Karina Mejia, a Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant in the University of Guam’s Master of Science in Biology program, presented her research at the 2023 Indo-Pacific Fish Conference which was held at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
The Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, which happens every four years, is one of the world’s premier ichthyological conferences and is highly anticipated by marine, estuarine, and freshwater specialists. The event is organized by the Australian Society for Fish Biology, which aims to promote research, education, and management of fish and fisheries across the Indo-Pacific.
Mejia’s presentation was entitled, “Population Genetics of the Catadromous Eel, Anguilla marmorata, in Guam and the Indo Pacific.”
Giant mottled eels (Anguilla marmorata) are the most common eels in the Indo-Pacific and Guam. They are an important food fish and an apex predator in many tropical islands and continental streams of the Indo-Pacific, according to the study’s abstract. Determining the eel’s geological and oceanographic location and temporal spawning patterns will provide information key to effective conservation.
During the event, Mejia found it exciting to meet people within her field. She connected with a doctoral student named Yusuke Amai who invited her to explore doctoral programs at the University of Tokyo, which she was able to visit in December. While she was in Japan, Mejia met with Nina Yasuda, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Tokyo who has been helping her with the genetic portion of her research.
“At first, I was intimidated since I was surrounded by experts, but I learned to not be scared and shy to interact with fellow scientists,” said Mejia. “I am glad I learned to overcome my nervousness since I was able to meet a variety of wonderful people and interact with potential mentors for a Ph.D.”
Prikura Guahan President Yang Wang and team members Jerrick Palomares, Harry Vitae, and Eric Kwan showcase the latte-stone-shaped stamp and inkpad set they crafted using locally sourced wood and invasive bamboo. The team created the product for the 2023-2024 JA Company of the Year Competition using equipment from the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub (Photo credit: UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant)
Prikura Guahan’s latte-stone-shaped stamp and inkpad set crafted from locally sourced wood and invasive bamboo. G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub has been actively involved in assisting Junior Achievement Guam teams such as Prikura (Preserve) Guahan in crafting products for the annual JA Company of the Year Competition Hub (Photo credit: UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant)
The Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub (G3 Makerspace) opened its doors to Junior Achievement (JA) Guam teams as they prepared for a competition for young entrepreneurs.
JA is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
In February of this year, the non-profit held the 2023-2024 JA Company of the Year Competition at the Guam Community College in Mangilao to recognize these young entrepreneurs and their innovative products.
Each year, G3 Makerspace has been actively involved in assisting JA teams such as Prikura (Preserve) Guahan, whose members consist of students from Harvest Christian Academy and St. John’s School.
In December, Prikura Guahan attended mentorship sessions and workshops focused on using the cutting-edge equipment at the G3 Makerspace. At the end of the sessions, Prikura Guahan used the G3 Makerspace equipment to turn locally sourced wood and invasive bamboo into a latte-stone-shaped stamp and inkpad set for the competition.
“The reason why we chose the stamp is because we wanted to show how invasive bamboo is to Guam. So, for our inkpads, we used invasive species bamboo to make the ink itself,” said Yang Wang, Harvest Christian Academy student and Prikura Guahan president.
The team engraved positive messages such as ‘good work’ and ‘hafa adai’ into the latte stone-shaped stamps. “For the stamp, we used locally sourced wood and laser-cutting and wood-cutting machines to create the (latte stone) shape and laser-engraved parts,” she added.
Wang credits G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub coordinator Abby Crain for providing guidance in the production process. Wang said Crain suggested using charcoalized and crushed invasive bamboo for the inkpads.
“We assist the teams however we can — whether mentoring, counseling, consulting on materials to use, packaging, and even during conceptualization. We also help them develop and find the most cost-effective ways for production,” Crain said on the range of assistance provided by G3 Makerspace to Prikura Guahan and other JA teams.
“We have a partnership with Junior Achievement. Our (Makerspace’s) mission is to promote circular economy and sustainability, and we also aim to promote local production and utilize the plethora of resources available on Guam. We encourage people to buy local instead of importing, and we want to help business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs,” Crain added.
According to a release from JA, 146 high school students joined this year’s competition, with nine student companies stepping up to the challenge. Companies such as Graphic Center, Title Guaranty of Guam, GTA, Dusit Thani Resort Guam, Bank of Hawaii, and Community First Guam provided support to the student teams.
