A led by researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa reveals that surface water ice in the Moon’s permanently shaded regions (PSRs) is less abundant than previously thought. The research provides the most detailed look yet into the lunar PSRs where sunlight cannot reach directly, suggesting that while ice may exist, it is likely present in low concentrations or small, isolated pockets.

This study builds on nearly a decade of breakthroughs by the team, led by Shuai Li, an associate researcher at the in the UH Mānoa . Li previously led the 2018 discovery of the first direct evidence of surface ice using data from India’s Chandrayaan-1 mission.

Less water on the Moon means future lunar explorers may face tighter constraints for sourcing drinking water and fuel, making planning and resource management even more critical.

Reflected sunlight, crater walls

In this latest effort, the team utilized NASA’s ShadowCam, an ultra-sensitive camera aboard the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter. ShadowCam is specifically designed to image the Moon’s darkest corners by capturing sunlight reflected off nearby crater walls.

Researchers found no evidence of “widespread” water ice at high concentrations (above 20% to 30% by weight). This discovery highlights a puzzling disparity between the Moon and other airless bodies like Mercury and Ceres, which host substantial, nearly pure ice deposits in their poles although the Moon’s poles are even colder.

While the delivery of water via impacts may be similar across the Moon and Mercury, Li suggests Mercury’s much hotter surface may facilitate substantially more water formation from solar wind than the Moon. Alternatively, the Moon’s unique environment—including space weathering from solar wind, volcanic degassing and mixing of rock layers from impact—may destroy or bury surface ice more effectively.

Science of light scattering

This study was made possible during ShadowCam’s extended mission, which allowed the team to capture images from multiple angles to analyze how light scatters off the lunar surface. This is the first time researchers used scattering properties of water ice to search for it on the Moon. Rocks and dust on the lunar surface sends more light back toward the direction from which it came, while water ice scatters light forward.

“Water ice doesn’t just make the surface brighter,” said Li. “The way it scatters light is a fingerprint. By using stereo observations to look at these shadowed craters from different perspectives, we were able to detect this distinctive forward-scattering behavior for the first time.”

In the high-resolution images, the team identified a few small areas, roughly 20 to 50 meters in size, that exhibit both high reflectance and unique forward-scattering properties. These optical signatures are consistent with ice concentrations greater than 10%.

Li said, “I thought we’d find more bright, ice-rich areas, so the small number we found was a bit surprising. However, the forward-scattering signal was a true and exciting surprise because it required stereo observations that were only possible during the extended mission.”

Fourteen University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa academic subjects were ranked among the world’s best in the 2026 , released on March 25.

Four subjects placed in the top 22 in the nation and top 100 in the world. Leading the way was geology (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), geophysics (No. 19 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world), Earth and marine sciences (No. 21 in the U.S. and No. 51–100 in the world) and linguistics (No. 22 in the U.S. and No. 61 in the world).

Ten additional subjects placed in the world’s top 2% (within top 500 in the world out of ):

• English language and literature: No. 28 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 30 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Anthropology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–200 world
• Modern languages: No. 41 U.S., No. 251–300 world
• Environmental sciences: No. 66 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 68 U.S., No. 251–275 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 70 U.S., No. 401–450 world
• Education: No. 78 U.S., No. 351–400 world
• Medicine: No. 99 U.S., No. 451–500 world
• Biological sciences: No. 100 U.S., No. 451–500 world

“These rankings highlight the exceptional work and commitment of our faculty, students and staff,” UH Mānoa Interim Provost Vassilis L. Syrmos said. “They showcase the university’s global standing and reinforce that UH Mānoa offers outstanding educational opportunities and experiences for both our local community and those joining us from around the world.”

UH Mānoa was ranked in three broad subject areas and 14 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs by asking academic experts to nominate universities based on their subject area of expertise), employer reputation (measures the reputation of institutions and their programs among employers), research citations per paper (measures the impact and quality of the scientific work done by institutions, on average per publication), H-index (measures both the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar) and international research network (measure of an institution’s success in creating and sustaining research partnerships with institutions in other locations).

The 2026 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

UH Mānoa also received these notable rankings:

• 2025 U.S. News and World Report best online programs, January 27, 2026
• 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 21, 2026
• 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, January 4, 2026

Materials science is the study and design of new materials and their properties, and it plays a crucial role in industries ranging from renewable energy and aerospace to electronics and national defense. Researchers at University of �鶹��ý at ��ā�ԴDz�’s (HIGP) are leading new initiatives to advance materials science across the state.

Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education

UH Mānoa launched the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MSCoRE) in 2017, with a goal of bringing together materials experts and infrastructure scattered around several colleges and departments under one group in support of education, innovation and to lay the foundation for a future materials science center at UH Mānoa.

Under MSCoRE, UH Mānoa developed a popular research experience class for undergraduates and became successful in obtaining grants to bolster its materials science program. One of its early successes was earning a U.S. Department of Energy grant to study hydrogen storage materials.

Materials Research and Education Consortium

Utilizing this momentum, researchers from UH Mānoa and the University of Washington (UW) received a seed award from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program in 2021. The collaboration, known as the Materials Research and Education Consortium (MRE-C), is made up of seven UH Mānoa faculty from HIGP, , and , as well as faculty from the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center.

MRE-C conducts public school visits around the islands to increase student interest and participation in materials science and STEM, and facilitates student exchanges at the undergraduate and graduate levels between UH Mānoa and UW. The grant was recently renewed by NSF for a full six years at $4.2 million.

