Welcome

The School of Life Sciences is housed within the University’s College of Natural Sciences and conducts research and training across five academic disciplines including Biology, Botany, Marine Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular & Cell Biology. We administer a cohesive set of undergraduate degrees (BA and BS) across these disciplines, along with graduate programs (MS and PhD) in Botany, Microbiology, Marine Biology, and Zoology. The School of Life Sciences promotes the understanding, appreciation and preservation of biological diversity through excellence in research, education, service and outreach.

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About

The life sciences are of fundamental importance in a science or liberal arts education, as they provide students with insight into and a deeper appreciation for the many facets of living systems that underlie our world. Learn More →

Explore Our Programs:

The School of Life Sciences of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was formed in the Fall of 2019 by the merger of the Departments of Biology, Botany and Microbiology, and began operations on January 1, 2020. Life Sciences is home to 5 Undergraduate Majors and 4 Graduate Programs:

Undergraduate Majors

Graduate Programs

Students may also Minor in Biology, Botany and Microbiology, obtain a certificate in the Marine Option Program (MOP), Mathematical Biology, or become certified as a Clinical Microbiologist.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to investigate all living things by promoting learning and discovery through scientific research. Read Full Mission →

Announcements

For a full list of all announcements, visit our Announcements page.

Latest News

For a full list of news articles, visit our News page.

Upcoming Seminars and Events

For a full list of all departmental seminars and events, visit our Events & Seminars page.

Life Sciences Friday Seminar Series

Fridays 3:30 pm – 4:20 pm at BIL 150
If offered, join via Zoom, (passcode: sols) unless a different Zoom meeting room is noted below.

Please note presentation mode in the below table.

DateTitleSpeakerAffiliation
8/28/26
(In person only)		SoLS WelcomeMultiple speakers
9/4/26
(In person only)		Projecting Invasive Grass Responses to a Changing Climate in HawaiʻiDr. Curtis Daehler, ProfessorSchool of Life Sciences, UH Mānoa
9/11/26
(In person only)		Introduction to Core Facilities:  Microbial, Genomic, and Arthropod Laboratory (MGAL) and Microscopy Imaging Center for Research through Observation (MICRO)Dr. Allexa Burger, Assistant Researcher and MGAL Laboratory Manager

and

Dr. Orion Rivers, MICRO Laboratory Supervisor		PBRC
UH Mānoa
9/18/26
In person and Zoom link
(passcode: MBF26R)		From Coral Recruitment to Fish Behavior: Advancing Indigenous Pacific Marine ScienceDr. Ron Vave, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Pacific Islands Studies
UH Mānoa
9/25/26
(In person only)		Evolution of Colour VisionDr. Misha Vorobyev, Senior LecturerOptometry and Vision Science University of Auckland (New Zealand)
10/2/26
In person and Zoom link
(passcode: MBF26DB)		What Can American Samoan Corals Tell Us About the Future of Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate?Dr. Dan Barshis, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Biological Sciences
Old Dominion University
10/9/26
In person and Zoom link (passcode: SoLS216)		Bridging Marine Research and Participatory Science: Lessons from 20 Years of Hawaiian Intertidal Ecological MonitoringDr. Joanna Philippoff,
Director and Associate Specialist		Marine Option Program and School of Life Sciences
UH Mānoa
10/16/26
Zoom ONLY(passcode: botany)		The Shattered Genome of Basidiobolus, a Gut Fungus of Reptiles and AmphibiansDr. Lluvia Vargas Gastelum, Research Associate and Postdoctoral ScholarOregon State University
10/23/26
10/30/26
11/6/26
11/13/26
11/20/26
11/27/26Instructional Holiday
12/4/26