Terry Donaldson, Principal Investigator / Project Director for Guam NSF-EPSCoR address the crowd of students and their families at the UOG CLASS Lecture Hall
Austin Shelton Principle Investigator / Co-Principle Investigator for SEAS Guam / EPSCoR EWD, gives opening remarks to the students in attendance at the UOG CLASS Lecture Hall.
Cheryl Sangueza, Student Program Coordinator for NSF EPSCoR gives opening remarks to those in attendance at family orientation.
Incoming SRE's and Fellows introduce themselves to an audience of mentors and parents.
Alumnus of the Student Research Experience (SRE) program, Brandon Respecio shares insights with incoming student researchers in attendance.
Emily Wendte, Education & Workforce Development Program Associate for Guam NSF EPSCoR GECO gives instructions to a crowd of incoming research students and their families.
Incoming student researchers affix their signatures to the year-long contract officially entering themselves into the SRE program.
Students, their families, and mentors within the SRE program gather to commemorate the family orientation event with a group photo.
Student researchers speak to their appointed mentors.
Guam National Science Foundation-Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Guam NSF EPSCoR) and Guam NSF SEAS Island Alliance INCLUDES programs at the University of Guam welcomed 12 new student researchers and their families at an orientation held at the UOG CLASS Lecture Hall at the start of the year.
The student researchers will be participating in the 2024 Student Research Experience (SRE) program. This initiative aims to boost the quantity and diversity of students pursuing careers in STEM fields.
The program is specifically designed for undergraduates who are seeking valuable research opportunities. Out of the 12 student researchers, five are supported by Guam NSF EPSCoR and seven by Guam NSF SEAS Island Alliance INCLUDES.
The event was also organized to introduce the new SREs to their faculty mentors who will be working with them in the coming year.
Emily Wendte, education and workforce development program associate for Guam NSF EPSCoR-Guam Ecosystems Collaboratorium for Corals and Oceans (GECCO) facilitated the family orientation event.
Wendte emphasized the role of the family and mentors in the SRE program. “It’s important to us to involve the family members of our students as much as possible so that during the student’s year-long journey, family support groups are able to ask their student participants questions about how things are going in order to offer support.”
“We want family support groups to understand the nature and requirements of the National Science Foundation grant, and that working along with it can ultimately lead to bigger and broader opportunities for the student”, added Wendte.
The UOG CLASS Lecture Hall erupted with applause from families in attendance as students signed agreements officially entering themselves into the program.
Wendte said that it is a binding agreement for students to fulfill the expectations and obligations outlined by the grant. This includes maintaining communication with peers and mentors, diligently performing research in labs, participating in fieldwork, and adhering to proper protocols and procedures.
Among the mentors and students were alumni of the program, sharing advice and experiences with excited newcomers.
Wendte recognized Brandon Respicio, a program alumnus at the orientation, recalling his journey through the program. Respicio participated in the Summer Math Research Experience (SMRE) and SRE in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Respicio’s list of accomplishments includes scholarship awards to attend the 2022 and 2023 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) conference. He also received recognition for his student poster presentation at the 2023 SACNAS NDiSTEM conference.
Respicio is currently in his final semester at UOG as a secondary education student majoring in mathematics. He is a first-generation college student.
Wendte says, “At completion of the program, he really wanted to share what he had accomplished that year with his family. His parents were beaming! They looked just as excited and proud as he did.”
For Wendte, witnessing the growth of each student as they progressed through the program helps her to understand the significance of the work she continues to do.
“At the end of the program, when we get to see the fulfillment, pride and joy these students have in what they accomplished—it’s really heartwarming. It’s one of those reminders of why we do what we do,” Wendte said.
A team from the University of Guam attends the 2023 Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Conference (CERF) from November 12 – 16, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. (From top left) Sarai Vega, Dr. Cheryl Sangueza, Anna Aguirre, Anthony Ritter, Tonya McDaniel, Lynn Galang, and Anela Duenas During the event, UOG students had the opportunity to interact with peers, network with scientists within their fields, and attend workshops and panel discussions. This year’s delegation included Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistants Anela Duenas and Sarai Vega as well as Lynn Galang, a 2022 undergraduate student researcher.
Three student researchers from the University of Guam attended the 2023 Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Conference (CERF), which was held from November 12 – 16, 2023, in Portland, Oregon.
