Three postgraduate fellows have a unique opportunity to work directly with state and federal agencies through the (Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant) E. Gordon Grau Coastal Resource Management and Policy Fellowship Program (Grau Fellowship).
The paid fellowship, named in honor of Emeritus Professor E. Gordon Grau, Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant¡¯s visionary former director, provides students with the chance to obtain relevant policy experience in Â鶹´«Ã½ and, for many, to pursue career opportunities in their home state. It is hoped that Grau fellows will help to lead Â鶹´«Ã½ to a better future.
Postgraduate fellows
Anita Tsang, a recent graduate of UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯²õ , brings her background in marine biology, conservation and scientific monitoring to the State of Â鶹´«Ã½ Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). Throughout her two-year fellowship, she will focus on effective management of nearshore waters, working directly with DAR staff, communities and stakeholders.
Kiloaulani Kaʻawa-Gonzales, who was born and raised on Molokaʻi and returned home with a master¡¯s degree in fish, wildlife and conservation biology from Colorado State University, will be working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)¡¯s Pacific Region Executive Board on conserving natural and cultural resources in Lalo, or French Frigate Shoals, in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Aka Beebe, who successfully defended his graduate thesis in biological oceanography at UH Mānoa last year, is spending his fellowship at the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Pacific Islands Region working on climate adaptation and planning for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Recruiting host offices
From now until March 1, Â鶹´«Ã½ Sea Grant is recruiting prospective host offices to provide educational opportunities to a new cohort of Grau Fellows who will begin their two-year fellowship on September 1. Host offices can be any municipal, state, federal agency or Â鶹´«Ã½-based nonprofit organization that works on coastal or marine research, policy or management.
Host office applications should be submitted via email to Maya Walton at waltonm@hawaii.edu by March 1 at 5 p.m.
This fellowship is an example of UH ²Ñā²Ô´Ç²¹¡¯²õ goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.
–By Cindy Knapman