The collaboration between Wells International School and the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) has created an enriching summer internship camp for high school students. For the past 10 years, this camp has provided an unparalleled opportunity for students to engage in hands-on research experiences within various scientific labs, guided by esteemed professors and graduate students. This program continues to open doors to university research experiences and complements our International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone offerings, providing students with a robust academic foundation that enhances their readiness for higher education.
This summer, a selection of our high school students immersed themselves in fields such as entomology, horticulture, and bioengineering. This program not only fosters academic growth but also allows students to explore Hawaii’s stunning natural environments and cultural landmarks.
As students reflect on their experiences, they will share insights about their scientific discoveries and the beauty of Hawaii, highlighting the unique blend of education and exploration that this internship provides. Through this decade-long collaboration, Wells International School and CTAHR have empowered many Wells Seahawks to pursue their passions in science and cultivate an appreciation for the wonders of Hawaii and life on an American US university campus.
Student Reflections
Supissara (Pai) Chirayuwat (class of 2025)
As I was positioned in the lab which does research about molecular biosciences and bioengineering where exploration of aquaponics systems is investigated. I also learned about advanced nanotechnology, how to operate them, how they function and how they are used to enhance plant yield. Since my lab has multiple nano bubble generator machines, they investigated how the technology could be used to improve dissolved oxygen or other gas in liquid mediums. … I was also able to learn practical lab skills such as pipetting with very high precision, measuring and reading water quality in aquaponics systems and many more. … I was deeply fascinated about the research field not only because I was able to observe the front line of scientific knowledge but also understand the logistics behind publications of research papers in journals…. Aside from what I learned inside labs I also learned to be more responsible, aware and observant about my surroundings. I was also grateful that this experience gave me an authentic taste of university life. Giving me an opportunity to learn about how to manage financial resources and seek better alternatives. I also got to connect with many people and make great connections with professors and university students.
Harith (Peam) Noiboonsuk (Class of 2025)
During the Hawaii Science Camp, I was a part of Dr. Micheal G. Muszynski’s lab. I worked with Maize (Corn), specifically on kernels with an edited Glossy 2 gene. From my time working in the lab, I have gained experience and knowledge on the workings of the lab and the protocols of DNA extraction, PCR, and Gel electrophoresis. Additionally, working in the lab has made me aware of the type of work environment I prefer for my future career, i.e. quiet and solitary. As for the vacation side of this trip, we did a wide variety of activities such as hiking, going to the mall, visiting the beach, etc. I believe that the culmination of these experiences has made me a more independent and outgoing person. Overall the Hawaii Science Camp was a great experience that helped me experience many of my firsts and has played a role in changing me for the better.
Gaon Rhie (Leo) (Class of 2026)
For the past five weeks in Hawaii, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow in many ways, both inside and outside of the lab. This trip allowed me not only to gain valuable knowledge but also to create unforgettable memories and experiences that I will cherish forever. In the lab, I assisted with a project focused on the biocontrol of corn earworm moths, cultivating the moths in a controlled environment. My tasks included preparing food for larvae, transferring larvae, and distinguishing between male and female pupae. Additionally, I gained experience in calibration and DNA extraction as part of the project. This internship has not only prepared me for my future university studies but also gave me a deeper understanding of what it’s like to work in a lab. Outside of the lab, I learned a great deal about myself and developed important life skills. Living away from home, I became more independent and self-reliant, managing my time and responsibilities without the immediate support that I’m used to. Traveling in a new environment, I learned to adapt quickly to new situations, and this experience helped me build my confidence and my decision-making abilities.
Hayeon Kim (Class of 2026)
In this trip, I worked in an agricultural science lab, where I mainly studied about the interactions between algae and fungi. Since this was the overall premise of my lab, I spent those five weeks studying inside and outside of lab about the topic. My PI, Dr. Du, sent me many of his articles for me to refer to, which helped me a lot on where to begin my research.