The conference is a biennial international meeting of coastal and estuarine scientists and managers that aims to advance the understanding and stewardship of these ecosystems worldwide.
This year’s conference theme was “Resilience and Recovery,” which was chosen to reflect not only the scientific context of those terms but also the resilience of CERF’s community members through the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the event, students had the opportunity to interact with peers, network with scientists within their fields, and attend workshops and panel discussions.
This year’s delegation included Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistants Anela Duenas and Sarai Vega as well as Lynn Galang, a 2022 undergraduate student researcher.
During the conference, Duenas presented her research poster entitled, “Ecophysiology of reef flat coral species replacement in the Mariana Islands.” Her study focused on analyzing endosymbiont communities within stony corals such as Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata to gather insight about their role in coral resilience.
“My CERF 2023 experience was amazing! I felt so inspired by all the research and people I met. I especially loved the CERF Conference because it was not too big of a conference where you could feel lost and out of place. Instead, the conference felt warm and welcoming like catching up with old friends,” said Duenas.
Galang’s presentation was titled “Taxonomic and Genetic Diversity of the Corallivorous Snail, Drupella spp., on Guam.” Her study focused on determining what species of coral-eating snails are present on Guam to better inform coral management practices.
For her poster presentation entitled, “A seasonal study of meiofauna distribution in Pago Bay, Guam,” Vega explored the world of meiofauna — invertebrates that live in marine and freshwater environments between sand and mud on the seafloor and riverbeds. Copepods, flatworms, and nematodes fall under meiofauna. Vega’s study focused on how environmental changes affect meiobenthic communities
In a session called “Stories from the Braided River: Nonlinear, Enriching Workforce Pathways and Narratives in Coastal Science and Management,” Vega also delivered a presentation about her journey to graduate school in a session entitled, “How many turns does it take? My path to graduate school and beyond.”
Vega’s oral presentation detailed the challenges and successes she faced navigating higher education as an international student, changing her major and choice of career, as well as working while taking classes.
“I learned that when I have doubts in my abilities by taking a hold in the confidence other people have in me, I am able to make the first step,” said Vega. “It’s not “fake it till you make it” – it’s a lot better than that. It’s knowing that you have the support of your ancestors, generations behind you who have worked hard for us to get to where we are. It’s knowing that no matter what, my value as someone in science goes beyond what I can or cannot do. It’s understanding that in a safe environment, learning is bound to take place. “
MacKenzie Heagy defends her master’s thesis on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.
Grace McDermott virtually defends her master’s thesis entitled, “Intraspecific color variation in Porites cylindrica: the role of color variation in coral resilience,” on Monday, December 1, 2023.
Two Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research assistants closed out their time with the program by defending their master’s theses.
MacKenzie Heagy, a graduate in the University of Guam’s master of science in biology program, defended her master’s thesis on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the UOG Marine Laboratory.
Her thesis was titled, “Diversity and biogeography of the Mastophoraceae in the Mariana Islands.”
Mastophoraceae is a family of crustose calcifying red algae. Representatives of this family are widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and are particularly abundant on tropical reefs.
As part of her study, Heagy collected samples off the coast of Guam, Saipan, and Rota from various habitats such as surf benches, algal bridges, and reef flats. Over the course of her project, around 300 presumed mastophoroid specimens were collected – including seven new species.
Her advisor was Tom Schils, Ph.D., a UOG professor of marine biology. Heagy’s committee consisted of Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., the co-principal of Guam NSF EPSCoR and Gavin Maneveldt, Ph.D, a professor of marine biology and biodiversity studies from the University of the Western Cape.
In addition, Grace McDermott, a graduate biology student at UOG, virtually defended her master’s thesis entitled, “Intraspecific color variation in Porites cylindrica: the role of color variation in coral resilience,” on Monday, December 1, 2023.
McDermott collected samples of Porites cylindrica, a species of stony coral, from Luminao, Piti East, and Tumon to compare how their brown and yellow color morphs responded to disease and bleaching conditions.
Her advisor was UOG Marine Laboratory Director Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D. McDermott’s committee consisted of Raymundo, Bentlage, and Héloïse Louise Rouzé, Ph.D., a senior research associate from UOG.
