Elsa van Hall M.S.

College of Natural and Computational Sciences - Department of Natural Science

LECTURER OF BIOLOGY

EDUCATION:

M.S., Marine Science, Hawai`i Pacific University

B.A., Biology emphasis Marine, Occidental College

COURSES TAUGHT:

AQUA 1200 Global Aquaculture

MARS 1020 Introduction to Oceanographic Field Techniques

MARS 3001 General Oceanography I Laboratory

MARS 3003 Biology Laboratory

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Climate Change Impacts on Fish

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Backcountry Camping, Hiking, Painting, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Traveling.

TEACHING INTERESTS:

My goal as a teacher is to cultivate a thought-provoking and respectful student centered environment in which every student's ideas are valuable as all students bring a unique perspective to my classroom. My courses provide students ample opportunities to work in various field habitats (e.g., on the Research Vessel Kaholo, sandy intertidal, snorkeling coral reefs in Kāne`ohe Bay, etc.) as I believe hands-on learning is integral to have a multi-dimensional comprehension of lecture material, especially when students are engaged and excited to learn. I aim to teach courses in which my students are able to develop and refine applicable real-world critical thinking skills that they can utilize in the classroom and at their current internships and future jobs. I apply a hands-on learning approach as often as possible so that my students leave my course with confidence in their scientific knowledge and field work abilities. I aim to inspire curiosity and enhance my students’ personal interests and passions as they explore the marine science field.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am interested in researching how climate change (e.g., sea surface temperature, ocean acidification, etc.) affects endemic fish species in Hawai`i. Specifically, my research focused on how rising sea surface temperatures affects aerobic scope and temperature preference of Zebrasoma flavescens (yellow tang) acclimated to a current sea surface temperature and a future predicted elevated sea surface temperature.