A Student’s Passion for Research Ignited by Volcanic Experience in Hawaiʻi and Alaska

Casey Wandasan, a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa pursuing an undergraduate degree in Earth sciences, is set to graduate in May 2024 with plans to continue his academic journey in geophysics. Wandasan attributes his decision to pursue geophysics to his experiences conducting research on two volcanoes in Alaska and participating in an open ocean research cruise.

His work with Earth sciences assistant professor Helen Janiszewski at the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) involves analyzing seismic information to understand magma storage depths and seismic characteristics at the Aleutian islands of Alaska. This research is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

In the fall of 2023, Wandasan participated in a 10-day open ocean research cruise aboard the UH research vessel Kilo Moana as part of the STEMSEAS program. During the cruise, he focused on mapping the Molokaʻi Fracture Zone and gathering bathymetric, gravity, and magnetic data.

Wandasan’s journey to pursuing geophysics began at Waiʻanae High School, where he participated in the early college program. He then completed an associate’s degree in natural sciences at Leeward Community College, where he also served as a tutor for math and the Hawaiʻi Pre-Engineering Education Collaborative.

Professor Janiszewski commends Wandasan for his genuine curiosity about the world and willingness to challenge himself with new experiences. She is excited to see his career progress and development in the field of geophysics.

For more information on Casey Wandasan and his research, visit the SOEST website.