�鶹��ý Institute of Materials Research

As a testament to UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s expanding capacity and expertise in this space, the Office of Naval Research just awarded a three-year, $4.5 million grant to conduct innovative, high-risk scientific research with the potential to enhance naval capabilities and national security in the Indo-Pacific region. Together with the NSF PREM grant, UH Mānoa will now have a formal structure in place with the establishment of the �鶹��ý Institute of Materials Research (HIMaR). HIMaR will be a virtual, interdisciplinary institute of applied and fundamental research in materials science, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

Read more on materials science research at UH . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

A groundbreaking scientific expedition was just completed off the west coast of �鶹��ý Island in search of something unexpected: fresh water beneath the ocean floor. Researchers from the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and Scripps Institution of Oceanography teamed up for a two-week offshore imaging survey in July 2025, through a contract with the Natural Energy Laboratory of �鶹��ý Authority (NELHA) and funding from the �鶹��ý State Legislature.

The goal was to confirm the existence of a potentially massive underground reservoir of fresh or brackish water hidden beneath the seafloor—an idea that challenges conventional understanding of island hydrology.

“If proven, this deep water could explain long-standing mysteries about �鶹��ý Island’s water cycle—namely, why observed coastal discharge doesn’t match estimated groundwater recharge,” said Peter Kannberg, associate researcher at the (HIGP) in the UH ����ԴDz� , who led the survey. “In simple terms, a lot of water is missing from current models.”

The roots of this investigation trace back to 2018, when scientists first detected anomalies suggesting a deep, confined aquifer where none should exist. Their theory? Rainwater may be funneled underground trapped beneath layers of volcanic basalt and ash, extending far beneath the basal freshwater lens and even miles offshore.

“If confirmed, this hidden aquifer could reshape our understanding of island hydrology and inform future water resource planning—offering a potential new source of fresh water in a region increasingly affected by drought and climate change,” said Alex Leonard, senior project manager for NELHA.

“If a significant fraction of freshwater is escaping through these deep aquifers, then we need to re-calculate how much water can can be withdrawn from the nearshore basal lens for human consumption and how much needs to remain in these shoreline aquifers to provide nutrients to the reefs and nearshore marine environment,” added Don Thomas, HIGP faculty who has spent decades studying water and subsurface features across the Hawaiian Islands.

High-tech imaging survey takes to the sea

The 2025 survey used advanced electromagnetic imaging techniques. Instruments were deployed on the seafloor to listen for electromagnetic echoes, while a 150-foot-long towed sensor emitted a low-power signal that is recorded on a 3,300-foot-long receiver array. The study spanned two areas: north of Kiholo Bay to Honōkohau Harbor and the coastline south of Kailua Bay to Kealakekua.

The team will now begin processing data from the surveys to determine whether this reservoir is present and better understand how much water may be in this hidden offshore aquifer.

“We are now applying state-of-the-art technologies to better characterize the complexity of island hydrology—advancing knowledge that could fundamentally improve how we manage and sustain freshwater resources across volcanic islands both here and abroad,” said Amir Haroon, faculty member at HIGP, who studies water resources on Oʻahu and Maui.

More information

For more on the project and answers to frequently asked questions, visit .

NASA has developing instruments for Moon travel through the Artemis campaign. Two instruments, including UH’s, will be integrated onto a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which astronauts will drive on the Moon. Another instrument will orbit the Moon.

“I’m so excited to see this project come into reality,” said Matthew Siegler, associate researcher in the (HIGP) at the UH ����ԴDz� , who will lead the team developing the Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS). “�鶹��ýhas become a major player in the search for ice on the Moon. This instrument selection takes us to the next level.”

The L-MAPS instrument will help determine what is below the Moon’s surface, the heat production of the Moon and search for possible locations of buried ice. The UH science and spacecraft engineering team will work in partnership with instruments developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the German Technical University at Dresden.

Siegler and deputy principal investigator Shannon Brown, a researcher at JPL, and their team have been designing and testing the L-MAPS instrument for more than five years, preparing for an opportunity to get to the Moon. Being selected for the LTV instrument team moves the development to the next stage—the build—which will primarily take place at JPL.

Outfitting the first crew-driven vehicle on the Moon in 50 years

The LTV vehicle is part of NASA’s efforts to explore the lunar surface as part of the Artemis campaign and is the first crew-driven vehicle to operate on the Moon in more than 50 years. Designed to hold up to two astronauts, as well as operate remotely without a crew, this surface vehicle will enable NASA to achieve more of its science and exploration goals over a wide swath of lunar terrain.

In the , Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., emphasized that the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle will advance humanity across the lunar frontier toward exploration and discovery and added that the instruments planned for the LTV combine the best of human and robotic exploration.

When combined, data from the L-MAPS and other instruments will paint a picture of the components of the lunar surface and subsurface to support human exploration and will uncover clues to the history of rocky worlds in our solar system.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be working on lunar research in a time when NASA has prioritized the Artemis return of humans to the Moon,” said Siegler. “Work like this is possible because of researchers at the University of �鶹��ý working for years leading in planetary science and developing spaceflight technologies. It is exciting to be in the right place and time to ride this wave.”

Collaboration is key to success

At JPL, the L-MAPS instrument will be built with components from Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt and Ohio State University. Final testing will be done partially at UH ����ԴDz�. The instrument production and operation on the Moon will be managed by HIGP faculty Miguel Nunes and Trevor Sorensen and will include many roles for UH faculty, undergraduate and graduate students.

—By Marcie Grabowski

A six-week, hands-on lunar and planetary science education program, “Exploring the Moon and Beyond,” was offered at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua in spring 2025. The opportunity was developed by researchers and staff members at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� and Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).

People who are incarcerated represent a significantly underserved community with barriers to accessing opportunities to learn and advance in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) fields.

“There are huge obstacles preventing incarcerated people from pursuing further education and professional careers in STEAM,” said Barb Bruno, program co-creator and research specialist at the in the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST). “We recognized the need to provide scientific outreach and education to this community of learners. We’re hoping this program helps inmates to imagine a positive future when they are released, and to imagine the possibility that they could be a scientist.”

