The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

Nicolas Gaillard

Nicolas Gaillard is an associate researcher in the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He has more than 20 years of experience in materials and surface science, with expertise in photovoltaics, electrochemistry and device integration.

He joined HNEI as a postdoctoral fellow in 2007 and now leads the Thin Films Laboratory. His research focuses on understanding light-matter interactions at solid–solid and solid–liquid interfaces at the atomic scale, advancing the design of next-generation materials for renewable energy technologies.

In 2017, with support from the 糖心视频 Strategic Investment Initiative, he founded the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MS-CoRE), bringing together 糖心视频 materials researchers to expand shared resources, strengthen interdisciplinary research and foster collaboration.

“He has established himself as a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field,” said Richard Rocheleau, HNEI director. “More importantly, his collaborations with other departments and his mentorship of students, postdoctoral fellows and junior researchers, has made important contributions to the education and training of the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula

Joseph Keaweʻaimoku Kaholokula is professor and chair of Native Hawaiian Health at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). A nationally recognized translational behavioral scientist, he has led federally funded research for more than two decades to improve cardiometabolic health and advance health equity for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

He is lead co-principal investigator of the Pacific Innovations, Knowledge, and Opportunities (PIKO) Clinical and Translational Research Center, where he helps train the next generation of researchers to address Hawaiʻi‘s most pressing health challenges. He also developed programs supporting underrepresented students, fellows and early-career faculty in health research.

With more than 200 publications, his work has influenced healthcare delivery, clinical outcomes and public health policy for Indigenous communities. Kaholokula has held national leadership roles and continues to serve on local boards dedicated to improving community health. In 2024, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

“Through community-engaged research and culturally grounded approaches, he has built trust, advanced our understanding of health disparities, and helped develop solutions for our communities,” said JABSOM Dean Sam Shomaker. “His work continues to shape how we approach disease prevention and public health in Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and beyond.”

Victor M. Lubecke

Victor M. Lubecke is a professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He specializes in wireless sensing and integrated transducers.

Prior to joining 糖心视频 Mānoa in 2003, he worked at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, where his research focused on remote sensing and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for biomedical and industrial applications. He has also held research positions at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Institute for Physical and Chemical Research, working on technologies for space-based sensing and communications.

Lubecke has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications with more than 10,000 citations, holds seven U.S. patents and has co-founded two startup companies. He is an IEEE Fellow, a Fulbright Senior Scholar and an emeritus Distinguished Microwave Lecturer of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society.

“Victor Lubecke is truly an internationally recognized researcher for his important contributions in the electrical engineering field,” said Aaron Ohta, professor of electrical and computer engineering. “During one of my research projects, I came across many examples of Victor’s groundbreaking work that provided me with the essential information I needed to successfully complete it. I am honored to be working with such an esteemed colleague.”

Across the state, thousands of Hawaiʻi students spend months investigating scientific questions and testing engineering designs for school, district and . Behind these projects are University of Hawaiʻi mentorship, expert judging and resources that turn classroom concepts into real-world research.

Connecting to real-world research

Science fair projects provide an opportunity to extend classroom learning. Radford High School science teacher Daniella Griffay borrowed from 糖心视频 to teach wave speed and propagation. This led to a connection with Troy Heitmann, assistant researcher at 糖心视频鈥檚 , who mentored Radford student John Phillip English, on improving the magnets used in .

“This project provided a meaningful opportunity for a student to explore renewable energy technology while developing scientific reasoning, engineering design skills and experimental problem-solving experience,” said Heitmann.

In addition to Heitmann鈥檚 mentorship, English used resources developed by STEM Pre-Academy, with support from undergraduate student intern Erik Bendickson.

“The big thing that I learned from the science fair was despite things not going how you plan, it’s just important to be able to bounce back from that and be able to continue to work on something,” English said. “I think that more students honestly should work with professors at 糖心视频. It just gives you a different understanding of things. [Heitmann] would introduce a topic and he would explain it in a simple way and then he would build it up to what was more complicated. He went out of his way to make sure that I was progressing well with the project.”

“I’m not an engineer and needed guidance on how to support this student on their project,” said Griffay. “I am truly grateful not just for the equipment in the lending library but also for the collaborations and expert knowledge.”

Another two of Griffay鈥檚 students were connected by STEM Pre-Academy to a 糖心视频 mentor, Associate Researcher Marek Kirs from 糖心视频鈥檚 . Kirs worked with students Maddison Soria and Skye Gussenhoven in their second year of a project, teaching them to cultivate bacteria and perform disk diffusion assays.

English, Soria and Gussenhoven advanced out of the Central District Science Fair and are headed to the Hawaiʻi State Science Fair in April.

Read more about how 糖心视频 is helping to inspire the Windward Oʻahu science community.

Materials science is the study and design of new materials and their properties, and it plays a crucial role in industries ranging from renewable energy and aerospace to electronics and national defense. Researchers at University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 (HIGP) are leading new initiatives to advance materials science across the state.

Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education

糖心视频 Mānoa launched the Materials Science Consortium for Research and Education (MSCoRE) in 2017, with a goal of bringing together materials experts and infrastructure scattered around several colleges and departments under one group in support of education, innovation and to lay the foundation for a future materials science center at 糖心视频 Mānoa.

Under MSCoRE, 糖心视频 Mānoa developed a popular research experience class for undergraduates and became successful in obtaining grants to bolster its materials science program. One of its early successes was earning a U.S. Department of Energy grant to study hydrogen storage materials.

Materials Research and Education Consortium

Utilizing this momentum, researchers from 糖心视频 Mānoa and the University of Washington (UW) received a seed award from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program in 2021. The collaboration, known as the Materials Research and Education Consortium (MRE-C), is made up of seven 糖心视频 Mānoa faculty from HIGP, , and , as well as faculty from the UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center.

MRE-C conducts public school visits around the islands to increase student interest and participation in materials science and STEM, and facilitates student exchanges at the undergraduate and graduate levels between 糖心视频 Mānoa and UW. The grant was recently renewed by NSF for a full six years at $4.2 million.

Hawaiʻi Institute of Materials Research

As a testament to 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 expanding capacity and expertise in this space, the Office of Naval Research just awarded a three-year, $4.5 million grant to conduct innovative, high-risk scientific research with the potential to enhance naval capabilities and national security in the Indo-Pacific region. Together with the NSF PREM grant, 糖心视频 Mānoa will now have a formal structure in place with the establishment of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Materials Research (HIMaR). HIMaR will be a virtual, interdisciplinary institute of applied and fundamental research in materials science, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

Read more on materials science research at 糖心视频 . Noelo is 糖心视频鈥檚 research magazine from the .

