July 2010
Community and International Outreach
In the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to share the university’s goals and objectives and some of the good things that we’ve been working on with a number of community groups and business organizations, including the Hawai‘i Economic Association, the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce and the Organization of Women Leaders.
I also participated in the East-West Center’s very successful 50th Anniversary International Conference where I was a panel presenter and part of a great discussion on the challenges and opportunities in higher education with a global perspective. It was a wonderful conference, and I extend my congratulations to the East-West Center for putting it together and on celebrating its 50th anniversary.
I also recently traveled to Japan, where I was invited to speak at a symposium of the National Women’s Education Center of Japan focused on advancing women scientists in Japan. I had the opportunity to meet with our ambassador to Japan and with officials from the Japanese Ministry of Science and Technology. These opportunities help us lay the groundwork for strategic alliances with Japan, and I look forward to more discussions on collaborative efforts.
Campus news from my July report
- 2011 APEC Hawai‘i Host Committee Update
- Funds for West O‘ahu and Hawai‘i CC
- Construction Procurement Advisory Committee
- Kudos to UH administrators
- Hilo telescope captures first images
- National honors for Manoa faculty and staff
- Senator Inouye recognizes UH West O‘ahu
- Ocean exploration with the Hokule‘a
- Respiratory therapy students lobby
- New environmental challenges course
- Pumping energy into Maui campus
UH Hilo News
Hilo telescope captures first images
UH Hilo’s 36-inch Hoku Ke‘a telescope has captured its first images from atop Mauna Kea. When it becomes fully operational in time for the start of the fall semester, Hoku Ke‘a will be the only telescope on the summit designated primarily for instructional purposes. The facility will also enable undergraduates to collaborate with faculty on research projects and scientific publications.
The telescope was made possible by a $650,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, with UH Hilo contributing $600,000 to renovate the building that houses the telescope. In addition, $141,664 in federal stimulus funds is paying for research instrumentation and detectors on the new telescope as well as two research interns.
Hoku Ke‘a is the Hawaiian navigational name for the Southern Cross. The motto of the facility is “Knowledge is the pathway to the stars.”