Sparking imaginations

The non-credit program reached maximum enrollment of 12 students and utilized the Moon and planets as vehicles to teach STEAM content, build STEAM skills and self-efficacy, share cutting-edge NASA research, improve college readiness and stimulate further interest in education.

Each two-hour class was planned and taught by a team of SOEST and WashU researchers, staff, graduate students and a community member, including Bruno, Nina Webb, Marcie Grabowski, Matt Miller, Emma Layton and Hawkins Biggins. Classes focused on the solar system, Moon, meteorites, requirements for NASA’s future missions to the Moon, and conditions for life on Earth and beyond.

“The students engaged in meaningful and positive learning experiences each week,” said Miller, program instructor who was an graduate student during the outreach program. “This experience really affirmed how powerful access to education can be in sparking peoples’ imaginations. Science, and a love for geoscience especially, changed how I see the world, and I really enjoyed sharing how exciting science is.”

Students in the course received a certificate of participation, which is placed in their case file to acknowledge their effort in taking pro-active steps to make positive plans for their future. The team plans to offer an additional six-week program at the men’s Waiawa Correctional Facility in fall 2025.

Education to prevent recidivism

A by the U.S. Department of Justice that followed released inmates from 30 different states, found that 68% were arrested for a new crime within three years of release. That number jumped to 79% after six years and to 83% after nine years.

“These results beg the question: what works to reduce recidivism?” said Webb, staff scientist at WashU and co-creator of the outreach program. “Although the answer is clearly complex, many proven approaches involve education.”

.

Liliane Burkhard, a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� research affiliate, was selected as one of two for the European Geosciences Union (EGU) 2025 General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. In this week-long role spanning April and May, Burkhard created a large-scale installation that bridges science and art, specifically, transforming discarded conference posters into a floating cloud sculpture.

“Science is how we explain the world, art is how we make sense of it,” said Burkhard, a planetary geologist in the (HIGP) at the UH ����ԴDz� School of (SOEST). “I am deeply honored to be selected as an Artist in Residence for EGU25, where I can merge my passions for science and art in a meaningful way.”

The Artist in Residence program offers scientist-artists an opportunity to engage with scientific research in a dynamic setting and be inspired by the many new discoveries being presented at one of the largest international geoscience conferences.

“My installation served as a metaphor for how scientific ideas form and evolve, often starting as nebulous concepts that, over time, take shape and lead to something tangible,” Burkhard shared. “The act of reusing the physical posters to craft something new reflects the iterative process of research itself. In this, I hope to encourage viewers to consider how ideas, much like clouds, are always in flux: constantly forming and dissolving, yet impactful in the way they inspire both imagination and progress.”

With the installation, “Clouds of Insights,“ Burkhard created a space for reflection and conversation, while also emphasizing sustainability by repurposing materials from the conference itself.

In addition to her work as a sculptural mixed media artist, Burkhard has conducted planetary science research previously as a graduate student in the SOEST and now as a HIGP research affiliate. Through her investigations, she has explored the geology and histories of icy moons in our solar system, including Saturn’s largest moon, , and Jupiter’s largest moon, .

Sharing the science-art connection

Burkhard and Emily Costello, a researcher at HIGP, co-hosted a short course at the EGU conference, “Unlocking creativity through paper sculptures: Overcoming blocks in writing and idea generation.” They offered more than 60 attendees an opportunity to use the art of paper folding and sculpture to overcome creative blocks, spark fresh ideas and explore the transformative connections between hands-on creativity and scientific innovation.

“There was quite a lot of interest overall, which was very exciting!” said Burkhard. “The participants said they very much enjoyed doing something tactile and hands-on to help them with their work as scientists, connecting themselves to art and seeing things from a different perspective.”

—By Marcie Grabowski

Scientists have been on the hunt to determine where and how much ice is present on the Moon. Water ice would be an important resource at a potential future lunar base, as it could be used to support humans or be broken down to hydrogen and oxygen, key components of rocket fuel. University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� researchers are using two innovative approaches to advance the search for ice on the Moon.

NASA‘s ShadowCam scouts for surface ice

Water ice was previously detected in the permanently shaded regions of the Moon’s north and south poles by Shuai Li, assistant researcher at the (HIGP) in the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST). A led by Jordan Ando, planetary sciences graduate student in Li’s laboratory, examined images from a specialized camera, NASA‘s ShadowCam, that is aboard the Korea Aerospace Research Institute Korea Lunar Pathfinder Orbiter.

Related UH News stories:

• Water on the Moon; team confirms with ground equipment, January 10, 2022
• Direct evidence of ice on Moon surface discovered, August 21, 2018

Craters in the Moon’s polar regions receive no direct sunlight, but sunlight that bounces off of one side of a crater can indirectly illuminate another side. The ShadowCam, designed specifically to look only at the dark, permanently shaded areas on the Moon, is extremely sensitive to the indirect light reflected off the lunar surface.

“Ice is generally brighter, that is, reflects more light, than rocks,” said Ando. “We analyzed high-quality images from this sensitive camera to look really closely into these permanently shaded areas and investigate whether water ice in these regions leads to widespread brightening of the surface.”

The analysis of Shadow Cam images indicates that water ice makes up less than 20% of the lunar surface.

Cosmic rays help search for buried ice

Another group of UH ����ԴDz� researchers with HIGP and recently in Geophysical Research Letters that outlines an innovative approach to detect buried ice deposits at the Moon’s poles.

“We showed that a new technique for detecting buried water ice on the Moon is possible using naturally occurring cosmic rays,” said Emily S. Costello, study lead author and researcher at HIGP. “These ultra-high-energy cosmic rays strike the lunar surface and penetrate to the layers below. The rays emit radar waves that bounce off buried ice and rock layers, which we can use to infer what’s below the surface.”

The team used an advanced computer simulation that tests how radar waves travel through the lunar soil and how they encode information about possible buried ice layers. A team of HIGP and Department of Physics and Astronomy researchers are working to assemble a radar instrument specifically tuned to listen for these signals on the Moon and hope to test the full system by early 2026. They will look for opportunities to send it to the Moon to hopefully detect large deposits of buried water ice on the Moon for the first time.

