SEEDS » Component Programs » Chapters » Chapter Directory » University of Hawai'i at Manoa
"University of Hawai'i at Manoa Ecology Chapter" » Honolulu, Hawaii
|
The purpose of the Ecology Chapter at the University of Manoa is to increase education and environmental awareness through experiences that the textbook, lecture and laboratories cannot match. The club will offer outreach activities, field trips, and educational programs through special projects in the Hawaiian Islands. The club can serve as a gathering of ideas from different science fields and members can put into practice principles learned in class. Outreach activities and good actions of the students can help the community realize the importance of education and ecologically sound practices. Also, it will help club members with personal and career development. The activities can involve students with public speaking, organization and leadership. Club members will also have a facilitation to find out about ESA fellowships, scholarships, field trips and other opportunities that can expand student’s networks with ecologists and related professionals. At the UH Manoa there is great diversity in ethnic backgrounds, would be geared but not limited to underrepresented students in the fields of Ecology and Natural Sciences. |
Plans for 2008-2009
- Some of our proposed activities for this year include: monthly socials, monthly beach clean-ups, on-campus Earth Day booth, volunteering with the Sierra Club, marine ecology walks, hosting national environmental lecturers, and planting native Hawaiian shrubs and flowers around the Environmental Center. We are also applying for a special funds grant to travel to Washington, DC in April 2008 to attend a Sustainable Design Expo as well as organizations such as the Smithsonian, Chesapeake Bay Center, and ESA.
Activities of 2007-2008
- UHMEC has done several activities in its first year of existence, such as: on-campus Earth Day booth, t-shirt screening activities, volunteering for SOEST open house, and using the special funding grant for an East Maui trip. The East Maui Trip was an effort to incorporate the Hawaiian culture into the lives of undergraduate students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. During this field trip students worked with the Kipahulu 'Ohana nonprofit organization. This project helped integrate underrepresented students from different earth and life science disciplines and introduced them to protected area managers, and traditional and sustainable living strategies of a mostly Native Hawaiian community in the Hana District of Maui, Hawai‘i.
Faculty Advisors
- John Cusick
| "East Maui Ecology Trip" Special Project |
|
Held in March 2006 the East Maui Ecology Field Trip inspired undergraduate students and aspiring graduate students to continue higher education in the field of ecology. The trip helped expand student knowledge regarding the conservation of endemic and native species, appreciation of Native Hawaiian culture, sustainable living, and protected area management strategies.
UHMEC members camped throughout the trip in Maui first staying at Waihe'e Beach, where they participated in the restoration of edible native limu (algae). Local Hawaiian scientist Napua Brown led the group in species identification and use and different methods of algae restoration. Native algae (Codium spp.) were gathered, cleared of invasive species (Hypnea musciformis), and entwined in natural fibers or secured to a piece of rock or coral. The fiber or rock with limu secured to it was placed back into the ocean wedge in the reef. Placement of the limu in this manner allows for the development of a holdfast and regeneration of edible native limu in the area. We then packed our tents and drove three hours past many waterfalls to East Maui Hana.