{"id":180521,"date":"2023-07-19T16:17:52","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T02:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=180521"},"modified":"2023-07-19T16:17:52","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T02:17:52","slug":"rems-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/07\/19\/rems-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine science summer program for HS<\/abbr> students celebrates 10 years"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"students<\/p>\n

A marine science summer program developed by the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa Hawaiʻi<\/span> Institute of Marine Biology<\/a> (HIMB<\/abbr>) is celebrating 10 years of serving Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> high school students and recent graduates. Since its inception in 2013, the Research Experiences in Marine Science<\/a> (REMS<\/abbr>) program has increased access to marine science fields for about 150 participants, of which approximately 60 have continued on to higher education. This year\u2019s program ran from June 5–July 14.<\/p>\n

“My experience at REMS<\/abbr> has opened my [prospects] for what I want to do in the future, I now have another option and opportunity,” said Kaissen Poepoe, 2023 REMS<\/abbr> student and rising junior at Waiʻanae<\/span> High School.<\/p>\n

\"students<\/p>\n

This summer\u2019s REMS<\/abbr> cohort included 22 high school students and recent graduates. The high schools represented in REMS<\/abbr> this summer include student who attended: James B. Castle High School, Kahuku High and Intermediate School, Kapolei High School, Waiʻanae<\/span> High School, Kalani High School, Mililani High School, University Laboratory School, Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School and Kamehameha Schools.<\/p>\n

“I came into this program not certain of what I was going to get out of it,” said Jayse Uyehara, a Waiʻanae<\/span> High School rising senior. “But after these six weeks, I leave with a smile on my face, knowing there is a place where people are looking for ways to help our community. Whether it be studies on fish or [bringing] back cultural practices, it is just beautiful knowing the people here are determined to help our communities with marine science.”<\/p>\n

REMS<\/abbr> focuses on marine conservation-driven science that incorporates Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> unique ecology and culture to better engage local high school students and recent high school graduates in STEM<\/abbr>. During the program, students participate in field- and laboratory-based science modules and conduct research alongside professional scientists, science educators, and near-peer mentors who encourage the students to explore solutions to environmental challenges through research questions developed in partnership with community.<\/p>\n

\"students<\/p>\n

“Developing meaningful and authentic opportunities for Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> students that inspire and sustain their interest in STEM<\/abbr> pathways is essential for overcoming some of the barriers to access that continue to hinder diversity in STEM<\/abbr> fields,” said Malia Rivera, REMS<\/abbr> principal investigator and faculty specialist at HIMB<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

From participant to mentor<\/h2>\n

Seaenna Correa-Garcia\u2019s first immersive experience with marine science was at 16 years old as a Mililani High School junior in 2015. Her experience in REMS<\/abbr> became the catalyst in choosing to pursue marine science as a career. Now in the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s Marine Biology Graduate Program<\/a>, Correa-Garcia currently serves as a graduate student instructor in REMS<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

“My hope in continuing this journey is that I could serve as a mentor for students similar to the mentors I had, which helped bring me to where I am today,” said Correa-Garcia.<\/p>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

Correa-Garcia became an undergraduate marine science student in California and would return home during summers as an undergraduate mentor for REMS<\/abbr>. In 2017 and 2018, she served as mentor for more than 50 REMS<\/abbr> students, assisting participants in the design and execution of their research projects, and providing overall program support.<\/p>\n

“Playing an active role as a student leader, mentor and undergraduate intern within REMS<\/abbr>, I had the opportunity to help promote and experience professional, academic, and personal growth within myself and each student,” said Correa-Garcia. “My involvement within REMS<\/abbr> specifically has been the inspiration for my future aspirations in marine science conservation and education.”<\/p>\n

Coming full circle<\/h2>\n

Since 2013, more than 20 糖心视频<\/abbr> graduate students have served as instructors, and ten undergraduate interns, most having participated in REMS<\/abbr> as high school students, have assisted in running the program.<\/p>\n

In her graduate studies, Correa-Garcia is working to integrate Native Hawaiian Indigenous knowledge of native limu in restoration efforts within ancient Hawaiian fishponds with the newly developed aquaculture institute at Waikalua Loko Iʻa,<\/span> a partnership with the Pacific American Foundation and 糖心视频<\/abbr> Sea Grant.<\/p>\n

“After completing my graduate education, I hope to continue working with local high school students, fostering educational pathways specifically in place-based education, marine science research and conservation,” said Correa-Garcia. “I hope to pursue a PhD<\/abbr> degree and eventually would like to become a leader of a program such as REMS<\/abbr>.”<\/p>\n

\"students<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since 2013 the Research Experiences in Marine Science program has served about 150 high school students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[53,1466,1465,1314,175,313,73,9],"class_list":["post-180521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-hawaii-institute-of-marine-biology","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-manoa-native-hawaiian-place-of-learning","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-marine-biology","tag-stem","tag-sustainability","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t