ARCS AWARD—University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Oceanography PhD candidate Christina Comfort is a recent recipient of the prestigious Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar Award for her research on coastal water quality. ARCS Foundation Honolulu Chapter is an all-volunteer, non-profit women’s organization that provides financial support to outstanding University of Hawai‘i graduate students pursuing studies and conducting research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health.

Ms. Comfort’s work employs a multifaceted approach to investigate coastal water quality and pinpoint pollution sources affecting streams and the coastal ocean. Through the measurement of various land-based input indicators, including nitrogen and fecal indicator bacteria, her research establishes a clearer understanding of both the location and nature of pollution entering coastal ecosystems from terrestrial sources.

She also employs advanced instrumentation to measure physical water properties—currents, temperature, water clarity, and algal proliferation—providing essential context for how land-based pollutants transit and disperse throughout these systems.

This comprehensive methodology aims to identify watershed-scale challenges and inform evidence-based remediation strategies, ultimately contributing to more effective coastal ecosystem management and protection efforts.

Join us in congratulating Ms. Comfort on this well-deserved recognition.