Category: Education Workforce Development

The University of Guam (UOG) was awarded $299,976 from the National Science Foundation to conduct the NSF INCLUDES Launch Pilot project, GROWING STEM. The project will address the grand challenge of increasing Native Pacific Islander representation in the nation’s STEM enterprise, particularly in environmental sciences. Culturally-relevant and place-based research will be used as the framework to attract, engage, and retain Native Pacific Islander students in STEM disciplines. The full science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathway will be addressed from K-12 to graduate studies with partnerships that include the Guam Department of Education, Humåtak Community Foundation, the Pacific Post-Secondary Education Council, the Guam Science and Discovery Society, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. 

The GROWING STEM project will be led by the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, UOG Sea Grant Program and the Guam EPSCoR Program. Dr. John Peterson (pictured left), Dr. Austin Shelton, Else Demeulenaere and Dr. Cheryl Sangueza will serve as lead investigators. Pilot activities include summer internships for high school students, undergraduate and graduate research opportunities through UOG’s GROW Plant Nursery and the Humåtak Community Foundation Heritage House. STEM professional development activities will be offered through conference participation and student research presentations in venues such as the Guam Island Wide Science Fair, UOG Island Sustainability Conference and the SACNAS National Conference. UOG School of Education Faculty and UOG TRiO Programs will lead the development of a mentoring protocol for the project participants. Community outreach activities will expand public understanding in environmental sciences from the GROWING STEM project. 

“This grant is a great example of the University of Guam’s impact on our island and its important role in developing future local professionals and problem solvers.”

UOG President Robert Underwood

“We have an exciting opportunity to put our local students on a pathway to attain doctoral degrees in science. Everything is centered around practical scientific research experiences aimed at improving the health of our land and ocean.”

Dr. Austin Shelton, co-Principal Investigator

Join Guam EPSCoR at the Chasing Coral Mini Expo at 2PM on Saturday, September 9th at the Guam Museum. 

This event will include the Chasing Coral film viewing (2PM), a panel discussion (3:40PM), and exhibits by participating organizations and programs (4:00PM) including the Guam Department of Agriculture (DAWR), Guam Community Coral Reef Monitoring Program, UOG Sea Grant, Micronesia Conservation Coalition, the Center for Island Sustainbility and the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.

For more information contact Dr. Austin Shelton at shelton@triton.uog.edu.

NSF EPSCoR is hosting webinars for those interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Please join us for one of these informative sessions by clicking a link in the table below and calling in. 

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides a prestigious award that supports research-oriented students in a wide range of STEM and social science fields during graduate school. This webinar will provide an overview of the GRFP and program updates for the FY 2018 competition (incl. deadlines, application and review processes) and other program activities. 

The intended audience is students, faculty and university administrators. No registration necessary. For more GRFP information visit www.nsfgrfp.org. Login instructions for the webinars are below.

Date (Guam)	Time (Guam)	Direct Link	Access Code
Tuesday, August 29, 2017	1:00 am ChST	http://tinyurl.com/yboy2rdy	743 986 952
Wednesday, August 30, 2017	4:00 am ChST	http://tinyurl.com/ybg7pwd7	748 804 468
Friday, September 1, 2017	3:00 am ChST	http://tinyurl.com/ycouj77c	743 306 800

Audio Component – Teleconference

Direct Call-in Number:    1-415-655-0002 (Use Access Code from table above to connect to your meeting) 

The meeting will be open 15 minutes prior to the start time for you to login/call-in. You are encouraged to login/call-in early to ensure connectivity.

Visual Component – WebEx

To join the meeting directly through WebEx:

1. Click the link (above) for the meeting you are attending.
2. When requested, enter your name and email address.
3. Click “Join.” 
4. You are now in the “web” portion of the webinar.

WebEx will automatically setup Meeting Manager the first time you join a meeting using WebEx. To save time, we strongly encourage you to setup prior to the meeting to ensure connectivity. To set up the meeting manager, click this link: https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/meetingcenter/mcsetup.php.

If you cannot access the direct login link for the webinar, you can still login through WebEx.

To join the online meeting through the WebEx Website:

1. Click NSF WebEx link: https://nsf.webex.com.
2. Enter the WebEx Meeting ID (Access Code from the table above), then click “Join Meeting.” 
3. When requested, enter your name and email address and passcode; it is EPSCoR17!4. Click “Join”

Administrative Support

If you have any questions about WebEx meeting access, please contactLiz Lawrence at least 24 hours prior to the webinar (Email: elawrenc@nsf.gov; Phone: 703-292-8997)

For Technical Assistance

1. Go to https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/mc.
2. On the left navigation bar, click “Support”.

The playback of UCF (Universal Communications Format) rich media files requires appropriate players. To view this type of rich media file in the meeting, please check whether you have the players installed on your computer by going to https://nsf.webex.com/nsf/systemdiagnosis.php. 

NSF EPSCoR is hosting a webinar on Monday, August 29, 2016 at 2 pm (EDT) for all those interested in learning more about the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides a prestigious award that supports research-oriented students in a wide range of STEM and social science fields during graduate school. This webinar will provide an overview of the GRFP and program updates for the FY 2015 competition (incl. deadlines, application and review processes) and other program activities such as GROW (http://www.nsf.gov/grow).

The intended audience is faculty and university administrators, so please distribute this invitation to all who may be interested. No registration necessary. For more GRFP information visit www.nsfgrfp.org.

Guam EPSCOR is a 5-year, $6 million grant at the University of Guam that aims to develop a Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium in order to ensure the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems in the face of environmental change. In addition to its research goals, Guam EPSCoR seeks to increase the number and diversity of students who choose Science Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers by engaging students in its Summer Research Experience Program.

The program enhances undergraduate curriculums with invaluable research experience and insight into career paths leading to masters and doctoral degrees. EPSCoR students in the REU Program may participate in field and lab studies that document coral reef ecosystems. Students will engage in biological sampling, mapping, videography, photography, oceanographic measurements and genetic analysis to better understand Guam’s corals. 

The University of Guam and Research Corporation of the University of Guam are Equal Opportunity Employers that have received funding from the National Science Foundation to broaden the participation of underrepresented students in STEM fields. As such, the Summer Research Experience Program remains open to all qualified students, but women, minorities, and students with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. Selected students must be available 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday for the duration of the summer program. 

Program applications are due April 8, 2016 and internships begin May 25^th through July 25^th.

Program Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of Guam and at least 18 years old (Applicants under 18 require parent/guardian signature)
• Must be enrolled as an undergraduate in good academic standing 

How to apply:

1. Complete the online application form 
2. Provide at least 2 references
3. Provide official transcripts to GSRSP/EPSCoR Offices at the Dean’s Circle House #33