Seminar Series

WRRC hosts a series of seminars during the spring and fall semesters at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. We are providing a forum to increase awareness of water issues pertaining to island hydrology—encouraging discussions of the management and preservation of Hawai‘i’s water resources with respect to climate, population demands, and contamination.

Note: In 2018 to 2021, WRRC collaborated with the ‘Ike Wai Project for the seminar series.

Spring 2024 WRRC SEMINAR SCHEDULE

water flowing over rocks in stream
ALL LECTURES WILL BE VIRTUAL THIS SPRING ON FRIDAY FROM 2–3 PM (HST) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

LOCATION: UH MĀNOA CAMPUS, ZOOM MEETING

Fall 2023 WRRC SEMINAR SCHEDULE

water flowing over rocks in stream
ALL LECTURES WILL BE VIRTUAL THIS FALL ON FRIDAY FROM 2–3 PM (HST) UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

LOCATION: UH MĀNOA CAMPUS, ZOOM MEETING

PREVIOUS SEMINARS

Beach Sand Quality – A Recent ConcernFebruary 23, 2024 (2:00 pm, HST)

  Speaker: Dr. João Brandão The emergence of Candida auris has sparked global interest in fungi within the context of environmental and…

Observing Floods From Space February 16, 2024 (2:00 pm, HST)

  Speaker: Dr. Dinuke Munasinghe Floods are one of the leading natural disasters which devastate agricultural crops and property, contribute to disease…

The Present and Future State of the Pearl Harbor AquiferFebruary 9, 2024 (2:00 pm, HST)

  Speaker: Dr. Paul Eyre Since 1879, the Pearl Harbor aquifer (Ewa-Kunia excluded) has shrunk to around 60 percent of its original…

Nationwide Assessment of Cost Impacts to the Clean Water Agencies Triggered by PFASDecember 8, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Pooja Sinha The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) initiated a membership survey in 2022 to estimate cost impacts…

Water is Water–Not Waste! International Options for Smart Wastewater Treatment DecisionsNovember 17, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: WasteWater Education 501(c)3 For many small communities in Hawaii, the US, and overseas, the central wastewater infrastructure is not always affordable,…

Impacts of Physical Stressors on Coastal Groundwater Flow and Transport ProcessesOctober 27, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Xiaolong (Leo) Geng Coastal beach aquifers play a pivotal role in supporting healthy ecosystems along the coastline. Consequently, it is…

Metabolic Models and Machine Learning Methods for Bioprocess OptimizationOctober 6, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Garrett Roell Non-model microbial species offer unique potential for biomanufacturing. However, the development of novel microbial hosts requires holistic metabolic…

Reinventing the Toilet for Global Sanitation: The NEWgenerator Resource Recovery MachineSeptember 15, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Yeh This presentation is part of the AAEES Kappe Lecture series Billions of people worldwide suffer from poor sanitation…

After the Fire: The Importance of Scientific Support in Protecting Health and RecoveryAugust 18, 2023 (12:30 pm, HST) ∙ WRRC Special Seminar ∙

Speaker: Dr. Andrew J. Whelton In response to the Maui wildfires and the probable contamination of water infrastructure, Dr. Andrew J. Whelton,…

The Consequences of Groundwater Withdrawals and their Implications for Sustainable Yield in Hawai‘iApril 28, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Scot Izuka How much groundwater is available for human use from Hawai’i’s aquifers? It depends. All groundwater withdrawals-even from the…

Environmental Justice Through the Lens of Coastal HealthApril 14, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Eileen Nalley A legacy of contamination from unsustainable land use affects the health of coastal ecosystems and communities around the…

Envisioning Water Security and Resilience in the Pacific: Lessons from Integrated Ridge to Reef Studies in American SamoaMarch 24, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speakers:  Ms. Mia Comeros and Dr. Chris Shuler Abstract: Enhancing actionable science links to management of natural resources in island communities is…

An Engineering Solution to Restoring Wai: Kānewai Spring and Kalauha‘iha‘i FishpondMarch 10, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speakers:  Mr. Chris Cramer and Ms. Hina Ioane Abstract: The 1990s widening of Kalanianaʻole Highway caused an environmental catastrophe by cutting the…

Mālama Pu‘uloa: Fostering Innovative Collaboration to Restore Pearl Harbor to AbundanceFebruary 24, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker:  Ms. Sandy Ward Abstract: It is clear that the watersheds of the ʻEwa district (moku) must be the focus of intense…

Pu‘uloa Plankton Party: Student Focused Coastal ResearchDate: February 10, 2023 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker:  Dr. Donn Viviani Abstract: Puʻuloa (Pearl Harbor) is the largest estuary in the central Pacific. Puʻuloa is also understudied, particularly compared…

Linking Climate, Forests, and Limu: Examining the Influence of Environmental Change on Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in KeauhouDate: December 2, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speakers:  Drs. Leah Bremer, Brytne Okuhata, Angela Richards Donà, and Celia Smith Abstract: Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are increasingly recognized as a…

Seedling Drought Tolerance in a Changing ClimateDate: November 18, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Kasey Barton Abstract: Climate change is altering water availability with dramatic consequences for plant performance and population stability. Seedlings are…

Potential Effects of Drought, Climate Change, and Cloud-Water Interception on Groundwater Recharge and Wildfire Risk in HawaiʻiDate: November 4, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Alan Mair Abstract: Long-term downward trends of rainfall and concurrent long-term upward trends in drought duration and magnitude extend across…

Drought Needs-Finding for Hawaiʻi — Results and ReflectionsDate: October 21, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Ms. Melissa Kunz Abstract: What is the state of drought knowledge and drought-related needs in Hawaiʻi? As part of the Pacific…

Acquisition of Antibiotic Resistance Genes on Human Skin After Swimming in the OceanDate: October 14, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Dr. Sunny Jiang Abstract: The skin is a complex organ responsible for protecting the body from physical, chemical and biological insults.…

Ecohydrological Implications of Land Cover Change in Hawai‘i: Examining Transpiration Processes in Native and Invaded Forest Types in the Leeward Koʻolau MountainsDate: October 7, 2022 (2:00 pm, HST)

Speaker: Ms. Liat Portner Abstract: Hawaiʻi has a long history of recognizing the relationship between water and natural resource management. However, in the…