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.