U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent visited the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 on May 27, meeting with 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel and 糖心Vlog官方 leaders to learn more about the university鈥檚 student success initiatives, workforce development efforts and research enterprise.

The visit also included tours of two of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 world-class research facilities: the (HSFL) and the (HIMB).

Kent was joined by Deputy Under Secretary James Bergeron, Special Assistant Cristian Clementi, Press Secretary for Higher Education Ellen Keast and Special Advisor Ethan Good.

Hensel welcomed the delegation with Debora Halbert, 糖心Vlog官方 vice president for academic strategy; Chad Walton, 糖心Vlog官方 interim vice president for research and innovation; Vassilis Syrmos, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 interim provost; and Rob Wright, 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 interim vice provost for research and scholarship.

“We are trying together to make it the best environment possible for student achievement, and wherever we can partner to make that happen, we are happy to do so,” said Hensel. “Higher education, K鈥�12, it all works together as an ecosystem, and when we collaborate and strengthen those connections, we succeed for our students. When it becomes fragmented, we lose the ability to reach their full potential.”

Showcasing innovation and student success

During the visit, university leaders provided an overview of the 糖心Vlog官方 system, including student success efforts, workforce development initiatives, affordability, financial aid, enrollment trends and the university鈥檚 role as Hawaiʻi鈥檚 sole public provider of higher education. The discussion also highlighted 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 research enterprise, which secured a record $734 million in extramural awards in fiscal year 2025, including more than $60 million from the U.S. Department of Education across 115 projects.

“We鈥檙e very excited to be here talking with President Hensel and her leadership team about the opportunities for higher education in Hawaiʻi and how they are so distinct from those on the mainland,” said Kent. “We still see some of the same challenges here in Hawaiʻi with the affordability of higher education, but the president and her leadership team are focused on how to get costs down, how to ensure outcomes translate into earnings and workforce pathways, and how to work with local communities and employers to make sure students are getting good-paying jobs.”

The delegation toured the HSFL clean room at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, where university researchers design and build SmallSats for science and educational missions. The tour was led by Wright and Lance Yoneshige, integration and launch specialist engineer. The clean room is primarily used for the integration, assembly and testing of satellites.

Federal officials also traveled to the HIMB on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe Bay for a tour led by HIMB Director Megan Donahue. An organized research unit of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, HIMB is internationally recognized for research on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, climate resilience and ocean health.

Among the finalists in a national NASA competition focused on advancing technologies for future space exploration is a student-led engineering team from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

(Robotic Space Exploration) is one of 14 university teams selected for the 2026 . The challenge invites students to develop innovative concepts supporting sustained human activity on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Powering lunar operations

The team鈥檚 proposal, (Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar), centers on building a scalable power management and distribution system for lunar operations. The concept integrates multiple energy sources and storage methods, including nuclear power and energy stored using lunar soil, to support long-term missions and lays the groundwork for future applications on Mars.

As a finalist, Project PETAL received a $7,000 award to support participation in the RASC-AL Forum, scheduled for June 1–4, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. During the forum, students will present their work to NASA engineers and industry professionals while refining their concepts through technical feedback. The top-performing teams will be recognized for technical merit, innovation and presentation excellence.

“Being part of this project has shown us what it takes to develop a concept that could be considered for future lunar and Mars missions,” said Nathan Chong, project manager of Project PETAL and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa computer engineering freshman. “It鈥檚 been incredibly rewarding to collaborate across campuses and push ourselves to think at a much higher level.”

The project also aligns with broader 糖心Vlog官方 efforts supporting NASA鈥檚 Artemis missions, including a lunar rover instrument being developed at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa that is slated to fly as part of the Artemis 5 mission. The work creates opportunities to connect student-led projects such as PETAL with real-world systems headed to the Moon.

Space science and engineering initiative

Project PETAL members are primarily from engineering and related STEM disciplines at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. The interdisciplinary effort emphasizes hands-on design, systems integration and real-world problem-solving. Faculty advisors supporting the project include Matthew Siegler and Marvin Young from 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, and Branden Allen from 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

Project PETAL is part of , which aims to expand space technology development and hands-on student training. Launched in 2024, the initiative provides students with opportunities to work on advanced space systems while building Hawaiʻi鈥檚 capacity in aerospace engineering and instrumentation. It is a collaboration among 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa鈥檚 College of Engineering, the Institute for Astronomy and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

Team RoSE is one of more than 20 at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, which seek to foster long-term, in-depth, project-based learning to engage students and better prepare them for future careers.

More about Project PETAL

The University of Hawaiʻi showcased its growing role in global astronomy and space research by hosting an international symposium, September 22–24, bringing together leading experts from Japan and Hawaiʻi to explore the future of ground- and space-based science and technology.

The three-day event at , and Subaru and Gemini observatories, was part of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 Space Science and Engineering Initiative (SSEI), which is positioning the university as a hub for cutting-edge space research, engineering and workforce training. More than 45 participants—22 from Japan and 25 from 糖心Vlog官方—took part in sessions on cosmology, exoplanets, planetary science, cosmochemistry and astrophysics, along with specialized discussions on telescope technologies, optics, detectors and spectrometers.

“This symposium highlights Hawaiʻi鈥檚 unique role in global space research and underscores our commitment to training the next generation of scientists and engineers right here at home,” 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel said. “We are proud that 糖心Vlog官方 continues to expand its expertise and work in this field.”

“One of our goals is to create an academic pathway for students in space sciences and engineering that will develop a well-qualified, locally based workforce pipeline to service the needs of our world-class observatories here in the islands,” 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Interim Provost Vassilis Syrmos said.

Participants toured 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 advanced laboratories, including the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory Clean Room, the Adaptive Secondary Mirror Lab and the Advanced Detector Development and Engineering Research Laboratory. The final day featured tours of IfA Hilo鈥檚 Photonics Lab, Adaptive Secondary Mirror Lab, Advanced Detector Development and Engineering Research Lab, and visits to the Subaru and Gemini observatories on Maunakea, underscoring Hawaiʻi鈥檚 unique role as home to some of the world鈥檚 most powerful astronomical facilities.

The symposium was built on a series of high-level meetings among 糖心Vlog官方, University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), which operates the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea. The expanded collaboration is expected to include joint research projects, testing of new instruments, faculty exchanges and student training opportunities.