“More and more, �鶹��ý is becoming a hub for space exploration, and specifically the exploration of the Moon,” said Costello. “These projects, led by UH ����ԴDz� scientists, represent up-and-coming opportunities for students and professionals in �鶹��ý to lead and participate in the budding space industry.”

Read the entire story on the .

—By Marcie Grabowski

Twenty two academic subjects at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� earned high marks in the 2025 , released on March 12.

Leading the way was linguistics, which earned a No. 11 ranking in the U.S. and No. 40 ranking in the world. Library and information management (No. 17 U.S., No. 51–100 world) and Earth and marine sciences (No. 20 U.S., No. 51–100 world) also placed within the top 100 in the world.

Eleven additional subjects placed in the world’s top 1% (within top 250 in the world out of ):

• Geophysics: No. 30 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Geology: No. 31 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Anthropology: No. 35 U.S., No. 101–170 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 34 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• English language and literature: No. 40 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Philosophy: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–225 world
• Geography: No. 34 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• History: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Politics: No. 43 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 45 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 57 U.S., No. 201–250 world

“These rankings reflect the outstanding scholarship and dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno said. “They reaffirm our university’s reputation for excellence and innovation, not just in �鶹��ý, but on a global scale. For the communities we serve and the students considering UH ����ԴDz�, these rankings are a powerful endorsement of the exceptional education and opportunities we provide.”

UH ����ԴDz� was ranked in four broad subject areas and 22 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (survey responses from academics), employer reputation (survey responses from graduate employers worldwide), research citations per paper (citations data sourced from Elsevier Scopus), H-index (measures most cited papers and the number of citations) and international research network (reflects ability to diversify the geography of their international research network).

The 2025 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 18,300 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world.

Other rankings

UH ����ԴDz� also received these notable rankings:

• UH ����ԴDz� earns highest national research designation, February 20, 2025
• 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, January 23, 2025
• U.S. News and World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, September 24, 2024

Emily Costello, a planetary scientist at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�, was as one of eight participating scientists to join its to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are remnants of the early solar system trapped on stable orbits associated with, but not close to, the planet Jupiter.

On the Lucy mission, Costello will contribute to the goal of understanding the nature and history of Trojan asteroids by providing insights into the role of meteoritic impacts in shaping the surfaces of the Trojans.

“Impacts are a pervasive geological process on small bodies, so it is critical that we accurately decipher how these impacts shape the formation and evolution of the asteroids,” said Costello, who is a researcher at the in the UH ����ԴDz� (SOEST).

The impact of impacts

Launched in 2021, the spacecraft is the first space mission to explore the diverse group of small bodies known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Trojan asteroids orbit in two “swarms” that lead and follow Jupiter in its orbit around the Sun.

Impacts from meteors mix the surface of these bodies and muddle geologic layers, called strata. Impacts play a crucial role in erasing and homogenizing certain surface features, such as crater rays, and in the evolution of chemical and physical characteristics. Costello will provide the Lucy team with a key piece of the surface geology puzzle, leveraging her impact modeling expertise and targeted observations of craters and the material they propel outward.

“The history written and rewritten by impacts will influence the interpretation of all observations by the Lucy mission’s scientific instruments that view Trojan surfaces,” Costello said. “So, it’s thrilling to be able to help interpret the first ever close-up look at these likely ancient asteroids.”

More about the Lucy mission

Over its 12-year mission, Lucy will explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, flying by three asteroids in the solar system’s main asteroid belt, and by eight Trojan asteroids that share an orbit around the Sun with Jupiter. Lucy also will fly by Earth three times to get a push from its gravity, making it the first spacecraft to return to the vicinity of Earth from the outer solar system.

and .

Related UH News stories on Costello:

• Linking planetary science, art, Indigenous culture focus of early career award, June 5, 2024
• Building pathways for Indigenous lunar science at UH ����ԴDz�, June 17, 2022
• Mission to find lunar ice gets $3M NASA boost, February 1, 2022
• Surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa may have conditions for life, July 12, 2021

To gain valuable insight into the groundwater flow near Red Hill, Oʻahu, researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� began a dye tracer study in February. Using a method that has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the �鶹��ý Department of Health, the team injected a fluorescent compound to a monitoring well and will study its migration through the aquifer over the spring of 2025.

Following the jet fuel leaks from storage tanks in 2014 and 2021, there has been significant concern from community members and scientists about the safety of drinking water in the area. After the 2021 release of jet fuels, water pumped from Red Hill Shaft no longer supplies public drinking water but rather is entirely discharged to Halawa Stream as part of ongoing recovery efforts at the request of regulators.

Recent geophysical and hydrological studies have begun to provide a better understanding of the regional geology and groundwater flow rates and directions. The dye tracer study will validate those findings and provide data sets to inform current and future modeling efforts. Rhodamine water tracer (WT) was selected for this study because it is non-toxic, straightforward to measure, breaks down in sunlight, doesn’t bind to soils and washes away easily.

“Fluorescent dyes, such fluorescein and rhodamine, have been used for decades by the U.S. Geological Survey to understand river dynamics and were safely used to study the groundwater migration of freshwater discharge off the coast of Lahaina, Maui in 2011,” said Toomas Parratt, researcher in the at the UH ����ԴDz� and lead hydrogeologist on the study.

The team injected dye into RHMW08, a quarter of a mile upgradient from Red Hill Shaft (RHS), which was shut down as a public drinking water supply following the November 2021 fuel leak. However, extraction at RHS is still ongoing with a granular activated carbon treatment system prior to discharge to Halawa Stream. For the tracer study the water extraction rate was temporarily increased to over 4 million gallons per day, consistent with the permitted rate, to maximize the recovery of the injected dye.

