about UC•AO
In 2022, the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education, chaired by Mr. Tetsuji Uehiro, established the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography (UC•AO) in the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education is a public foundation that has as its mission the provision of moral education, international communication, research advancement and other related services. The ascent of ethical research and education is at the heart of the Foundation’s work.
purpose
The Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography is a nexus of consequential support, resources and opportunity for faculty and students engaged in vital oceanographic research. The Center offers a venue where discourse and debate are encouraged as a means to advance research and inform policy.
The Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography facilitates the realization of research goals detailed in the Department of Oceanography’s (2022-2027) Strategic Plan. The plan was prepared collaboratively through interviews, surveys and three department-wide workshops, involving 123 department members.
Many of the research questions the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography members address are complementary to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Uehiro Associate Professors, Department Faculty and Uehiro Graduate Student Fellows meet monthly to discuss and advance their research. The new Team is integrated with established colleagues and existing partnerships of the Department of Oceanography.
team
UC•AO symposium
Each year the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography hosts a symposium. The event is an opportunity for Uehiro Faculty and Graduate Students to present their research findings and future goals. The symposium is open to the public.
more
recent news
UC•AO announces finalists for Hokkaido University field courses
Field trip to the Uryu Experimental Forest, a site that will be visited during the field course. The Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography (UC•AO) is pleased to announce the finalists selected to participate in two week-long field courses at Hokkaido University this summer and fall. These field courses are offered through UC•AO’s ongoing educational exchange partnership with Hokkaido University’s Uehiro Laboratory for Oceanography, providing students with immersive, hands-on…
UC•AO Annual Report 2025 available now
We are proud to share the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography (UC•AO) Annual Report 2025, a reflection of the center’s ongoing commitment to advancing oceanographic research, education, and collaboration. This year’s report highlights the achievements of our graduate student fellows, the progress of our research initiatives, and the growth of our international partnerships, including our continued collaboration with Hokkaido University’s Uehiro Laboratory for Oceanography and the Okinawa Institute…
BUOYS: Breakthroughs: Uehiro & Oceanography Yearly Symposium (BUOYS)
Cover artwork by J. Gunnarson. Photo of watercolor on canvas. The 2026 BUOYS symposium, supported by the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography, brought together graduate students for a fully student led event highlighting the research and community within the Department of Oceanography. From developing the symposium theme and organizing scientific sessions to coordinating workshops, designing materials, and selecting food and swag, every aspect of BUOYS is driven by…
Drs. Silbiger and Kealoha on KITV: Coral reefs and climate change
The Department of Oceanography is proud to recognize Dr. Andrea Kealoha and Dr. Nyssa Silbiger for being featured on KITV’s Island News, where they shared their expertise on the urgent state of coral reefs in Hawaiʻi and encouraged restoration efforts targeting climate resilience. In a news segment and accompanying article “Coral reefs have reached a climate tipping point, but Hawaiʻi researchers say hope remains,” Dr. Kealoha and Dr. Silbiger discussed the findings of the Global Tipping Points Report,…
Research by Kate Feloy selected as featured article by AGU’s editorial board
Remote control eddies: upwelled nutrients boost productivity around Hawaiian Islands Posted on October 30,2024 by Marcie Grabowski Beyond colorful coral reefs and diverse nearshore ecosystems, Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands have comparatively little marine life and low biological productivity. New research published by University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa oceanographers showed that eddies on the leeward side of the Hawaiian Islands can supply nutrients, not only locally, but also to…
For questions about the UC•AO please contact UCAO@hawaii.edu