University%20of%20Hawaii

1
University of Hawaii

• SOEST
• Department of Oceanography
• Undergraduate BS program in Global Environmental
  Science

2
GES Degree

• Interdisciplinary study of Earths physical,
  chemical, and biological (including human)
  systems
• Rigorous BS degree
• Coordination with other schools at UH provides
  expertise for training in intersections with
  economic, policy, and social systems

3
GES Degree

• Coursework
• Solid background in science and math
• Includes Introductory Oceanography
• GES courses
• Skills courses problem solving, computer skills,
  modeling, oral and written communication
• Content courses environmental change,
  biogeochemical cycles, etc.
• Many incorporate oceanographic information/data.
• Electives students choose area of focus
• Many choose oceanography courses

4
GES Degree

• Senior Research Thesis
• Required, one-year project with individual mentor
• Experience in scientific method field and
  experimental work data collection, analysis,
  reduction, and interpretation literature review
  and analysis.
• Oral presentation and written thesis
• gt50 of students work on oceanographic projects

5
GES Graduates

• Roughly 50 go on to graduate school, many in
  oceanography or marine-related fields
• Remainder in environmental consulting jobs,
  teaching, government positions

6
OCN 201 Science of the Sea

• Lecture class large (100-200 students)
• Team taught 3 faculty (1 geo, 1 bio, 1
  phys-chem)
• Field trips, some self-guided
• Optional Lab
• Class website http//www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanog
  raphy/courses_html/OCN201/

7
OCN 201 Labs

• Combination of computer-based, demonstration, and
  hands-on labs
• Examples
• Computer nutrient lab based on Java Ocean
  Atlas http//odf.ucsd.edu/joa/jsindex.html
• Demonstration salinity and thermohaline
  circulation
• Hands-on plankton tow count copepods and
  calculate concentration ID organisms

8
Upper Division Courses Incorporation of
Oceanographic Concepts/Data

• Global Environmental Change
• Aquatic Pollution
• Atmospheric Pollution
• Biogeochemical Cycles
• Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Databases

9
OCN 363

• Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Databases
• Computer skills (Matlab, web page design/use,
  data reduction, plotting)
• Introduction to satellite-derived and other
  remotely sensed data and instrumentation used
• Ocean data sets used for assignments
• Class website
• http//www.satlab.hawaii.edu/ges/ocn363-2005/

10
Senior Research Projects

• Environmental Assessment of Offshore Aquaculture
  Romain Mauriac
• Used pigment analyses to assess effects on
  phytoplankton populations
• Enumeration of Microbial Cells in Hydrothermal
  Plumes Carolyn Berger
• Compared epifluorescence microscopy to flow
  cytometry
• Coral Bleaching in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands
  Yves Veillerobe
• Evaluated spatial and temporal variability of SST
  from in situ and satellite-derived data

11
Things wed like to do

• Shipboard experience for all
• Integrate certain concepts and skills throughout
  curriculum, e.g. modeling
• More hands-on experiences in courses

12
Problems weve encountered

• Ship availability for student cruises
• Time and
• Computer availability, maintenance, and upgrades
• Student computer skills