Students Participate In Summer Science Research and Student Internships

Several College of Micronesia – FSM students participated in research projects, presented research projects and experienced commercial fishing in the Arctic region during the summer of 2009.

According to Instructor Brian Lynch, students Herbert Timothy and Jesse Panuel accompanied him to Hawaii where they presented their summer research projects at the Islands of Opportunity-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Students Participation program, which supports students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Herbert Timothy presented a project titled "Diversity and Distribution of Sicydiine Gobies in the Streams of Pohnpei, FSM" while Jesse Panuel presented his project titled "Distribution, Abundance, and Habitat Preference of an undescribed species of blind snake on Ant Atoll, FSM." Panuel was mentored under Dr. Donald Buden.

In addition Leinson Neth, Jacobson Kibby, and Paulino Balagot all participated in the Undergraduate Research Mentoring (URM) program. All three students spent ten weeks in Hawaii working with UH researchers and graduate students, and completing individual research projects.

Another student John Dale Charley was also selected and attended a two-month long summer program called the “Alaska Experience”. The program takes students to Alaska during summers to experience life in Alaska including commercial fishing. This program was created by sponsored by professors Ray Verg-in and Yenti Verg-in.

According to Instructor Brian Lynch, summer internships, research projects, and experiences including the presentations by Herbert and Jesse's projects in Hawaii provided hands on experience in research and presentation to the students to enhance their science skills.

A symposium on the summer activities is being planned for presentation at the college.