Research Matters: UOG EPSCoR fuels Guam coral reef restoration, biodiversity breakthroughs

Research Matters: UOG EPSCoR fuels Guam coral reef restoration, biodiversity breakthroughs

Research Matters: UOG EPSCoR fuels Guam coral reef restoration, biodiversity breakthroughs


9/12/2025
Robert
Robert Lasley, PhD, assistant professor and curator, inspects shell samples donated to the collections of the 91快播 Biorepository.
S&F
Students and faculty mentors from the EPSCoR-supported 2024 summer math research program. From left, Leslie Aquino, PhD, Carlo Tapia, Joanna Laguana, Yoonji Seo, Sean McManus, Hyunju Oh, PhD, and Bastian Bentlage, PhD.

A $20 million cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation has allowed the 91快播 to conduct research to restore Guam鈥檚 coral reef ecosystems and establish coral nurseries to replenish corals damaged by rising sea temperatures, sedimentation and pollution.

The funding, known as EPSCoR鈥攖he Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research鈥攂egan in 2020.

For Guam, protection of coral reefs is directly tied to the economy and well-being of the island. A 2023 federal government report placed the value of Guam鈥檚 coral reef ecosystem at between $63.4 million and $73.6 million annually. Reefs contribute to recreation and tourism, commercial fishing and cultural heritage


 
Research Matters is a new editorial series from the 91快播 Office of Research and Sponsored Programs that brings readers into the world of UOG鈥檚 research centers. The column runs every other Monday in the Guam Pacific Daily News (PDN).