
Engaging local researchers in science planning (MTMNM)
A programme to assess and promote monument- related scientific research and exploration within the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (MTMNM) was proposed by Presidential Proclamation 8335 to better understand its diverse environments – from subtropical coastal waters, numerous hydrothermal vents, underwater volcanoes and lakes of liquid sulfur, to bubbling vents of liquid CO2 and diverse coral communities – many of which are considered unstudied due to the technical difficulties in accessing them. Forums, webinars and Google hangouts, are being explored to bring together researchers and stakeholders located all over the world.