New Mexico State University Students to Explore Climate Change Impacts in Hawaii

Strategic Insights -

New Mexico State University honors students are set to embark on a spring break adventure to Hawaii, where they will delve into the effects of climate change on corals and the island ecosystem. Led by biology professor Michele Nishiguchi, the 14 undergraduate students will participate in a field trip to a University of Hawaii research station on a tiny Hawaiian island. The students will engage in hands-on research and community outreach, with the goal of understanding the impact of climate change on corals and their communities. This unique learning experience is made possible through the M. Eugene Sundt Professorship, which supports innovative teaching ideas in the Honors College.

Key Takeaways:

  • The students will participate in a 14-day field trip to Hawaii, where they will conduct research on the effects of climate change on corals and the island ecosystem.
  • The trip will combine lectures on campus with hands-on field experiences, allowing students to interact with Hawaiian community organizations and gain exposure to biologically important processes driving climate change.
  • Students will learn about the role of coral reefs in the larger ecosystem and will each conduct their own individualized research project, which will be presented at the annual spring Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium.
  • This unique learning experience is supported by the M. Eugene Sundt Professorship, which was established to support exceptional and innovative teaching ideas in the Honors College.
  • The Sundt Professorship has funded previous trips for honors students, including a class that studied the collapse and resilience of the Mayan culture in Mexico and a trip to Nicaragua to examine environmental challenges.
  • Applications for the spring 2016 Sundt Honors Seminar will be accepted this fall, and interested students can contact the Honors College at 575-646-2005 for more information.

Statistics:

  • 14 students will participate in the 14-day field trip to Hawaii.
  • The students will conduct their own individualized research project, which will be presented at the annual spring Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium.
  • The Sundt Professorship was established to support exceptional and innovative teaching ideas in the Honors College.
  • The Professorship was funded by the Sundt estate and permits the Honors College to appoint a Sundt professor for a two-year term.

Sources:

  • New Mexico State University news release, June 15.
  • http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/~nish/index.html (Michele Nishiguchi's NMSU lab and research on marine symbiosis).
  • honors.nmsu.edu (William Conroy Honors College and the M. Eugene Sundt Professorship).