June 27, 2005

UH Astronomer Plays Part in NASA’s Deep Impact Mission

Artist’s conception of the impactor approaching Comet Tempel 1. NASA art by Pat Rawlings.

When Comet Tempel 1 collides with the impactor from NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft on July 3 Institute for Astronomy astronomer Karen Meech will play a key role in the mission. Meech is a member of the Deep Impact Science Team and has studied the comet intensively since 1997 to learn more about its orbit, size and shape, information needed to target the spacecraft correctly. She is also responsible for coordinating the worldwide Earth-based observations, including those on Mauna Kea.

Hawai‘i is one of the few parts of the world where it may be possible to view the collision as it happens at approximately 7:52 p.m. Before the impact, the comet will be too faint to see without a telescope or good binoculars. Astronomers anticipate that the impact may be visible to the naked eye; the impact itself should produce a brief flash while the ejected material should remain illuminated by the sun for hours or even days. However, as an experiment no one can accurately predict what will be seen.

Read more about it.

Regents Approve Community Colleges Reorganization

At its monthly meeting on June 22, the Board of Regents approved the creation of a new Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges and a vice president for community colleges. The office will be responsible for executive leadership, policy decision-making, resource allocation and development of appropriate support services for the university’s seven community colleges.

The board also
• approved space designations and gift levels proposed for donor recognition naming opportunities within the new John A. Burns School of Medicine and Windward’s Paliku Theatre
• authorized Hawai‘i to initiate a Request for Qualifications/Request for Proposals for the development and long-term management of new facilities on the Hawai‘i CC Komohana campus and a West Hawai‘i Center in Kona

Manoa Chancellor Moves to Faculty

Peter Englert

Peter Englert will assume his tenured faculty position with the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology after completing his three-year term as Manoa chancellor on July 31. He will focus on his Mars Odyssey research with NASA.

For more information read statements by Interim President David McClain and Englert.

Clopton Award Presented

Susan Hippensteele

Susan Hippensteele, an associate professor in the women’s studies program at Manoa, was honored with the Robert W. Clopton Award for Outstanding Service to the Community. Inspired by the philosophy of women’s studies as a vehicle for social justice, Hippensteele gives her time generously to a number of local organizations to bring needed legal services to disadvantaged women and families. Read more about her.

Governor Signs UH Bills

Student leaders show support for Gov. Linda Lingle as she signs two UH bills.

Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona joined with UH Interim President David McClain, UH officials and student supporters for a bill signing ceremony on June 20 at Manoa for House Bill 19 (HB 19) and House Bill 20 (HB 20). The two bills will aid the university with the student housing problem at Manoa and extend the autonomy of its financial administration for another year.

UH Newslinks

Find out about the latest UH stories in the media.

Lingle OKs housing bill