Sofia Suesue, a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, previously studied natural sciences at Windward Community College and completed a summer oceanography course focusing on watershed management, which sparked her interest in oceanography and environmental research.
Suesue’s senior thesis investigated the effects of pollutants—caffeine, glyphosate, and sulfamethoxazole—on microbial communities in Oʻahu’s Kahaluʻu-ʻĀhuimanu stream system. Her research found that caffeine concentration decreased from inland to coastal areas, while glyphosate and sulfamethoxazole remained consistent, potentially affecting coastal environmental health.
Subsequent lab experiments showed that caffeine could be used as an energy source by microbes, indicating its impact on microbial metabolism. The results underscore concerns about the long-term persistence of these contaminants in marine ecosystems, highlighting potential risks to environmental and public health.
