RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT IN HAWAI`I
Hawaii's Research Infrastructure Improvement project encompasses the spirit of IMUA: to go forward, a very purposeful and powerful concept in the Hawaiian language. This acronym fits perfectly with the intent of Hawaii's EPSCoR program: Investing in Multidisciplinary University Activities (IMUA) through Hawaii NSF EPSCoR.
Under the overarching theme of Biodiversity in an Integrated Island Environment, Hawaii has identified three research infrastructure improvement thrusts: Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics, Ecosystem Studies, and Information Technology for Environmental Research. The intersections of Hawaii’s major factors of highly diverse subtropical environments, endemic and invasive introduced species, and coastal zone watersheds generate key research hypotheses. Their overlapping nature will guide the selection of field stations and research facilities that need to be established and/or upgraded, the development of genetic and analytical facilities to promote detailed analyses of the environment and information technology necessary to support and augment this research. Science education is the common thread that unites all three fields in order to achieve the highest impact on Hawaii's student population and ultimately its workforce and its economy. Partnerships with the Kamehameha Schools and the Hawaii Department of Education will serve to increase the flow of students into the pipeline of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum. Participation in the EPSCoR program will enable Hawaii to maintain its preeminent position as the center for Pacific and tropical research and education.
| Project Directors: Edward A. Laws, laws@hawaii.edu Donald K. Price, epscorpd@hawaii.edu |
EPSCoR Committee Co-Chairs: Alec Keith, alec@hiloinvestments.com Rose Tseng, rtseng@hawaii.edu |
Project Administrator:
Terrilani J. Chong, epscor@uhh.hawaii.edu
Updated: September 25, 2002