UOG 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference delegation pose for a picture after being recognized as the 2023 Undergraduate Chapter of the Year
Dr. Austin Shelton speaking among fellow 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference panelists
Dr. Austin Shelton, UOG President Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, Emily Wendte, Abby Crane, & Remedios Perez at the Guam Green Growth Makerspace & Innovation Hub booth
Remedios Perez & Tonya McDaniel speak to a curious bystander about their booth
Aurienne Cruz presenting to curious passerby at 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference
Nathan Paz showcases to attendees of 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference
The UOG SACNAS Student Chapter received the award at this year’s SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference. The event, a cornerstone in fostering diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), took place in Portland, Oregon.
A total of 48 attendees from UOG participated in NDiSTEM, which stands as the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event in the United States.
UOG President Anita Borja-Enriquez, DBA, a member of the conference delegation, said, “UOG takes immense pride in our presence at the SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference. This gathering not only strengthens our commitment to fostering inclusivity but also emphasizes the vital role of diverse perspectives in shaping the future of science and innovation.”
Throughout the conference, participants actively attended workshops, showcased their research, and established connections with officials from academia and industry nationwide, creating valuable research and career opportunities.
Another significant achievement was the significant number of student presenters from the UOG delegation. Eighteen student attendees from Guam, representing nearly half of the total UOG delegation, delivered presentations at the conference.
18 students from Guam presented their research and took home these awards:
Co-principle investigator for Education and Workforce Development for Guam NSF EPSCoR, Austin Shelton, PhD, also participated in the conference. He is currently an elected member of the SACNAS National Board of Directors and serves as the faculty co-advisor, along with UOG Associate Professor Cheryl Sangueza, for the UOG SACNAS Student Chapter.
“As we immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of learning and collaboration at the SACNAS NDiSTEM conference, we are not just attendees; we are catalysts for a more inclusive and equitable future in science. Our presence echoes our university’s dedication to shaping a world where opportunities in STEM are accessible to everyone,” Shelton said.
Britney Sison, president of the UOG SACNAS Student Chapter, said, “I am extremely proud and humbled that SACNAS UOG has received the award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our current as well as previous leaders, members, and advisors who laid a strong foundation for our organization.”
Sison added, “This award means a lot to us, and I hope it inspires future students to continue the mission of SACNAS – to support underrepresented groups in their pursuit of degrees and careers in STEM and to encourage others to bring their culture and whole selves into the process.”
Meanwhile, Sabrina Zhi, vice president of the UOG SACNAS Student Chapter, said the award demonstrates collective support from many past and present UOG students to highlight their resilient attitude towards the advancement of representation for the Pacific Island community. “I hope through this award, SACNAS UOG can continue to inspire and support future generations of Guamanian STEM-ists, as it has done for me,” Zhi said.
Celebrating its 50th year, SACNAS fosters the success of underrepresented Americans – from college students to professionals – in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and leadership positions in STEM. It is the largest multicultural and multidisciplinary STEM diversity organization in the United States, serving more than 20,000 students and professionals.
The attendees participated in the conference through support provided by the Guam NSF EPSCoR and NSF INCLUDES SEAS grants and travel scholarships from SACNAS, Chapter Officer Leadership October Retreat (COLOR), and the Research Corporation of the University of Guam.
Leading the charge in showcasing the possibilities of 3D printing to the public is the Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Makerspace & Innovation Hub, located in Chamorro Village in Hagåtña.
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, operates similarly to a conventional printer. Instead of using ink on paper, it builds an object by layering filament—material used in 3D printing—to recreate a 3D scanned object.
Filament can range from materials such as plastics, clay, or even concrete, though the scope of substances used in printing will broaden as the industry continues to develop.
Tim Udo, G3 Makerspace coordinator, who helps teach the introductory classes for 3D printing, explains how this new industry can contribute to a circular economy and a cleaner environment in many ways.
Along with the creation of a machine that turns non-recyclable plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into filament for 3D printers, the machines at G3 Makerspace can also print objects from polyether ether ketone (PEEK), which, after printing and annealing (heat treatment), has the same strength as steel.
Additionally, G3 Makerspace has another 3D printer specifically for using clay as a filament, which Udo says can be used for building structures or tiles that can further regrow coral.
At the G3 Makerspace 3D Printing Basics Workshop, classes are capped at three participants per class, allowing instructors ample one-on-one time with students.