“It became clear to all of us at this symposium that 糖心Vlog官方, NAOJ and UTokyo each have their own unique institutional strengths in research on space science, engineering and technology,” said Hiroaki Aihara, executive director and vice president of the University of Tokyo. “A 糖心Vlog官方–NAOJ–UTokyo partnership can only enhance our research capacity.”

NAOJ Director General Mamoru Doi added, “The symposium clearly shows that various new developments in space and ground-based technology are expected for future astronomy and astrophysics. By working closely, 糖心Vlog官方, NAOJ and UTokyo can achieve not only innovative research but also foster next generation leading researchers both in Hawaiʻi and Japan.”

More about SSEI

糖心Vlog官方 launched SSEI to harness Hawaiʻi鈥檚 natural advantages in astronomy while building local expertise in engineering and manufacturing for space-based missions. The initiative is backed by state support to create a new space engineering and instrument development center in Hilo, which is expected to expand Hawaiʻi鈥檚 technology sector, bring in millions of dollars in research funding and create high-paying jobs for residents.

A one-of-a-kind nursing simulation center, innovative classroom spaces, and student-made satellites launched into space were some of the highlights from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Talk Story: Campus Tour on June 26, which invited new state legislators to discover and support the university鈥檚 academic and research spaces.

“We were glad our lawmakers were able to get a better understanding of what we are doing here on campus,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “The tour showcased some of our exceptional programs, spanning from innovative learning spaces to creating a workforce pipeline in space science. Our representatives also had the opportunity to meet some of our incredible faculty, staff and students who make this campus the world class institution that it is.”

Hawaiʻi state legislators from the House participated in the tour including Reps. Trish La Chica, Darius Kila, Luke Evslin, Andrew Takuya Garrett, Jackson Sayama and Kirstin Kahaloa.

Related 糖心Vlog官方 News stories:

• State lawmakers get insights about how 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa is innovating, March 1, 2024
• 糖心Vlog官方 faculty, state lawmakers share ideas on public safety, April 19, 2024

The tour began with a welcome message at the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Success. The first stop was the 糖心Vlog官方 Translational Health Science Simulation Center in the , where theatre and dance students portray patients and their families while nursing students practice patient interactions through .

“This was actually my first time touring the campus,” said Kila. “The highlight for me was seeing where the university is positioned for almost this tangible strategic future plan. I’m truly impressed with the nursing facility that we got to tour. I鈥檝e been impressed with every facility that we’ve seen and the quality of staff, faculty and students. Now I can actually visualize the programs here and I am proud of the work that’s being done.”

The highlight for me was seeing where the university is positioned for almost this tangible strategic future plan.
—Darius Kila

Representatives also toured the 鈥檚 glass blowing classroom; innovative learning spaces in Sakamaki Hall and the (LAVA Lab); and the , where students are trained to engineer small satellites that are being launched into space. The tour concluded at 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center for a Q&A session.

“As a mom raising two young kids here, I’m constantly thinking about ways to enable our youth to stay,” said La Chica. “One of the highlights from today was the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory and learning about the opportunities to diversify our economy and create pathways for high tech jobs here. And looking at how 糖心Vlog官方 is creating opportunities for our students to get a world-class education and a strong start in their careers. It was just a wonderful experience today. And I’m looking forward to continuing to get more exposure and learning how else we can best support the university.”

A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student group was as one of 10 small research satellite developers to launch their satellite into space as early as 2025 through NASA鈥檚 . This is the second project led by students in the (EPET) certificate program to be granted an opportunity to take their satellite project to the deployment phase. The first student-built satellite was selected in April 2023.

“The two groups of EPET students securing opportunities to launch their satellite with NASA highlights both the science and design strengths of the student research groups, and the quality of the EPET program enabling students to invent, design, and build spacecraft with exciting science and educational outcomes,” said Peter Englert, professor in the (HIGP) and EPET course coordinator.

Started in 2020 by HIGP and the in the (SOEST), the EPET certificate program is open to undergraduate students majoring in the physical sciences, such as chemistry, earth sciences, physics or astrophysics, and disciplines. The program has empowered undergraduates through hands-on, student-driven development of science payloads and building of small satellites, called CubeSats, that can be launched into low Earth orbit.

“Our team is very excited to have this opportunity and grateful for all the help we have had to make it to this point,” said Sapphira Akins, CubeSat Relativistic Electron and Proton Energy Separator (CREPES) project manager and graduate student in mechanical engineering and aerospace. “We can’t wait to have something we built operating in space within the next few years!”

The CREPES mission is a student-led project that began at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa in 2022 and aims to study solar energetic particle events and increase knowledge of the Sun. When they launch their satellite with NASA, CREPES will fly a new type of micropattern gaseous detector to amplify the signals of solar radiation. Data obtained from these measurements is expected to contribute to the understanding of space weather and development of space climatology.

“The student research success is an outcome of the high quality of the EPET curriculum, student engagement with the research topics they have chosen, and the resources provided by HIGP, the SOEST dean鈥檚 office, Hawaiʻi Space Grant Consortium, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program of 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, and private donor support,” said Englert.

A team of undergraduate students from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 is one step closer to a potential deployment of its robotic rover to explore Mars.

“Team Robotic Space Exploration” (Team RoSE) is headed to Utah in late May to compete in the —the world’s premier robotics competition for college students.

“The team was in awe of the results, but is greatly motivated to improve upon our designs to be prepared for competition in Utah,” said lead systems integrator and student Jack Saito. “With less than 60 days left, the team is hoping to guarantee the success of our systems and eliminate any risks with thorough and persistent testing.”

After submitting a preliminary design and system acceptance review, the group was one of 38 teams selected to participate in the final round. More than 100 teams entered the competition.

“The entire team was ecstatic with the results knowing all the hard work and dedication had paid off; including all members from the past three years,” said project manager and mechanical engineering student Micah Chang. “It鈥檚 a great privilege for Team RoSE to participate in this magnificent event, and the team is excited for this opportunity to interact with peers and professionals from around the globe.”

Mission to Mars

The University Rover Challenge challenges teams to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that may one day work alongside astronauts exploring the Red Planet.

Rovers will compete in four missions:

• Science mission to investigate a site for the presence of life
• Delivery mission to deliver a variety of objects to astronauts in the field across rugged terrain
• Equipment servicing mission to perform dexterous operations on a mock lander using a robotic arm
• Autonomous navigation mission to autonomously travel to a series of locations

“I鈥檓 so incredibly proud and impressed by the achievements of this highly motivated group of students,” said Frances Zhu, assistant researcher and the team鈥檚 advisor. “This undergraduate team formed just three years ago during the pandemic and now they are competing on the international stage.”

