UOG researcher contributes to NASA award winning app featuring Guam's reefs
Biology major Kyle Dahilig becomes UOG's first Udall Scholar
Working to benefit the island: A student's experience as an aquaculture intern
In the News: UOG alumna earns master's at a top university in Japan with plans to work in Pohnpei
Bio major Anela Duenas named a 2022 Goldwater Scholar
The UOG student fighting Guam wildfires with public awareness
Grad student Leilani Sablan embarks on 'once in a lifetime' deep-sea research expedition
One class of biology grads, five soon-to-be MDs
Graduate biology student participates in Artist-at-Sea program
In the News: ROTC alumni now an Army pilot

DIVE INTO CNAS

April 2021 - Issue No. 6

FEEDING THE SOUL THROUGH AGRICULTURE AND MUSIC

In fall of 2019, Anthony “Noni” Cruz graduated from the University of Guam with a Bachelors in Tropical Agriculture from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. Today, he is currently employed as a Research Associate under the Guam Plant Extension Program.

Here, he works with rare and endangered native plant species and attempts to increase their population. He does this by working closely with the Guam Plant Extinction Prevention Program (GPEPP) to survey remote jungles in search of these native plants.

While attending the university, he was the vice president of the Agriculture and Life Science Club. During this time, he was given the opportunity to travel to Taiwan and participate in a cross agricultural studies program. This program was made possible through the Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU). In addition to this, he also traveled to Okinawa for a class offered by the university to compare and contrast crop production and culture with Guam.

The phrase “No farms, NO food” resonated with Anthony throughout his time at the university and till this day, he believes it to be true.

“I wanted to get a degree in agriculture because the industry provides many jobs in various fields,” said Anthony.

At first, he wanted to be a farmer. However, after realizing that his need to feed the island as a farmer, while not entirely impossible, would come with its challenges.

“Alone, I cannot feed my island. But if everyone were to grow, even a little, I truly believe that together, we can,” Anthony added.

While Guam will always be his home, Anthony plans to relocate to Calabasas, California in the future to expand his knowledge and methods of produce production. Additionally, he plans to pursue his other dreams in the musical field.

His dream job, however, would be his passion project.

“The project would be to develop an extension program that would not only teach the community to grow food, but also provide them with the materials to do so,” said Anthony.

Participants of this project would also be provided with a fail-proof standard operating procedure. He hopes this will encourage members of the community to develop innovative practices that will essentially make it even better.

For those who plan to follow in his footsteps, or for those who find the field of agriculture an interesting one, Anthony suggests retaining as much information as you can during your academic journey.

“With this degree, you can get a job anywhere in the world,” said Anthony. “Give someone a vegetable and they will have food for a day but teach someone to grow, and they will have food for life, not to mention the knowledge to pass on to others.”

YOU HAD ME AT THEOREMS

William Sablan, a current senior under the Mathematics program at the University of Guam, will attend the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) this Fall to further his mathematical education by pursuing his PhD in Mathematics. With their mathematics department showing interest in supporting Sablan during the program, he chose UC Riverside largely due to the school having a supportive and friendly graduate student community.

His inspiration to apply for graduate school came when he took Calculus in the summer of his first year at UOG. “There I was amazed by the beautiful theorems that I learned,” Sablan said, “and I was interested in seeing the historical progression of the field.”

He credits his professors, especially Dr. R. Paulino and Dr. Z. Szekely for their help in solidifying his goal of attending graduate school. Under the tutelage of the two professors, they taught Sablan reading courses on unique topics in mathematics and shared advice from their time as graduate students. Sablan says, “If it weren’t for their mentorship and guidance, I would not be where I am today.”

As a result of his dedication to pursuing higher learning, he was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP). The NSF GRFP is a five-year fellowship that includes an annual stipend of $34k and $12k for tuition and fees for three years. In addition, Sablan was also awarded the Eugene Cota Robles Award and will receive a stipend amounting to $54.5k in total.