Using some high quality technologies was also pretty fun, because I got to get used to detailed pipetting, using confocals, and working in fungal hoods. I believe that this science camp not only gave me an opportunity to work in a college level lab, but it also knocked reality into my brain. It showed me what it’s like to be in a biology major, which I’ve been trying to pursue in for the past ten years. …
I also got to work in a CRISPR workshop on my third week there, where everyone from all around the campus gathered and worked together. … Initiated by my grad students, I got to ask them many questions and got many tips on how to work with CRISPR with my prior knowledge to them. Since this was a modern technology, it taught me how precise everything had to be. … I loved my experience in Hawaii inside the lab and out, and I really learned a lot from this trip. I learned how to be more independent, since I was away from my home for five weeks. I learned how to manage my time in a smart manner, since lab was only from 9 to 5 and I had to distribute my time in lab wisely. I also learned how to manage my finance when big amounts of money is given to me, and I personally think I did a good job in spending my money efficiently.
Aom Tankhamon Vetchayanvivat (Class of 2027)
On June 30th, 2024, we left Bangkok for Hawaii, Oahu. We spent 5 weeks together and grew a great bond between the nine of us including Ms. Katherine Caouette. When we got to UH Manoa Campus I felt a breeze of happiness and peacefulness. I loved how the university was filled with trees and nature. At first, I thought I would only be able to help out my PI, Dr. Baldos, and his grad student, Paulo, with their ongoing projects. However, I got to learn a lot from them while working in labs and in the greenhouse. I was never much of a planting person up until now. I learned how to propagate Peperomias, the plant we were working on, in tissue culture and re-potting. I was introduced to micropropagation. …It took a long time for each process to be completed but over time I think it trained me to be more patient and appreciate the result even more. In the greenhouse up in the Magoon, I got to see all sorts of plants. Their colors were vibrant and astonishing to witness. The air was like no other. It was pure and fresh.
Overall, the experience in Hawaii was phenomenal. Besides the fun I had going to the beach, eating all the food there and shopping spree, I learned a very valuable lesson to be happy in the present. I always looked forward to coming to Hawaii. … I made new friends, learned a whole lot about plants, and mainly how to be independent. I achieved self-love throughout this trip. I was happy with how I organized my section of the room, how I took care of myself and others, how I provided myself with happiness, and lastly how far I have grown. I truly think Hawaii opened my eyes to how vast the world really is. It was the best experience I’ve ever had. I am grateful for all the supervisors(aka the one and only Horace lover, Ms. Katherine) on this trip. Thank you for an amazing chapter in this year’s summer!
Hrishika Bhattacharya (Class of 2027)
This summer science program has helped me learn a lot of things. It impacted me as a Wells student because this summer camp made measure I was fond of science, specifically biology, leading to me taking biology classes for sophomore year. I am also planning to do biology in IB. It made me realize that I am very fond of sciencewhich I didn’t know I was interested in before. Specifically fields like biology and entomology. At first I never thought I was going to get into a field where science was dominant but after doing science for the whole summer I learned to love it and now it is my future goal.
I’ve learned that everything needs time and patience and that you cannot always get something right off the bat and that you actually have to wait in order to see results. I learned this because the experiment I had been working and helping my lab with required a lot of time and patience for the basics to begin, in order for the bigger picture to be successful. I also learned that rushing things is only going to affect the experiment in a negative way and that patience is always the key.
This program was honestly one of the best decisions I made to attend. I got to help out university professors and assist them, as well as grad students for research they were conducting and I got to learn a lot about them as people and also the type of research they do and field the work in. I got put into the pest management research lab and had learned a lot about how pest management has harmed the economy greatly and how it is a necessity to find a way to stop it from happening so that the economic damage is not as bad as it gets. It also allowed me to find out that I am very fond of science and want to pursue it as my future career. The summer science program however was just the side part of the trip. The experience of being in Hawaii with 7 of my friends was a thrilling experience…. I got to do all sorts of things and live the American teenage dream out in Hawaii with all my friends. The experience itself is something I will never be able to forget because it shaped me as an individual. It made me more responsible and independent, knowing my family was not with me the whole time so I had to do things for myself instead of relying on other people. I also loved this program because I got to attend a volleyball camp with the University of Hawaii’s Rainbow Wahine girls team. I made a lot of friends there and I had learned a lot of volleyball skills I need to become a better player and put those skills into my gameplay now. I also enjoyed the experience a lot, solely because of my friends. They had made the trip so fun.