The water pumped from RHS will be monitored every 10 minutes to determine the concentrations of the tracer dye in the extracted water. The arrival time of the dye at RHS and the total mass captured by RHS’ pump will allow for the estimation of groundwater velocities and the efficacy of dye recovery. The concentration of dye will also be monitored after treatment by the Navy’s activated charcoal filters to ensure adequate dye removal prior to discharge to Halawa Stream, since it is disconnected from the public drinking supply.

“From the ongoing hydrogeological studies the majority of the dye is expected to be captured by RHS and will not discharge to any surface water bodies, including streams, springs and near-shore seeps since the dye was injected below sea level within the capture zone of RHS,” Parratt emphasized.

Additional information

Preliminary results from the dye tracer study will be shared publicly in summer 2025.

An informational webinar about the tracer study and future webinars . For more information, or contact Parratt at toom@hawaii.edu with questions.

While pursuing an undergraduate degree in at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa, Casey Wandasan had experiences that shaped the trajectory of his academic journey. Ongoing research on the inner workings of two volcanoes in Alaska and an open ocean research cruise solidified his plans to pursue geophysics in graduate school after he graduates in May 2024.

“The cruise and my research experiences have been transformative, exposing me to marine geophysics, emphasizing the unity of science and community, and honing my adaptability in research, significantly amplifying my skills for future endeavors,” said Wandasan.

Wandasan works with Earth sciences assistant professor Helen Janiszewski in the UH Mānoa (SOEST) to help with her efforts to understand magma storage depths and seismic characteristics at two volcanoes in the Aleutian islands of Alaska. Supported by a , they analyze seismic information to determine the structures and layers beneath the subsurface of the volcanoes.

In fall 2023, Wandasan participated in a 10-day, open ocean research cruise aboard the UH research vessel Kilo Moana. He sailed on a (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Student Experiences Aboard Ships) research cruise to map the Molokaʻi Fracture Zone, gather bathymetric, gravity and magnetic data, and attempt remotely-operated vehicle dives at the undersea volcano Kamaʻehuakanaloa.

Check out more stories of our UH spring graduates

“I embraced this unique experience that not many undergraduates get to have,” said Wandasan. “Throughout the cruise, I had a variety of opportunities to delve deeper into geophysical research.”

The path to pursuing geoscience

At Waiʻanae High School, Wandasan participated in the early college program. He then completed an associate’s degree in natural sciences from , where he was also a tutor for math and the �鶹��ý Pre-Engineering Education Collaborative, which aims to build capacity at Native Hawaiian-serving institutions and prepare students for STEM degree completion and careers.

“Casey has a rare, genuine curiosity about the world that pushes him well beyond assigned tasks and minimum requirements,” said Janiszewski. “This is matched by his willingness to challenge himself by pursuing new and unfamiliar experiences. It has been a privilege to watch him develop independence in his research over the past two years, and I am excited to follow his career as it progresses.”

.

–By Marcie Grabowski

The placed in the nation’s top 20 in eight subjects, the best performance by UH’s flagship institution in the .

Released April 10, QS’s 2024 version of the rankings listed UH ����ԴDz� among the nation’s best in the following categories:

• Linguistics: No. 10 U.S., No. 22 world
• Hospitality and leisure management: No. 15 U.S., No. 46 world
• Anthropology: No. 19 U.S., No. 51–100 world
• Modern languages: No. 19 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Geophysics: No. 20 U.S., No. 47 world
• Geology: No. 20 U.S., No. 49 world
• Earth and marine sciences: No. 20 U.S., No. 51–100 world
• Geography: No. 20 U.S., No. 101–150 world

“These rankings are a testament to the excellence of our faculty and the dedication of our entire staff,” UH ����ԴDz� Provost Michael Bruno said. “To the communities that we serve, they affirm that this university represents the very best in scholarship and education. And to our prospective students and their families, the rankings are a strong endorsement of the quality and value of an education from UH ����ԴDz�.”

UH ����ԴDz� also placed in the nation’s top 50 in nine additional subjects:

• English language and literature: No. 30 U.S., No. 101–150 world
• Archaeology: No. 30 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Agriculture and forestry: No. 34 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Physics and astronomy: No. 39 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Sociology: No. 42 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Politics: No. 44 U.S., No. 201–250 world
• Communication and media studies: No. 46 U.S., No. 151–200 world
• Arts and humanities: No. 47 U.S., No. 210 world
• Environmental sciences: No. 49 U.S., No. 251–300 world

UH ����ԴDz� was ranked in four broad subject areas and 24 narrow subject areas. The QS World University Rankings by Subject are calculated using five criteria: academic reputation (survey responses from academics), employer reputation (survey responses from graduate employers worldwide), research citations per paper (citations data sourced from Elsevier Scopus), H-index (measures most cited papers and the number of citations) and international research network (reflects ability to diversify the geography of their international research network).

The 2024 edition of the rankings by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds analyzed the performance of more than 16,400 university programs, taken by students at more than 1,500 universities in 96 locations around the world.

Recent rankings

UH ����ԴDz� also received these notable rankings:

• 2024 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 9, 2024
• QS World University Rankings: Sustainability, December 11, 2023
• 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, October 29, 2023

For more information on rankings, see the .

—By Marc Arakaki

A student’s love of math is enabling her to support (100% clean energy by 2045) through research projects at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (SOEST).

Mattox Telwar is working with the (HGGRC), led by Nicole Lautze, in SOEST to better understand the potential for geothermal energy across the state.

“I chose to pursue a minor in mathematics simply because I love it, and I believe that a strong mathematical background would help me in my research efforts,” said Telwar.

Geothermal energy production

HGGRC explores the geologic structures in Hawaiian volcanoes and how those structures influence groundwater storage and flow. On Lānaʻi, HGGRC is exploring Palawai Basin’s groundwater system, an important factor for geothermal energy production.

