Guam’s coastal structures face a harsh reality: salt air and seawater corrode the steel bars inside concrete. Most construction materials, including cement and aggregates, must be shipped in from off-island, and the island continues to grapple with how to dispose of solid waste, including glass bottles.

The University of Guam’s (UOG) Guam National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam NSF EPSCoR) E-CORE (EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems) project has announced the recipients of its inaugural round of seed funding awards, providing nearly $200,000 in competitive research grants to UOG faculty.

Though one approached conservation through the lens of early childhood education and storytelling, and the other through fisheries management, Navigating Home short-term fellows Kira Reklai and Enqi Yang arrived at the exact same conclusion by the end of their three-month experience: protecting Guam’s natural resources requires meeting the community where they are.

Three undergraduate students, Angelie Donguines, Ale’a Duenas, and Dominic Torres participated in the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s Research Education and Extensive Fellowship (REEF) program in Dr. Peter Houk’s lab at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory. Through hands-on projects involving coral skeleton identification, benthic image analysis, and contributing to regional datasets, the interns worked with the Micronesia Coral Reef Monitoring (MCRM) program and learned how to use scientific data and technology to support the protection and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems.

From stormwater management and groundwater pollution to coral reef conservation and coastal erosion protection, six new research projects at the University of Guam are set to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Guam and the wider Micronesian region.

At the 17th Conference on Island Sustainability, marine biologist Mafalda Gentil Martins Seiz de Freitas delivered a presentation grounded in urgency and innovation, drawing directly from her work addressing marine debris across the Pacific.

“And I think a lot of us, across island communities, are standing in that same proverbial space, surrounded by opportunity, but calling it waste.”

That reflection from William Castillo anchored his presentation at the 17th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability, where he was featured as a speaker sharing perspectives on value-added agriculture and economic resilience for island communities. Castillo is an associate professor and director of workforce development at Leeward Community College, where he leads initiatives that link education, workforce training, and entrepreneurship.

In the wake of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the Guam Power Authority’s P.O.W.E.R.ING (Promoting Optimal Ways to Energy Resilience) Power Symposium at the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability took on renewed urgency, bringing together energy leaders, policymakers, and technical experts to strengthen Guam’s path toward a more resilient grid.

Leaders from across the Pacific convened Monday for a workshop at the 17th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability aimed at innovating how conservation efforts are financed in the region, marking a significant step forward for the Micronesia Challenge and its long-term sustainability goals.

Students, educators, and families gathered this past weekend at the University of Guam (UOG) Science Building to celebrate innovation and discovery at the 48th Guam Islandwide Science Fair, marking another successful year for one of the island’s longest-running academic events.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) Natural Resources division, alongside the Guam Preservation Trust (GPT) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), hosted an outplanting event at the Atantåno Heritage Preserve in the village of Santa Rita.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) has announced the arrival of Emma Perez as its new Fiscal Officer, bringing decades of financial leadership and nonprofit experience to the many environmental, research, capacity building and workforce development programs it hosts. 

Two University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) interns concluded their terms at the Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub with presentations highlighting innovative approaches to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant associate director for natural resources Else Demeulenaere, Ph.D., represented Guam at a prestigious international seminar on bat conservation at UCLouvain in Belgium, where researchers from across the Indo-Pacific region gathered to discuss the critical intersection of indigenous knowledge and species protection.

Focusing on an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) has launched an undergraduate internship program that expands opportunities for participants from non-STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines.

The University of Guam’s Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant) program today announced the release of its 2024 Impact Book, chronicling a year of significant progress in sustainable development. The report highlights major initiatives including record breaking progress in the Sea Turtle Management program, Guihan for Guahan, the Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) and more.

The Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC) went fishing for new skills with the experts from the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainabilty & Sea Grant (UOG CIS & Sea Grant), diving into the biological and cultural aspects of sustainable fisheries.

The Guam Green Growth Conservation Crops (G3CC) went scouting for snakes with the National Park Service and community group, Friends of Islan Dåno, learning how to track, capture and dispose of invasive brown tree snakes that have slithered throughout Guam.

Three high school students earned top honors at the 2025 NSF INCLUDES Supporting Emerging Aquatic Scientists (SEAS) Islands Alliance STEM Symposium, where they presented innovative projects tackling some of Guam’s pressing environmental and ecological challenges.