“This is the third time our 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 team has entered this very prestigious competition and the first time they were selected,” said Trevor Sorensen, specialist/project manager and the team鈥檚 advisor. “Their teamwork and engineering skills are very impressive and I believed that this team would succeed. Go 鈥楤ows!”

VIP project

is one of approximately 20 (VIP) at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, which seek to foster long-term, in-depth, project-based learning to engage students and better prepare them for future careers. It consists of a faculty mentor, graduate student researchers and undergraduates.

“Robotic Space Exploration is an ideal example of a VIP team,” said Aaron Ohta, professor and VIP program director. “They are a multidisciplinary group of extremely talented and motivated students. This impressive accomplishment is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

“This is why we encourage all our students to participate in VIP,” said College of Engineering Dean Brennon Morioka. “It exposes them to all the skill sets they will need in their careers and life—from the technical know-how to working with others to public speaking and leadership qualities.”

—By Marc Arakaki

A satellite designed and built by a team of more than 60 students and faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 21. The Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) satellite launched aboard the SpaceX commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), deployment from the ISS is expected in May. The mission is expected to last one year.

“It is so special that I was able to watch my first live rocket launch with something I helped make on board,” said Chiara Ferrari-Wong, a 糖心Vlog官方 graduate research assistant who traveled to Florida to watch the launch. “The launch represented a culmination of our team鈥檚 hard work and efforts over the past few years, and will remain one of my core memories of my time at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa. I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with the team and had the opportunity to see the spacecraft go from concept to reality.”

糖心Vlog官方 satellite to study volcanic activity, more

The project’s focus is to gather valuable data for understanding Earth’s surface processes, including volcanic activity, wildfires and soil-moisture levels. Led by Principal Investigator Robert Wright, director of the (HIGP), the project began in October 2018, with funding from NASA‘s In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies Program.

“We have a couple of volcanoes here within the state which regularly erupt,” said Wright. “And the kind of data that HyTI will collect will be useful to study the eruptions that happen in the future within the state of Hawaiʻi.”

Related story: Students, staff and faculty head to NASA launch of 糖心Vlog官方 satellite, February 2024

The HyTI satellite, officially owned by NASA and operated by the , was selected in 2019 as part of NASA‘s CubeSat Launch Initiative, under the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program. Equipped with onboard data processing capabilities, the satellite will deliver high-resolution thermal images, surpassing the capabilities of current sensors. These images will enable scientists and disaster response managers to analyze and respond to environmental events with precision and speed.

糖心Vlog官方 students, staff and faculty have been actively involved in the development of the HyTI satellite, including six faculty members, 15 staff, eight graduate students, two post-docs, 30 undergraduate students and six high school interns.

In an unprecedented opportunity for hands-on involvement in space exploration, a team of students and faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are eagerly anticipating the launch of the Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) satellite. Members of the team are preparing to travel to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the launch firsthand on March 14.

“This project has been a highly collaborative effort since its inception,” said Wright. “Many University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students, staff and faculty have been involved in the design, integration, and testing of the satellite. We are thrilled to watch the HyTI satellite launch into space and begin the next phase of processing high-resolution thermal images.”

“Being a part of the development for the HyTI satellite with HSFL (Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory) was truly a wonderful opportunity that allowed me to be a part of something so tremendous; that is, building a satellite!” said second-year mechanical engineering student Kent Miyahara.

The HyTI satellite, equipped with onboard data processing capabilities, will deliver high-resolution thermal images, surpassing the capabilities of current sensors. These images will enable scientists and disaster response managers to analyze and respond to environmental events with precision and speed.

“HyTI is the first NASA mission made in Hawaiʻi and possibly one of the most advanced 6U CubeSats in the world,” said Miguel Nunes, deputy principal investigator and systems engineer for the HyTI Mission.

The HyTI satellite, officially owned by NASA and operated by the HSFL, was selected in 2019 as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, under the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites program. Scheduled to launch aboard the SpX-30 Dragon CRS-2 commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), deployment from the ISS is expected in May. The mission duration is estimated to be one year.

Real-world student experience

糖心Vlog官方 students, staff and faculty have been actively involved in the development of the HyTI satellite, including six faculty members, 15 staff, eight graduate students, two post-docs, 30 undergraduate students and six high school interns.

“The mere fact that I have been a part of building a satellite that will be orbiting the Earth in the near future, aimed down at us from many, many miles above, furthering the scientific understanding of Hawaiʻi is absolutely mind blowing and amazing,” Miyahara said.

“It was super cool and exciting to work on something that pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with cutting edge technology to help solve problems of today,” mechanical engineering senior Kenny Son said.

“One of the highlights of my experience working on HyTI was utilizing theory from my classes to contribute to the development of a physical product destined for space,” said third year electrical engineering student Jhon Leo Gabion.

“This has been an incredible opportunity for students, and training our local aerospace workforce, by providing real-world experience working with professional engineers on a NASA mission with real requirements and hardware,” said Yosef Ben Gershom, operations manager at HSFL.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the field of space sciences, which can include space-based observations looking down on the Earth, particularly over the Pacific region, as well as looking at the stars and other planets.

“This program is one important step toward making Hawaiʻi the nation’s center for space-based observation of the Pacific,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno. “There is a real need to better understand what’s going on in the Pacific. It’s this vast domain that is impossible to monitor, especially from the ground. You really have to begin to monitor from space.”

The MOU is effective for three years with both institutions committing to faculty, scholar and student exchanges; sharing academic information, materials and publications; joint research programs; conferences and other student initiatives. The agreement also prioritizes autonomy and financial independence.

MDAA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for the development of missile defense systems. They also advocate for multi-use platforms that can make critical Earth observations for civilian needs.

The development of this new program will involve 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 , the , the and the (IfA).

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Space-bound payload tested by 糖心Vlog官方 Hawaiʻi Space Flight Lab team, October 27, 2023

“I think a critical need is to connect our leading-edge research to education, and that is a big part of what this program is going to seek to do,” said Bruno.

The MOU will further incorporate a variety of technology development programs at 糖心Vlog官方, and space research that is being conducted across different units at 糖心Vlog官方, to enhance 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 ability to monitor the Pacific region.