“Because of �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s active volcanoes and the presence of subsurface heat, the use of geothermal energy can prove to be a viable option to solve some of the state’s energy woes,” said Lautze.

After the field project, Telwar asked to assist with data processing and translating the group’s data into results. To continue Telwar’s work with the researchers, Lautze offered her a position as an undergraduate research assistant in HGGRC.

“I have had the opportunity to participate in many fieldwork projects, including surveys to map groundwater flow, collecting gravity measurements, working in 3D modeling, and participating in presentations about our work,” said Telwar.

Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Telwar moved to �鶹��ý and joined SOEST after graduating high school. She found a passion for research and Earth sciences during her first semester and is now pursuing a bachelor’s of science degree in Earth Sciences with a concentration in geophysics and tectonics and a minor in mathematics.

Telwar is on track to graduate in spring 2025, and intends to pursue a doctorate degree in geophysics or planetary science in hopes of creating a research career focused on sustainability and discovery efforts.

.

As one of the most geographically isolated regions in the world, �鶹��ý residents contend with the highest electricity prices in the U.S., about double the national average. This is due largely in part to a heavy dependence on imported petroleum and lack of fossil fuel resources.

However, below the Hawaiian Islands lies a geological hotspot in the Earth’s mantle that has been active for the past 70 million years, formed the island archipelago and continues to fuel �鶹��ý’s active volcanoes. Because of this hotspot and the presence of subsurface heat, the use of geothermal energy can prove to be a viable option to solve some of the state’s energy woes.

Geothermal electricity is clean, inexpensive and firm—with the last meaning that is “always on” regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Geothermal also has the lowest land footprint compared to solar power and wind, and, unlike the other intermittent resources, no battery storage is needed. Currently, the state’s lone geothermal plant on �鶹��ý Island produces five times the amount of electricity as one of the state’s largest solar farms, while requiring 80% less land area.

Evidence collected by the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� suggests that all of the major Hawaiian Islands may hold the subsurface heat that is necessary to produce geothermal energy. However, the current state of understanding of geothermal potential outside of Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone (KERZ), the most active rift of the state’s most active volcano on �鶹��ý Island, is very limited. KERZ is where geothermal exploration was focused in the 1970s, and is the only location in the Hawaiian archipelago where geothermal electric power is being produced.

�鶹��ý Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center

As �鶹��ý is the only U.S. state without a geological survey, UH ����ԴDz� has contributed much of what is known about �鶹��ý’s geology. Since producing �鶹��ý’s first geothermal well in the 1970s, UH ����ԴDz� has spearheaded �鶹��ý’s geothermal research, including producing the only two statewide resource assessments by Professors Donald Thomas and Nicole Lautze of the (HIGP) in 1985 and 2017, respectively. HIGP is housed in the UH ����ԴDz� .

Realizing the need to provide a central hub from which to disseminate data and information from their numerous geothermal and groundwater research projects throughout the state, Lautze and Thomas founded the (HGGRC) in 2014. HGGRC, led by Lautze, conducts research on �鶹��ý’s fresh groundwater, geothermal (including shallow geothermal heat pump technology for building cooling) and carbon storage potential.

�鶹��ý Play Fairway Project

The �鶹��ý Play Fairway project was among HGGRC’s most important initiatives. UH ����ԴDz� was one of 11 initial phase I projects selected and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy from across the country to identify blind hydrothermal systems (those without surface expression). The project, led by Lautze, received subsequent phase II and III funding from 2014–20 and provided the first statewide geothermal assessment of the Hawaiian Islands since Thomas’ original report in 1985.

Ultimately, the �鶹��ý Play Fairway Project provided an updated statewide geothermal resource assessment, expanded understanding of �鶹��ý’s groundwater location and quality, and a roadmap for additional work to better characterize both resources. HGGRC’s philosophy is that more data will bring more knowledge, and that when this knowledge is shared with stakeholders and communities, more informed decisions can be made.

“I think nearly everyone in �鶹��ý would value a low cost, low footprint, resilient, Indigenous, energy supply. But there are tradeoffs for some. If geothermal has a chance, community engagement will play a critical role,” said Lautze. “HGGRC will continue to work with stakeholders and local communities to advocate for the necessary funding to move the state one step closer to understanding and realizing its geothermal potential.”

She added, “The global geothermal community wonders why there isn’t more geothermal electricity generation in �鶹��ý. The answer is complex, but I think that if we could get even a small power plant online in a location where the local community is supportive, I think it would be transformative for our state.”

For more on the �鶹��ý Play Fairway Project objectives, . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

Due to its launch expertise, University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (HSFL) secured an $8 million technology demonstration mission funded by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office’s competitive In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies program, one of only 15 awarded since 2012.

The flagship HSFL project led by (HIGP) Director Robert Wright features HSFL’s Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI), a high-performance successor of its Space Ultra-Compact Hyperspectral Interferometer and TIRCIS technologies, in a 6U CubeSat (nanosatellite). The instrument uses a Fabry-Perot interferometer which splits light emitted by the materials that make up Earth’s surface and atmosphere, and from an orbit 400 km above Earth’s surface will allow HyTI to measure the chemical composition of gases, rocks, and soils based on their unique ‘spectral fingerprints.’

Built without any moving parts that can be damaged during launch, HyTI will deliver spatial resolution or image quality similar to the Landsat 9 satellite, currently the only U.S. satellite operating to observe the Earth’s surface. HyTI will offer even higher spectral resolution—which will help to identify and characterize materials and objects—greatly advancing the ability to study Earth system processes and broader applications.

“This technology demonstration mission is designed to be a pathfinder for a potential future science mission to show the capabilities and potential of HyTI,” said Wright. “As a CubeSat, HyTI is designed to work in constellations of 25–30 HyTIs during a larger science mission, which could then monitor volcanic gasses to predict eruptions or map soil moisture to aid crop management.”

