Environmental Science Research Track

Master of Science Environmental Science

RESEARCH TRACK

The purpose of the research track is to prepare students for advanced (doctoral level) studies in environmental science and related disciplines, and careers in scientific research or professional work for which a research background is necessary or desirable. The capstone requirement for the research track is a traditional research thesis, for which the student earns six hours of academic credit. General requirements for research theses are described in the Graduate Bulletin. Research theses in Environmental Science are expected to make an original contribution to the selected sub-discipline and reflect mastery of the knowledge and skills required to successfully pursue advanced study and research in environmental science. The thesis grade (Pass or Fail) is assigned by the Advisory Committee, based on its evaluation of the written thesis and the student’s oral defense of it.

Guam and the Western Pacific offer extraordinary and unique research opportunities

The Western Pacific is legendary for the spectacular natural beauty of its lush tropical islands scattered across its vast deep-blue ocean. In the Mariana Archipelago, the sheer limestone cliffs of Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, and Saipan soar up to hundreds of feet above coconut-lined coral sand beaches, while the white surf batters the rims of the surrounding reefs. In the Caroline Islands to the south and eastward, the verdant slopes of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae rise from the sea, and scores of remote atolls surround shimmering pristine lagoons that abound with turtles, flying fish, and a fascinating assortment of other creatures. The region is also home to some extraordinary planetary-scale natural phenomena, including the Mariana Trench, and the northern fringe of the West Pacific Warm Pool. Powerful typhoons spawn in the equatorial waters to the southeast and sweep across the region. The western Pacific is also notable for its seismic and volcanic activity. El Nino events bring punishing droughts, and storm surges and tsunamis can depopulate the low-standing atoll islands of Micronesia.

The region’s strategic geographic position has given it a unique and turbulent human history, extending from the first prehistoric settlement by people from Southeast Asia, to discovery and colonization by the Europeans beginning in the 16^th Century, to the cataclysmic battles between the United States and Imperial Japan during Word War II. More recently, the effects of economic development and prosperity are increasingly placing at risk some of the very beauty and charm of the region that have made it so attractive to residents, immigrants, tourists, and investors. The combination of its natural setting and the consequences of development make the region a unique natural laboratory for environmental scientists. Local problems of scientific interest range from control strategies for invasive species, to the protection of drinking water and estuaries into which coastal groundwater discharges, to the management of coral reefs and fish populations. Opportunities for work on global and regional phenomena include the study of West Pacific Warm Pool climate history, the regional effects of ENSO events, and the cause and effects of global and regional sea-level change.

Research spans topics of global, regional, and local interest. Recent and ongoing projects include:

Biology-Ecology	Geosciences-Engineering	Management
Invasive species on tropical islands	West Pacific climatic history	Watershed management, Pohnpei Island, FSM
Tropical island terrestrial & aquatic ecology	Atoll island hydrology and modeling	Land coverage strategies for soil erosion control in southern Guam
Assessment & preservation of biodiversity	Geologic map of Guam	Land cover accuracy assessment for southern Guam
Systematics of Micronesian insects	Carbonate island karst geology of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, Rota, and Fais	Remote sensing applications to soil erosion and sediment loading in southern Guam badlands
Developing composting technology as a waste management strategy for resource recovery and recycling of organic wastes	Modeling the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer	A training needs assessment for hazardous waste handlers at Camp Butler, Okinawa.
	Saltwater intrusion in the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer	An evaluation of public participation in the EIA process in Palau.
	Dye trace studies of Guam’s aquifer and coastal zones	An assessment of the Environmental Education curriculum in Chuuk State, FSM public schools.
	Groundwater resources on Fais Island, Yap State, FSM	Using vetiver technology for mitigating sedimentation to improve the water quality in order to protect coral reefs
	Modeling recharge for the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer	Using composted organic waste as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers to improve soils agricultural sustainability in Guam and Micronesia
	Water distribution system modeling for island water supplies
	Water distribution system modeling for island water supplies
	Slow sand filter technology for FSM drinking water
	Soil erosion modeling for southern Guam watersheds

Thesis Requirements

General requirements for the research thesis are contained in the Graduate Bulletin. Theses in Environmental Science (some online as WERI technical reports) are expected to make an original contribution to the selected sub-discipline and reflect mastery of the knowledge and skills required successfully pursue advanced study and research in environmental science. At the discretion of the Advisory Committee, a thesis deemed to be worthy of publication in a peer-reviewed professional journal may be awarded the grade of “Pass with Distinction.” The thesis grade (Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail) is assigned by the Advisory Committee, based on its evaluation of the written thesis and its oral defense.