu . 

Copies will also be distributed at all Guam Public Library System branches and at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub in CHamoru Village.

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University of Guam (UOG) student Garret O’Donnell has been selected for the highly competitive Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Sea Grant College Program.

O’Donnell will now be joining the 2025 cohort of fellows in Washington D.C where they will be working with federal and legislative host offices where they may have the chance to shape the policies that impact the nation’s coasts and water resources.

“Being selected for this fellowship represents a chance for me to tangibly apply the skills I’ve learned as a tropical reef biologist to the field of Marine Policy creation and implementation. I feel lucky to be moving from a position of scientific observation and hands-on field work to one of conservation and management,” said O’Donnell.

According to a statement from the program, this year marks the first time in history, all eligible Sea Grant programs are represented by a diverse cohort of 88 early-career professionals who will spend the next year working alongside federal agencies or legislative offices in Washington, D.C., applying their academic expertise to critical marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues.

University of Guam president Anita Borja Enriquez, D.B.A., is proud of O’Donnell and excited for future Tritons being selected for the program.

“This is a big honor and the entire UOG family is excited for Garret,” said Enriquez. “The work he has done with the UOG Marine Lab, EPSCoR and the CIS and Sea Grant groups have prepared him for this and we cannot wait to see and support him and those who are going to follow in his footsteps.”

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., the director for the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant says that O’ Donnell’s selection is a great example of the growing capacity of UOG in marine science fields on the national stage.

“Garett is only the third Knauss fellow selected from Guam since the program began,” explained Shelton. “We are not stopping here.  Our students here at UOG are really holding their own and showing the level of dedication and passion to compete with students from all over the country.  UOG CIS and Sea Grant will be there to support them every step of the way.”

According to O’Donnell, he will carry everything he has learned at UOG and as a part of the wider Guam community with him as he starts this next chapter of his career.

“Living among a community of people as kind, resilient, and culturally minded as the one I’ve come to know on Guam has impacted me in more ways than I can say,” added O’Donnell. “I will always remember and cherish the years I’ve spent here learning, growing, and feeling like I’m a part of something bigger than myself. Biba UOG!”

The Knauss Fellowship is a one-year paid opportunity for current and recent graduates from advanced degree programs to apply their scientific knowledge and experiences to current issues in science, policy, and public administration.

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For many, the thought of being able to go out to your backyard and grab a fresh fish for dinner seems absurd, but it is a reality for members of the first cohort of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s (UOG CIS&SG) Community Based Aquaponics Systems (CBAS) program.

The program celebrated its first round of system installations this month with four complete units, valued between seven and ten thousand dollars, now up and running.

These sustainable farming systems are being installed at various locations, providing a unique opportunity for residents to grow their own food and reduce their environmental impact.

“Aquaponics is a symbiotic system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics,” explained Joshua Muña, UOG CIS&SG research assistant. “The fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, while the plants filter the water for the fish. This closed-loop system is highly efficient and can be adapted to various climates and spaces.”  

The CBAS project is designed to empower local communities by providing them with the tools and knowledge to produce their own food. The systems are being installed all over Guam, ensuring that a wide range of people can benefit from this sustainable approach to agriculture.

“We are excited to bring aquaponics directly into people’s homes and help our communities become more self-sufficient,” said UOG CIS&SG Aquaculture Specialist David Crisostomo. “Aquaponics offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to grow fresh, nutritious food.”

The CBAS project also includes educational components to teach participants about the principles of aquaponics, system maintenance, and harvesting techniques. All potential members of the program were required to attend training courses and workshops before officially applying. 

“To see these systems being installed really highlights the dedication the UOG team is putting into the sustainability of our island,” added UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez. “These are concrete actions that are being done by our team to make a real impact for our people.” 

The UOG CIS&SG team will continue to offer training and support even beyond the installations, as the program aims to ensure the long-term success of the CBAS systems.

As the CBAS program continues to expand, it is expected to have a significant impact on Guam’s food security and sustainability.  

“This is the first of dozens of systems that will be installed as a part of our sustainable aquaculture and aquaponics program,” said UOG CIS&SG Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D. “The goal is to help people learn how to sustain themselves and loosen the grip of dependence on imports.”

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero recently agreed to expand the program by adding 100 more systems to the initial 20 systems, bringing the total count to 120. These are expected to be installed across the island within the next 2 years.

By promoting local food production and reducing reliance on imported goods, the project is helping to build a more resilient and self-reliant community.

“Children see these big, swimming pools go up filled with fish and get excited to feed them and watch them grow. I think it’s the perfect way to have these young minds grow to be interested in aquaponics, farming sustainably and living sustainably as a whole,” added Muña.

More information on the CBAS program can be found on the official UOG Sea Grant website at www.uog.edu/seagrant and by following @uogseagrant on social media. 

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