‘We need to be comfortable with questions’

03/17/25 - This is what Northern Marianas College president Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero implored students to do during the 5th Annual Research Symposium held last Friday at Crowne Plaza Resort & Spa Saipan.

During the event, co-hosted by the Science, Math, Health, and Athletics Department and Project PROA, Deleon Guerrero used as an example his daughter’s experience during her first science project involving the kingfisher.

“She just wanted to learn more and the question she finally boiled down to is when do kingfishers eat the most and when we were done, we found out that they mostly eat in the mornings. But when we were done with the science bird project, she had a lot more questions. She was wondering about, well, ‘what are all these other birds doing and when do they eat and what do they eat?’ And then she was asking, ‘okay, are there other places we can look at for kingfishers’ eating habits?’ And then she was wondering, like, ‘what are all the different birds on an island?’ She started with one question and ended up with more questions. At first, she was frustrated, but she eventually realized that that's an exciting opportunity for her to learn more. And when I think of research, that to me is what research is.”

The NMC president said, in a way, that’s what the college’s annual research symposium is all about and then related it to current events.

“Nationally, we're all worried about our federally funded programs and locally, we're all worried about our budget, right? And our economy and our tourism industry. We have a lot of questions, and we are craving answers. We are craving certainty. But if it's one thing I learned about Mary Shelley's science fair project, her first one, and if it's one thing I also learn every year from you remarkable researchers, is that we need to get comfortable with questions and not always crave just the answers. We need to get comfortable with uncertainty because the world is full of it.”

Aside from Deleon Guerrero delivering the welcome remarks, the research symposium also had David Benavente serve as keynote speaker.

The marine biologist, who is currently a Mariana Islands Nature Alliance project manager, doubled down on Deleon Guerrero’s remarks that essentially said curiosity fuels the field of research. 

“Everything we know today began with a question and curiosity. Like Dr. G mentioned, you always question what's going on around you and the more you observe, you tend to question more, which is very important.”

He then said the CNMI now stands at a critical crossroads where traditional knowledge meets modern science in a changing climate.

“Our unique ecosystems, marine environments, and rich cultural heritage offer a wealth of opportunities for research that can and do directly impact our communities. Every study, every data set, and every field observation contribute to the broader understanding of our world and helps us to make informed decisions.” 

Benavente said one very important and pressing area of research in the Marianas region is the conservation and sustainability of natural resources.

“As Pacific Islanders, we depend on our natural resources for our livelihoods, food, cultural practices, and economic and recreational activities such as fishing, agriculture, and tourism. But our environments face unprecedented threats. From climate change and rising sea levels, to pollution, habitat degradation, unregulated development, and much more.”

He said research gives people of the Marianas the opportunity and the ability to monitor these changes, identify sustainable solutions, and advocate for policies that protect resources. 

“The work being done right now in the sea and the mine, whether through water quality monitoring, agricultural studies, or socioeconomic assessments, has real-world implications. It informs management decisions that affect not just the present, but generations to come. It is ultimately who we do this work for, the future generations. To the students and young researchers here today, you are the future of science, conservation, and innovation in the sea and the mine. Your curiosity, your passion, and your willingness to ask tough questions are what will drive meaningful change in our communities.

Project PROA director Kaelani Demapan then thanked SMHA department chair Velma DeLeon for making the 5th Annual Research Symposium possible.

“As we mark the final year of our grant, we are especially proud to celebrate this milestone with all of you. This year's symposium features a diverse array of interdisciplinary research, with a special focus on STEM fields such as agriculture, mental health, and environmental studies and data science. It's an exciting opportunity to explore the innovative work done right here at the college and our community. Unlike traditional conferences where researchers present on stage, we've designed this symposium as an interactive research fair. Instead of booths, we've had engaging poster presentations designed by our students and our community presenters alongside their mentors.”

And speaking of the poster presentations, Guasáli Tomokane, a 20-year-old Liberal Arts student at NMC, topped the competition with his entry “Identifying Solutions to Heal Grief Over Culture Loss in the CNMI's Indigenous Communities.”

In a brief description, Tomokane, whose project mentors were Dr. Beylul Solomon and Eileen Babauta, wrote this about his research: “Cultural connectedness is engrained in the knowledges that lead Indigenous communities such as the Taotao'táno' (Chamorro/Chamoru) and Carolinian populations of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Thus, the consequences of cultural assimilation in the West Pacific have erected shared feelings of grief within these communities. This study sought to identify potential solutions to remediating grief in these respective groups and examined proposals from CNMI Indigenous participants through an anonymous online survey questionnaire.”

Tomokane will now represent NMC in the 2025 University of Guam Conference on Island Sustainability in Tumon from April 7 to 10. He thanked Solomon, Babauta, professor William Fife, Dr. Isa Arriola, K’nilis Tuhuweitae, Velma Deleon Guerrero, SMHA Department, Project PROA advisors, counselors, PROA Navigators, and fellow scholars.

‘“True Indigenous’ is a made-up term used to outcast our Carolinian community and devalue their presence and positive influence in our society. We are all one people with the same heart!” he said.

Second place in the poster presentation was “Chemical Investigation of Moringa Oleifera Leaves as a Tea” presented by Sunshine Dela Cruz and Angel Joyce Reyes, while third place was “Food Security in the CNMI” presented by Jude Litulumar.

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Story by Mark Rabago