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.