“Instead of looking up, it’s going to look down with sensors to pick up the ability to see the entire Pacific, which we have not done in the history of mankind,” said Riki Ellison, MDAA chairman and founder. “This will be the first time that we will be able to see everything around us in the Pacific, whether it’s movements of fish, ships, planes, agriculture, everything.”

糖心Vlog官方 also announced in January 2024 that it is in the initial stages of establishing a space engineering and instrument development center, a joint initiative between the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa College of Engineering, IfA and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

The first prototype of Pono, a computing and dynamic tasking hosted payload developed by Privateer, completed environmental testing at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa over the summer. Undergraduate students, faculty, and staff at the (HSFL) partnered with Privateer, a local company with headquarters in Maui, to assist with testing their payload.

HSFL was established in 2007 as a partnership between the and the , and is also embedded as a laboratory of the . This opportunity helped train students in workforce development, and supported the local economy by utilizing 糖心Vlog官方 infrastructure that had already been developed.

“We look forward to continuing to work together and support them with design and testing for the next Pono payload and future projects,” said Yosef Ben Gershom, an HSFL Engineer.

In collaboration with Privateer鈥檚 engineers, HSFL鈥檚 equipment and technical expertise—including clean room, shaker table, and thermal vacuum chamber—enabled successful vibration and thermal vacuum testing of the payload鈥檚 ability to operate in space-like conditions.

“As a multidisciplinary research and education center, our mission is to help develop and support the aerospace industry in Hawaiʻi through workforce development and establishing infrastructure,” Ben Gershom said. “Collaborations with local companies and groups such as Privateer are crucial to diversifying and growing our island economy.”

Researchers hope the collaboration is a precursor to a continuing partnership, which could include future testing, technical reviews and interchange and mutually growing the talent and employment opportunities offered by aerospace and tech industries in Hawaiʻi.

Due to its launch expertise, University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (HSFL) secured an $8 million technology demonstration mission funded by the NASA Earth Science Technology Office鈥檚 competitive In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies program, one of only 15 awarded since 2012.

The flagship HSFL project led by (HIGP) Director Robert Wright features HSFL鈥檚 Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI), a high-performance successor of its Space Ultra-Compact Hyperspectral Interferometer and TIRCIS technologies, in a 6U CubeSat (nanosatellite). The instrument uses a Fabry-Perot interferometer which splits light emitted by the materials that make up Earth鈥檚 surface and atmosphere, and from an orbit 400 km above Earth鈥檚 surface will allow HyTI to measure the chemical composition of gases, rocks, and soils based on their unique ‘spectral fingerprints.’

Built without any moving parts that can be damaged during launch, HyTI will deliver spatial resolution or image quality similar to the Landsat 9 satellite, currently the only U.S. satellite operating to observe the Earth鈥檚 surface. HyTI will offer even higher spectral resolution—which will help to identify and characterize materials and objects—greatly advancing the ability to study Earth system processes and broader applications.

“This technology demonstration mission is designed to be a pathfinder for a potential future science mission to show the capabilities and potential of HyTI,” said Wright. “As a CubeSat, HyTI is designed to work in constellations of 25–30 HyTIs during a larger science mission, which could then monitor volcanic gasses to predict eruptions or map soil moisture to aid crop management.”

HyTI will be delivered to NASA at the end of 2023, and will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket as part of the SpaceX SpX-30 mission in early 2024. Advanced on-board computing will enable scientists to quickly access and analyze extremely high volumes of data.

Developing world-class technologies

From predicting volcanic eruptions in orbit, to analyzing soil composition from space, to detecting extraterrestrial life and improving space mission integration, HIGP has become a major player in advancing space exploration.

Renowned for its expertise in Earth and planetary science, HIGP bridges science and engineering, replicating the successful science-technology synergy that national laboratories like NASA鈥檚 Jet-Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have created to pioneer aerospace research, analysis and cutting-edge technologies. Every year, HIGP brings in nearly $7 million for space-science initiatives through lucrative grants from agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation鈥攁pproximately half of which are dedicated to instrumentation development.

“Designing scientific measuring instruments is not necessarily difficult, but producing instruments that can take accurate measurements from a spacecraft, where size, weight, power and environment are an issue, is,” Wright said. “Our faculty, researchers and students have become experts in miniaturizing some of the most innovative measurement tools. This allows us to be at the forefront of space exploration and competitive for greater opportunities where we can have a bigger impact.”

The centerpiece of HIGP鈥檚 space science initiatives is HSFL, a multidisciplinary research and education center formed in collaboration with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 and the .

Established in 2007, HSFL鈥檚 reputation and resources skyrocketed after leading the state鈥檚 first and only rocket launch in 2015, which allowed it to design and build world-class facilities with state-of-the-art equipment including: clean rooms; thermal vacuum chamber; vibration table; and an attitude determination and control testbed simulator. These resources have helped HIGP design, build, test and operate world-class space instrumentation.

Since then, HIGP has developed a string of successful NASA-funded technology development projects in collaboration with its Spectral Technology Group and Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory, including the Airborne Hyperspectral Imager, HyTI, Thermal Infrared Compact Imaging Spectrometer (TIRCIS), and the Miniature Infrared Detector for Atmospheric Sciences.

The compact spectroscopic technologies use interference phenomenon to measure long-wave infrared spectral radiance data (between 8–11 microns) to remotely identify and characterize the chemical composition of solids, gases and liquids. The key technology was developed by HIGP faculty member Paul Lucey, and is used under license by local technology company, Spectrum Photonics.

In addition to measurement tools, HSFL has developed a Comprehensive Open-architecture Solution for Mission Operations System (COSMOS) that provides integrated flight software, ground station and mission operations for small satellites. Funded by NASA鈥檚 Space Grant and Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, COSMOS proved its success on the NEUTRON-1 CubeSat and is now an integral part of all HSFL missions.

For more, . Noelo is 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 research magazine from the .

From space exploration using robotics to creating 3D printed wearable devices, 16 high school students from Oʻahu experienced a hands-on learning opportunity in the field of engineering through the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 College of Engineering鈥檚 .

The six-week rigorous curriculum provided an opportunity for participants to engage in engineering projects and assist college undergraduates, researchers and professors with their research in state-of-the-art facilities. Students also participated in cultural programming, professional development workshops, and other enrichment activities, and made weekly site visits to engineering employers including Island Energy, Hawaiian Electric Company, SSFM International, Burns & McDonnell, Booz Allen Hamilton, KAI Hawaii and NIWC Pacific. Many of these businesses and companies are led by 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 alumni.

