{"id":232347,"date":"2026-04-15T10:24:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232347"},"modified":"2026-04-15T10:44:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:44:55","slug":"zonta-stem-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/15\/zonta-stem-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Shark habitat research propels UH<\/abbr> PhD<\/abbr> candidate to global STEM<\/abbr> award"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Danielle Bartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Danielle Bartz, a PhD<\/abbr> candidate in marine biology<\/a> at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa<\/span>, has received a 2026 Zonta International Women in STEM<\/abbr> Award<\/a>. Initially selected by the Zonta Club of Hilo for a $2,000 local award, Bartz advanced to the international competition, where she emerged as one of 16 recipients worldwide. This $10,000 award recognizes outstanding women in STEM<\/abbr>, with honorees representing nine countries in this year\u2019s cohort.<\/p>\n

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Danielle Bartz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bartz\u2019s research leverages cutting-edge environmental DNA<\/abbr> (eDNA<\/abbr>) technologies combined with local ecological knowledge shared by the community to monitor marine biodiversity and assess critical habitats. She developed a novel, low-cost eDNA<\/abbr> water filtration system, which has the potential to revolutionize marine biodiversity monitoring by making it more accessible and cost-effective, particularly in resource-limited settings. This project was supported by the Patents2Products Fellowship through the UH<\/abbr> Office of Innovation and Commercialization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s an honor to be part of a global group of women working to advance STEM<\/abbr>, and I am very thankful for the opportunities I\u2019ve found through the Zonta Club,” Bartz said. “I\u2019ve connected with this phenomenal network of women supporting women. My goal is to make marine research more accessible while working alongside local communities to protect culturally and ecologically important species.”<\/p>\n

Bartz\u2019s dissertation examines the disappearance of a culturally and ecologically significant shark species in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>. Her research, which confirmed a shark nursery habitat in Hilo Bay, contributed to the area\u2019s first formal recognition as a vital shark habitat by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.<\/p>\n