Dictyota sp. is a seaweed native to Hawaiian waters that is notable for its ability to produce fucoidan and alginate. What are these compounds, you might ask? Why, they’re high-value ingredients with wide application in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food processing, medical, and dental industries.

Congrats times three to Mason Russo, Jordie Ho, and Benjamin Wiseman – all CTAHR PhD students and all recipients of 2024 Scholar Awards from the ARCS Foundation, Honolulu Chapter. Mason wins the Maybelle F. Roth Award in Conservation Biology and the Jane and Dan Katayama ARCS Scholar of the Year Award. 

Earth Day was celebrated by Pres. Joe Biden – and Ashley Mackenzie of the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. He issued EO 14072, which directs the federal government to carry out the First National Nature Assessment. She will co-write a chapter in this historic attempt to take stock of U.S. lands, waters, wildlife, and the benefits provided to our economy, health, climate, environmental justice, and national security.

ʻAlohi clearly embodies the spirit of the Ka Hana Poʻokela Dean’s Award for Excellence by contributing to the Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, CTAHR, UH, and the greater community. 

For the first time, researchers at the UH Health and Stranding Lab have successfully detected Fraser’s morbillivirus, which can cause respiratory and neurological disease, in the feces of a dolphin. And one co-author is CTAHR grad student Cody Clifton."Understanding disease threats is important to the animal sciences,” says Cody.