“It鈥檚 great to be involved in helping these high school students find out what they want to do, I think that鈥檚 extremely important,” said 糖心Vlog官方 PhD engineering student and JESSE program lead Mandy Brinkmann. “It was very interesting to see how the interns started to grow within their labs and projects. All of them started out just doing research, and we did lab tours, and, of course they were engaged, but they just learned about the projects. Now after six weeks, they鈥檙e very proud of what they were able to do and they have already contributed a major part to the research projects.”

Dozens of applicants

The participants were incoming high school seniors from Punahou School, Myron B. Thompson Academy, Mililani High, Mid-Pacific Institute, Henry J. Kaiser High, Assets School, Kalani High, Roosevelt High, Farrington High, Damien Memorial School, Pearl City High, Kalaheo High and Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy. Dozens of qualified students applied and priority was given to those with an interest in applying to 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 College of Engineering.

Aren Karr from Assets and Gabriel Canevari from Punahou worked with 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 on the Artemis CubeSat, a spaceflight-ready, educational, small 1U cube satellite. The technology has the potential to significantly advance aerospace education and provides a low-cost option for industries to send integrated payloads to space.

“I鈥檝e actually learned a lot through this program. It really made me want to do engineering now,” Karr said. “It鈥檚 just a great program for kids to see if engineering is right for them.”

Canevari added, “I really enjoyed the program. I liked not only working in this lab for six weeks, but we鈥檝e also been doing site visits around the island talking to people at engineering firms. I think that鈥檚 been really good to see the future of engineering in Hawai驶i, what the current is, what the past is and what people work on in their day-to-day. Here at the lab, it鈥檚 been a good opportunity to work with the team, work with people my age, work with people older than me and learn some new skills.”

For more information about the JESSE program, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Five University of Hawaiʻi-affiliated technology startups have been selected for a 糖心Vlog官方 innovation incubator, (HITIDE). This novel 24-month entrepreneurial program offers up to $50,000 in seed funding, customized education, mentorship and resources tailored to the unique needs of academic entrepreneurs to help them translate and advance 糖心Vlog官方-developed, impact-driven technologies and solve real-world problems.

“We are extremely pleased to support this diverse group of startups that offer an exciting range and depth of innovative technologies developed through 糖心Vlog官方 research,” said Vassilis L. Syrmos, 糖心Vlog官方 vice president for research and innovation. “These technologies have the potential to significantly improve health care and training, space exploration and engineering design—and are prime examples of why it is so important that we support our researchers and create more entrepreneurial opportunities for them through novel programs like HITIDE.”

HITIDE鈥檚 cohort 2

Generative Design Software is an emerging, computer-aided artificial intelligence engineering technology and advanced algorithm developed by Marcelo Kobayashi, a mechanical engineering professor at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 . With the capacity to intelligently pull various forms of data to improve engineering design, this technology can significantly reduce cost and the number of development cycles to prototyping in aerospace, automotive and building industries.

HI-Spectral is a groundbreaking snapshot hyperspectral imaging technology developed by Astronomer Haosheng Lin and Mechanical Engineer Morgan Bonnet at 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 . The technology has been used in astronomical observations and offers advanced characterization and identification of different substances in other applications including health, agriculture, Earth and environmental science.

Interstel Technologies offers a fully responsive mission operations system for robust, coordinated operation of satellites, UAVs and other vehicles in dynamic environments. Its iCOSMOS software was developed by the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (HSFL) Specialist and Project Manager Trevor Sorensen and his team: HSFL Lead Software Engineer Eric Pilger; HSFL Deputy Director and Systems Engineer Miguel Nunes; and Junior Software Engineer Lynzee Hoegger.

Mahina Aerospace includes a team from HSFL: Avionics Engineer and Program Manager Amber Imai-Hong; Assistant Researcher Frankie Zhu; Software Engineer Luke Clements; and Systems Integrator Chris Amendola. Their technology is a low-cost spaceflight-ready, educational, small 1U cube satellite. Paired with a collection of STEM curricula, the Artemis CubeSat has the potential to significantly advance aerospace education and provides a low-cost option for industries to send integrated payloads to space.

XRCore was developed by a team from the at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补: Professor Scott Lozanoff; Technical Director of Anatomical Imaging Jesse Thompson; and Clinical Assistant Professor Thomas Noh. The company offers advanced image processing and 3D printing using artificial intelligence segmentation to enhance pre-surgical planning and clinical training for current and future clinicians.

“The majority of our cohort members and program candidates have full-time jobs and limited entrepreneurial experience, and they approach things from an academic versus business lens,” said George Yarbrough, HITIDE program lead and associate director, entrepreneurship programs for the . “We are looking at the Hawaiʻi innovation pipeline and identifying how to strengthen the ecosystem by supporting academic entrepreneurs with developing their technologies into products and businesses that benefit our community and beyond. We hope that most of these early stage startups will go on and be accepted into other growth accelerators such as Elemental Excelerator.”

Virtual entrepreneurship program

Cohort members are currently participating in the regional National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps, a virtual entrepreneurship program that provides immersive and experiential training in how to test the market through customer discovery and create a business strategy to maximize innovation impact.

Following NSF I-Corps, cohort members will receive customized curriculum and training to: determine their technology鈥檚 product market fit; develop their startup business model and strategy; and pursue business development opportunities including fundraising, federal grants and customers.

糖心Vlog官方 the for more information. 糖心Vlog官方 will begin recruiting for cohort 3 starting this summer. Additional updates will be released on the HITIDE website, or email hitide@hawaii.edu with questions.

NASA鈥檚 next launch attempt for the Artemis I mission is on November 16 at 1:04 a.m. EST (November 15, 8:04 p.m. HST), and University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 researchers have created new technology to assist the Artemis project.

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 researchers from the (HIGP) developed “foundation enablers” which are advancing the project鈥檚 satellite infrastructure for a prolonged presence on the Moon. Satellites are important communication devices to relay information from space to Earth. While the technology isn鈥檛 being used for the current Artemis I mission, NASA has funded the 糖心Vlog官方 research to develop the technology for use in future missions, while providing a training ground for budding middle school, high school and university student scientists.

