PICRC Celebrates Completion of Student Marine Conservation and Administrative Internships

The Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) recently celebrated the completion of its student internship program, which wrapped up on July 30. The program concluded with individual final presentations by the interns highlighting their work and contributions to the Center, followed by an awarding of certificates of completion.

Throughout their internship, the cohort engaged in specialized projects across PICRC’s departments.

For the Research & Fieldwork, the interns worked directly with researchers using specialized software like Event Measure to analyze fish counts and size distribution to help inform MPA management decisions. They also assisted in maintenance of ocean monitoring buoys measuring water temperature and pH in Malakal Bay and led public awareness campaigns targeting Crown-of-Thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (Rrusech).

For the Aquarium & Coral Restoration, the interns supported daily aquatic husbandry, tank filter maintenance, and live animal care. They actively contributed to coral restoration science by conducting feeding experiments testing the effects of microalgae (Isochrysis, Tetraselmis) and Spirulina on juvenile coral growth, as well as evaluating the grazing efficiency of native sea snails and sea urchins in controlling algae on cultured coral juveniles, spawned in April this year.

Within the Administration & Finance, the intern was exposed to tasks directly on institutional operations, including the review of policy manuals and managed essential daily financial processes, including purchase orders, requisition entries, and account reconciliations to ensure financial accuracy and operational efficiency.

This summer’s interns cohort includes:

• Yuji Chibana – Marine Biology Senior, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Bob Olebuu Harris – M.S. in Professional Accounting graduate, Pittsburg State University
• Elchesel Vitarelli Sakuma – 12th Grade, Palau Mission Academy
• Witashnah Dollengmes Whiting – 10th Grade, Palau Mission Academy
• Nicholas Tsao-Aballera – 11th Grade,Palau Mission Academy

PICRC commends these dedicated young leaders for their hard work, successful project presentations, and commitment to supporting Palau’s marine environment. The entire PICRC Team wishes them the very best as they take their next steps toward achieving their educational goals.