Connecting land, water, people—a throughline for UH Mānoa graduate
Keanu Rochette-Yu Tsuen
Upon graduating last week, Keanu Rochette-Yu Tsuen could confidently say that he had seized every opportunity to have authentic, hands-on research experiences during his time as an undergraduate student at the University of Hawai‘i (UH).
Rochette-Yu Tsuen grew up on the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia and moved to Hawai‘i for college, first at Kapi‘olani Community College (KCC) and then at UH Mānoa where he completed his bachelor’s degree in the Global Environmental Science program in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.
At KCC, he took classes to build the foundation of his undergraduate career and had opportunities to participate in multiple research projects in botany, ethnobotany, ecology, and microbiology with mentors Wendy Kuntz, John Berestecky, and Mike Ross.
“Keanu is a real standout among our STEM students, who took full advantage of every opportunity to participate in undergraduate research both in and out of the classroom, including leading our Ecology Club students on interisland service projects,” said Kuntz, a professor of biology and ecology at KCC. “We are so proud of his achievements.”
“These opportunities got me more interested in research and helped me decide to major in GES,” said Rochette-Yu Tsuen. “In the GES program, we have some flexibility in choosing electives that align with our academic and professional interests and thanks to our core classes, students have a comprehensive understanding of Earth’s systems.”
During his time as a GES undergraduate, Rochette-Yu Tsuen was selected as a NOAA Hollings Scholar, through which he interned at the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron, Ohio. There, he studied tree swallow, lungless salamanders, and the common muskrat, species whose presence provides indicators of various environmental conditions. This study investigated links between wildlife conservation and water quality goals in Lake Erie coastal wetlands.
Microbiology at a Hawaiian fishpond
GES students are required to complete a senior research thesis to build valuable experience and transferable skills. Support for Rochette-Yu Tsuen’s research project was provided by the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program through the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine, which aims to provide training in biological research for a diverse group of UH Mānoa students who are underrepresented in the sciences.
Working with Rosie Alegado, associate professor in SOEST, Rochette-Yu Tsuen tested for the presence of bacteria in the Leptospiraceae family in samples collected at the He‘eia fishpond on windward O‘ahu. This family of bacteria contains pathogenic members which can cause leptospirosis, an emergent disease, in humans.
The goal of the project was to find environmental factors that correlate with the presence of Leptospiraceae in the He‘eia fishpond. The researchers could then provide information about environmental cues that may increase the risk of exposure to the community at Paepae o He‘eia.
“During my time in the Alegado Lab, I strengthened my ability to do research and I developed a better appreciation for microbiology and its application in environmental science,” said Rochette-Yu Tsuen. “I also enjoyed working in my lab because research projects are developed with the input of community members. It’s a different way to approach science and it makes the projects more significant.”
Coral reef research in French Polynesia
Although Rochette-Yu Tsuen graduated recently, he won’t be idle for long. In the new year, he will begin a master’s degree program in the SOEST Department of Oceanography. With professor Craig Nelson, he will be studying coral reefs of Mo‘orea, French Polynesia, specifically, how human activity, such as agriculture, wastewater management and other activities, on land affects coral reefs, their microbiomes, and the nutrients in marine ecosystems.
This is a particularly fitting project for Rochette-Yu Tsuen’s interests and commitment to the people and ecosystems of his home country.
“Learning about the current ecological changes that threaten our coral reefs, related to climate change, local pollution, predation, and natural disasters, has reinforced my determination to work in preserving those coastal ecosystems and marine resources to better protect the communities that rely on them,” said Rochette-Yu Tsuen.
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