Although classes generally take place on Wednesday nights during the Chamorro Village night market festivities, Udo welcomes anyone wanting to take classes during the day to speak with him at the G3 Makerspace, and he will work with their schedule.
Additionally, participants can look forward to Udo and other instructors teaching students about G-code, which is a widely used Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and 3D printing language used to communicate ideas to the 3D printing software.
At the end of the class, students will get to print their keychains, whistles, or 3D-printed characters as keepsakes to take home.
With the seemingly endless potential of the 3D printing industry, Udo, a mechanical engineer by trade, imparts some advice for any aspiring engineers regarding the limitations of additive manufacturing.
“If you want to do any kind of engineering, carpentry, or any kind of fabricating work, what you need to have is creativity. As long as you have creativity and interest to learn, you can make anything. [The Makerspace] can help you along the way with technical knowledge and the software, but as long as your mind can think of it, you can create it.”
As classes and activities expand at the G3 Makerspace & Innovation Hub, Tim Udo encourages the public to pay a visit to the shop at Chamorro Village.
“I think it is valuable for people to know that we are open to the public. People can get memberships here either on a monthly or yearly basis and then they can come here and utilize all the machinery we have. You can come and take a class for the laser [engraver], learn how it works, and then start cranking out your own products. The same goes for the CNC and the 3D printer. Come here, and we will teach you how to make all of it.”
Classes take place on Wednesdays during the Chamorro Village Night Market festivities. Participants who are 18 years old and older are welcome to sign up either in person or on the G3 Makerspace’s Instagram page.
Guam NSF EPSCoR is excited to celebrate five undergraduate students from the University of Guam for completing their term with the 2023 Student Research Experience, which provides research opportunities and mentorship to selected students for a year.
As part of their research training, these students conducted field work to investigate coral reefs and learned skills such as DNA extraction and sequencing.
This year, the program’s student researchers engaged in a variety of fields such as coral genomics, marine microbiology, marine ecophysiology, and more.
ANNA MALLARI
Anna Mallari is a civil engineering student who, under the mentorship of Dr. Bastian Bentlage, studied microbial communities in the soils within the La Sa Fua Watershed in southern Guam.
“I believe that learning goes beyond the classroom setting, as it involves not only understanding theories and concepts but also applying them to solve real-world problems,” Mallari said. “Having the opportunity to conduct research that could contribute to our island’s sustainability is such a rewarding feeling.”
Mallari said that engaging in a research experience as an undergraduate was a privilege for her and that she found conducting research outside of the field of engineering a welcome challenge.
During her time in the program, Mallari was one of two UOG students who researched how to convert seawater into renewable energy as part of a summer program held at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
MERRY ANN OCAMPO
Integrative biology major Merry Ann Ocampo said that the Guam NSF EPSCoR SRE program has not only opened up research opportunities for her, but the chance to connect with the community.
“As much as I enjoy my research, sharing it with the community is the best part because I get to interact with others about my new findings and my experience in being a student researcher,” said Ocampo. “Seeing others interested in my research makes me really happy and reminds me why I love science and research.”
Under the mentorship of Christopher Lobban, Ph.D., Ocampo studied the diatom genus Mastogloia on sea grass leaves. Diatoms are microalgae which can be found in every habitat where water is present. For her research project, Ocampo collected sea grass from various parts of Guam including sandy beaches and mangrove forests.
MADELINE GONZALEZ
Integrative biology major Madeline Gonzalez said that the Guam NSF EPSCoR SRE program is a great opportunity to learn new skills and explore careers.
Under the mentorship of Sarah Lemer, Ph.D., Gonalez studied the phylogeny of Spondylidae, a family of bivalve mollusks.
“Seeing the real-world applications of what I have been learning in my courses has been exciting.” said Gonzalez. “I’m always looking forward to learning something new – and there is always something new to learn in the lab.”
CASSANDRA PAULE
During her time in the Guam NSF EPSCoR SRE program, integrative biology major Cassandra Paule studied coral reproduction under the mentorship of Ciemon Caballes, Ph.D.
“I’m ecstatic to be a part of this research community,” said Paule.
BRANDON RESPICIO
Brandon Respicio is a secondary education major with a focus in mathematics who studied under the mentorship of Héloïse Rouzé, Ph.D., during his time in the SRE program.
Respicio’s project focused on the endolithic algae Ostreobium and the effect it has on the coral species Porites cylindrica. For his study, he compared P. cylindrica from Luminao and Tumon based on the eutrophication levels found in these areas.
