VCU Students Study the CNMI’s Resilience and Recovery
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), through its Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment, brought students to Saipan, Tinian, and Guam to study how territorial governance, disaster recovery, and environmental challenges affect island communities. Working alongside students from the University of Guam, they explored issues ranging from typhoon recovery and clean energy to food security and deep-sea mining, with the goal of better understanding these challenges and informing future solutions. Having grown up in the CNMI, I know our islands are more than just a place on the map. They are home to resilient people who continue to rebuild after devastating storms, including Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi. We’re glad to see these students come to Saipan and Tinian to listen to our people and see firsthand the realities our communities face. We hope their research brings greater attention to the CNMI’s needs and reminds more Americans that our islands have valuable lessons to share with the rest of our nation.
