University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Sea Grant College Program
To continue the spirit and good work of long-time coastal sustainability extension agent Peter Joseph Rappa, the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program (Hawai‘i Sea Grant) created the Peter J. Rappa Fellowship (Rappa Fellowship) in memory of Mr. Rappa. Rappa Fellow(s) will be selected and involved in training and research to better understand aspects of coastal sustainability and resilience conducted within several of the Hawai‘i Sea Grant Centers of Excellence. Hawaii’s communities are engaging their natural, social, and built environments in efforts to better manage issues that affect their livability, sustainability and resilience. The Rappa Fellows will further their knowledge and understanding of sustainable coastal communities through research, extension, and community-based education in topics of coastal smart growth and community planning and their integration with hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation as well as cultural and traditional knowledge of Hawai‘i.
Potential projects for the 2020 Fellowship
Building equitable partnerships with Rural and Indigenous Communities
● Conduct research and analysis of intellectual property rights (IPR), practices, and agreements in the context of rural and indigenous communities partnering with research and management institutions for natural resources stewardship. For example:
○ Current intellectual property clauses, agreements, and practices used by institutions partnering with rural and Native Hawaiian communities.
○ IPR practices and policies used by indigenous communities globally with potential relevance or applicability in Hawaiʻi
○ Templates and sample language for agreements that safeguard indigenous culture and traditional knowledge
Growing Sustainable Coastal Tourism in Hawaii
● Assist with the development of a Sustainable Coastal Tourism Summit which would aim to bring together thought leaders, industry professionals, and researchers conducting work on this topic
● Research case studies on the development of an office of outdoor recreation. Draft a prospectus of what an office of outdoor recreation would look like in Hawaii
● Develop a story map for Waikiki
● Research models for fee structures that would aid on managing tourism
Preparing Hawaii’s built environment for climate shocks and stresses
● Conduct background research and data collection in support of the City and County of Honolulu’s implementation of Action 12 of the O‘ahu Resilience Strategy, Launch Residential Hurricane Retrofit Program to Strengthen Properties Vulnerable to Hurricanes
● Conduct background research and data collection in support of the City and County of Honolulu’s implementation of Action 31 of the O‘ahu Resilience Strategy, Establish a Storm Water Enterprise Fund to Better Finance Storm Water Management, specifically to prepare methods, contents, and an outline of a “green infrastructure plan.”
● Conduct background research and data collection in support of the City and County of Honolulu’s implementation of Action 33 of the O‘ahu Resilience Strategy, Keep O‘ahu Cool by Maintaining and Enhancing the Community Forest, specifically to prepare methods, contents, and an outline of a “tree master plan.”
The Rappa Fellow will also gain an understanding of the multifaceted operations of Hawai‘i Sea Grant through shadowing extension faculty and participating in activities as scheduling permits.
Requirements (Who is eligible?)
All full-time undergraduates or graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited university or community college are eligible to apply for the Rappa Fellowship
Locations:
Hawai‘i Sea Grant office on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus
City and County of Honolulu, Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency
Supervisor:
Maya Walton, Program Leader, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
Length of Fellowship
● 8-weeks full time (40 hour/week) summer fellowship
● Begins Monday June 15, 2020 and ends Monday, August 10, 2020
Stipend:
● $6,000
Application components
● Cover Letter (2 pages maximum)
The cover letter should describe your goals with an emphasis on what you as the applicant expect to gain from and contribute to the Rappa Fellowship program. The cover letter should also describe your specific interest/preference in the potential projects listed above and how your background and experience supports this project.
● Resume (2 pages maximum)
● Unofficial transcripts
● Two reference letters
Application Submission:
Please submit via eProjects by Friday, March 13, 2020 at 5:00 PM HST
https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/eProjects/logn/logn_login.php
Contact for Questions:
Maya Walton
Program Leader and Research Coordinator
University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program
waltonm@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-6992
Selection of finalists
Finalists will be selected by a review panel and will be contacted for interviews in April. Final decisions will be made by May and all applicants will be notified of a decision by this time
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