University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii

SOESTSOEST Department of Department of

OceanographyOceanography Undergraduate BS Undergraduate BS

program in Global program in Global Environmental Environmental ScienceScience

GES DegreeGES Degree

Interdisciplinary study of Earth’s physical, Interdisciplinary study of Earth’s physical, chemical, and biological (including human) chemical, and biological (including human) systemssystems

Rigorous BS degreeRigorous BS degree Coordination with other schools at UH Coordination with other schools at UH

provides expertise for training in provides expertise for training in intersections with economic, policy, and intersections with economic, policy, and social systemssocial systems

GES DegreeGES Degree Coursework:Coursework:

• Solid background in science and mathSolid background in science and math Includes Includes Introductory OceanographyIntroductory Oceanography

• GES coursesGES courses Skills courses: problem solving, computer skills, Skills courses: problem solving, computer skills,

modeling, oral and written communication modeling, oral and written communication Content courses: environmental change, Content courses: environmental change,

biogeochemical cycles, etc.biogeochemical cycles, etc. Many incorporate oceanographic information/data.Many incorporate oceanographic information/data.

• Electives – students choose area of focusElectives – students choose area of focus Many choose oceanography coursesMany choose oceanography courses

GES DegreeGES Degree

Senior Research ThesisSenior Research Thesis• Required, one-year project with individual Required, one-year project with individual

mentormentor• Experience in scientific method; field and Experience in scientific method; field and

experimental work; data collection, analysis, experimental work; data collection, analysis, reduction, and interpretation; literature review reduction, and interpretation; literature review and analysis.and analysis.

• Oral presentation and written thesisOral presentation and written thesis• >50% of students work on oceanographic >50% of students work on oceanographic

projectsprojects

GES GraduatesGES Graduates

Roughly 50% go on to graduate school, Roughly 50% go on to graduate school, many in oceanography or marine-related many in oceanography or marine-related fieldsfields

Remainder in environmental consulting Remainder in environmental consulting jobs, teaching, government positionsjobs, teaching, government positions

OCN 201: Science of the SeaOCN 201: Science of the Sea

Lecture class – large (100-200 students)Lecture class – large (100-200 students) Team taught – 3 faculty (1 geo, 1 bio, 1 Team taught – 3 faculty (1 geo, 1 bio, 1

phys-chem)phys-chem) Field trips, some self-guidedField trips, some self-guided Optional LabOptional Lab Class website: Class website: http://http://

www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/courses_html/OCN201/courses_html/OCN201/

OCN 201 LabsOCN 201 Labs

Combination of computer-based, Combination of computer-based, demonstration, and hands-on labsdemonstration, and hands-on labs

Examples:Examples:• Computer – nutrient lab based on Java Ocean Computer – nutrient lab based on Java Ocean

Atlas: Atlas: http://http://odf.ucsd.edu/joa/jsindex.htmlodf.ucsd.edu/joa/jsindex.html• Demonstration – salinity and thermohaline Demonstration – salinity and thermohaline

circulationcirculation• Hands-on – plankton tow; count copepods Hands-on – plankton tow; count copepods

and calculate concentration; ID organismsand calculate concentration; ID organisms

Upper Division Courses – Upper Division Courses – Incorporation of Oceanographic Incorporation of Oceanographic

Concepts/DataConcepts/Data

Global Environmental ChangeGlobal Environmental Change Aquatic PollutionAquatic Pollution Atmospheric PollutionAtmospheric Pollution Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Interpretation of Earth-system Computer

DatabasesDatabases

OCN 363OCN 363

Interpretation of Earth-system Computer Interpretation of Earth-system Computer DatabasesDatabases• Computer skills (Matlab, web page design/use, data Computer skills (Matlab, web page design/use, data

reduction, plotting)reduction, plotting)• Introduction to satellite-derived and other remotely Introduction to satellite-derived and other remotely

sensed data and instrumentation usedsensed data and instrumentation used• Ocean data sets used for assignmentsOcean data sets used for assignments

Class websiteClass website::

http://www.satlab.hawaii.edu/ges/ocn363-2005/http://www.satlab.hawaii.edu/ges/ocn363-2005/

Senior Research ProjectsSenior Research Projects Environmental Assessment of Offshore Aquaculture – Environmental Assessment of Offshore Aquaculture –

Romain MauriacRomain Mauriac• Used pigment analyses to assess effects on phytoplankton Used pigment analyses to assess effects on phytoplankton

populationspopulations

Enumeration of Microbial Cells in Hydrothermal Plumes Enumeration of Microbial Cells in Hydrothermal Plumes – Carolyn Berger– Carolyn Berger

• Compared epifluorescence microscopy to flow cytometryCompared epifluorescence microscopy to flow cytometry

Coral Bleaching in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands – Coral Bleaching in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands – Yves VeillerobeYves Veillerobe

• Evaluated spatial and temporal variability of SST from in situ and Evaluated spatial and temporal variability of SST from in situ and satellite-derived datasatellite-derived data

Things we’d like to doThings we’d like to do

Shipboard experience for allShipboard experience for all Integrate certain concepts and skills Integrate certain concepts and skills

throughout curriculum, e.g. modelingthroughout curriculum, e.g. modeling More hands-on experiences in coursesMore hands-on experiences in courses

Problems we’ve encounteredProblems we’ve encountered

Ship availability for student cruisesShip availability for student cruises• Time and $Time and $

Computer availability, maintenance, and Computer availability, maintenance, and upgradesupgrades

Student computer skillsStudent computer skills