The Regents鈥� Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of students and the community.

Sloan Coats

Sloan Coats is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences and an affiliate of the International Pacific Research Center at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Coats joined 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 in November 2019, after holding postdoctoral and positions at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, as well as faculty roles at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

His research combines advanced statistical techniques, climate models and both observed and paleoclimatic data to investigate climate variability and change across timescales. A key aspect of Coats鈥檚 work is its interdisciplinary nature, reflected in his contributions to diverse fields such as glaciology and seismology.

In addition to his research, Coats is a passionate advocate for the broader research community at 糖心视频. He co-directs the NSF-funded Earth Sciences on Volcanic Islands Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, which provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experience in Earth sciences.

Matthieu Dubarry

Matthieu Dubarry is an associate researcher at the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. With more than 20 years of experience in renewable energy, he specializes in lithium-ion battery research.

He joined HNEI in 2005 as a postdoctoral fellow, analyzing the usage data from a fleet of electric vehicles. He was appointed to the faculty in 2010, where he has focused on battery testing, modeling and simulation.

Since 2014, Dubarry has led his own research group, supported by funding from federal agencies and industry partners. He is recognized for pioneering data-driven techniques to non-destructively assess lithium-ion battery degradation.

His work has produced a suite of software tools for predicting battery lifespan at both the cell and pack levels. His diagnostic model, ʻalawa鈥攏amed for the Hawaiian word meaning “to diagnose with insight鈥濃�攈as earned global recognition and is used by universities and companies around the world.

Rick Kazman

Rick Kazman is the Danny and Elsa Lui Distinguished Professor of Information Technology Management at the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 Shidler College of Business. His research focuses on software architecture, analysis tools and technical debt. He helped develop several influential methods and tools, including the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, Titan and DV8, which are widely used to evaluate and improve the structure and maintainability of software systems.

Kazman has authored more than 250 publications, holds three patents and has written nine books, including Software Architecture in Practice, Technical Debt: How to Find It and Fix It and Designing Software Architectures: A Practical Approach. His work has been widely adopted by Fortune 1000 companies and cited more than 30,000 times, according to Google Scholar.

A leading figure in his field, Kazman currently serves on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society鈥檚 Board of Governors. His contributions continue to shape industry best practices and advance the discipline of software engineering.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers are preparing for the next phase of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant of up to $40 million to assist Hawaiʻi farmers, ranchers and foresters implement sustainable, climate-smart practices.

The research team out of the 糖心视频 Mānoa (CTAHR) is leading a diverse coalition of partners that is also aiming to establish stronger markets for locally produced, healthy food and forest products. The principal investigator, CTAHR Professor Susan Crow, participated in a question and answer session with 糖心视频 News to provide a project update.

What has happened since the award was announced in 2022?

We have [enrolled] nearly 6,000 acres of agricultural land in the project across Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, and Molokaʻi with more than 50 producers and practitioners in our first phase, with a second recruitment phase coming up. We wanted a portfolio that reflected the diversity of our producers across forestry, ranching, and crops, as those systems define 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 agricultural sector and agroecosystems. Beyond ranching, forests, the crops include coffee, ʻulu (breadfruit), avocado, nuts and fruit orchards, diverse crops including greens, herbs, beans, kalo, squash, cabbage, papaya, bananas, you name it!

We have been able to recruit and retain 糖心视频 Mānoa graduates and staff to support the research efforts that include soil analyses from all enrolled farms and development of data-driven decision making tools grounded in equity and justice. Our Climate Smart Specialist team has logged 880 hours of direct producer support time and taken 401 deep soil carbon samples.

Can you expand on the soil sampling and its importance to the project鈥檚 first phase?

After nearly 20 years of research, and 19 extramural projects totaling $13.9 million, the Hawaiʻi Soil Health Research Team released the Hawaiʻi Soil Health test and scoring function in 2023. The Hawaiʻi Soil Health test and the robust research program behind it serves as the basis for understanding what climate-smart means for Hawaiʻi.

The initial samples, or baseline samples as we call them, taken for the climate-smart partnership enable us to understand how implementation of climate-smart practices such as mulching, soil carbon amendments like biochar and compost, and cover cropping supports not only soil health but also soil carbon storage, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

Then, we monitor change over time as the practices are implemented and maintained.

What are the next steps?

The project is going beyond soil health, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction to support quantifying climate-smart for Hawaiʻi to encompass social justice and equity. With our project partners in the 糖心视频 Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation and the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (a 糖心视频 Mānoa entity), we are ensuring that we quantify elements such as functional nutrition, circular economy, community wellbeing, and Indigenous genealogy.

This fall we will be opening the applications for phase 2 enrollment for producers and look to enroll 50 additional producers in our project.

As you move forward, what are you the most excited about?

Our partnership鈥檚 shared vision is to re-perpetuate health, resilience, and equity in 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 agroecosystems and communities. This project provides us the opportunity to define “what is climate-smart” in a way that embodies place-based equity, and here in Hawaiʻi, indigeneity is part of that.

We support science-backed decision making, and by science, we acknowledge multiple ways of knowing, and the rigor comes from a definition of climate-smart that is inclusive of Indigenous innovation—otherwise, how can this work for Hawaiʻi as a more just and equitable metric for what is “climate-smart?”

We are charged with laying the foundation for an emergent market for “climate-smart” products, think, “grown in Hawaiʻi, for Hawaiʻi.” Ultimately this will provide our producers and practitioners a strong, local market for items grown in a sustainable way; but also provide more resilience in our food system and ability to provide food security for local families in a way that sustains people and the environment.

How important is it to be an ambassador for the project and the university?

Representing the university in a partnership that focuses on climate change, agriculture, food systems, and social justice allows us to build the trust essential for the future mitigation and adaptation to climate change in Hawaiʻi. 糖心视频 has always been a leader in serving the communities of Hawaiʻi with excellence and relevance, and this project is an exciting example of the service ethic. With such a broad reaching project with network partners we have the ability to meet the needs of agricultural producers first and foremost, but also local communities, state policy makers, and food systems initiatives while answering fundamental questions about how to approach incentivizing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

For the second consecutive year, the University of Hawaiʻi has set a record in extramural funding at $515.9 million for fiscal year 2023 (FY2023), $10.9 million more over the previous record of $505 million set in FY2022.

