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Concepcion Balajadia Duenas

Concepcion “Connie” or “Chong” Balajadia Duenas (1934-2018) was a Mayor of Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon and was the first police woman on Guam.

Ignacio “Buck” Cruz

Ignacio “Buck” Cruz (1927-2017) was a public servant, World War II survivor and a long time Malesso’/erizo Mayor. Cruz served as commissioner and mayor of Malesso’ for 21 years before stepping down in 2000.

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UOG Science Writing Project

In 2017 Guampedia began partnering with the University of Guam to produce science based entries about Guam by graduate students taking  a course in Scientific Writing in a Masters of Biology and Masters of Environmental Science programs. These Guampedia entries were assigned to provide students with practice in communicating science to non-scientists. The students chose […]

United Nations Role in Guam’s Decolonization

UN Charter for self-determination of all peoples. After World War II in 1945 leaders from 51 countries met in San Francisco, Calif. to form the United Nations, committing to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and promote social progress, better living standards and human rights.

Mangroves: The Forest Between Land and Sea

What is a Mangrove? Mangroves belong to a group of special species of plant life that grow in salty, wet soils and are adapted to survive during immersions at high tides. The term “mangrove” refers to all species of plants and shrubs that are adapted to living in salty, wet soil in the intertidal zone.

Badlands in Southern Guam

What is a badland? Badlands are areas of land that cannot support plant growth due to severe erosion. They are barren patches of land that are commonly reddish-brown in color, but can sometimes be tan (Figure 1).

Hima: Conserving a Cultural Heritage

Basic biology. The giant clam is a member of the Phylum Mollusca and the Class Bivalvia. These clams have two shells (called “valves”) that are hinged on what is called an umbo. Their flesh or mantle is the mechanism that secretes the clam’s shell.

The Octopus: A Genius Among the Spineless

Octopuses are one of the many unique creatures that inhabit Guam’s waters. Octopuses are solitary animals ranging in size from one gram to an impressive 70 kilograms. They are commonly found in coral reefs where shelter and food are abundant. They have a diverse diet but mostly feed on crabs, clams, and worms. There is a large population all around the island and they are an important food source for many people living on Guam. In 2001 alone, over 3000 pounds of octopus were caught. Scientists do not know how many species of octopus call Guam home. Only 19 have been described but there may be many more.

Staghorn Corals on Guam

Corals and their relatives. When people think of corals, usually the first thing they picture is not an actual coral, but a coral reef: large calcium carbonate (limestone) structures, filled with colorful plants and animals. Corals themselves are only one part of coral reefs (albeit a very important one) and while they secrete the material that makes up the reefs (calcium carbonate), they are, in fact, animals. Corals are relatives of jellyfish and anemones. While at first glance they may look nothing like their relatives, if you take a closer look you start to see some similarities.