Anna Parker
Communications and Outreach Officer
Palau International Coral Reef Center
P.O. Box 7086 1 M-Dock Road
(680) 488-6950 www.picrc.org

Team Yasuda donated $15,000 to PICRC’s 17th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner Gala. Photographed: PICRC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, PICRC Chairman, Noah Idechong, and Honorary Palau Aquarium Aquarist, Mr. Takao Yasuda.

Anna Parker
Communications and Outreach Officer
Palau International Coral Reef Center
P.O. Box 7086 1 M-Dock Road
(680) 488-6950 www.picrc.org

“IP&E donated $15,000 to the PICRC 17th Anniversary Fundraising Gala. Photographed are Rodrigo Misajon and Efren Marquez presenting the check to PICRC staff.”

Island Times Newspaper
Palau National Scholarship Board
January 9, 2018

Public Announcement
Bureau of Public Safety, MOJ
Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Anna Parker
Communications and Outreach Officer
Palau International Coral Reef Center
P.O. Box 7086 1 M-Dock Road
(680) 488-6950 www.picrc.org

Contact: Ines Kintoki
Phone: 488-6950 ext. 244
Email:ikintoki@picrc.org

For Immediate Release
Date: 12/13/17

PICRC joins Rubekul Belau for Christmas luncheon and presentation

On December 19, 2017, PICRC staff and board members joined the Rubekul Belau’s annual Christmas luncheon to present recent research results. During the luncheon, Chief Aquarist Asap Bukurrou, shared findings from the research highlighting the threat of sea-level rise and impact of increased typhoons on Melekeok coastline.

“It is good to see the hard work and solid research that the Center has been conducting regarding our reefs,” expressed Paramount High Chief Reklai, “but it frightens me to hear what the future may hold.  This research is useful for us to start preparation to deal with the impact of climate change.”

During the luncheon, PICRC’s CEO, Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, shared the plans for the upcoming 17^th Anniversary Dinner Gala, which the House of Delegates will co-host.  The Rubekul Belau were delighted with the news that the House of Delegates will co-host the anniversary dinner.  Last year, Rubekul Belau joined President Remengesau in co-hosting the very successful 16^th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner Gala.

After the luncheon, Dr. Golbuu expressed, “It was a great honor to be able to join the Rubekul Belau in their Christmas luncheon and discuss some of the latest research from the Center.  They have been among the Center’s biggest supporters since the beginning when the Center first opened its doors on January 18, 2001.  We know that with their unrelenting support, the Center will continue to prosper and flourish in the coming year.”

PRESS RELEASE 

School Health Program Workshop held to promote healthy diet!

On December 22, a School Health Program Workshop, hosted by Taiwan Shin Kong Memorial Hospital (SKH) and Ministry of Education(MOE), invited Food Service Program staffs, and school principals and cooks in Palau to discuss issues of promoting healthy diet at schools.

The workshop was held at Palau Royal Resort with over 40 participants from various elementary and high schools and staffs from MOE. Two Taiwanese nutritionists, Ms. Tzu-Wen HSIA and Ms. Nai-Chia OU, were invited to the workshop to share their Taiwan experience. During the workshop, principals and cooks also share their first-hand experiences with nutritionists so as to find the best approach to help promote healthy diet among  students.

Ms. Ching-hwa Lin, Program Coordinator from SKH, said the main purpose of hosting this workshop is to stop non-communicable diseases which has been the goal of the government’s health policy.

Before this workshop, SKH started the School Health Program in Meyuns Elementary School in 2015. Healthy diet and physical exercises were introduced to the campus aiming to cut down the obesity and to improve the health of students. Later, the program was extended to Koror Elementary School in 2017.

Through this workshop, Ms. Lin hoped to share the past experiences with other principals and cooks in hope of benefiting more students in Palau.

Anna Parker
Communications and Outreach Officer
Palau International Coral Reef Center
P.O. Box 7086 1 M-Dock Road
(680) 488-6950 www.picrc.org

Contact: Ines Kintoki
Phone: 488-6950 ext. 244
Email:ikintoki@picrc.org

For Immediate Release
Date: 12/13/17

Ilebrang Olkeriil named director of the new Aquarium Department at PICRC

On October 27, 2017, the PICRC board of Directors reorganized the Center’s structure to separate the Research and Aquarium Department into two separate departments. PICRC’s research programs have grown significantly in the past few years, making it necessary to separate the department.  Creating two unique departments will ensure that both Research and Aquarium receive the attention and focus they need as they continue to grow and improve.

On December 11, 2017, Ilebrang U. Olkeriil was appointed as the new Aquarium Director.  Ms. Olkeriil has been the Development Coordinator, for the past two years.  In this new position, Ms. Olkeriil will be responsible for overseeing the Palau Aquarium as well as the Aquarium’s Giant Clam Gift Shop.

Ms. Ilebrang will lead the Aquarium Department as it strives to provide more diversified attractions for visitors, offer unique products at the gift shop, and offer more opportunities for community groups to visit and volunteer.  As a young growing organization, PICRC wants to ensure each visitor has an exceptional experience. Creating distinctive departments will help PICRC achieve excellence by allowing each director to effectively manage various activities and operations of their departments.

Creating the Aquarium Department is a big step forward and PICRC is excited to provide improved services to the people of Palau and all who come to PICRC.

KOROR STATE GUBURNITORIAL RUN-OFF ELECTION

DECEMBER 12, 2017

UN-OFFICIAL RESULT

PICRC PRESS RELEASE

Anna Parker
Communications and Outreach Officer
Palau International Coral Reef Center
P.O. Box 7086 1 M-Dock Road
(680) 488-6950 www.picrc.org 

Ms. Persis Omelau and President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. attended the Our Ocean 2017 World Conference in Malta this month.  

PICRC intern awarded scholarship to study Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change

As a child Ms. Persis Dilbudch Omelau spent many nights on the ocean fishing with her father. It was through the wisdom her father shared on these nights that Ms. Omelau recognized the vulnerability of Palau’s oceans. Her aspirations to conserve and protect Palau’s  valuable resources stemmed from these early memories. After graduating from Mindszenty High School in 2010, Ms. Omelau attended Palau Community College where she received her Associate of Science degree in Environmental Marine Science. She graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries in 2016. During the summers of 2015 and 2016 Ms. Omelau interned with the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC). It was through her internship with PICRC that Ms. Omelau first learned about the Scholarships offered by the Government of Malta. The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malta to the United Nations offers scholarships for Post Graduate Studies. The 2017/2018 Scholarships were offered as part of the Government of Malta’s commitment under the Climate Finance Package to provide support for capacity building in developing States. These scholarships offer students the opportunity to focus their studies and research according to their national needs supporting the growth of home-grown initiatives. The aim of these scholarships is to provide the opportunity to educate and train professional, young people from developing States. Ms. Omelau was accepted into the program as a full-time student and will receive her Master’s of Science in Built Environment within the course of a year.  With the help of her supervisor Dr. Kevin Gatt, Ms. Omelau has started working on her project proposal, Adapting and Building Resilience to Climate Change: Sustainable Water Management. Her project will mainly focus on providing a collective design of policy frameworks and management plans that will increase water sustainability measures and ability to counteract the effects of climate change. “As a science major, some people may consider me, a conservationist, environmentalist, biologist, etc. I, however, would consider myself a concerned local citizen who is determined to give back to my country in any way I can,” Says Ms. Omelau. “Whether I specialize in Fisheries or Climate Change, I believe what matters the most is taking care of your homeland, which is what I am looking forward to do after I achieve my educational goals.”