New science magazine celebrates island wisdom and science

Representatives and Wave Club members pose with the newly revealed fist issue of the CHalan Deskubre magazine

Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Joshua Tenorio addresses the crowd at the CHalan Deskubre unveiling

Vice Speaker of the 37th Guam Legislature, Senator Tina Muña Barnes fires up a crowd of people moments before the revealing of the cover of the CHalan Deskubre magazine

Sharleen Santos-Bamba, PhD, UOG Senior Vice President and Provost speaks to attendees excitedly awaiting the unveiling of the CHalan Deskubre magazine cover

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton, PhD speaks to a lively crowd attending the CHalan Deskubre magazine launch event

A show of hands from a crowd of Wave Club members shoot up in response to a question posed by Austin Shelton

UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Associate Director for Communications, Kyle Mandapat hypes up attendees moments before the unveiling of the cover for the first issue of the CHalan Deskubre magazine

Assistant Professor of Fisheries Ecology, UOG Sea Grant & Marine Laboratory, Brett Taylor smiles as his daughter learns to weave using håggon niyok (coconut leaves)

Wave Club members learn how to weave using håggon niyok (coconut leaves)

A young attendee of the CHalan Deskubre magazine launch dons face paint in celebration of the event

Emphasizing the significance of traditional knowledge in science, the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant unveiled the inaugural issue of CHalan Deskubre magazine on December 9, at the Micronesia Mall, with this theme at its core.

CHalan Deskubre isn’t your typical magazine—it is a place-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) publication designed specifically for kids on Guam and the region, encouraging them to adopt a scientific mindset and explore the world beyond their classrooms.

Additionally, the magazine incorporates art to creatively show scientific concepts and foster a visually engaging learning experience for young readers, intertwining imagination with the exploration of STEAM subjects.

The first issue focuses on science and traditional wisdom, highlighting how the knowledge from our island communities contributes to scientific advancements and innovative practices. Subsequent issues will revolve around themes that spotlight the resources unique to Guam and other islands in the region, aligning with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“This magazine (CHalan Deskubre) was designed specifically for you. I hope that you take the opportunity to explore the magazine,” said Sharleen Santos–Bamba, PhD, UOG Senior Vice President and Provost.

Santos-Bamba added, “It is great partnerships like these that allows us to provide services and information and scholarship to our Guam community and our region. “

CHalan Deskubre embodies UOG’s commitment to scientific and place-based learning, according to Austin Shelton, PhD, Director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant.

He said, “CHalan Deskubre, is crafted to ignite curiosity and discovery, guiding children onto a path of scientific inquiry.”

“This is the first time that we are going to have a science magazine that teaches you about the islands around you,” Shelton added.

For the publication of the magazine, the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant received funding from the Education Stabilization Funds (ESF) for the “Innovating Through Pandemic Challenges to Deliver Place-Based Education in Marine, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences” program. The ESF funding is a key component of the Governor of Guam’s Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant Program.