spring 2016 ges thesis project advertisement presentation · spring 2016 ges thesis project...
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Spring 2016 GES Thesis Project Advertisement Presentation Friday, April 8, 2016
12:30-1:20pm Sakamaki Hall D-103
Presenters:
1. Noa Kekuewa Lincoln – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR)/
Tropical Plant & Soil Science (TPSS)
a. Indigenous Cropping Systems: Ethnographic and Biogeochemical Laboratory
2. Bernardo Vargas-Angel – NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
a. Analysis of benthic imagery to monitor trends in coral reef community structure
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
3. Daniele Spirandelli – Urban and Regional Planning/ Coastal Policy & Community
Development
a. Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Cesspools in Hawaii
4. Jeremy Kimura – State of Hawaii / Water Resource Management
a. Verification of Stream Diversions on Oahu
b. Assisting Staff with Instream Flow Standard Assessment Reports
5. Rosie Alegado - Oceanography
a. Influence of Bacteria on Animal Evolution
b. Reconstructing Historical Climate in Hawaii
Indigenous Cropping SystemsEthnographic and Biogeochemical Laboratory
Students interested in plants, soils, nutrients, water, culture, history, geology, geography, archaeology, paleobotany, biogeochemistry, agriculture, people, farmers, or management
and who want to do
field work, lab work, surveys, chemistry, ethnography, historical research, interviews, experiments, tissue culture, or just dig in the soil
then our group will have a project for you!
Kula
‘Ama‘u
‘Āpa‘a
Kalu‘ulu
Some of our current projects
Agroforestry• Restoring the
traditional system in Kona
• Examining microbiology of co-planting regimes
• Examining nutrient cycles and impacts on young soils
• LAB WORK ON SOILS
Ethno-agroecology• Looking at patterns
of traditional agriculture on the soil-climate gradients
• Relating agricultural to socio-political hierarchy and complexity
• NEEDS GIS SKILLS
Soil Biogeochemistry• Landscape level soil
dynamics• Impacts of
traditional ag practices on nutrient cyclies
• Mixed-litter decomposition
• LAB AND FIELD WORK
Farmer Surveys• Understanding
drivers of farmer practices
• Creating platforms for sharing of best practices
• Document local ecological knowledge
• NEW PROJECTS
Ethnobotany• Identifying and
cataloguing indigenous agricultural varieties
• Documenting relationships between people and plants
• Telling the stories of plant varieties
• WEBSITE DESIGN
Thesis project information sheet
Project Title Analysis of benthic imagery to monitor trends in coral reef community structure in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) Bernardo Vargas-Angel Paula Misa Brett Schumacher
Affiliation NOAA- Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Email [email protected] Number 808-725-5423
Project Description Conduct analysis of benthic images from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands using computer vision software to extract estimates of benthic cover at variable levels of taxonomic resolution
Desired Skills and Experience
• General knowledge of Hawaiian marine creatures: corals, algae, and sessile invertebrates
• Organizational skills • Basic analytical skills for data summary • Basic use of MS Excel for data summary • Ability to work remotely and unsupervised
What students will learn
Identify major marine invertebrate faunal and floral elements in the Hawaiian Archipelago Compute benthic cover to derive estimates at the Island and sub-island levels Possibility to draw spatial and or temporal comparisons within and among islands
Start Date Variable End date Variable
Minimal Expected Duration
6 months Hours per week Variable; the goal is to complete the analyses within the agreed time slot
Student Support ($)
Project posted on 4/08/2016
Analysis of benthic imagery to monitor trends in coral reef community structure in the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands
Desirable skill and/or interests in:• General knowledge of Hawaiian marine
creatures: corals & algae• Basic analytical skills for data summary• Work from home/remotely• Work with NOAA – CREP staff• xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox Bernardo Vargas-Ángel ([email protected])
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
Growth form & genus94 categories
How are images analyzed?
CoralNet software
Coralline algae
Encrusting Montipora
Branching Porites
Table Acropora
Red macroalgae
Pocillopora
Gather & organize all scientific studies on impacts of cesspools in Hawai`i
Summarize studies in a literature reviewCreate a brochure for legislatures, policymakers, and resource
managers
“While the (Health Department) claims that these rule changes are necessary to protect the public health and preserve our natural resources, the arguments in that regard are weak and unsubstantiated, and in fact contradictory and contrary to current legislative intent.” Letter signed by 11 State Legislators, February, 2016.
Current State of the Knowledge: Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Cesspools in Hawai`i
Daniele Spirandelli, Department of Urban & Regional Planning & Sea [email protected]
Thesis project information sheet
Project Title Verification of Stream Diversions on Oahu
Mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) Dean Uyeno/Ayron Strauch Affiliation CWRM/UH NREM
Email [email protected] Number 808-587-0214
Project Description Work with Commission on Water Resource Management staff to develop an approach to prioritize and verify stream diversions on Oahu.
Desired Skills and Experience
Good organizational skills and ability to hike long distances with equipment. GIS familiarity preferred but not required.