, the flagship campus of 糖心视频鈥檚 10 campus system, led the extramural award amounts this year with $342.7 million. The 糖心视频 System brought in $117.7 million, totaled $33.7 million, received $17.8 million and totaled $4 million.

“We are extremely proud of our back-to-back record hauls in extramural funding, despite having to deal with a myriad of challenges due to the recent pandemic and its lingering after-effects on the world economy and our funders,” said 糖心视频 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “The accolades must be given to our faculty, staff and graduate students for their hard work and dedication to the 糖心视频 research enterprise and to the state of Hawaiʻi.”

Extramural funding is external investments from governmental agencies such as the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and training activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Extramural projects support research and innovation that help to increase knowledge and provide solutions to improve quality of life.

“Every dollar invested by one of our extramural sponsors is a vote of confidence that 糖心视频 faculty, staff and students are creating a better future for Hawaiʻi and the world,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “This includes everything from climate change, resilience, water quality and energy solutions to addressing health disparities, educational inequities, feeding our population, and training Hawaiʻi‘s people for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Several examples of 糖心视频 programs that attracted the attention of funders:

• The Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges was awarded $16.3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the “Resilient Hawaiʻi: Good Jobs Challenge” initiative that provides employer-driven training in living-wage jobs to individuals whose employment was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• The received $5.5 million from NASA to continue a wide area survey of Near Earth Objects at its Pan-STARRS observatory on Haleakal膩, Maui. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• The was awarded $4.5 million, as part of a five-year $23 million grant from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) for Ola HAWAII, a multidisciplinary research center that addresses health disparities in underserved, multiethnic populations in Hawaiʻi. Read more on 糖心视频 News.



• 糖心视频鈥檚 received $4 million, as part of a five-year $20 million grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF), to integrate climate and data science research under its “Change HI” initiative. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• The received $3.6 million from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to continue its research and maintenance support of the U.S. Navy鈥檚 Wave Energy Test Site in Kāneʻohe Bay. Read more on 糖心视频 News.



• ONR awarded 糖心视频 a $2.4 million grant to partner with the University of Alaska and the University of Rhode Island to develop and advance energy, marine and other blue economy technologies and opportunities through the . Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• NIH awarded $2.4 million to the to continue its important Multiethnic Cohort Study. Read more on 糖心视频 News.



• was awarded $2 million of a $3.5 million grant by NSF鈥檚 Tribal Colleges and Universities Program to establish its Kiaʻi Loko Center for Limu Research. The center focuses on applying traditional Native Hawaiian knowledge alongside Western scientific methods to study limu (algae) and traditional Hawaiian fishponds. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (SOEST) was awarded $3 million by ONR to map flood risks related to sea-level rise in Hawaiʻi.
• The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded SOEST and the another $1.5 million increment of a five-year, $25 million project to develop an engineered coral reef system to protect coastlines from flooding, erosion and storm damage. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• The received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to restore ancestral and cultural practices to improve health equity among Native Hawaiians and NHPI communities.
• 糖心视频 Hilo received $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education for its E Hoi I Ke Kumu program to address the Hawaiian language immersion teacher shortage in the state.
• 糖心视频 was awarded a $1 million NSF Engines Development Award to establish its Climate-Resilient Food Innovation Network that will serve as a hub for Hawaiʻi and U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands to develop collaborative, food innovation solutions driven by Indigenous knowledge systems and modern technology. 糖心视频 could be eligible for another award of up to $160 million. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• 糖心视频 West Oʻahu received a $944,307 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop its He Paepae Aloha curriculum to increase Native Hawaiian participation and completion of post-secondary education through the incorporation of Native Hawaiian traditions and culture.

At the in May, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa graduate student Isabella Kotsol earned a scholarship and poster presentation award. Kotsol presented research to develop specialized materials for use in air filters for hydrogen fuel cells.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate power from a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and produce only electricity, heat and water, making this a critical technology in the transition to clean energy. Typically, the oxygen used is from atmospheric air; however, air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide can enter the fuel cell and damage crucial components, so mitigating sulfur dioxide contamination through air filtration is necessary.

Working with Godwin Severa, assistant researcher at the in the 糖心视频 Mānoa , Kotsol focuses on a filtration material made of activated carbon that has been coated in chemicals called ionic liquids, which have a high capacity for absorbing sulfur dioxide from the air.

“The findings of my research showed that the ionic liquid-coated activated carbon materials performed better than previously reported materials for sulfur dioxide filtration,” said Kotsol, who is pursuing a master’s degree in and expects to graduate in December 2023.

Kotsol presented research among 12 graduate student presenters from universities across the country. The presentations were judged by industry professionals in the filtrations and separations field.

“As a soon-to-be graduating master’s degree student, the opportunity to attend this conference and network with the people who work in the field of my research was particularly valuable,” said Kotsol, who is part of the 鈥檚 accelerated . “I am starting to think about what I will do after graduation, and being able to talk to and exchange information with a variety of professionals has definitely broadened my ideas and access to opportunities in the research field, something I would not have had without the conference experience.”

For the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, through its (HNEI), is introducing a new technology development and demonstration program aimed at reducing the cost of operating electric vehicles (EVs) and on-campus electricity expenses. The program offers bidirectional EV charging, allowing electricity to flow both ways between the EVs and the power grid via on-campus charging stations.

By signing up for this program and completing the necessary training, qualified 糖心视频 Mānoa personnel will have access to two EVs conveniently located on campus.

The program supports 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 efforts to achieve net-zero energy by 2035 and to replace its gas-powered vehicles with EVs. The optimization algorithm developed in-house by HNEI determines the most economical times to charge and discharge the EVs, taking into account fluctuating electricity costs, on-campus PV production, and campus power demand throughout the day. By charging the EVs when electricity is cheapest and using the EV battery power during peak times, the system saves money on energy costs.

“The more people sign up, and the more people use it, the richer the data set will be for us to really evaluate, and then further tune our algorithms to extract more value out of the system鈥� [and] by using bidirectional charging, we have the opportunity to actually drive down the cost of operating vehicles for purposes of this campus,” said Leon Roose, HNEI specialist.

Overall, this program is helping 糖心视频 Mānoa become more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint. Potential EV drivers are required to review a user manual (or participate in optional in-person training) and sign a consent form to participate in the program.

Any potential EV drivers can contact Ai Oyama at aioyama@hawaii.edu.

The $1.7-trillion federal government omnibus funding bill for fiscal year 2023 includes millions of dollars to help the University of Hawaiʻi serve the people of our islands thanks to the committed and effective support of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 congressional delegation—U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono and U.S. Representatives Ed Case and Kai Kahele.

