Navigating Home is a workforce development initiative that supports recent graduates from Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands through short-term (2.5-month) and long-term (1–2 year) marine and environmental science placements. Developed in collaboration with local universities, agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector, these opportunities help participants build the skills needed to advance science and resilience efforts on their home islands.

Navigating Home will engage 136 individuals through hands-on training and collaborative learning, including short- and long-term fellows, faculty, and professionals from island-based institutions.

By offering real-world experience and training in science communication and community engagement, the initiative strengthens island-based workforces, fosters university–community partnerships, and supports long-term job pathways rooted in local knowledge and leadership.

Navigating Home supports the development of marine and environmental science communities that are grounded in the knowledge, values, and needs of island places and people.

The program is designed to bring back, train, and retain islanders with Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees who are committed to contributing to the future of their home islands. By strengthening partnerships between island-based universities and local organizations, Navigating Home fosters collaborative, place-based approaches to science and workforce development. Fellows receive transdisciplinary training that integrates public engagement, community collaboration, and locally-relevant research, helping to build a geoscience culture that is deeply connected to the environmental and cultural landscapes of the islands.

Navigating Home Fellowships offer recent graduates from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Guam the chance to return home—or remain on-island—and contribute to local marine and environmental science efforts. Fellows engage in either short-term (2.5-month) or long-term (1–2 year) positions developed in partnership with local universities, government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector organizations.

Fellows work alongside university faculty, researchers, and professionals from partner organizations in collaborative, hands-on roles. Fellowships are available to participants at different stages of their careers, creating a rich learning environment that reflects the diverse geoscience landscapes and communities of each island hub.

By fostering shared leadership and building cross-sector partnerships, Navigating Home helps establish lasting connections among institutions and individuals. Over five years, the project will support 68 Fellows and 68 professionals in transdisciplinary geoscience training—advancing both personal growth and island-based workforce capacity in meaningful, place-based ways.

Navigating Home leverages the NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance to foster workforce opportunities in the islands by collaborating with universities and local partner organizations. The project strengthens connections and opportunities by supporting fellows, strengthening the local workforce and creating shared systems of leadership.