What students will learn
Stream flow measurement methods, water resource management techniques, and government experience
Start Date TBD End date TBD
Minimal Expected Duration
TBD Hours per week 5-10
Student Support ($) 0
Project posted on 4/08/2016
Thesis project information sheet
Project Title Assisting Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) Staff with Preparation of Instream Flow Standard Assessment Reports (IFSAR)
Mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) Dean Uyeno/Ayron Strauch Affiliation CWRM/UH NREM
Email [email protected] Number 808-587-0214
Project Description Work with Commission on Water Resource Management staff to research and verify instream uses such as kalo cultivation, recreational uses and ecological needs.
Desired Skills and Experience
Good organizational skills and ability to hike long distances with equipment. GIS familiarity preferred but not required. Microsoft word knowledge required.
What students will learn
Stream flow measurement methods, water resource management techniques, and knowledge of Hawaii’s unique riparian evironments.
Start Date TBD End date TBD
Minimal Expected Duration
TBD Hours per week 5-10
Student Support ($) 0
Project posted on 4/08/2016
GES Senior Thesis Project Advertisement Presentation
State of Hawaii
Commission on Water Resource Management
Verification of Stream Diversions on Oahu
• Research and identify stream diversions on Oahu
• Involves field verification
• Findings to be summarized in a report
• Learn about water resource management
• 5 to 10 hours a week minimum
• Must be able to hike long distances with equipment
• GIS familiarity preferred but not required
Assisting Staff with Instream Flow Standard Assessment Report (IFSAR)
Preparation• Research and identify
instream uses such as kalo cultivation, recreational needs, and supporting aquatic life
• Involves field verification
• Findings to be summarized and incorporated in IFSAR
• Learn about water resource management
• 5 to 10 hours a week minimum
• Must be able to hike long distances with equipment
• GIS familiarity preferred but not required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word required
Thesis project information sheet
Project Title Influence of Bacteria on Animal Evolution
Mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) Rosie Alegado Affiliation SOEST/OCN/CMORE/Sea Grant
Email [email protected] Number 808-956-0565
Project Description This project is aimed at understanding how bacteria produce signals that trigger choanoflagellate multicellularity. An undergraduate student will make targeted deletions in the pathway involved in production of the bacterial developmental signal and will characterize the bacterial mutants’ effect on choanoflagellate development.
Desired Skills and Experience
Applicants should be intellectually curious and highly motivated. A strong work ethic is essential. Previous research experience preferred but not required, and applicants should have completed at least one undergraduate chemistry lab.
What students will learn
Students will learn molecular cloning techniques, choanoflagellate cell culture, and observations by light microscopy.
Start Date immediately End date 3/1/2019
Minimal Expected Duration
3 months (probationary) Hours per week 40 hrs/wk during summer; 9-12 hrs during Fall & Spring semester
Student Support ($) Up to $4,000 summer stipend (40 hrs/week); up to $2000 Fall/Spring semester stipend
Project posted on 4/08/2016
Project Title Reconstructing Historical Climate in Hawaiʻi
Mentor(s)/Supervisor(s) Rosie Alegado; Axel Timmermann Affiliation SOEST/OCN
Email [email protected] Number 808-956-0565
Project Description This project is aimed at 1) using instrument data to construct climate fingerprints across the Hawaiian Islands and 2) using introduced tree species to build a high resolution climate record in Hawaiʻi
Desired Skills and Experience
Applicants should be intellectually curious and highly motivated. A strong work ethic is essential. Previous research experience not required but successful completion of MATH244 or itʻs equivalent is required.
What students will learn
Students will learn MatLab programming, some forestry, statistical analyses
Start Date Immediately End date Jan 2017
Minimal Expected Duration
3 months (probationary) Hours per week 9-12 hrs/week
Student Support ($) ~$11/hr based on skill level
Project posted on 4/08/2016
INFLUENCE OF BACTERIA ON ANIMAL EVOLUTION
Choanoflagellates are a model for understanding animal origins
INFLUENCE OF BACTERIA ON ANIMAL EVOLUTION
• 12 hr/week, $$
• Potential thesis project
• High possibility for publications
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Evolutionary biology
• Molecular biology
Email: [email protected]
RECONSTRUCTING HISTORICAL CLIMATE IN HAWAIʻIPIs: Rosie Alegado, Axel Timmermann, Puakea Nogelmeier
Goal: integrate historical observations, instrumental observations & dendrology
Create climatological “fingerprints”Ex. Hilo: rainfall vs. global temperature
Dendrology of introduced pine speciesOctober 26, 1878
Email: [email protected]
• 5-10 hr/week, $$
• Field work on Big Island, Lānaʻi
• Work from home
• Network with students from Hawaiian studies/Hawaiian
language
• Potential thesis project
Email: [email protected]
RECONSTRUCTING HISTORICAL CLIMATE IN HAWAIʻIPIs: Rosie Alegado, Axel Timmermann, Puakea Nogelmeier
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
• MatLab programming
• How to give formal presentations
• Some Hawaiian language
• Climate of Hawaiʻi/ecosystem response to change
• Forestry