The University of Guam (UOG) is proud to announce the release of Biology of Rabbitfishes, a comprehensive volume exploring the evolutionary history, ecological roles, and economic significance of rabbitfishes (family Siganidae).

The American Leadership on the SDGs, a United Nations initiative, has featured University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton, Ph.D., for his work in advancing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC) continues to collect seeds of wisdom this week at the UOG Triton Farm in Dededo.

Members of the University of Guam’s Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC) recently dedicated an intensive week to understanding the complexities of waste management on the island, collaborating with industry leader Guahan Waste Control. This immersive experience is a critical component of the G3 Conservation Corps program, which aims to cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders and a skilled workforce for Guam’s emerging green economy.

From strengthening individual green growth hubs to collaborating and sharing knowledge for sustainable development, the Local2030 Islands Network is set to take the next step with the launch of the Green Growth Partnership Community of Practice.

The University of Guam (UOG) has exciting summer research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students passionate about mathematics through two distinct programs supported by the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam NSF EPSCoR). Applications are now being accepted for both the Summer Math Research Assistant and the Summer Math Research Experience programs.

Leveraging regional partnerships with the Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative along with local knowledge and innovation, the CNMI Green Growth—one of the latest members of the expanding Green Growth movement across Micronesia—has outlined its accomplishments at the first Green Growth Summit, including initiatives to promote regenerative agriculture and agroforestry to enhance food security.

For every dollar invested in the Guam Green Growth (G3) Conservation Corps at the University of Guam, the island receives more than three times that amount in economic and social value, according to the partial results of an economic valuation of the G3 initiative.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant held a townhall at the 16th UOG Conference on Island Sustainability to gather stakeholder input on using ocean energy systems for renewable energy and exploring benefits for local industries, especially aquaculture.

Over 90 speakers from around the globe will gather this week for the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability to explore practical solutions to sustainability challenges.

The Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC) is thrilled to once again host the Graduate Student Research Symposium in Guam on Tuesday, April 8. The symposium is a preconference event of the 16th University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability.

Carlo Tapia, a student intern researcher with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS and SG), recently presented his research on converting used vape batteries into functional power bank chargers at a Guam Green Growth (G3) Makerspace Science Café event. The presentation highlighted a potential solution to the growing problem of electronic waste, particularly the disposal of vape batteries, which contain hazardous materials.

The University of Guam has announced the selection of eight students from diverse STEM fields as the 2025 undergraduate research fellows for the Guam NSF EPSCoR and Guam NSF SEAS Island Alliance INCLUDES programs.

Insights into reproductive trends, predation patterns, and climatic triggers observed prior to a crown-of-thorns (COTS) outbreak are crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies to protect coral reefs, according to Ciemon Caballes, Ph.D., a senior research associate at the University of Guam’s NSF EPSCoR and assistant professor at the UOG Marine Lab.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & SG), in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Sea Grant, will host a virtual information session for the prestigious Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship.

The University of Guam (UOG) is now accepting abstracts for the 16th annual Conference on Island Sustainability (CIS2025), a premier gathering for researchers, policymakers, and community members dedicated to building a more sustainable future for island communities.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS & SG) has announced the opening of its competitive research grant application process. This opportunity aims to support research projects that address critical challenges facing Micronesia’s coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies.

The Guam Green Growth Local2030 Islands Network Conservation Corps (G3LIONCC) recently wrapped up a training module with the University of Guam’s Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (UOG CIS and SG) Natural Resources team, working to safeguard Guam’s endangered plant species. This development effort aims to bolster research and conservation efforts for these delicate and vital components of Guam’s unique ecosystem.

The University of Guam (UOG) Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant (CIS & SG), in collaboration with UOG Faculty Francis Dalisay, Ph.D., has concluded its Perspective on Ocean Energy survey.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant’s (UOG CIS & SG) Natural Resources team recently rescued threatened species of native orchid left vulnerable.

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.

Ava Suba, a participant in the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Alliance Guam program, is currently working under the mentorship of Bastian Bentlage Ph.D, along with graduate student Anela Duenas at the UOG Marine Lab.