Some of the funds appropriated specifically for 糖心视频 programs include:

• $6.5 million for the 糖心视频 Cancer Center for the construction of the new Early Phase Clinical Trial Research Center that will provide individuals with cancer access to Phase I clinical trials, which is currently only available in the continental U.S. Learn more
• $2.25 million to 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, to establish the Shoreline Equity and Adaptation Hub to support the development of predictive sea-level rise models, economic and policy models for decision making, outreach and community engagement, and resilient landscape and community designs.
• $1 million to support planning and infrastructure for the 糖心视频 Office of Indigenous Innovation to establish an Indigenous Data Science Hub with a living laboratory that could incubate up to 10 community-based innovation pilots in support of global resilience.
• $500,000 to the 糖心视频 Sea Grant College Program to facilitate public planning and engagement to identify green and nature-based infrastructure approaches for resilience in the Waik墨k墨 watershed.

One of the provisions that will directly benefit Hawaiʻi college students is the increase of $24.6 billion for federal student aid programs, which includes increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 to $7,395 for the 2023–24 academic year.

Through the regular (non-earmark) process, the appropriations bill also funds a number of high-priority programs through which 糖心视频 advances statewide and national interests, including:

• $30 million for U.S. Navy Alternative Energy Research, an increase of $2.5 million, which supports renewable energy activities at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 through the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute as well as sea-level rise research through the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.
• $5 million for a new Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islander (NHPIUSAPI) Health to focus on research, data collection and practice improvement to better serve NHPIUSAPI veterans, in partnership with 糖心视频.
• $9 million for the Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships program (RISE-UP Initiative), which supports 糖心视频, the University of Alaska, and the University of Rhode Island.
• $25 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, an increase of $3 million, that will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level.
• $19 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program, an increase of $8 million.
• $302 million, an increase for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program in the Department of Defense, which supports the 糖心视频-managed Maui High Performance Computing Center.
• $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补.
• $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education, including the 糖心视频 Sea Grant College Program.
• $83 million for the U.S. Geological Survey鈥檚 Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补. These Centers provide regionally relevant scientific information, tools and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawaiʻi in response to our changing climate.
• $38 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, which provides continuing support to the 糖心视频 Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes.
• $2 million in new funding for Medical-Legal Partnerships, which provide value to underserved communities by combining health and legal services at a single site of care.
• $4 million to support unmanned vehicle research in partnership with the U.S. Navy.
• $2 million increase for the National Mesonet Program, with language encouraging expansion in non-contiguous areas.
• $9.5 billion for the National Science Foundation, an increase of $700 million. NSF support of 糖心视频 research helped the university set a record in extramural funding last fiscal year.
• $470 million for Advanced Research Projects—Energy and High Energy Physics, which supports groundbreaking research at 糖心视频 aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies to address the nation鈥檚 critical economic, environmental and energy security challenges.

The bill also instructs the U.S. Department of State to consider increasing the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at 糖心视频.

“This appropriations bill will give our state funding to grow our local economy, improve roads and public transit, protect our environment, and strengthen housing, education, and health care programs,” said Schatz in a news release after the Senate passed the bipartisan bill.

“From protecting our environment, to strengthening our state鈥檚 emergency management capabilities, to supporting community health organizations and more, these projects will benefit people and communities across our state,” said Hirono in a news release.

“This funding measure continues to showcase a very productive partnership between our Hawaiʻi congressional delegation and 糖心视频, our flagship institution of higher education and engine of our economy, with its excellent record of attracting hundreds of millions in research funding,” said Case in a news release.

“We are thrilled with the amazing support we get from our congressional delegation individually and collectively in the federal appropriations process,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “It is truly an honor and a pleasure to work together to advance critical priorities for Hawaiʻi and our nation.”

Identifying the actions that must be taken to mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming is part of the , which highlights the state鈥檚 climate change initiatives and its many partners. The conference will be during Hawaiʻi Climate Week, January 9–12, 2023.

Climate Week is hosted by the Hawaiʻi State Climate Commission, (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant), (PI-CASC), Pacific RISA, the East-West Center and the .

Darren Lerner, director of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, consortium director for PI-CASC and one of the conference organizers, said “The top scientists who have been working on climate change issues for decades will be joining forces with natural and cultural resource managers and policymakers during the inaugural Hawaiʻi Climate Week to address the most prominent challenges we are facing throughout our state and region, today and into the future. At PI-CASC we have been working with communities to identify the best pathways and tools to adapt to a changing climate in support of fish, wildlife, water, land, and people.”

, January 10–11, focuses on climate adaptation science for managing changing conditions associated with drought and wildfire, integrated watersheds, and sea-level rise, as well as exploring researcher-manager-practitioner engagement and linking to human elements of climate adaptation.

Leah Laramee, Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Coordinator with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, noted “Climate Week is a reflection of the cross-cutting collaboration it will take to address climate change. We are hoping that this is just the start, and climate collaboration and Climate Week will grow as will our capacity to work together to address climate change.”

All events are designed for in-person participation, and some will have the option of online viewing.

Hawaiʻi Climate Week agenda

Hawaiʻi Climate Action Day—Monday, January 9, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Participants can connect with leaders involved in climate change action in the state. Looking through the lens of natural solutions, we will explore the challenges and solutions of climate change in Hawaiʻi.

Youth Climate Summit—Monday, January 9, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

The first Hawaiʻi Youth Climate Action Summit is open to youth from across Hawaiʻi who are passionate about organizing around and responding to the impacts of climate change on our communities and ecosystems. The summit will focus on identifying key levers for accelerating adaptation actions around topics such as climate justice, traditional and Indigenous knowledge and equitable policy. Participants will provide lightning talks around current initiatives and implementation gaps and form networks that can amplify needed actions.

Hawaiʻi Climate Adaptation Science Summit, Day 1—Tuesday, January 10, 12:30 p.m.–5 p.m.

Participants can join researchers, resource managers, officials, practitioners and other science users working on climate change impacts and adaptation for ecosystems and communities in Hawaiʻi and around the Pacific. Learn more about, and participate in discussions on climate adaptation science for managing changing conditions in three topical themes: drought and wildfire in the Pacific Islands, integrated watershed science, sea-level rise adaptation science.

Pacific Island Women Leaders at COP27: Outcomes and Ways Forward—Wednesday, January 11, 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

In November, the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), which took place in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh, concluded with a historic decision to establish and operationalize a loss and damage fund, which Pacific Islands have been critical in advocating for. This discussion will feature an analysis of outcomes with four women from Hawaiʻi who attended the conference.