Artemis I is an uncrewed mission to launch a rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth to thoroughly test its system before future flights with astronauts. Artemis is part of the next era of human exploration to a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.

“The Artemis program symbolizes a rebirth of America鈥檚 space program, drawing inspiration from the Apollo program, which was arguably the height of the United States鈥� crewed space program,” said Frances Zhu, HIGP assistant professor. “NASA is investing in technologies, but also the next generation of space scientists and engineers, which they call the Artemis generation. The NASA grant we received to build these satellites has allowed 糖心Vlog官方 to take a lead role in developing aerospace education tools, bolstering 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 efforts in establishing an aerospace engineering program.”

Artemis CubeSat project

Related: 糖心Vlog官方 awarded $500K to develop small-satellite educational kits, May 2020

糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 was one of six universities awarded space grants from NASA in 2020 as part of its Artemis Student Challenge program. Through the $750,000 grant, Zhu and her team developed low-cost CubeSat kits, which usually cost around $50,000–500,000, for around $5,000 per kit. The 1U kit includes onboard computing, communication components, dynamic sensors, an infrared camera and an electrical power system, as well as comprehensive, online educational materials on spacecraft mission design.

Through an additional $450,000 Governor’s Emergency Education Relief grant from Gov. David Ige in 2021, the team was also able to expand its educational materials, content and modifications to the kit for Hawaiʻi public, private and charter school students in grades 6–12. The kits will focus on educating and training the “Artemis generation,” the workforce that will design, build, fly and operate spacecraft that are a part of the Artemis program. The small satellites themselves can be launched around Earth or the Moon to support the Artemis missions.

NASA鈥檚 chief economist hopes that every state will launch a small satellite and Hawaiʻi is supporting that mission by spearheading the design, fabrication and curriculum of small satellite kits. Once student teams have a kit in their classroom, they can conceptualize a space mission, design the satellite payload and body, and modify the kit to build that spacecraft.

“Building a spacecraft at the undergraduate level is a rare opportunity, which gives participating students a headstart in real-world space applications that make them more competitive in the economic market and benefits the technological advancement of the space industry,” Zhu said. “Although student satellites are unlikely to function the first time, the experience of designing, building and potentially flying satellites is an immensely educational and fun activity that leads to grander space missions.”

So far, the team has been able to distribute three CubeSat kits to , Oklahoma State University and Cal Poly Pomona. The team plans to deliver 22 kits to colleges on every major Hawaiian island and to six other states by the end of the year.

For more information about the Artemis CubeSat project, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Scientists and educators from across the islands made an in-person return to the popular AstroDay event held at Prince K奴hi艒 Plaza in Hilo on May 14, a first in more than 2 years.

The annual event sponsored by the Maunakea Observatories and coordinated by the University of Hawaiʻi (IfA) brought together more than 70 volunteers representing 20 organizations on Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu to present science and technology activities and demonstrations to hundreds of keiki and adults.

“The volunteers and the public alike were talking about how great it was to be back,” said Carolyn Kaichi, IfA outreach and education specialist and coordinator of AstroDay. “In 2020, AstroDay activities were entirely virtual on YouTube, and in 2021, we had a hybrid version where we prepared kits of information and had the mall merchants giving them away. Being back in person to interact on location is so much more rewarding and fun!”

Event highlights included make-and-take planets, black hole demos, ultraviolet camera fun, solar viewing and many more astronomy related activities. Participants engaged in games and giveaways put on by the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo , observatories from Maunakea and Haleakal膩, Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory, National Weather Service, Hawaiian Electric and the Pacific Tsunami Center.

Robots from the Hilo High Viking Robotics team and the Hawaii Science and Technology Museum were among some of the most popular attractions.

AstroDay also celebrates the Maunakea Coin Contest, a design competition open to all Hawaiʻi Island students grades K–12. The purpose of the contest is to give students a chance to artistically portray astronomy in Hawaiʻi. Winners from an array of categories are recognized in a ceremony, and the grand prize winner鈥檚 design is printed on a commemorative coin which is handed out at the event.

AstroDay is celebrated in the spring in Hilo around International Astronomy Day, a world-wide event that honors all facets of astronomy. In the fall, AstroDay is also celebrated in Kona.

A engineering student and alumna earned a national space aviation fellowship, opening the door to internship, mentoring and networking opportunities. Katlynn Vicuna is one of 51 recipients out of more than 1,000 applicants named to the class of 2022, and is the first recipient ever from Hawaiʻi.

As part of the program, the junior major with an aerospace focus will spend the summer working at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado, one of dozens of leading aerospace employers participating in the program.

“I am hoping to gain exposure to what the engineering world is like,” Vicuna said. “…I think the internship is the best way to see where I will make a difference and be a good fit for whatever company I end up working for in the future.”

The fellows were selected based on their commitment to their communities, demonstrated creative abilities, leadership record, talent and desire to pursue a career in aerospace. The program鈥檚 goal is to recognize exceptional undergraduate women and other gender minorities with opportunities to further their careers. Organizers of the fellowship said this year鈥檚 class is the most diverse and competitive in the program鈥檚 six-year history.

“I am still in shock to be quite honest. I applied a couple of times, and I was never called back. This last time I gave it everything I had, and I got in. I guess if you do the work, you get the reward,” Vicuna said. “I feel so honored to be a part of this organization. We just had a meet and greet with all the other people accepted…It is an amazing feeling to be part of a group of motivated individuals with a common goal.”

Kapiʻolani CC and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 experiences

Vicuna enrolled at Kapiʻolani CC after taking an 18-year hiatus from school. She said she had no idea which classes to take or what to sign up for. Vicuna credits Kapiʻolani CC STEM Program employee Li-Anne Delavega with helping her to stay motivated and encouraging her to enroll in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program.

I probably had him write one million recommendation letters and he wrote all one million of them. No questions asked. They all became my family.
— Katlynn Vicuna

“This involved some work, but ultimately, I got to go to NASA for a week for free! This solidified that I could not work in any other career path. She also got me a job at Kapiʻolani CC in the physics and engineering department as a lab assistant,” Vicuna said.

That鈥檚 where Vicuna learned from Professor Herve Collin and Assistant Professor Aaron Hanai. “During the pandemic they both made it seem like there was no pandemic,” Vicuna said. “Aaron helped me work on so many cool research projects and my presentation skills. Herve became one of my biggest advocates for furthering my education. I probably had him write one million recommendation letters and he wrote all one million of them. No questions asked. They all became my family.”

