Island Sustainability Program

Data Science, Communication, and Professionalism (ESPM 109E, 3 Units) will teach students effective oral and written reporting to different communities, and how to structure and organize research programs through a combination of opportunistic guest lectures by experts in the area and excursions. This will engage students in discussions around the role of science in society, its interactions with local and traditional knowledge and the impacts of data and technology, with consideration of ethical, legal and social issues. Students will also learn about Data Science for environmental sustainability through the case study of the Island Digital Ecosystem Avatar (IDEA) Consortium. Students will carry out a project to create a proposal related to sustainable management. Projects must demonstrate incorporation of what has been learned throughout the program as well as data science and scenario-based planning techniques.

Read the article 'FAIR Island Experiments with Connecting Project Resources in DataCite' 

Environmental Planning, Policy, and Management (ESPM 109D, 3 Units) explores traditional and modern land and sea use strategies and approaches to sustainability, as well as new technologies that aim to secure food, energy and water supplies. Students will interact with locals, community groups, policy makers and researchers to understand the larger questions about sustainable development, using these small islands as a microcosm of challenges being faced globally and the opportunities for sustainability.

Issues in Biodiversity (ESPM 109C, 3 Units) explores the terrestrial and marine diversity around Tetiaroa and Moorea through field projects, and examines issues including habitat loss, invasive species and diseases (coral and plant diseases and mosquito-borne public health threats such as zika and dengue), genetic diversity, and eco-informatics.

Polynesian Culture and Society (ESPM 109B, 3 Units) This course provides an overview of Oceania, and immerses students in how the first peoples of these islands understand and interact with their island homes - from a traditional to modern perspective via a deep dive into the writings, art, music of the region. Traditional marine resource use and geopolitics of the region are discussed to understand the history that shapes modern Polynesia.

Island and Coral Reef Resilience and Ecosystem Services (ESPM 109A, 3 Units) provides an overview of the processes affecting island and reef formation and function, and the natural and human benefits derived from the resources created by these systems. Students will participate in restoration efforts on Tetiaroa, and learn about the ecosystem services important for local communities, traditional values, and sustainable tourism.