College of Natural and Computational Sciences
EXPLORING THE WONDERS, UNCOVERING ANSWERS
One of our most extraordinary assets in the College of Natural and Computational Sciences is our faculty. We have 45 full-time faculty split among three departments: the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the Department of Mathematics, and the Department of Natural Sciences. In collaboration with a strong roster of adjunct faculty – many of whom are working experts in their fields – our full-time faculty deliver nine bachelor degree programs, including Biochemistry, Biology (General and Human and Health Sciences), Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Marine Biology, Mathematics (Pure, Applied, and Education), and Oceanography. Some of our majors have two or more concentrations which will provide you with further depth and choice as well as greater opportunity to match your academic program with your specific interests and career goals. At the same time, many of our Bachelor programs have accompanying Minor degrees that provide students breadth beyond their main field of study.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
HPU is uniquely positioned to capitalize. The lush tropical environment paired with our beautiful coral reefs and coastal habitats provide a rich arena for education and research. Our marine laboratory at the Oceanic Institute is an active research and teaching facility along the awe-inspiring windward coast. Additionally, we have many field laboratory experiences that utilize a wider breadth of the naturally-available locations around the island of Oahu, and even off our shores aboard educational research vessel Kaholo .
Our college also maintains articulation agreements with a number of other universities in the areas of engineering and the health professions. The 3-2 Engineering Program is an extraordinary dual-degree program in Applied Mathematics and Engineering in partnership with two top engineering programs. Successful students are awarded an Applied Mathematics degree from HPU and an Engineering degree from their choice of either University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles or Washington University in St. Louis. Our Pre-Health Professions Program supports our students in their progression toward medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy, or chiropractic schools. Although aligned with the Biology Program’s concentration in Human and Health Sciences, students from any major can fully participate in the program and receive the same mentoring, advising, and other services to ensure they stay on track to meet their goals.
We take great pride in the generous variety of educational opportunities offered in the College of Natural and Computational Sciences. We recognize that the better prepared, trained, and developed our students are, the more they will standout and excel wherever their next destination may be – whether immediately joining the workforce or further matriculating into graduate or professional school. And quite simply, your success as an HPU graduate is our success.
I welcome you to contact us with any further questions or requests for materials.
Brenda Jensen, Ph.D., Dean
College of Natural and Computational Sciences
Coupled trophic and contaminant analysis in seabirds through space and time |
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Working with colleagues from the Bishop Museum and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Dr. David Hyrenbach has co-authored a study tracking changes in heavy metal concentrations and trophic positions in Hawaiian seabirds across time and space using archived samples (like the shearwater specimens from the Bishop Museum shown in the attached photograph) spanning 125 years (1890 – 2015). Using this approach, this study found that while highly-toxic metals (mercury, arsenic, lead) have decline after 1980, several other metals (copper, manganese, cadmium, iron, molybdenum) have increased after 1990. These results underscore the value of coupled analyses of trophic position and contaminants in upper-trophic marine predators, for resolving trophic transfer of pollutants and the underlying signal of contaminants in ecosystems. |
Plankton Haven’t Been the Same Since the Industrial Revolution |
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In this article entitled “Plankton Haven’t Been the Same since the Industrial Revolution,” Associate Professor and Program Chair of Marine Science David Field, Ph.D., said, “We can expect much more impact of ocean warming on ecosystems in the future." |
Natural Environment: Saving an essential part of hawaii |
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Professor Jennifer Lynch, program coordinator for the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s marine environment; and Professor David Hyrenbach, an associate professor of oceanography at Hawaii Pacific University, discuss the cause and effect through their research of the Pacific Ocean’s plastic and other toxic marine debris from beaches around the Hawaiian Islands.
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NEW BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING
HPU is proud to announce the introduction of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering starting Fall 2018. Students will have the option of multiple tracks including Electrical Engineering; with options for a Concentration in Engineering Sustainability and to graduate with Honors, in Biomedical Engineering, and in Biotechnology Engineering, with specializations in Bioprocess and Bioenvironmental Engineering. All HPU Engineering students will get hands-on experience in applying engineering concepts through several laboratories and project courses across all three programs in addition to a research thesis option for Electrical Engineering. In addition, there are opportunities to participate in robotics projects within the Robotics for Good Club, which has teams exploring Air, Land, Water, and Outreach. In their senior year, students will also have the option to study abroad during their fall semester.
Programs of Study
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS