10 scientific presentations in APASEEM conference today, tomorrow

Over the next couple of days, 10 relevant and interesting presentations will take place at the American Memorial Park auditorium on Saipan. Researchers from Hawaii and Guam will join on-island scientists and science students for the annual conference of the Asia Pacific Academy of Sciences, Science Education, and Environmental Management, or APASEEM.

Each will share information about their programs and, if applicable, findings from their recent research. The range of subjects varies across the interrelated themes of our islands’ sciences, our islands’ science education developments, and the management of our islands’ environment.

Talks for the yearly conference are often supported by PowerPoint slides and this year, one is being supported with a regionally-developed short film. Local secondary school aviation students are presenting one topic. In one, the currently-being-developed science plan for the new Mariana Islands Marine National Monument will be discussed for the first time.

Five presentations will occur today, Nov. 29, and five will occur tomorrow, Nov. 30. Talks begin at 3:30pm and are scheduled each half hour until about 6pm. Opportunities for brief interactive questions follow each talk. Scheduled topics are as follows:

– Tuesday, Nov. 29: 1) “Japan, the Pacific Golden-Plover Crossroads”. Dr. Roger Goodwill, Dr. Shane Gold, John Furey, and Andre Kozij; 2) “Traditional Fishing on Guam: Chamoru Chenchulu Fishermen”. 28 minute movie. Dr. Judy Amesbury, Leonard Iriarte, Ray Topasna, John Ray Aguon, and Bobby Alvarez; 3)“Biological Characteristics of the Spotcheek Emperor, Lethrinus rubrioperculatus, in the Northern Mariana Islands”. Michael Trianni; 4)“The reproductive cycle of Lissocarcinus orbicularis observed on North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii with observations from Tahiti & Saipan”. Kalie Johnson, Dr. Roger Goodwill, and Dr. Dave Bybee; and 5) “Development of Junction Water Demands for the Saipan Water Distribution System Numerical Model”. Dr. Shahram Khosrowpanah, Dr. Leroy Heitz, and Mariano Iglecias.

– Wednesday, Nov. 30: 1) “PCB Status of Popular Table Fish from Northern and Central Sections of Saipan Lagoon.” Dr. Gary R.W. Denton, Michael S. Trianni, and Michael C. Tenorio; 2) “Reproductive characteristics of the crab family Xanthidae observed on North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii with observations from Saipan”. Bobbie Hanohano and Dr. Roger Goodwill; 3) “Learning about Sciences and Mathematics through the Study of Aviation, a new curriculum at Marianas High School”. John Raulerson and course students; 4) “An Introduction to the Presently Being Developed Mariana Islands Marine National Monument Science Plan”. Michael Trianni and Eric Breuer; and 5) “The CNMI Bio-sampling Program: An experiment in Federal, CNMI Government, and private sector cooperative fisheries research”. Trey Dunn and John Gourley.

The public is invited but seating is limited, so plan to come early and note that the sequence of talks each day is subject to change.

The academy is a locally developed non-advocacy 501c3 nongovernmental organization, supported mostly with membership fees and donations, and dedicated to the sharing of pertinent science and resource management topics here in our islands. The group hosts two types of forums: one is the multi-topic annual conference, usually held at the end of November or early December; the other is a single topic special meeting, arrange-able any time of the year. Visiting researchers are encouraged to contact the academy to help arrange a public talk.

The academy also helps sponsor grant and donation-funded significant projects. An updated “Organizational Synopsis and Invitation to Join Document” is available via email. For more information or to become part of APASEEM’s mailing list, contact the group’s president, Ken Kramer, at 233-0009, or via email ken_kramer0886@yahoo.com. [I](APASEEM)[/I]