Guam Science & Technology Plan
Introduction
The purpose of Guam NSF EPSCoR is to develop Guam’s capacity as a premier research and STEM education hub by bolstering sustainability, economic development, informed decision-making and engaging communities in 21st-century science and engineering activities. In order to maximize the impact on the community and economy, Guam NSF EPSCoR established the Science and Technology
Steering Committee as an independent organization which included research, business and government representatives in Guam. Consisting of 15 voting members, the S&T Committee was led by Co-Chairs Melanie Mendiola, Guam Economic Development Authority Administrator and Roderick Boss, CEO of Docomo Pacific. The Vice-Chair was Robert Underwood, President Emeritus of the University of Guam. He was the primary coordinator of meetings and the preparation of this report.
Utilizing the four pillars necessary for a science-based, economic diversification plan, the S&T Committee identified five Areas of Opportunity (AOs). The pillars were the Guam NSF EPSCoR generated Collaboratorium, STEM Capacity Building in educational institutions, STEM Infrastructure in the private sector and Entrepreneurship/Innovation support. The five AOs were Aquaculture, Information Technology, Renewable Energy, Natural Resources and Additive Manufacturing. The S&T Committee met with representatives of industries, research units, business incubators and government planners to outline specific ideas and plans for the AOs.
Understanding Guam's Economy
The S&T Committee also analyzed the challenges inherent in the geography, environment and economy of Guam. Guam’s economy is primarily dependent on federal spending and tourism. Realizing that the visitor industry had been affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic and that there were opportunities available in future defense spending, the S&T reviewed the possibilities of the 5 AO’s within those economic sectors as well as strengthening other sectors. The anticipated growth of military spending offers but does not guarantee possibilities without intentional planning and support.
Building a Foundation for a STEM-Based Economy
The S&T Committee also analyzed STEM Capacity development in the Guam Department of Education, Guam Community College, private schools, charter schools and the University of Guam. While many of these efforts were encouraging, there was a lack of coordinated effort and sustained evaluation of how STEM was being advanced. Achievement rates, technical programs and graduation in STEM related education were outlined in this report in great detail. Current STEM preparation in K-12 education is inadequate, but preparation for technical jobs appears more promising. STEM infrastructure in the private sector was limited except in telecommunications, a few engineering firms and some innovative attempts to utilize new technologies in aquaculture, renewable energy and additive manufacturing.
As with the lack of coordination in STEM Capacity building and infrastructure, there was little sustained effort in developing a supportive infrastructure that would bring research, entrepreneurship and innovative STEM based ideas together in a way that would generate a truly diversified economy. The need for closer collaboration between educational institutions, private sector involvement, researchers, government planners and entrepreneurs must be addressed if diversification was going to become a reality. The building blocks exist but have not been fully integrated into mutually supportive structures and incubators.
The 5 Areas of Opportunity
The five AOs were addressed through conversations and contributions by experts, entrepreneurs, and researchers in each field. Various efforts at aquaculture have only had moderate success. Through a new government sponsored Guam Aquaculture Innovation Center (GAIC), the center will provide facilities to support the incubation of aquaculture-related businesses as well as the demonstration and commercialization of applied research. The GAIC will jumpstart the development of multiple facilities over time with the goal of Guam becoming a regional hub of aquaculture based on research and local knowledge.
Information technology and cybersecurity offers tremendous possibilities for diversification. The establishment of Data Centers by private companies, ongoing cybersecurity issues and the growth of informational technology for nearly every human activity offers a viable series of sustainable economic activities. Cybersecurity curriculum in all postsecondary institutions, coding camps in the private sector, cyber competition events and introduction of the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) early in school curriculum offers many possibilities which demand coordination and require research.
Renewable energy offers many STEM-based applications for technical and professional fields across a variety of career paths. Eleven percent (11 %) of the island’s electricity generating capacity is currently provided by renewable sources of energy. Guam’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires that 50% of the island’s power come from renewable sources by 2035—eventually reaching 100% by 2045. In order to meet this objective a variety of renewable energy sources which go beyond solar panels. Partnerships with energy labs, the introduction of renewable energy as a curricular area in technical and degree programs will require even more partnership between utilities, private companies and researchers to validate and compare different options.
