our chair’s welcome

Welcome to the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

The Department of Oceanography is a global leader in oceanographic research and education, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all. Our mission is to integrate education and cutting-edge oceanographic research, building on our unique location in the center of the Pacific Ocean. Our acclaimed researchers are engaged in a wide range of projects to increase understanding of ocean physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and the role of the ocean in global climate and carbon cycles. This research stretches from the tropics to the poles and from above the sea surface to the deep-ocean trenches. 

Our graduate and undergraduate students have a wealth of opportunities to learn in unique settings, with access to research vessels, modern oceanographic instrumentation, state-of-the-art laboratories, and the expertise of our world-renown faculty. We encourage independent thinking and ideas in pursuit of scientific inquiry. Ours is a learning environment that enables questioning and risk-taking coupled with scientific reasoning and process, where independent inquiry is underpinned by a strong and well-established system of mentoring, support, and resources. 

Although our activities span the globe, our home is in the Hawaiian Islands. Our work addresses the natural processes and human activities that impact the islands’ coasts and watersheds, how we live and recreate along the coastline, as well as the climate—both in the present and into the future. This is accomplished through observations and sophisticated computer simulations across multiple scales—from microbes to large-scale forcing of the global ocean and climate. Our educational programs inspire and nurture future oceanographers and environmental scientists who have strong ties to the islands. We engage through public seminars, public workdays, open house events, and by fostering connections with teachers and classrooms at all grade levels.

We maintain a strict policy against sexual harassment, and stand together in unity against racism and bigotry in any form.

Please feel free to contact us (ocnchair@hawaii.edu), or plan a visit to the Department of Oceanography here at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. We look forward to sharing more about the captivating world that comprises over 70% of our planet. 

Best wishes,

Professor Glenn Carter

Department Chair

Department of Oceanography

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa