Through an innovative new ocean engineering course at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, graduate students created a low–cost water sampler that is aiding researchers in their efforts to monitor the impacts of the destructive 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, Maui.
The course, launched in spring 2025 with funding from the UH Mānoa Strategic Investment Initiative and UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) Dean’s Office, was driven by a dual purpose: to address community concerns that require technical or engineering solutions and to satisfy student’s significant drive to get hands–on experience solving real–world problems.
Lead instructor Camille Pagniello and the five students in the inaugural cohort teamed up with Andrea Kealoha, Nick Hawco, Eileen Nalley and Craig Nelson, all faculty members in the SOEST Department of Oceanography or Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, who have an ongoing project monitoring water chemistry, reef health and fish populations in waters off Lahaina. The sponsoring scientists challenged the students with a mission: design a low–cost water sampler for coastal monitoring that can be deployed in the ocean and autonomously collect seawater.
Working together, and mentored by Pagniello, the students successfully designed and built a water sampler that satisfied all the requirements and cost approximately $800 for the base model. Their cost–effective solution allows scientists to measure key carbon chemistry parameters such as pH, and offers the flexibility to substitute various components to expand its use for measuring trace metals and organic material.
“This effort was a win–win,” said Pagniello, who is also an assistant professor in SOEST’s Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering. “Students got real, end–to–end design–and–build experience in marine instrumentation while also delivering a new tool to the scientific community that helps democratize ocean science.”
Expanding students’ passion, potential
This course is training a new generation of engineers who are community–minded and capable of addressing complex scientific problems with practical and affordable solutions.
“This class was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at UH,” said Maliheh Gholizadehsarvandi, ocean and resources engineering graduate student. “It showed me that I could take on a real–world challenge from start to finish, even though I felt overwhelmed at first. With Camille’s support, I gained confidence in handling complex problems and learned to enjoy the process. Seeing our project become something real that could benefit the community was very rewarding, and the teamwork and final presentation were definite highlights.”
Pagniello will be teaching the course again in spring 2026 and is interested to hear from the industry partners, non-profit organizations, and community members about problems that could benefit from a technical solution. To share your interest in partnering with the spring 2026 students, fill out this Interest Form for Sponsorship of a Class Project.
For more information, see SOEST’s website.
—By Marcie Grabowski
