Research at SOEST

SOEST is one of the nation’s premier academic institutions for ocean- and earth- related research, which is administered through Board of Regents-approved research Institutes, Centers, Laboratories, and Programs, and through the academic departments. SOEST faculty and staff conduct research in a broad disciplinary range, often transcending the boundaries between units and between fields of study.

At any one time, several hundred research projects worldwide involve SOEST researchers, either as the primary investigators or in collaboration with scientists at other institutions. All SOEST faculty conduct research and participate in the teaching mission of the school, although members of the research institutes, centers, laboratories, and programs have primarily a research focus and members of the academic departments split their time more evenly between research and teaching activities.

The multidisciplinary nature of the school facilitates interactions between what are typically separate fields of study, thereby encouraging the flow of ideas and information.

Institutes, Centers, Laboratories, and Programs

Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE)

• Facilitating a greater understanding of microorganisms in the sea, ranging from the genetic basis of marine microbial life to their ecological place in the marine environment.
• 1000 Pope Road, MSB 629, Honolulu, HI 96822
• Tel: (808) 956-8964 • Fax: (808) 956-5059

Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP)

• A multi-disciplinary institute engaging in advanced research, teaching, and service in cutting-edge oceanographic, atmospheric, geophysical, geological, and planetary sciences.
• 1680 East-West Rd, POST 602, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-8760 • Fax: (808) 956-3188

Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB)

• A world-renowned research institute situated on Coconut Island in Kane'ohe Bay. Ongoing research at HIMB covers many disciplines of tropical marine science.
• P.O. Box 1346, Kane'ohe, Hawai'i 96744 USA
• Tel: (808) 236-7401 • Fax: (808) 236-7443

Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI)

• An acknowledged international leader in the energy field, and has broadened its expertise to encompass the development of technologies that will enable us to tap our ocean resources.
• 1680 East West Rd, POST 109, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-8890 • Fax: (808) 956-2336
• Email: hnei@hawaii.edu

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Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL)

• Established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Hawai‘i to study deep water marine processes in the Pacific Ocean.
• 1000 Pope Rd, MSB 303, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-6335 • Fax: (808) 956-9772

International Pacific Research Center (IPRC)

• Conceived under U.S.-Japan Common Agenda for Cooperation in Global Perspective and focused on understanding climate variation and predictability in the Asia-Pacific region, including regional aspects of global environmental change. IPRC‘s Asia-Pacific Data-Research Center provides easy access to climate data and products.
• 1680 East-West Rd, POST 401, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-5019 • Fax: (808) 956-9425
• Email: iprc-help@hawaii.edu

Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR)

• Established to pursue the common research interests of NOAA and the UH in oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical research, including climate and global change, equatorial oceanography, tsunamis, and fisheries oceanography.
• 1000 Pope Rd, MSB 312, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-8083 • Fax: (808) 956-4104

UH Sea Grant College Program

• “...engages leaders, policymakers, researchers, business, and the general public to improve the understanding and stewardship of marine and coastal resources in the state, region, and nation through innovative... efforts.”
• 2525 Correa Rd, HIG 238, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
• Tel: (808) 956-7031• Fax: (808) 956-3014
• Email: uhsgcomm@hawaii.edu

Research in the Departments

Geology and Geophysics

• Research is organized into six general fields: Composition and dynamics of Earth’s deep interior; Formation, motion and recycling of Earth’s crust (the rock cycle); Earth’s surface: water, sediments, and life; Earth history; Earth hazards, resources and sustainability; and The Solar System.

Meteorology

• Research focuses on tropical meteorology and, in particular, on the meteorology of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and of Asia.

Ocean and Resources Engineering

• Research projects cover a wide variety of subject areas ranging from the theoretical through the practical.

Oceanography

• Research divisions include Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology and Geochemistry, and Biological Oceanography.

Other Research Units, Laboratories, and Facilities

Information about many other other research units, the various laboratories and facilities in support of research by members of SOEST and other researchers world wide, and the School’s fleet of research vessels and submersibles.

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