Climate Adaptation Planning and Implementation Peer Exchange—Wednesday, January 11, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Invite only, hosted by Pacific RISA)

Hawaiʻi Climate Adaptation Science Summit, Day 2—Wednesday, January 11, 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

20th Anniversary Hawaiʻi Energy Policy Forum—Thursday, January 12, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

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A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student鈥檚 work to improve the efficiency of fuel-cell technology was awarded first place in the student poster presentation session at the in October. The honor came with a scholarship from the American Filtration Society.

student Jacob Vasquez presented research he has been conducting for his senior thesis with Godwin Severa, assistant researcher at the in the . They developed and tested specialized materials that capture atmospheric acidic gases that can pass through and impact the efficiency of fuel cells as they generate clean energy. To improve air purification technology, Vasquez analyzed the capacity for various materials to absorb gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

“The entire experience developed my presentation and networking skills and was an absolutely beneficial experience for me made possible by my department, the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, and the 糖心视频 Mānoa (UROP),” said Vasquez. “It was rewarding to share our efforts to improve this promising clean energy technology.”

The conference was an international opportunity for professionals and students to present their state-of-the-art research in filtration. It included presentations from 30 students representing seven different countries over the course of two days. Students were evaluated by a panel that included experts in the filtration industry.

“We have exceptional students at 糖心视频 doing cutting edge materials research that is critical for sustaining our future, including the full realization of fuel-cell based technologies,” said Severa. “It鈥檚 fulfilling to see our students participating in these efforts being rewarded. I encourage students to seek research experiences. It鈥檚 never too early to start. We are here to assist students in achieving and exceeding their expectations.”

Vasquez鈥檚 travel and conference attendance was supported by 糖心视频 Mānoa UROP Presentation funding.

–By Marcie Grabowski

For the first time in its history, the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system topped half a billion dollars in extramural funding with a record $505 million in fiscal year 2022 (FY2022), which ended June 30. The record total tops 糖心视频鈥檚 previous record of $488.6 million in FY2011 and is a $19.5 million or 4% increase over FY2021.

Extramural funding is external investments from the federal government, industry and non-profit organizations that support research and academic activities conducted by university faculty and staff. Extramural projects support research and innovation—increasing knowledge and providing solutions to improve quality of life.

“We are extremely pleased to have reached this significant milestone in our extramural funding history,” said 糖心视频 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “Much of the credit is due to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and graduate students who keep the 糖心视频 research enterprise on a steady course despite significant challenges from our economy, world affairs and fallout from the recent pandemic.”

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补, the system鈥檚 flagship campus, accounted for $366 million of the extramural awards, followed by units at the 糖心视频 System level ($70.6 million), 糖心视频 Community Colleges ($43.6 million), 糖心视频 Hilo ($18.0 million) and 糖心视频 West Oʻahu ($6.7 million).

糖心视频 research expenditures contribute to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy through business sales, employee earnings, state tax revenue and job creation; and serve as the main component in the diversification of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 economy. According to a 2021 economic impact report by the 糖心视频 Economic Research Organization, 糖心视频 research-related expenditures of $476.8 million in extramural funding in FY2020 generated $734.8 million in total business sales, $236.9 million in spending, $41.2 million in state tax revenue, while supporting an estimated 5,428 jobs.

“We are incredibly proud to have grown our 糖心视频 extramural enterprise into a major economic sector for Hawaiʻi that creates thousands of jobs and provides economic stimulation across our islands,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “Our faculty and staff are collaborating with and training our students to engage in research and problem-solving that addresses the great challenges and opportunities that face Hawaiʻi and the world. This includes everything from climate change and energy solutions to addressing health disparities, educational inequities and training our residents for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Several examples of 糖心视频 programs that attracted the attention of funders:

• The and 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (SOEST) was awarded $5.5 million, part of a five-year $25 million investment by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to develop an engineered coral reef ecosystem to protect coastlines. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• 糖心视频 received over $11 million for natural resource management programs covering endangered and invasive species, as well as marine and coastal ecosystems protection.
• 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (HNEI) received $6.2 million from the (ONR) for its Asia-Pacific Research Initiative for Sustainable Energy Systems for testing and evaluation of renewable generation and power system controls for smart- and micro-grids. HNEI also received $6 million from ONR to continue its research and maintenance support of the U.S. Navy鈥檚 Wave Energy Test Site in 碍腻苍别ʻ辞丑别 Bay. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• The 糖心视频 System received more than $5 million from ONR for tank inspection (糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 ), hydrogeological research of groundwater and contaminant flow (SOEST) and enhanced water quality testing (糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 ) related to the Red Hill water crisis.
• The was awarded $4.6 million, part of a five-year $23 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for Ola HAWAIʻI, a multidisciplinary research center that addresses health disparities in the underserved, multiethnic populations in Hawaiʻi. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• 糖心视频鈥檚 Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research received $3.5 million, part of a five-year $20 million grant by the , to integrate climate and data science research under its Change HI initiative. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• DHHS awarded $2.9 million to the to continue its important Multiethnic Cohort Study. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• received $2 million from the National Science Foundation for its Akeakamai I Ka L膩 Hiki Ola initiative that encourages and promotes STEM education to Native Hawaiian students.
• received a $1 million donation from the to create the Hawaiʻi Institute for Sustainable Community Food Systems, a food system transformation hub grounded in complementary STEM disciplines, indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. Read more on 糖心视频 News.
• 糖心视频 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 received $712,000 from the U.S. Department of the Interior to conduct geological, geochemical, geophysical and risk mitigation research related to the K墨lauea, Mauna Loa and Haleakal膩 volcanoes.

Research excellence at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 was on display at a major international science conference, paving the way for more opportunities for 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Experts from the , (HNEI) and (HIGP) delivered presentations at the Spring Meeting and Exhibit at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center and Hilton Hawaiian Village in May 2022. The week-long event drew approximately 4,000 people from around the world and focused on materials science (an interdisciplinary field concerned with the understanding and application of the properties of matter).

Hawaiʻi鈥檚 ideal environment for materials science

College of Engineering Assistant Dean Song K. Choi spoke at one of the event鈥檚 featured presentations about the successes of research at 糖心视频. Choi shared that materials research is happening across many different departments and units within the College of Engineering, , and . He also detailed the future opportunities 糖心视频 has to offer, including the possible creation of a degree and/or certificate program in materials science.

