Who We Are - UOG CIS and Sea Grant

University of Guam Sea Grant Program

University of Guam Sea Grant (UOGSG) became a formal Sea Grant program in August 2008 and received a Coherent Area Program status in February 2012. Prior to that, UOGSG stared as a Pre-Extension Program in October and was later promoted to Project in October 2004. The University of Guam was officially designated as a full-fledged Sea Grant institution by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) in 2022, making it both a Land Grant and Sea Grant Institution.

Vision

Our Vision is a future where people live, work, and play along our coasts in harmony with the natural resources that attract and sustain them.

Mission

UOG Sea Grant’s mission is to integrate and apply research, extension, and education activities to sustain and develop island environments while integrating knowledge and cultural perspectives of island people.

Within the Mariana Islands Archipelago, coastal environments are dynamic ecosystems with fluctuating water levels, many species of fish, birds, plants and other wildlife, and diverse habitat types.

Recreational and commercial use of coastal resources–our watersheds, beaches, reefs, and open ocean–all present challenges to maintaining our ecosystem’s health. UOG Sea Grant addresses issues that can pose ecosystem challenges through research, education, and outreach. Our strategic plan provides an overview of the types of issues we are looking at.

Research, education, and outreach means:

Supporting research about pressing issues related to local and regional environmental health and economic well-being of Guam’s coastal areas,
Supporting formal education practitioners such as K-12 teachers, in implementing science-based activities and lessons in classrooms,
Providing science-based information to the public about current coastal issues, in accessible formats like fact sheets and workshops,
Bridging connections between government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, educators, business owners, and other citizens on responsible and sustainable shared resource use.

Core Values

Guam Sea Grant’s core values are essential and enduring tenets that influence the organization and support its mission. The core values support a culture of integrity and scientific neutrality enabling Guam Sea Grant to serve as an honest broker. Guam Sea Grant will continue to be:

Visionary— Advance innovative solutions that address emerging challenges (science and stewardship) and encourage creativity, initiative and innovation.
Collaborative – Seek partnerships that leverage our strengths. Be responsive and accessible, respect partners, integrate diverse expertise and provide the science and knowledge needed to inform stakeholders.
Dedicated to Sustainability – Communicate the importance of good stewardship and the value of the services that the coastal and ocean ecosystems provide to the community on Guam.
Accountable – Operate with integrity and transparency; maintain quality and relevance in administration, management and oversight.

National Sea Grant College Program

The National Sea Grant College Program is a partnership between universities and the federal government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency within the Department of Commerce. The Sea Grant network includes more than 3,000 scientists, engineers, public outreach experts, educators, and students from over 300 institutions, representing 33 programs in states and territories.

Sea Grant’s mission is to provide integrated research, communication, education, extension and legal programs to coastal communities that lead to the responsible use of the nation’s ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources through informed personal, policy, and management decisions.

Examples of research that Sea Grant helps to fund include: population growth and development on the coasts; preparation and response to tsunamis; human interactions with the marine environment; fish and shellfish farming; seafood safety; and fisheries management. Communication, education, and extension professionals then share the research with stakeholders in a way that is understandable and meaningful.

Sea Grant is a national initiative, but is managed and implemented locally. Hence, a program in the Great Lakes region will be very different than one in Puerto Rico, Louisiana, California, or the Western Pacific.