At Kapiʻolani CC, Vicuna enrolled in the , which is a a dual-admission, dual-enrollment program for students who are pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree, but choose to begin their degree at one of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 community colleges.

“Without Kapiʻolani CC I would have never made it into 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补,” Vicuna said. “There was no way I was going to get into the engineering program without what I learned at Kapiʻolani CC. With a little hard work, they realized that I was serious about my education, and I was able to be part of the Kaʻieʻie program that allowed a smooth transition while being dual enrolled into 糖心Vlog官方 as a full-time engineering student without the stress of applying directly into the engineering program at 糖心Vlog官方. It really prepared me for university life.”

At 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补, Vicuna credited Assistant Researcher Frances Zhu and (HSFL) Avionics Engineer Amber Imai-Hong with creating educational opportunities. Vicuna gained experience creating an aerospace engineering textbook with a corresponding hands-on learning kit called Artemis CubeSat Kit with Zhu, and became an avionics assistant for HSFL and monitored a school-made satellite called Neutron-1 under the guidance of Imai-Hong.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: 糖心Vlog官方 satellite successfully blasts into space, October 6, 2020

For more on Vicuna鈥檚 road to 糖心Vlog官方, visit the .

This work is an example of 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 goals of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

—By Marc Arakaki

A new is preparing students for the Earth and space exploration workforce in their major science or engineering discipline, and the first cohort will graduate in December from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The certificate program is provided by the (HIGP) and supported by the .

“The EPET certificate program is one of the only opportunities for 糖心Vlog官方 students to obtain a formal education in an important growth area of the economy, space exploration and aerospace engineering,” said Peter Englert, a professor in HIGP. “It is also one of the few programs where science and engineering students will work together on course projects, an enriching experience, and an opportunity.”

The EPET certificate program consists of four courses totaling 15 credits that are taught in four consecutive semesters starting in the spring. The courses are cross listed with mechanical engineering and form the core of the concentration in aerospace engineering of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Program goals are to provide science and engineering majors with a comprehensive understanding of scientific and engineering knowledge, in theory and practice, to successfully explore from the deepest oceans to the far reaches of our solar system.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the EPET program,” said Lynzee Hoegger, who is in the first cohort of the EPET certificate. “It’s been really great getting to be a part of the bridge between space science and technology. I also enjoyed that we didn’t just hear from one professor with one area of expertise but instead many different professors from many different fields would teach us each week.”

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: New space research, exploration certificate for undergraduates, October 16, 2020

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

Designing and building spacecrafts

The EPET curriculum provides a modern learning experience by combining lecture-, laboratory-, field- and project-based approaches with effective interdisciplinary group learning strategies to integrate the nature of planetary materials and landforms with the science and engineering tools. These include sensors and scientific instruments, robotic vehicles as platforms for remote sensing and sampling, spacecraft fundamentals, and mission architecture, planning and operation.

“I would recommend the certificate to other students because it gives you a chance to work with people outside of your major and to have to think outside of the box to solve problems that may arise in a space mission,” said Hoegger.

The satellite that students are completing in fall 2021 will likely be part of the Pleiades Mission together with Cal Poly Pomona, Portland State Aerospace Society and Stanford University. The payload is a general radiation detector.

“It is also fun to work on research projects that design and build space flight sensors, space flight missions, and finally a small functioning spacecraft,” said Englert. “Some of these spacecrafts will have an opportunity to be launched while students are still in school.”

The EPET certificate program is for students enrolled in science and engineering undergraduate degree programs at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa, other parts of the 糖心Vlog官方 System, and other universities. The program can also accommodate professionals working in the community who wish to upgrade knowledge and skills.

The next cohort of students for the EPET certification program will begin in spring 2022. .

A team of students from multiple campuses took first place in a rocketry competition held in Nevada in September. The 鈥� Project Imua Mission 9 team won the extreme altitude hybrid motor competition with the launch of their 12-foot, eight-inch hybrid rocket, named “Apophis” after the Egyptian god of chaos.

Students from originally designed and built this rocket for the 鈥檚 competition sponsored by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association that was to be held during the summer in New Mexico, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. students designed an atmospheric sensing payload to be carried aboard Apophis.

The rocket and payload were finally launched in September 2021 in Black Rock, Nevada as part of the (AERO-PAC)鈥檚 competition. The Project Imua team won the altitude contest for the hybrid-motor class rockets after Apophis attained an apogee of 3,413 feet.

“I had actually never launched anything that big, so it was just so exciting to see it lift off the ground, go really high and then land as expected,” said student Nikki Arakawa.

Windward CC rocketry team members Arakawa and Quinn O鈥橫alley also each placed second in the Extreme Altitude Contest for the solid rockets (in different classes) that each built and launched at the AERO-PAC competition.

Windward CC graduate and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 physics student Jared Estrada has been involved with Project Imua since 2019 and served as project lead for the Mission 9 rocket.

“People should know that it is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in rocketry,” Estrada said. “It is an amazing opportunity and the team is very passionate and dedicated with what they do.”

The Project Imua team composed of 17 students and six mentors worked on the project for two years, due to pandemic related delays and cancellations.

“Our students learn firsthand that rocket science is more than high tech and engineering,” said Project Imua Manager and Windward CC Professor Joe Ciotti. “‘To boldly go’ demands unwavering commitment, resilience and teamwork. The lessons learned on this mission will launch them on exciting careers.”

The two campuses are currently collaborating on Project Imua Mission 10 to develop a scientific payload that will be launched into sub-orbital flight this summer from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This will be Project Imua鈥檚 fourth payload launched into outer space. Mission 10 is funded by the .

“We would really appreciate having more hands in our lab,” Arakawa said. “If anybody is willing to join, contact us because we really are looking to spread pretty much the joys of rocketry.”

—By Kelli Abe Trifonovitch

Read more about Project Imua on 糖心Vlog官方 News.

More than 100 people contributed to the creation of “Hiapo,” a small satellite equipped with sensors to measure Earth’s magnetic field. Participants included students from Hawaiʻi Island schools and the University of Hawaiʻi and faculty from the (HSTM) and 糖心Vlog官方.

After two years of work, the miniature CubeSat satellite, measuring just 4 inches on each side, was ready for launch. On September 2, Hiapo was aboard the maiden launch of the Firefly Aerospace鈥檚 Alpha Launch Vehicle which took off from Vandenberg Airforce Base in California.