“With our state having sea and salt conditions, to tropical conditions, to some that most people do not know of, like our dry desert conditions and snow conditions, these all provide environments important to different facets of materials science and materials engineering research to be conducted without having to visit various locations throughout the world,” Choi said. “Because of our location in the tropics, most people would never have even conceived the idea of doing these types of research here.”

Choi added, “We already have several researchers that are working in these areas, with our Department of Defense partners, and we want to make sure that the rest of the world knows that 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 and our state of Hawaiʻi, are always open to state-of-the-art research in any facets of materials science.”

Choi said most engineering conferences draw about one to two thousand attendees. The materials science conference is much larger (approximately four to five thousand attendees) because materials science covers a broad range of topics and disciplines including chemistry, biology and engineering.

糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 presence at the conference is expected to create opportunities for students. A number of sponsors have already approached Choi about potential openings for postdoctoral and research positions at other universities and companies worldwide.

Creation of a new degree program

Godwin Severa, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 HNEI assistant researcher; Przemyslaw Dera, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 HIGP researcher; and Lilo D. Pozzo from the University of Washington presented about the importance of materials science research and education in Hawaiʻi. They especially focused on the creation of a degree program in materials science.

One of the opportunities to make the degree program a reality came in 2021 when 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 was awarded an $800,000 grant by the National Science Foundation鈥檚 (NSF) Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials to support materials research partnerships between minority-serving institutions and large-scale, NSF-supported research centers and facilities. The grant allowed materials science researchers at 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 to partner and learn from the NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Washington.

“糖心视频 has a vibrant research program and exciting facilities for materials research,” Dera said. “Our current activities focus primarily on photovoltaics, hydrogen storage, air filtration, materials at extreme conditions and X-ray science. We are hoping to strengthen and build up this program in the coming years, and look for collaborations with active research groups around the country and abroad.”

According to Dera, the development of new advanced materials as well as training new expert materials scientists will be critical in fulfilling the State of Hawaiʻi Clean Energy Initiative.

—By Marc Arakaki

The University of Hawaiʻi is in line to receive tens of millions of dollars in federal funding with the passage of the $1.5-trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 15. The federal funding is expected to have an impact across the 10-campus system as it increases student financial assistance, provides millions for research important to Hawaiʻi and funds multiple 糖心视频 projects and initiatives.

“We are extremely grateful to our Hawaiʻi congressional delegation for their support throughout this lengthy federal appropriations process,” said 糖心视频 President David Lassner. “This budget provides significant investment in critical programs that support higher education and our students nationally, as well as 糖心视频– and Hawaiʻi-specific investments. Our sincere thanks to Sen. (Brian) Schatz and Rep. (Ed) Case, who serve on the Appropriations Committees, as well as Sen. (Mazie) Hirono and Rep. (Kai) Kahele, for all of their hard work to secure these critical investments through their committee work and advocacy.”

Aside from the funding for a wide variety of areas listed below, the Act also included the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA supports comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking.

Students in need

The act increases funding to support low-income students and Minority Serving Institutions:

• The maximum Pell Grant award was increased by $400, to $6,895, for the 2022鈥�23 academic year, the biggest increase to the Pell maximum in more than a decade.
• $10.9 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program, a $5.8-million increase from federal fiscal year 2021, which runs from October 1 to September 30 (FY21).
• $21.3 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program, a $2.3-million increase from FY21.
• Other federal programs received increases including the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, TRIO, GEAR UP and the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need programs.

Native Hawaiians

The act increases funding for federal programs that support Native Hawaiians:

• $38.9 million for the Education for Native Hawaiians program, an increase of $1.5 million from FY21.
• $4 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Institutions program, an increase of $806,000 from FY21.
• A $5-million increase for NASA鈥檚 Minority University Research and Education Project, which has been directed to utilize funds to connect science, Indigenous culture and community at minority-serving higher education institutions, including Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
• A $1 million increase, for a total of $3 million, was provided for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, a partnership between 糖心视频, Oklahoma State University and the University of Alaska.

The measure encouraged the Office of the Director in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to prioritize the research needs of Native Hawaiians and to partner with entities that have a proven record of working closely with Native Hawaiian communities and organizations to allow for the development of NIH researchers.

糖心视频 programs

The act includes about $5.5 million in congressionally directed spending for a number of programs:

• $1 million for the 糖心视频 Hilo ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for the Hale Pōhaku Exhibition and Planetarium Expansion.
• $1 million for Asia-Pacific Microgrid Development and Training through Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, a unit of the 糖心视频 Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
• $1 million for a Strategic Center for Indo-Pacific Studies in the 糖心视频 Mānoa School of Pacific and Asian Studies.
• $1 million for a Rural Health Research Center in the 糖心视频 System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives.
• $445,000 for Partnerships for Puʻuloa (Pearl Harbor) Shoreline Biocultural Restoration in partnership with the 糖心视频 System Office of Indigenous Innovation and the 糖心视频 Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources鈥� Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management.
• $200,000 for the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, a unit of 糖心视频 Mānoa SOEST, for Nature-Based Coral Reef Features for Coastal Protection.
• $900,000 for a new post-harvest processing facility at MAʻO Organic Farms, a 糖心视频 partner, to provide more locally produced foods in the community while expanding their youth internship program, training and other educational opportunities through 糖心视频.

Research

More than $700 million in the act is to address the Red Hill water crisis. As 糖心视频 has played an important role in the state鈥檚 response to the crisis, the university is expected to receive tens of millions over the coming years for related research. That would include a water security and resilience initiative, hydrogeology studies and fuel tank corrosion evaluation and monitoring.

The act also makes strong investments in federal research agencies, all of which benefit 糖心视频, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funding for research also includes:

• $40-million increase for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program in the Department of Defense, which includes the 糖心视频-managed, Maui High Performance Computing Center.
• $3-million increase for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, which provides continuing support to the 糖心视频 Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes.
• $7-million increase for the Energy Transitions Initiative, which helps remote and island communities design their own resilience and clean energy solutions.
• $2.5-million increase in the Alternative Energy Research program, which supports the 糖心视频 Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute and climate resiliency work in SOEST.
• $7.5 million for a new program called Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships (RISE-UP) that will support a collaboration between universities in isolated and island states with expertise in energy, marine and blue economy technologies to diversify their state economies.
• $1.2 million for coffee leaf rust research.
• $1 million for science-based pest management strategies for invasive insect species that affect tropical grazing lands.

When he initially came to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Jacob Vasquez enrolled in the pre-engineering program. After learning about the (GES) program in the 糖心视频 Mānoa (SOEST) and seeing that the courses were closely aligned with his interests, Vasquez saw a new academic path for himself.