Zac Adiann (Class of 2027)
The Hawaii Summer Science Camp is something that I can sum up as the best summer I have ever had. Being able to venture off into another country and both exploring the various recreational aspects and gaining valuable experience in the lab has to be about the top summer activity ever. I worked in a Soil Science Fungal Lab with my PI, Dr. Nhu Nguyen and my Grad Student, Rishi Prasadh at the University of Hawaii. In my lab, I studied the interactions between fungi and bacteria as well as understanding and interacting within the lab workspace and experiencing a work environment. I worked on various projects with many grad students and postdocs, being able to learn small tidbits about various topics as well as being able to interact with everyone in the lab. … My main takeaway from this experience in the lab is sort of understanding the complexity and flow of a work environment. Previously, I could never have imagined what a job would look like, how complicated it would be and how it would be like interacting and collaborating with adults. I found that it can be nerve-wracking at times, the lab and workspace are something like a family. Everyone knew each other as human beings and they were friendly and interacted no differently from how I interacted with my friends in school. They are co-workers and peers but they are also friends and family and that had been a concept that I struggled to grasp.
Speaking of friends and family, the second half of this trip came down to building bonds and memories. To me, Hawaii will definitely be the most memorable summer experience, especially because of the fact that I had been surrounded by so many friends. We had been able to explore Hawaii and learn about various aspects of its culture and people. With the guidance of our chaperone, Ms Katherine and our headmaster, Mr Ray, we were able to experience various local and tourist attractions of Hawaii. We went on too many hikes as well and tasted many of Hawaii’s flavours and delicacies. Spam is wonderful, musubi is to die for, I love Poke, the butter mochi from Liliha bakery was okay, taco Tuesday was a blast, and the shaved ice was so good. We had many fun treats and meals that accumulated in many memorable moments. …
Don Charoenvisal (Class of 2027)
During my time in the University of Hawaii lab, I had the incredible opportunity to work closely with the Episimus moth and its various life stages, including caterpillars and pupae. I worked closely with my graduate student Michelle Au and my lab professor or PI (Principal Investigator) Dr. Mark Wright. It allowed me to get more experience and knowledge in the field of entomology and allowed me to get a small introduction into the life of a college student and help me prepare for it. Overall there was a weed called the Christmas Berry tree that was quickly spreading through Hawaii as an invasive species of plant. The Episimus caterpillar and moths are being used as biocontrol agents to deal with the invasive species of the plant.
One of my main tasks involved sorting through leaves to identify and collect pupae, caterpillars, and moths. At first I did not like the task at all, but eventually I got used to it and breezed through the piles of leaves with ease. …In addition to lab work, I had the chance to participate in fieldwork, which was very cool. … Another experience I [had was]… DNA extraction … There was an invasive species eating the plant, so we extracted the DNA to send it to an outside lab to see if the species we were thinking of had actually eaten the plant. I worked with a lot of cool tools and chemicals to extract the DNA, and successfully did 5 tubes of DNA.
Lastly, I also had to build tent styled cages to store the plants and Episimus in, without an instruction manual because Michelle did not let me use one. I was able to build the tent and it was very fun, because it was like building legos. We put a controlled humidifier that is connected to Michelle’s phone, and observed the data over time. Overall, my time in Dr. Wright’s lab was a very important and memorable experience that taught me not only about the Episimus moth but also about entomology, and life in general. I had interesting conversations with Michelle, and she taught me a lot of things outside of the work we did in the lab. I was able to understand more about the world and myself, and I will remember the things I learned for a very long time.