The utilization and protection of Guam’s natural resources offers a wealth of opportunities for sustainable development and economic growth through the integration of university research, STEM education programs, and innovative economic strategies. Government of Guam Executive Order 2019- 23 established the G3 Working Group. The UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant was assigned to facilitate this public-private island-wide initiative and spearhead the development of the G3 Action Framework. This framework encompasses hundreds of goals and action items that guide the sustainable development of a green economy while dealing with challenges ranging from climate change to invasive species.
In 2022, the Government of Guam contracted the Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America), a national non-profit research institute and think tank, to conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the viability of a local additive manufacturing industry in Guam. The baseline study concluded that Guam possesses the basic building blocks for establishing a local high-tech manufacturing industry, including a demand to support activities of the Department of Defense, a favorable business climate to attract public and private investments, potential workforce development capabilities, and the University of Guam’s ability to partner with
other advanced research institutions.
The most crucial recommendation in the evolution of Additive Manufacturing from idea to viable industry is the creation of the Guam Additive Manufacturing and Materials Accelerator (GAMMA) Center. The GAMMA Center, a business incubator and market-to-lab facility hosted by the University of Guam will serve as the focal point of this new-to-Guam manufacturing capability. Focused on additive manufacturing, robotics, automation, and advanced materials, the GAMMA Project will expand Guam’s capability in supporting the defense industry, creating tertiary industries using these technologies, and training individuals for sustainable jobs.
Measuring a Knowledge-Based Economy
Data collection outside of the general macroeconomic indicators poses a challenge for the S&T Committee. Moreover, as the S&T Plan is implemented through a variety of future EPSCoR activities, the need to assess societal progress towards economic and science goals is critical. The current state of tracking is largely decentralized, and the timing is sporadic. A comprehensive Index is necessary to measure progress towards a knowledge-based economy. Instruments have been developed by organizations like the Milken Institute for other jurisdictions.
The S&T Committee acknowledges the shortcomings of existing date collection on Guam and the lack of fit of measurements utilized in other areas. Collecting this data will not only help Guam understand the component activities necessary for a strong knowledge-based economy, it will also suggest ways to effectively coordinate research agendas, educational activities, and innovative economic projects.
The Guam Science and Technology Index (S&T Index) will rely on a variety of data sources. Some of these include obvious ones such as investments in basic STEM education, technical training, and research in higher education. Other data sources are in rudimentary form or do not yet exist in Guam. These include Industry R&D investments and identifying businesses which are primarily STEMdependent. With this Index, Guam can better assess whether progress is made towards a knowledgebased economy. This will not only diversify the island’s economy but contribute to the full utilization of the innovative and creative talent of Guam’s people
Looking Ahead
STEM opportunities have increased considerably thanks to two NSF EPSCoR Track-1 awards and an NSF INCLUDES award. These have provided access to facilities, first-class training in the application and use of instrumentation in cutting edge research, scholarships and internships, and networking opportunities for students. Students engaged in unique peer mentoring seminars throughout their research fellowship that focus on the connection between research, culture, and identity to enhance community voices in science and technology. These past activities provide a firm foundation for future EPSCoR projects.
The E-RISE RII program supports the incubation of research teams and products in a scientific topical area that links to research priorities identified in the submitting jurisdiction’s approved Science and Technology (S&T) Plan. E-RISE projects are expected to be designed to allow for the incubation of teams that develop an area of research and contribute to the development of a STEM-trained workforce relevant to the project’s topic area.
For the 2024 submission to NSF’s E-RISE RII request for proposals, the development of the UOG Biodiversity Research Center will be the focus. The Center will bring together units and researchers from diverse fields. Workforce development activities will focus on creating internship and training opportunities with local resource management agencies. Translation of research results into models to inform climate change readiness, in particular the preservation of natural resources, will rely on integration of research results across the team using data science approaches and modeling.
In the future, the S&T Committee will play a larger formal role in the implementation of this plan. The S&T Committee will be an integral part in the co-production of EPSCoR activities in research, partnerships, coordination with other federal agencies. The S&T Committee will assist in the formation of incubators as well as provide advice and expertise on participation in other NSF-sponsored centers and local/regional translational activities. It will ensure the completion of the Index proposed to assess progress towards a knowledge-based economy.