As a high school student in Grover Beach, Calif., Vasquez secured a job at a land surveying and engineering consultant firm.

“I have always been extremely interested in renewable energy and energy infrastructure, transportation systems, urban planning and physical oceanography,” said Vasquez. “My job in high school was a great step toward seeing what the field of engineering is really like.”

Prompted by a recommendation from the chairperson of the GES program, Michael Guidry, Vasquez reached out to Godwin Severa, an assistant researcher at the in SOEST, to inquire about available research opportunities.

Improving air purification technology

Vasquez now works in Severa鈥檚 laboratory where they will be testing specialized materials that capture atmospheric acidic gasses that can pass through and impact the efficiency of fuel cells as they generate clean energy. To improve air purification technology, Vasquez will analyze the capacity for various materials to absorb gasses such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

“Although the undergraduate thesis requirement was a bit intimidating, it鈥檚 also very exciting because of the level of experience I am attaining from the whole process,” said Vasquez. “I think the most satisfying aspect of my research is that it is contributing to fuel cells which is a growing industry for the energy and vehicular fields. It is also rewarding because fuel cells are such a great clean alternative compared to the other energy and transportation systems.”

Vasquez will graduate in fall 2022 and plans to apply to internships and jobs related to his interests in natural energy, transportation and physical oceanography.

This effort is an example of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the 2015鈥�25 Strategic Plan (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

The University of Hawaiʻi is a key driver of the state鈥檚 economic development and diversification efforts. In a post COVID-19 world, innovation and entrepreneurship through talent from 糖心视频鈥檚 students, faculty and staff will play a significant role in helping to shape our future. How 糖心视频 has and will continue to impact innovation in Hawaiʻi and across the world will be on display at hosted by the , November 15–17.

The virtual conference is free and open to the first 1,000 participants. . Innovation is the topic for the third and final day of the conference on November 17, 8–10 a.m. The journeys of three successful 糖心视频 innovations will be featured:

• Battery Health is by Matthieu Dubarry, an assistant researcher from 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 . Dubarry conducts research in battery testing and modeling. His research on battery performance, charging and degradation, led to his development of the ʻAlawa Toolbox, a powerful tool for battery diagnosis and prognosis.
• Nanotech is by Mehrdad Nejhad, a 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 professor. Nejhad has partnered with Goodman Technologies LLC to apply advancements in nano-composites into real world applications for the Department of Defense and NASA. Together they have won multiple Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards totaling more than $4.5 million.
• Hawaiʻi Innovation Lab is led by Arif Rahman, an postdoctoral fellow. They are developing a low-cost liquid metal coating for concentrated solar power polymeric mirrors. This technology was developed out of Professor Aaron Ohta鈥檚 lab in the 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 .

A live panel discussion, “Perseverance, Partnership and Place—What It Takes to Succeed,” moderated by Interim Director Steve Auerbach, will feature Olga Boric-Lubecke, 糖心视频 惭腻苍辞补 electrical engineering professor and co-founder and president of Adnoviv, LLC; Heidi Kuehnle, founder of Kuehnle Agrosystems, Inc.; Keoni Lee, chief executive officer of Hawaiʻi Investment Ready; and Cindy Wu, co-founder of Jelly and founder of Experiment. Kirsten Leute, previously the director at Stanford鈥檚 Office of Technology Licensing and now at Osage University Partners—a company investing in university innovation, will deliver the keynote address to kickoff the session at 8 a.m.

“Come see and hear from innovation and entrepreneurship leaders as they share more about how to take one’s idea from the lab to the market and how partnerships and collaboration with the private sector is foundational for a thriving innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem,” Auerbach said. “One of the key tenets of our mission is to bridge connections and build partnerships between 糖心视频, the community and the world, strategically advancing discoveries, and inspiring researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to create new opportunities for Hawaiʻi and beyond.”

• Related 糖心视频 News stories:
  • 糖心视频 innovation exceeds FY 2021 goal, new strategy shared with BOR, June 8, 2021
  • $2.7M to grow 糖心视频 entrepreneurship, workforce development programs, May 25, 2021
  • 糖心视频 entrepreneurship ideas geared toward diversifying Hawaiʻi鈥檚 ailing economy, August 26, 2020

Conference sessions

• Connecting Hawaiian Indigenous Culture with Modern Astronomy: Monday, November 15, 8–10 a.m.
• Conservation of our Ahupuaʻa: Tuesday, November 16, 8–10 a.m.
• 糖心视频 Innovation and Commercialization: Wednesday, November 17, 8–10 a.m.

For more information, .

To increase diversity in cutting-edge materials research, education and professions, collaborating University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and University of Washington (UW) researchers were .

This seed award from the NSF鈥檚 Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) will support materials research partnerships between minority-serving institutions and large-scale, NSF-supported research centers and facilities.

“The anticipated outcome of this seed PREM is the sprouting of a strong interdisciplinary 糖心视频–UW collaboration centered around diverse student participants performing research at the frontiers to solve some of the world鈥檚 greatest materials research challenges, with the aim of successfully re-applying for a full PREM in the next round of proposals,” said Godwin Severa, principle investigator of the new grant and assistant researcher at the (HNEI)in 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

The Materials Research and Education Consortium is composed of seven 糖心视频 faculty from HNEI, the and the Colleges of and , as well as 10 faculty from UW Molecular Engineering Materials Center, an NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.

Increasing underrepresented groups in materials science

PREM is intended to enhance and solidify a pathway for young researchers from underrepresented groups to enter the vibrant field of materials science and engineering.

Research activities of this new project maximize the complementary expertise and resources at both institutions while emphasizing the education and training of a diverse next generation of scientists and engineers. The research is focused on developing foundational knowledge about advanced nano-to-macroscale materials and properties controlling their unique behaviors, and investigating their use for future energy and space technologies.

The consortium鈥檚 PREM framework elements will include strong student dual-mentoring, including individualized professional development plans; annual student/faculty summer research exchanges; and joint research seminars and annual student symposia. The PREM pathway will increase the participation of underrepresented groups in materials science, especially Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and women.

“Our long-term goal is to develop lasting research partnerships incorporating diversified student trainees, while offering first rate undergraduate and graduate degree programs in materials science at 糖心视频,” said Severa.

This program is an example of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

A new infusion of $6 million from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and Expeditionary Warfare Center will allow the (HNEI) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, to continue to provide critical research and logistical support to the only grid-connected wave energy testing site in the nation. The U.S. Navy鈥檚 Wave Energy Test Site (WETS), off Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi provides a unique proving ground for pre-commercial wave energy converters (WECs) to demonstrate performance in an operational setting and advance their technology readiness level.