Unfortunately, about 2 minutes into the launch, after hitting supersonic speed, the rocket experienced an anomaly and the engine failed.

“Although Hiapo didn鈥檛 make it into orbit, this one project inspired a movement here at 糖心Vlog官方 to widen the pool of entry for students who want to join the field of aerospace engineering,” said Amber Imai-Hong, an avionics engineer with the at 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 .

Providing real-world experiences

“Our team took this project from concept to launch and we learned so much along the way,” said Christian Wong, director of HSTM, a Hilo-based science education non-profit. “Developing a science mission, designing the spacecraft, testing and delivery, and meeting the required specifications鈥攊t’s a pretty complex process. We certainly could not have done it without the guidance of our partners at the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.”

Through the HSTM, Wong runs various rocketry and robotics programs for students in elementary through high school. Wong had an idea to provide a real-world experience for the students. He asked Imai-Hong if they could develop a satellite on a shoestring budget.

“It was very reminiscent of the early days of robotics in Hawaiʻi,” said Imai-Hong. “We gathered up all sorts of old parts from the Hawaiʻi Space Flight Lab and made a design plan. It was an exciting challenge.”

Imai-Hong and Heather Bottom, an aerospace engineer from NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab), provided training in design and project management as well as hands-on skills such as soldering and circuit assembly in a “clean room” provided by the 糖心Vlog官方 . Additionally, the Hiapo team of students in grades 3–12 and undergraduates, staff and faculty assembled components and tested instrumentation.

“Most students had less than a year of experience with satellite design or rocketry when they started working on Hiapo,” said Imai-Hong. “This project gave many interested and enthusiastic students the knowledge and confidence to become leaders in their groups.”

“I consider this a huge accomplishment for Firefly and all members of the Hiapo team,” added Wong. “We got a lot out of the experience. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our organization, the students who were a part of this and the community in Hawaiʻi. CubeSats can be an industry here in Hawaiʻi.”

This collaboration is an example of 糖心Vlog官方 惭ā苍辞补鈥檚 goal of (PDF) and (PDF), two of four goals identified in the (PDF), updated in December 2020.

.

–By Marcie Grabowski鈥�

Several University of Hawaiʻi projects were each awarded $100,000–$450,000 as part of Gov. David Ige鈥檚 Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects encompass STEM education, project-based learning opportunities and leadership development programs, and are scheduled to run through June 30, 2022.

“These projects demonstrate our faculty’s innovative spirit and commitment to improve learning across our islands,” 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner said. “Our post-pandemic priorities recommitted us to help teachers and ensure that students at all levels can advance along their educational pathways to achieve success in their careers and communities. These projects help show the way forward in education, health and more.”

糖心Vlog官方 GEER fund recipients

• in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 received $449,725 for its Project: “CubeSat” design challenge, an open-ended design challenge for students based on space exploration and science.
• former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Joni Onishi and Hawaiʻi CC Professor Lew Nakamura partnered on a Hawaiʻi Island project called 碍补ʻ奴 Global Learning Lab, which leverages a community of global and local influencers in the private, civic and educational sector to build workforce development opportunities and reduce educational inequity in 碍补ʻ奴. $449,725 was awarded to project lead 碍补ʻ奴 High and P膩hala Elementary.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 received $419,600 for two projects: 1) building a community of special educators that can support the recruitment-to-retention pipeline to increase educational outcomes for students with disabilities and 2) creating a safe space for the Waipahu community, including Chuukese and Marshallese families, so they can accelerate learning through educational and cultural resources.
• 糖心Vlog官方 is part of a project to create a testing center for academic gaps due to COVID-19, that will provide evaluation and assessment of students and support to overcome learning differences and reduce drop-out rates. $378,000 was awarded to project lead Assets School.
• and 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 are supporting partners in a project called “Education Program for Imprisoned Women,” which trains incarcerated women to be GED (general education development) tutors for their peers, provides college correspondence courses for women in the Women鈥檚 Community Correctional Center, and provides reentry and transition services for women wanting to continue their education post incarceration. A $250,000 grant was awarded to project lead Hawaiʻi Friends of Restorative Justice.
• is supporting a project that will infuse agriculture technology into the conventional system to address food insecurity of Wahiaw膩 students and families, while building knowledge and skills for evolving careers in agriculture and technology in Central Oʻahu. $234,000 was awarded to project lead Leilehua High School area complex.
• Leeward CC‘s Teacher Education Program received $210,000 to conduct a workforce needs assessment leading to an innovative design for “teacher-in-training” pathways to reduce turnover and attrition. Intended project partners include , Hawaiʻi CC, Waipahu High School and K奴lia and Ka Lama Education Academy.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 is supporting Washington Middle School in its project, “STEAM Entrepreneurship and Research Network,” where students and teachers engage in interdisciplinary learning activities to re-connect students to science and connections to community in their world through immersion in culture, sustainable agriculture, community service and personal growth. This project received a $150,000 grant.
• received a $149,000 GEER grant to provide opportunities for faculty and staff to build relationships with and contribute to their communities so they can thrive socially, emotionally and academically in a supportive environment. Partners include the County of Hawaiʻi and KTA Super Stores.
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 received $130,000 to create a telehealth training toolkit that is culturally appropriate, immersive and experiential for healthcare providers and students, so they can provide high quality team-based healthcare. Project partners include (HIPE), 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College, , and school-based clinics. .
• Windward CC is working with elementary schools in Wai膩hole and Kaʻaʻawa, and other partners, to develop outdoor learning spaces where students can engage in place-based learning to address food security and develop healthy food chains. This project received a $100,000 GEER grant.

GEER fund applicants were required to submit a proposal addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on school services, including measurable goals and indicators, evidence-based practices and/or innovative strategies, enabling actions and estimated timelines, and personnel and budget and other resource information.

糖心Vlog官方 previously received $5 million in GEER funds to create the Distance Learning Teacher Academy (Hawaiʻi Online Portal for Education). 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 was also awarded $600,000 to develop the initiative for public high school seniors whose college career plans were impacted by the pandemic in 2020–21.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is changing Hawaiʻi, and every sector must reinvent itself for the post-COVID environment, including education. The GEER awardees represent a diverse array of programs that address unprecedented pandemic needs and support the dreams and aspirations of each student,” Ige said.