Research — HIMB

Research and Lesson Development

Our Work

Our scholarly activities include developing authentic investigative, place-based marine science lessons and curricula, as well as education research exploring the development of scientific identity through participation in place-based science education, particularly among students from historically excluded groups.

Our research also extends into our wet lab space, where we provide opportunities to investigate locally relevant biological and ecological questions and contribute to the broader scientific community.

Education Research
Ambrosino, C.M., Gorospe, K.D., Limeri, L.B., Correa-Garcia, S., Rivera, M.A.J. (2024). Exploring science identity and latent factors of student gains in a place-based marine science cure designed to provide access to Hawaiʻi students from historically marginalized ethnicities. CBE: Life Sciences Education. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.24-02-0038.
Ambrosino, C. M. & Rivera, M. A. J. (2023). Relevance of science, conceptualization of scientists, and contextualized failure as mediators in the development of student science identity. CBE: Life Sciences Education, 22(4). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.22-04-0074.
Ambrosino, C. M. & Rivera, M. A. J. (2022). A longitudinal analysis of shifting science identity for participants of Research Experiences in Marine Science. International Journal of STEM Education, 9(70). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-022-00386-4.
Rivera, M. A. J., Ambrosino, C. M., Manning, M. M., Leon Soon, S., Rii, Y. M., & Gorospe, K. D. (2022). Research Experiences in Marine Science: An early-admit immersive college course provides experiential, place-based scientific investigation training for high school students. Oceanography, 35(2):60–71. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2022.204.
Rivera M. A.J., M. M. Manning, & D. A. Krupp (2013). A unique marine and environmental science program for high school teachers in Hawai‘i: Professional development, teacher confidence and lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 217-239. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1008602.
Wiener C. S., Rivera, M. A. J., Toonen, R. J., Leong, J. C., Kosaki, R. K., Karl, S. A., Keller, K., & Johnson, H. (2011). Creating effective partnerships in ecosystem based management: A culture of science and management. Journal of Marine Biology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/241610.
Rivera, M. A. J., Lawton, B. E., & Chryssostomidis, C. (2011). Reef Missions: Engaging students in science and the marine environment using an autonomous underwater vehicle; a pilot telepresence education program with preliminary program evaluation results. Proceedings of the OCEANS 2011 Marine Technology Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Conference. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6106933.
Wiener C. S. & Rivera, M. A. J. (2010). Journeying through the Hawaiian Archipelago: Using marine science and place-based learning at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 26(3)7, 30-34. https://current-journal.com/issue/14.
Curricula and Modules
Ambrosino, C. M., & Rivera, M. A. J. Effects of marine microplastics on coral feeding behavior [In prep]. CourseSource.
Rii, Y. M., Bongolan-Aquino, C., Maosi, R., Ambrosino, C. M., Timmers, M., Thomas, W. H., & Rivera, M. A. J. ARMful of cryptofauna: Place-based biodiversity monitoring using autonomous reef monitoring structures [In prep]. CourseSource.
Thomas, W. H., Meltel, A., Ambrosino, C. M., Rii, Y. M., & Rivera, M. A. J. Assessing growth and survival of common scleractinian corals under ambient and stress conditions [In prep]. CourseSource.
Ambrosino, C. M. & Rivera, M. A. J. (2020). Using ethological techniques and place-based pedagogy to develop science literacy in Hawaiʻ i ’ s high school students. Journal of Biological Education, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2020.1739118.
Fox, B. K., Gorospe, K. D., Haverkort-Yeh, R. D., & Rivera, M. A. J. (2013). It’s a snap: An inquiry-based snapping shrimp bioacoustics activity. The American Biology Teacher, 75(7), 470-475. http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1525/abt.2013.75.7.5.
Gorospe, K. D., Fox, B. K., Haverkort-Yeh, R. D., Tamaru, C. S., & Rivera, M. A. J. (2013). Engaging students in the Pacific and beyond using an inquiry-based lesson in ocean acidification. Journal of Geoscience Education, 61, 396-404. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1164076.pdf.
Haverkort-Yeh, R. D., Tamaru, C. S., Gorospe, K. D., & Rivera, M. A. J. (2013). Examining the effects of altered water quality on sea urchin fertilization success and embryo development. Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas, 50(4), 111-118. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00368121.2013.846898.
Tamaru, C. S., Haverkort-Yeh R. D., Gorospe, K. D., & Rivera, M. A. J. (2013). Exploring larval development and applications in marine fish aquaculture using pink snapper embryos. Journal of Biological Education, 48(4), 231-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2013.837403.
Chan, V, S Correa-Garcia, L Van Heukelem & M A J Rivera. Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology: From Immersive Learning to Lasting Impact: A Place-Based, Community-Grounded Pathway. HIMB Splash, Kāneʻohe, Hawaii, February 2026. [Poster].
Ambrosino, C M, M Manning & M A J Rivera. Evolution of a place-based CURE: Lessons learned and future directions. Society for the Advancement of Biological Education Research Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2022. [Poster].
Vicente, J, B Wong, C Bongoan-Aquino & M A J Rivera. Surprising interactions revealed between non-native sponges and corals of Kāne‘ohe Bay during an intensive undergraduate summer research program. International Marine Biotechnology Conference, Shimizu, Shizuoka, Japan, September 2019. [Poster].
Rivera, M A J, C M Ambrosino, S M Rii, M M Manning & S Leon Soon. Exploring the potential intersections of Biological Education Research in place-based, culturally framed marine biology programs aimed at improving recruitment and retention in related undergraduate pathways. Society for the Advancement of Biological Education Research – West, UC Irvine, January 2018. [Poster].
Rii, Y, C Ambrosino, M Henley, M Heckman, M Hagedorn, M A J Rivera. Minding the Gap: A Guided STEM Pipeline from High School to College to Address Attrition Factors. Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, February - March 2017. [Poster].
Are you accepting graduate students?
We receive numerous inquiries each year from students interested in the intersection between marine science and education. If you are considering applying for the Marine Biology Graduate Program, generally speaking you will need to identify a faculty sponsor whose primary research activities lie in the natural sciences. In such situations, assuming mutual interest, graduate students might be co-Advised by Dr. Rivera for scholarly work associated with education research or curriculum development derived from the natural science research project being undertaken for the thesis or dissertation. If you are considering applying for graduates studies in the College of Education with an interest in marine science education research, please contact Dr. Rivera with a CV.