The University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents today approved the establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science at UH Hilo. The program will commence Aug. 1. UH Hilo currently offers a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science that was established in 1998. The new B.S. will allow Marine Science students to more efficiently prepare for graduate work.

Students examine specimens at UH Hilo’s Marine Science lab. Photo by William Ing.

“Two-hundred eighteen students are now majoring in Marine Science, making this program one of the largest on the Hilo campus,” Chancellor Rose Tseng told the board.

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At their July meeting, the UH Board of Regents approved the appointments of John Cross and Lisa Hadway to the Mauna Kea Management Board. Their appointments are effective Oct. 1, 2007, through Aug. 31, 2011.

Cross is the land manager for the Edmund C. Olson Trust II, a land trust that oversees more than 13,000 acres in the Hilo, Puna and Ka‘u districts. He has more than 16 years of land management experience on the Big Island, including serving as president of Mauna Kea Agribusiness and vice president for real estate for C. Brewer & Company. Cross also owns and operates a 13-acre farm in Hakalau located on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

Hadway is the manager for the Natural Area Reserves Program for the Hawai‘i Island Branch of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, where she has worked for nearly seven years. One of the areas she oversees is the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, which adjoins UH’s Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Hadway has more than 10 years of experience and is knowledgeable about natural resource management, issues and concerns, particularly on the island of Hawai‘i.

In June 2000, the BOR designated the management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve to UH Hilo. The reserve encompasses the state-held summit of the mountain where several world-class astronomical observatories are established. To assume the management role, the Mauna Kea Management Board was created.

Click here for the full UH system press release.

UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. Photo by John Oshima.

At their July meeting, the UH Board of Regents voted to accept a total of $671,000 in gifts to UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. The donors have been granted naming approvals of various facilities at the center in recognition of their commitments. The gifts include:

• A $21,000 commitment from Sybil Kyi, Kenneth Wong Jr. and Sharlyn Rayment to establish the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center Landscaping Fund at the University of Hawai‘i Foundation, and in recognition, to name the ‘Imiloa Canoe Garden the Betsy Nip Wong and Kenneth Aloiau Wong Canoe Garden in honor of their parents;
• A $500,000 commitment from The Earl and Doris Bakken Foundation to establish the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center Education Fund at the University of Hawai‘i Foundation, and in recognition, to name the Traveling Exhibit Gallery the Earl and Doris Bakken Moanahoku Hall;
• A $150,000 commitment from the Bank of Hawai‘i Charitable Foundation as an unrestricted donation to the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center Enrichment Fund at the University of Hawai‘i Foundation, and in recognition, to re-name the gift shop the ‘Imiloa Bank of Hawai‘i Museum Store.

Click here for full UH system press release.

OHA gives $980,866 to UH Hilo culture education center

See full story at the Hawaii Tribune-Herald (external news site determines when link will expire).

Summary:

Na Pua No‘eau, a Hawaiian culture-based education center based at UH Hilo, has received a $980,866 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Chancellor’s Message

Chamber Connection

July 2007

The National Science Board recently visited UH Hilo to hear about the exciting research and science education happening at our university. The NSB advises the President and Congress on policy related to scientific research and education. I’d like to share some highlights of the meeting with yo

We talked about the national shortage of scientists and engineers and the ways that our university is answering this need. The board praised us for our great success in creating an atmosphere where students and faculty thrive on teaching, learning and research. They commended us on our outreach to underrepresented student populations, and were very interested in our innovative programs that integrate culture, science and technology.

What really sparked their interest was learning about our island “living laboratory” and how it gives our students extraordinary opportunities to collaborate with faculty on scientific research. Many of our students have gone on to graduate school and research careers because of their hands-on research experience at UH Hilo.

The board thought that our great success with research and teaching grants in astronomy, biology, biomedical sciences, geology and geography, marine science, aquaculture, social sciences and pharmacy could serve as model programs to other universities throughout the country.

You might be asking yourself, why should scientific research activity be of interest to the business sector of our island?

Scientific exploration is a vital ingredient to the quality of life of Hawai‘i’s citizens. The NSB mission is in part “to promote the progress of science; to advance national health, prosperity, and welfare.”

The board’s vision includes “knowledge of the trajectory of global science and engineering research, and our confidence in a promising future. History suggests that a nation that relinquishes the torch of science puts its future prosperity at risk… The board believes that we must not let this fate befall our country.”

We at UH Hilo share in this vision. As the NSB noted, we are a nationally-recognized leader in innovative programs that inspire students to explore and excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly called STEM fields. We are growing our research enterprise through securing grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and other agencies. Currently, there is about $20 million in research activity at the university. To learn more about these initiatives, I invite you to visit my website at www.uhh.hawaii.edu/news/latc/.

UH Hilo’s scientific education and research is paying off for our island, state and Pacific region. The university is producing teachers, health care workers, engineers, scientists, high technology professionals and more. In short, UH Hilo is churning out professionals who can compete and flourish in their local communities or in the global society.

Before I close, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing President David De Luz for his commitment to UH Hilo. He’s a great champion of our university and we appreciate the strong leadership he provided, especially during the legislative session.

I extend a warm welcome to President-elect Bob Williams. I look forward to working with Bob; when we work together, great things happen!

Mahalo and Aloha.