His advice to students thinking of applying for scholarships is, “to start early in pursuing different programs related to your field and plan out your application early on.” He emphasizes the importance of finding a mentor as they can point you towards potential opportunities. He says, “even if you are unsure if you are competitive enough when applying to schools or scholarships, I would encourage you to still apply and make the most of the opportunities around you.”

EXPANDING MATHEMATICAL RESEARCH

The UOG Division of Mathematics and Computer Science is proud to announce their third year offering the National Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (NREUP). The program will be mentored by Dr. H. Oh and Dr. L. Aquino and will include Dr. A. Moore and Dr. G. C. Fiedler as subject matter faculty.

Funded by the Mathematical Association of America, UOG NREUP aims to provide undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors an opportunity to participate in research experiences in the mathematical sciences. The seven week program will start this summer on June 7, 2021 and will include two main project areas which will apply mathematical modeling and game theoretical concepts.

The first project analyzes the invasion of the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) on Guam. Students will study the CRB life cycle and the resulting impact on palm trees. By using existing Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) models with pathogens, students will investigate CRB population dynamics. The ODE models will also be used in a game-theoretic framework.

The second project covers the population dynamics of the Mariana Eight-Spot Butterfly and Parasitoid Wasps. Students in this project will learn about this native butterfly and their interactions with wasp species that attack its eggs and caterpillars. Students will develop and analyze models to study the evolutionary game theory of butterfly populations.

Students under the program can expect benefits such as research training and experience, faculty mentoring, skills in industry-standard software, and a stipend of $3,500. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be an undergraduate student majoring in STEM, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, come from a historically underrepresented minority, and received a grade of B or better in MA203: Calculus I (or equivalent). Applicants are also required to write a 1-2 pages personal statement describing why they would like to participate in the summer research program and provide an unofficial transcript.

NASA GUAM SPACE GRANT LAUNCHES!

UOG Cooperative Extension and Outreach will be hosting a training for a select group of agricultural professionals from Guam and the Northern Marianas.

The workshop will focus on the identification of common fungal leaf pathogens and their diseases. This will be held from Wednesday May 26, 2021 to Saturday May 29, 2021 at the University of Guam and will include lecturers will be from the University of Guam, the University of Georgia and the University of the Philippines.

An open invitation will be extended to the public to attend a half-day plant clinic to be held in the Life Sciences Building – Room 124 on Saturday May 29 from 9AM to 11AM. During this time, workshop instructors, extension agents and others will be available to answer your plant related questions, free of charge.

This workshop is funded through the Western SARE Competitive Grants Professional Development Program, grant number PDP20-001. This is part of a two year project, which will end on August 31, 2022, with a total fund amount of $66,0130.00.

For more information contact:
Roger Brown | 671-735-2094 | rwbrown@triton.uog.edu
Julia Hudson | hudsonj13789@triton.uog.edu

STAIRWAY TO GMH

Left: Courtney Weatherbee, Tira Isaacs and Bill Shuffstall, Guam visit Jan. 2020.

The ALS building has signs posted on the walls encouraging people to take the stairs instead of the elevator and it seems people are listening. Unfortunately, these very stairs have been the downfall and the up fall for several employees in the last few months.

CNAS lives up to its “equal opportunity mandate”, as people, both male and female, have broken body parts going down the stairs as well as stepping up.

“Although there are no nunu trees near the building, we are investigating the possibility of a taotaomona presence,” said Dean Yudin, “For the time being we are offering ballet and yoga classes to increase the graceful comportment and balance of our employees.”

Contact the dean’s office to sign up for classes and watch your step!

BIBA TRITONS!

The UOG CNAS family would like to welcome new faculty and staff who recently became Tritons this fiscal year as well as congratulate those who received promotions!

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College of Natural & Applied Sciences

College of Natural & Applied Sciences

DIVE INTO CNAS

University of Guam

BECOME A TRITON

CONNECT

RESOURCES