Jon Ehrenberg

In my early childhood I was fascinated with the marine life that thrived along the coast of the island where I was born, Hawaiʻi Island. After high school, I enrolled in the Marine Science Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UHH). I studied anything and everything related to the ocean and spent my free time exploring tide pools, snorkeling, or diving. I had a plethora of questions, some of which I was able to answer, and others that still remain unanswered. I was inspired to pursue graduate studies to investigate those unanswered questions.

Growing up in Hawaiʻi, a strong sense of community and environmental stewardship was instilled in me. Mālama ʻāina is a Hawaiian term that means to take care of the land and the natural resources it provides. Mālama ʻāina extends throughout all our watersheds and the waters surrounding the archipelago. Mālama ʻāina was practiced by ancient Hawaiians and was done through the careful management and sustainable use natural resources. This practice is having resurgence with modern stewards of the land looking to researchers to inform their management decisions. I have learned that even if the research is sound, if the researchers do not appropriately communicate, change stagnates. Engaging the public can help us discover unseen aspects of our own research through fresh eyes. Positive change is possible and can happen very quickly but only if the public collaborate with scientists to spur change.

I have conducted field and lab research, interpreted datasets, created reading materials for the public, and presented at symposiums and community events. I have been given the opportunity to communicate how Hawaiʻi’s organisms and ecosystems are responding to changes in climate and human activity. I am still learning new scientific methods, ecoinformatics statistical analyses, and efficient ways to communicate with the public.

May 2024