Marine energy has immense potential to supply persistent power to ocean observing and monitoring, desalination, aquaculture, at-sea mineral scavenging, and electrification of remote or island communities.

“We are excited by the Navy鈥檚 latest investment in our work to advance wave energy through our support of WETS, particularly as it allows us to expand our research into new areas of relevance to offshore applications, such as autonomous vehicle recharge for ocean observing purposes,” said Pat Cross, research specialist in marine energy at HNEI and principal investigator for the WETS support program.

These funds, directed to the , working with HNEI, will allow the university to support a number of WEC deployments planned in the 2021 to 2024 timeframe in the form of environmental monitoring, power and survivability performance assessment, and additional logistics support to the Navy and to WEC developer companies.

Funds expand 糖心视频 research

In addition to core support to WETS, the new funds will support an expansion of 糖心视频 research related to offshore, non-grid-connected applications of wave energy.

HNEI will examine the potential for existing WETS infrastructure to support the creation of an offshore test and demonstration node, including subsea power storage as well as communications and power interfaces that would allow smaller-scale WECs to recharge autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) and various environmental sensing systems. The team will also design an AUV docking and charging station for use at WETS.

The new funding further supports HNEI and 糖心视频 researchers to advance a number of research projects such as a power generation and management system for a floating Oscillating Water Column WEC, designed for applications such as ocean observation, navigation and equipment recharge. A novel breakwater system will also be advanced with an integrated WEC that will generate power from wave energy while protecting coastal regions. Additionally, the team will develop a small-scale WEC that can be rapidly deployed for both power generation and seawater desalination close to shore.

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 progress in making the transition to renewable energy for electric power is well-served by development of wave energy, given the availability of that resource in the state and its potential to augment and complement other forms of variable renewable energy鈥攕pecifically wind and solar. Wave energy is relatively consistent throughout the day and night, and can be forecast with precise accuracy a week or more in advance, enhancing grid managers鈥� ability to plan for its contribution to the overall generation mix on the grid.

This effort is an example of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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By 2050, faster adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and faster generation of renewable energy will result in 99% less fossil fuel consumed and 93% less CO2 emissions from passenger and freight vehicles on Oʻahu. That鈥檚 under the most ambitious scenario in an article published in , by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (SOEST) faculty member Katherine McKenzie.

McKenzie, based at the in SOEST, created mathematical models of four scenarios based on projections for the switch to electric passenger and freight vehicles, and renewable power generation. She quantified the impacts of fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions on Oʻahu and found that scenarios with a slower transition to EVs result in billions more gallons of gasoline consumed, and tens of millions more tons of CO2 emitted.

As with many other remote communities still dependent on oil for both transportation and power, there remains a lack of critical analysis to determine the benefits of transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles to plug-in EVs. In 2020, average passenger EVs were found to consume the equivalent of 66 gallons of gasoline, seven times less fossil fuel than their gasoline-powered counterparts, which used 455 gallons. Average EVs also cut emissions in half, two metric tons of CO2 versus four metric tons of CO2.

“Continuing to purchase anything powered by petroleum locks in emissions and energy insecurity for years to come, at a time when decarbonization is a climate imperative,” said McKenzie. “A shift is needed to energy efficient modes of travel—such as bicycling, walking and transit, along with reducing vehicle miles traveled (by “smart” city planning and remote work for example).”

These scenarios are intended as examples to assist government, regulatory, public and commercial decision makers and other stakeholders to better understand future uncertainties, develop strategies and inform the development of policy.

“The transition to EVs offers a momentous and immediate advantage to reduce fossil fuel consumption and resulting emissions for ground transportation in Hawaiʻi and similar regions, despite the current high dependence on oil for power generation,” McKenzie added. “As renewables, especially solar and wind, replace fossil fuels for power generation, escalating benefits are achieved with electric transportation in contrast to internal combustion engine vehicles. Accelerating both EV adoption and grid renewables will have striking cumulative benefits over the years, steeply reducing both fossil fuel use and emissions.”

McKenzie will present results from this study at the online conference “,” “EVs on the Grid: Impacts, Challenges & System Stability Risks” in collaboration with Hawaiian Electric Industries, on July 13, 2021.

This effort is part of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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–By Marcie Grabowski

An exceptionally innovative wave-powered autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) charging station capable of providing continuous power to resident AUVs for monitoring and predicting hurricanes has won national recognition. A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa team was in the joint U.S. Department of Energy and NOAA .

Using the energy of the ocean to provide clean reliable renewable power vastly increases the length of time ocean observing platforms can operate at sea, improving our ability to forecast hurricane intensity and protect at-risk coastal communities.

Team Hālona is led by PhD students Nicholas Ulm of the in the (SOEST), and Jonathan Wallen of the (COE).

The Ocean Observing Prize began with the DISCOVER Competition, where the , along with 10 other teams. Team Hālona鈥檚 design integrates a wave energy converter (WEC) with docking and charging capabilities to host an AUV.

The WEC design is based on wave action entering a chamber and forcing air through a turbine to generate electricity. The AUV is equipped with sensing equipment to measure key ocean parameters and upload its data after docking at the base of the WEC. Sensing devices include an acoustic Doppler current profiler, using the frequency of sound waves to measure ocean current velocities, and a conductivity, temperature and depth sensor, collecting data that is critical to forecasting intensity changes ahead of tropical storm systems.

The most recent win qualifies Team Hālona to advance to the next stage of the competition, the , to construct a working prototype. In early 2022, the winning teams will go on to test their device in realistic ocean conditions at the U.S. Navy鈥檚 Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin, a world-class test facility in Bethesda, Maryland. In the final stage of the competition, up to three teams will compete in the SPLASH Contest, to refine and test their prototypes at sea, to evaluate endurance and performance.

Substantial contributions to the team鈥檚 success came from PhD student Allison Chua of Dalhousie University in Halifax, who brings extensive AUV expertise, and COE masters student Maddyson Jeske with important contributions to the AUV docking design. Faculty advisors for the team are Pat Cross (Program Manager at the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) for marine energy, including support to the Navy鈥檚 Wave Energy Test Site), Kumar Rajagopalan (WEC hydrodynamics), Kevin Davies (power management) from HNEI and Zhuoyuan Song (AUV docking) from COE.

This effort is an example of 糖心视频 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF), one of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

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–By Kathy McKenzie