Before his time in the SRE program, Respicio was in the 2022 Guam NSF EPSCoR Summer Math Research Program. During his time in the program, he was able to produce mathematical models based on coral reef dynamics in relation to algae.
“I enjoyed the research and experience I gained while being a EPSCoR SRE,” Respicio said.
In October 2023, Respicio’s project won a student poster award at this year’s 2023 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference.
Guam NSF EPSCoR along with the NSF INCLUDES: SEAS Islands Alliance Guam Hub held a near peer session on Thursday, October 12, at the University of Guam to prepare their program participants for the upcoming 2023 SACNAS NDISTEM Conference, which took place in Portland, Oregon from October 26 – 28.
This year, five undergraduate student researchers, four graduate research assistants, and two current summer math research program participants along with one alum from Guam NSF EPSCoR will be a part of a cohort of 34 students from the University of Guam who will attend the conference.
During the session, undergraduate and graduate student researchers talked about their experiences at past SACNAS conferences and gave advice to those who will attend the event for the first time.
“Students got into their individualized groups and learned how to better design their posters so that they’re not overwhelming but also still eye-catching,” said Emily Wendte, the Guam NSF EPSCoREducation and Workforce Development program associate. “When it comes to these sessions, we like to incorporate our own culture and identity while also relaying this scientific research in a very credible way.”
With guidance from Guam NSF EPSCOR and NSF INCLUDES staff, students discussed strategies on how to network at conference, entice attendees to visit their poster presentations, and bring their most authentic selves to the event.
“I really love the community that these near peer sessions have created,” said Wendte. “Students who have been to SACNAs or who have been a world traveler are able to relay tips and information on what to expect and what things will be like. We have some students who have never flown before and they’ve never gone that far. It’s really exciting to take them all the way to Oregon, but also be at a conference that supports who they are and the work that they do.”
The SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference was held in Puerto Rico in 2022. This year's conference will be held in Portland, Oregon with 13 Guam NSF EPSCoR students attending.
Guam NSF EPSCoR students will be presenting research and representing the University of Guam at the largest diversity in STEM conference in the world later this month.
The SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon during the last week of October.
SACNAS, the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, is the largest multicultural STEM diversity program in the United States.
During the conference, the students will attend workshops, present research presentations, and connect with officials from schools nationwide for research experience opportunities.
According to Guam NSF EPSCoR Education Workforce and Development Program Associate Emily Wendte, a total of thirteen students will be representing the University of Guam at the conference.
The group is made up of four students from the graduate research assistantship, five from the summer research experience, and three from the summer math research programs.
Nearly half of the delegation has also been selected to present their research to the over 6000 expected attendees.
The students attending the conference must attend preparation workshops facilitated by the Capacity Building Team from Guam NSF EPSCoR and the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Island Alliance Guam Hub.
Cheryl Sangueza Ph.D, who oversees the student experience with Guam NSF EPSCoR says that the process starts long before the students step foot on the conference floor and is geared to give all students everything they need to represent well.
“Preparation for SACNAS is rooted in ensuring confidence, competence, and excitement to represent our grants, our labs, our university, and our island,” said Sangueza. “In our first SACNAS briefing, we did a meet and greet with the then 25 students to start that comradery and UOG Delegation mindset.”
According to Sangueza, an orientation was also held with family, friends and support-systems of the students to insure ample preparation for students on all fronts.
“We held SACNAS Orientation and family members and support systems were invited and the turnout was great! This was designed to continue generating the excitement, and to share this great experience with families. We showed what SACNAS has to offer, we introduced the delegation and announced who are presenting, and we spoke more about travel expectations,” continued Sangueza.
Along with the student presenters, the University of Guam SACNAS Chapter will also be celebrated at the conference.
“Another cool thing is that the UOG SACNAS Chapter is getting an esteemed SACNAS Chapter of the Year Award,” added Sangueza. “Dr. Austin Shelton and I are co-advisors for the student organization and our EPSCoR and INCLUDES students are both members and a few have served as officers.”
Students are traveling to the conference through support provided by the Guam NSF EPSCoR and NSF INCLUDES SEAS grants and travel scholarships from SACNAS, Chapter Officer Leadership October Retreat (COLOR), and the Research Corporation of the University of Guam.