HyTI will be delivered to NASA at the end of 2023, and will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket as part of the SpaceX SpX-30 mission in early 2024. Advanced on-board computing will enable scientists to quickly access and analyze extremely high volumes of data.

Developing world-class technologies

From predicting volcanic eruptions in orbit, to analyzing soil composition from space, to detecting extraterrestrial life and improving space mission integration, HIGP has become a major player in advancing space exploration.

Renowned for its expertise in Earth and planetary science, HIGP bridges science and engineering, replicating the successful science-technology synergy that national laboratories like NASA’s Jet-Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have created to pioneer aerospace research, analysis and cutting-edge technologies. Every year, HIGP brings in nearly $7 million for space-science initiatives through lucrative grants from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation—approximately half of which are dedicated to instrumentation development.

“Designing scientific measuring instruments is not necessarily difficult, but producing instruments that can take accurate measurements from a spacecraft, where size, weight, power and environment are an issue, is,” Wright said. “Our faculty, researchers and students have become experts in miniaturizing some of the most innovative measurement tools. This allows us to be at the forefront of space exploration and competitive for greater opportunities where we can have a bigger impact.”

The centerpiece of HIGP’s space science initiatives is HSFL, a multidisciplinary research and education center formed in collaboration with UH ����ԴDz�’s and the .

Established in 2007, HSFL’s reputation and resources skyrocketed after leading the state’s first and only rocket launch in 2015, which allowed it to design and build world-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment including: clean rooms; thermal vacuum chamber; vibration table; and an attitude determination and control testbed simulator. These resources have helped HIGP design, build, test and operate world-class space instrumentation.

Since then, HIGP has developed a string of successful NASA-funded technology development projects in collaboration with its Spectral Technology Group and Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory, including the Airborne Hyperspectral Imager, HyTI, Thermal Infrared Compact Imaging Spectrometer (TIRCIS), and the Miniature Infrared Detector for Atmospheric Sciences.

The compact spectroscopic technologies use interference phenomenon to measure long-wave infrared spectral radiance data (between 8–11 microns) to remotely identify and characterize the chemical composition of solids, gases and liquids. The key technology was developed by HIGP faculty member Paul Lucey, and is used under license by local technology company, Spectrum Photonics.

In addition to measurement tools, HSFL has developed a Comprehensive Open-architecture Solution for Mission Operations System (COSMOS) that provides integrated flight software, ground station and mission operations for small satellites. Funded by NASA’s Space Grant and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, COSMOS proved its success on the NEUTRON-1 CubeSat and is now an integral part of all HSFL missions.

For more, . Noelo is UH’s research magazine from the .

Murli Manghnani, whose work at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (HIGP) provided a fundamental understanding of the properties of small planetary cores, including liquids of Earth’s core, died at the age of 87 in his home country of India on August 6.

Manghnani was an emeritus professor in UH ��ā�ԴDz�’s and joined HIGP in 1963 as a geophysicist. He focused his career on high-pressure mineral physics research. Among his most significant accomplishments, Manghnani discovered unique properties and structures of silicate melts in Earth’s mantle and core-related iron-rich melts.

“With a rare combination of deep interest, dedication, enthusiasm and collaborative spirit, Murli has been able to creatively help in establishing a world-class facility in high-pressure mineral physics research at UH Mānoa along with a cadre of faculty and researchers,” said Robert Wright, director of HIGP.

When Manghnani was 22 years old, he left Bombay, India, by ship to begin his journey to the U.S. for graduate studies in geology at Montana State University, Missoula. After completing his doctoral degree, he recalled being offered three free phone calls on his advisor’s office phone to find a postdoctoral appointment. One of these was to Professor George P. Woollard of the University of Wisconsin.

Shortly thereafter, Woollard moved to �鶹��ý to become the inaugural director of the �鶹��ý Institute of Geophysics, and Manghnani followed in 1963 to establish the High Pressure Mineral Physics Laboratory. The laboratory has long been recognized among the leading facilities for high-pressure geoscience and materials science research for more than four decades, with outstanding national and international acclaim and reputation. In the 1980s, Manghnani served as the program director for the National Science Foundation’s Experimental and Theoretical Geophysics program.

In 2017, Manghnani was , a distinction that honors scientists “for their outstanding contributions to scholarship and discovery in the Earth and space sciences” and expanding “the realm of human knowledge.” Manghnani received this honor for his pioneering experiments on the elastic and structural properties of the molten silicates that form Earth’s mantle and the metal alloys that form the Earth’s core.

—By Marcie Grabowski

Climate change and increased groundwater pumping are likely to decrease the abundance of limu pālahalaha (Ulva sp.), a native and culturally important limu (native seaweed), and increase the habitat suitability of Hypnea musciformis, an invasive seaweed in coastal groundwater dependent ecosystems in Kona. A new study by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� provides a list of actions we can take to protect limu and the groundwater dependent ecosystems that support them.

“Collectively, this work provides the first quantitative evidence of links between climate change, land-use change, groundwater management and limu, a critical public trust resource,” according to the researchers. “While there is little we can do to directly influence climate change at the global scale, we have the power to influence trajectories of groundwater use and of watershed management.”

Importance of limu

Limu have tremendous cultural value as important and nutritious traditional food sources, they play a critical role in coastal ecosystems as they are eaten by fish and turtles, and they represent unparalleled biodiversity with more than 600 native species.

Wai (freshwater) is intricately linked to limu. Because of the connection between freshwater and limu as important cultural and ecological resources, limu and the groundwater dependent ecosystems that support them are considered a public trust use of water. Many limu grow in brackish conditions near groundwater discharge seeping from underground springs, thriving off of the extra nutrients and the reduced salinity that this freshwater brings to these groundwater dependent ecosystems. Less freshwater from climate change, increased groundwater pumping or changes in watershed management could mean less limu pālahalaha.

