INFORMATION ABOUT WERI, UNIVERSITY
OF GUAM
The Water and Environmental
Research Institute of the Western Pacific was
established as a research unit of the University
of Guam in May 1975 (originally named Water and
Energy Research Institute of the Western Pacific,
WERI changed its name in 1998). The role of the
Institute is to provide water and energy resources
information by conducting basic and applied research
in an interdisciplinary environment, training
students, and disseminating research results.
Consistent with the regional role of the University,
the Institute devotes part of its program effort
to Western Pacific islands other than Guam. It
is the only research center of its type in this
geographic area and endeavors to respond to the
unique conditions that exist here. The Institute
works closely with an Advisory Council composed
of representatives of water and alternate energy
related agencies from the Western Pacific area.
Water and alternate energy research are inherently
multidisciplinary as they include all the water-and
energy-related areas of engineering as well as
other areas such as biology, chemistry, physics,
economics, law, geology and anthropology. In order
to undertake research of this nature, the Institute
draws from the varied expertise of its research
faculty members, University of Guam faculty, research
affiliates from other universities, and local
professionals. The Institute now emphasizes research
in the area of water resources with a focus on
energy issues only where there is a connection
with water resources.
In November of 1991 the Institute
officially became the first Regional Water Resources
Research Institute in the Western Pacific. This
designation has opened a broad new spectrum of
research and service opportunities for the University
of Guam. The Institute seeks funding for research
projects from sources other than the U.S. Geological
survey in order to form a well balanced support
base from Guam, Micronesia, and the U.S. government.
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