According to researchers, a major challenge is understanding how public trust uses of water, such as for limu, are affected by interacting drivers of climate change, watershed management and groundwater pumping. Working together, the UH ����ԴDz� interdisciplinary research team combined limu lab experiments with limu field data and land-sea modeling to better understand how urban development (and increased groundwater pumping), climate change (and reduced recharge), and native forest protection (maintenance of groundwater recharge) influence nearshore water quantity and quality (salinity and nutrients), and how this influences the growth of a native limu and an invasive macroalgae along the Kona coast of the Keauhou aquifer.

Research findings

Among the results of the research include:

• Reduced rainfall from climate change reduces submarine groundwater discharge and increases salinity of nearshore waters.
• Future urban development coupled with elevated water demand will likely further decrease submarine groundwater discharge and increase salinity in coastal springs. Increased urban development also increases nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in the groundwater and nearshore water because of wastewater and fertilizer on lawns.
• Protecting native forests prevents the further loss of freshwater and further increases in salinity.

Applying directly to limu, the team found that reductions in groundwater recharge due to climate change are likely to cause an overall decrease in the habitat suitability for native limu pālahalaha, but result in an overall increase in habitat for the invasive macroalgae. Urban development exacerbates this as does the loss of native forest to invasive species.

Possible solutions

The researchers suggested the following actions:

• Develop and expand water conservation and reuse initiatives.
• Ensure that new water use is not in conflict with water needed for public trust uses.
• Invest in watershed conservation through watershed partnerships and other programs.
• Invest in cesspool upgrades and effective wastewater management.

Future research will explore linkages between wastewater management and limu, as well as links between multiple drivers of environmental change and effects on a diversity of limu and invasive macroalgae species.

The study was , and is a collaboration among the (UHERO), , and the , with the input and support of many community and agency partners.

.

More than 25 subject areas earned international honors, including a top 10 national performance by the , according to the .

UH ����ԴDz� placed in the nation’s top 20 and the world’s top 100 in five narrow subject areas:

• Linguistics: No. 10 U.S., No. 19 worldwide
• Anthropology: No. 18 U.S., No. 51–100 worldwide
• Geophysics: No. 19 U.S., No. 44 worldwide
• Geology: No. 19 U.S., No. 44 worldwide
• Earth and marine sciences: No. 20 U.S., No. 51–100 worldwide

In addition, UH’s flagship campus ranked in 17 other narrow subject areas, all in the nation’s top 100.

UH ����ԴDz� also received the following broad subject area rankings: arts and humanities (No. 33 U.S., No. 125 worldwide), (No. 50 U.S., No. 225 worldwide), and (No. 71 U.S., No. 393 worldwide), and and (No. 100 U.S., No. 400 worldwide).

UK-based QS is considered one of the most highly regarded ranking entities in higher education. QS selected 1,594 institutions to evaluate out of for its 2023 World University Rankings by Subject using the following factors: academic and employer reputation, research citations per paper, international research network and the h-index, which measures the productivity and impact of an academic researcher or department.

International recognition

These rankings are the latest in a series of high marks from QS. In QS’s latest World University Rankings released in June 2023, UH ����ԴDz� placed No. 66 nationally and No. 386 out of more than 25,000 colleges and universities worldwide (or the top 2%).

Recent rankings

UH ����ԴDz� also received these notable rankings:

• World’s top 2.5% in the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings, May 15, 2023
• Sixteen graduate programs recognized in the 2023–24 U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings, April 24, 2023

For more information on rankings, see the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Loren Kroenke, emeritus faculty researcher in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (SOEST), died on May 17, at the age of 84.

As a geophysicist at the (HIGP) in SOEST since 1963, Kroenke focused his research activities on understanding Pacific Plate motion, hot spot volcanism, and the formation and history of the Ontong Java Plateau, a massive oceanic plateau that represents the largest volcanic event of the past 200 million years.

Kroenke joined UH Mānoa after HIGP Director George Woollard selected him as a sea-going colleague. Kroenke was appointed into a faculty position of junior geophysicist, and came up for tenure while still a graduate student in geology and geophysics.

“As the story goes, he was denied tenure in 1971 because he didn’t have his doctoral degree,” wrote UH Mānoa oceanographer David Karl in his book, UH and the Sea. “The following year, he completed all graduation requirements and was reinstated in good standing.”

From February 1962 to June 1963, Kroenke participated in eight back-to-back National Science Foundation-sponsored legs of the USNS Eltanin, from Bayonne, New Jersey to Deception Island, Antarctica to Talcahuano, Chile, and many ports in between. After his arrival in �鶹��ý, Kroenke conducted research on board UH research vessels. He served as chief scientist, or co-chief scientist, on many expeditions including Glomar Challenger leg #59, and Joides Resolution leg #130.

Kroenke played a key role in a 17,000 nautical mile expedition aboard the UH research vessel Mahi, dubbed the “monster cruise.” This cruise made history when UH scientists conducted the first ever joint oceanographic study with Soviet scientists aboard their vessel, Vityaz. The researchers conducted a two-ship, collaborative operation north of Marcus Island in the western Pacific Ocean in fall 1970.

Kroenke is the namesake of , which he first identified in his dissertation research, on the flank of the Ontong Java Plateau, where he focused much of his career. His PhD dissertation, “Geology of the Ontong Java Plateau,” was completed in 1972, and remains an essential reference for all students of the feature.

“During his more than four decades of expeditionary marine research, Kroenke logged in excess of four and one-half years at sea, rightfully earning the title of ‘iron man of UH expeditionary marine research,’” wrote Karl in UH and the Sea. “Few, if any, other scientists at UH, with the possible exception of Don Hussong and Fris Campbell, can match his remarkable achievements of dedication and endurance.”

Portions of this content are reprinted with permission from “UH and the Sea” (2004) by David Karl.

–By Marcie Grabowski